For weeks people have been speculating about the possibility of Google Android showing up on netbooks. A few analysts have gone out of their way to dismiss the challenge that Android can pose to Windows 7. That, however, doesn’t mean Android netbooks are not in the works. Alpha 680 is the first netbook that will rely on Android as its operating system. It will cost only $250, which should make it affordable to a whole lot of folks.

The problem with Alpha 680 is it does not come with features that you would expect in a top netbook. You get a 7 inch screen, a 533 MHz CPU and a poor battery. Alpha 680 is what you can call a budget netbook. It’s designed for folk who want to take a chance on netbooks but don’t want to pay too much. Having said that, one would expect slightly better features for the price.

Windows 7 netbooks will be the top dogs on the market for a while. There is no question that a lot of people are used to Windows and would rather have the software on their netbooks. Linux and Android netbooks will be used on more affordable netbooks. The market is growing, and there is no reason high-end and low-end netbooks can’t co-exist.

Your take: will you take a chance on Alpha 680 and similar Android netbooks?