They’re small, they’re fun, they’re green, and they’re not supposed to be popular, but they are. Netbooks are rapidly cutting away the inflated prices of laptop/notebook computers. In fact, they’re shredding it. The value of notebook machines has hit critical mass, and the toppling of the notebook is going to happen sooner, rather than later.

Part of the rationale for buying a netbook machine is cost. Another is simplicity. Still another reason revolves around form factor– light weight and reasonable functionality. Some use Windows XP, though Vista might have worked if Microsoft had removed its bloat. I envision a world where Windows 7 has a shrunken version specifically for notebook machines. After all, Microsoft makes an SKU for everything. Linux is also unusually popular, with Ubuntu leading the pack. The initial flimsy netbooks are rapidly becoming easily solidified into devices that look like they’ll last more than a year.

Who’ll win and lose? Already HP, Lenovo, and others are building them. Apple so far, has not, deferring to its line of Macbooks as the expensive alternative. People aren’t going to buy two netbooks, and Apple risks losing out on a market where they would have otherwise seemed to have had traction. Pity, that.

Am I going to toss my Macbook Pro for one? Maybe. Fujitsu, are you listening? Time to take over a market, or at least get a beachhead on it.