What do you want? Mac or a Netbook?

If you are a college-bound student, the possibility of buying a Netbook is more than buying a Mac. According to a recent study by Retrevo, a consumer electronics website, most of the college-bound students will prefer to have a netbook from any of the several manufacturers, rather than having a Mac.

Macs are at the bottom of student wish lists. The study found:

49 percent of students will buy full-sized Windows laptops

34 percent will purchase netbooks

17 percent of students will buy a Mac.

About 18% of the participants say that they won’t spend more than $1000 for a laptop and 58% of them say, they want to spend less than $750 on their laptop. The most affordable Apple laptop is available for $949.

Apple, under a special promotion, offering a free iPod touch with every MacBook sold. This promotion is mainly targeted to the students.

There are some cheap netbooks available even under $200, which may be good enough for students with lesser money. These affordable mini laptops offer long battery and are available in different designs.

Even though netbook sales are strong, Apple is reluctant to produce a cheap ultraportable computer. Probably Apple has something else in mind for the student market. Apple is rumored to launch a tablet-sized device later this year or in early 2010.

However, while taking the findings seriously, do remember that the Retrevo study only polled 300 site visitors. Apple has never been the big man on campus.  17 percent market share is a very good news for Apple as according to the market research firm Gartner, Mac market share in the United States is a paltry 8.7 percent.