Chinese manufacturer Foxconn Electronics is reportedly in the running to produce an Apple netbook. The news comes to us via DigiTimes, which cites the Chinese-language newspaper Commercial Times, which cites sources "from the component supply chain." That's not exactly reliable firsthand knowledge, but it's probably enough to keep some hopeful for an Apple netbook.

We have been skeptical of previous rumors about an Apple netbook, but if there was any time for Apple to cash in on the netbook craze, now would be it. Not only would netbooks appeal to those looking for something ultra-portable or just less than $1,000, many schools are seriously considering netbooks to fill their computing needs during a time of heavily slashed budgets.

For its part, AppleInsider is confident that the device is actually a long-rumored tablet-like device expected to be some soft of iPhone-MacBook hybrid, running Mac OS X but with a touch interface. Apple has in fact filed a patent for such a user interface last year.

It seems like even a low-end, MacBook mini type of netbook would serve a larger market than something like a giant iPhone or iPod touch. Still, it would be surprising if Apple just released a tiny, less-expensive MacBook. Apple CEO Steve Jobs told analysts last year that the company has "got some pretty interesting ideas if [the netbook market] does evolve," and COO Tim Cook echoed those words at Apple's last quarterly earnings call. If Apple does have something to release, expect it to change the way we think about netbooks altogether.