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Apple duly launched its sub-$1,000 MacBook notebook, fuelling speculation that it would soon sign up with one or more cellular carriers to offer a low end, web-optimized PC through the new cellco channel, emulating many PC makers of 'netbooks', from specialists like Asus to mainstream vendors like Dell.

The surge in sales of low cost netbooks - which have fewer features and less performance than standard laptops, but are highly geared to on-the-move internet access - have proved a major boost to the PC sector this year, especially as the mobile world continues to wait for a really usable mobile web device, despite the best efforts of smartphone and MID suppliers.

Overall, worldwide PC shipments rose to 80.6m units during the third quarter this year, a 15% increase over the same quarter a year ago, according to figures from Gartner Group, However, the netbook phenomenon may be masking the real picture, especially in the US, and the low end PCs may be starting to cannibalize sales of their more fully featured cousins.

Meanwhile, analysts took Apple's decision to make its notebooks "far more affordable" as a sign that even this vendor, which traditionally trades on its premium brand rather than pricing, is under pressure from the consumer spending downturn. As with the lower cost iPhones, the company seems to be chasing new market share and seeking new channels, possibly including cellcos. The first sub-$1,000 MacBook is the 13-inch white model for $999, but though this is $700 cheaper than high end models, it still does not take Apple up against the netbooks or budget PC laptops, and may dilute perceived value without being cheap enough to woo budget conscious users and so drive major new volume.

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