There were many rumors flying before Apple's notebook event this week, including predictions of a sub-$800 MacBook that turned out to be unfounded. But there is a new market that Apple doesn't have any presence in: NetBooks.

After the event this week, Steve Jobs took questions from the assembled reporters in a very unusual Q&A format. Unfortunately, the session wasn't posted online like the full presentation was, but I did hear from Technologizer's Harry McCracken about one interesting Jobs tidbit.

In response to a question about netbooks, the ultra-compact, comparatively underpowered notebooks that seem to be gaining traction recently, Jobs said the market was "nascent" and Apple wasn't ready to enter it. But the company was taking a "wait-and-see" attitude towards the small machines. McCracken told me that Jobs "seemed pretty neutral" about them.

I could easily see Apple -- especially with its fancy new manufacturing process -- coming up with a product somewhere in between an iPod Touch and a MacBook. Perhaps with a keyboard that can be hidden and a full multi-touch screen -- something vaguely reminiscent of the eMate Newton offspring. Perhaps a "one more thing" for Macworld in January?

(Photo by AP/Paul Sakuma)