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Apple is poised to unveil its first sub-$1,000 notebook, taking it up against low end Windows models and potentially into the carrier 'netbook' channel.

PC makers have recently been busily mining a rich new revenue seam, selling low cost notebooks, heavily geared for mobile internet usage, via the cellular operators. These 'netbooks' are clearly differentiated from higher margin, media-heavy laptops and so are expected to create new sales - as second machines or among people who would not otherwise invest in a notebook - rather than cannibalizing existing sales. Dell, Acer, Asus and others have been pushing out netbooks and carriers, especially in Europe, are starting to offer them at very low prices, bundled with mobile broadband contracts in the same way as smartphones - a trend that could eventually shift the value perception across the whole notebook chain.

It was inevitable that Apple would consider tapping into this market, given its new-found relationships with cellcos via iPhone and indeed, O2 UK has been widely reported to be readying a Macbook offer to go alongside its iPhone exclusive. However, while the brand kudos of the Macbook would undoubtedly be a major differentiator for the right operator - and give Apple the kind of upper hand it craves in cellco deals - none of the current models is sufficiently simple and low priced to work within the usual subsidy norms. A sub-$1,000 Macbook would change that equation overnight.

Apple is holding a launch event next Tuesday and some analysts are predicting a Macbook priced as low as $800. The current minimum price is $1,100. In the quarter ended in June, Apple's computer revenue grew 43% year-on-year to $3.6bn. Notebook sales accounted for 61% of that, growing 42% from a year earlier.

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