Apple Takes A Stab At The Netbook Market

Apple may not be delivering the netbook we’ve begged it for for so long, but one recent rumor over at AppleInsider is hinting that perhaps Apple will cater to the netbook-purchasing consumer category in a different way.

“Consumers in the coming months can look forward to more affordable versions of both the 13-inch MacBook and iMac, according to people who’ve proven extremely reliable in predicting Apple’s future business directions. The MacBook — which currently starts at US$999 when fitted with a previous-generation polycarbonate enclosure and $1299 in an aluminum unibody casing — is the bestselling Mac in terms of volume. The iMac is the most popular Mac desktop.

It’s believed that the first batch of more affordable Macs could turn up as early as this spring.”

This means that Jobs won’t have to sacrifice the luxury image of Apple with a whole new device. By cutting costs on some tried-and-true setups like the iMac and Macbook it can start taking back budget buyers, yet feel free to keep coming out with top-of-the-line devices like the iPhone and iPod that define its current user base.

Via PCWorld.