I have looked at Netbook as a sub-notebook not paying much attention to it. I had seem many people with it but always taught they were only a low budget alternative if you could not afford a "real" computer. But all that had change since i played with my friend HP Mini. They do not only feel comfortable a major surprise for me but the performance was good as well. I found that the HP Mini running on XP will be a good complement to my MacBook while on the road. I love my MacBook and take it everywhere but lets face it. i will be surfing more the Internet writing and doing more simple task if it were smaller easy to carry and light weight.
So after try the HP Mini I said to my self "well when Apple come out with a Netbook I will get one" But it seems they won't at least for now, So I decided to go with a none Apple product for the time being. It will probably be an HP or Acer and it will definitely will be running on XP while Linux version are cheaper I had never used Linux and will not like to start on a Netbook. I also saw a Android based story on a sub $200 netbook but is made by a no brand company and actually looks like a toy. I won't spent more than $500 but won't go with the cheapest either. So far the HP Mini 1000 Mobile Broadband
looks like the way to go.
I don't think the netbook will replace my MacBook ever but it will fill a gap between my notebook and my smart-phone.
JM