Netbooks vs Laptops

Comments

Mar 30  |  Hubert Nguyen said:

I think that "netbook" is a concept that will go away eventually. If we define "netbook" by "just good enough to browse the web", which is its original concept, then think about it:

Netbooks have been popular for this reason: they're small and cheap. Customers were craving for a sub-$800 solution that would give them something super light and good enough to email and browse. It turns out that this was given to them at $300 or so with some serious downsides described in the video: it was too small and people wanted more capabilities like watching videos.

The next-generation "netbooks" will have HD video
capabilities, and it will also come with larger displays up to 13". The price will also inflate to $600-$800, but I bet that customers will bite. In the meantime, there are a ton of "laptops" that are configured with minimal specs (Celeron, 1GB RAM...) that are currently sold for $300-$400.

So, laptop or netbooks? The distinction becomes murky. However, "just good enough to browse the web" won't be applicable to "netbooks" anymore, very soon.

Mar 30  |  Annie said:

Hubert - Thank you for your comment. The distinction is indeed very murky! I wholeheartedly agree that change and evolution is in the air. The comparison chart which we published and the video which was published on YouTube - let's see how long they are applicable. The Intel Atom processor, in my opinion, will prove itself to be one powerful little innovation when all is said and done...

Apr 17  |  Anonymous said:

When it came time to replace my personal laptop last summer, I looked at both laptops & netbooks. While the price was great for netbooks, I was not very informed and couldn't see how I could get by without a dvd & other items. After deciding to "go bilingual" and by a MacBook, my teenage son explained to me the perks of the netbook and how to get around my issues. While I love my Mac and am not sorry I got one, I still would drool over the netbooks in the stores. Now, thanks to winning one through a contest at Intel, I am able to make a more in depth comparison. For going mobile, the netbook is a dream come true and even at home it is nicer when surfing the web, lighter on my lap & cooler as well. I still need to figure out how to get my games loaded without an onboard CD (without incuring further expense). I have to forgo the older ones that require a cd to play. Sigh!

Apr 17  |  Rich A said:

I believe a netbook does have a unique definition: meet the pricepoint. It's not a netbook if the price creeps up. We need to see it creep down to grow volume. Take the technology improvements and put *less* into the box and drop the price (never go up).

Apr 17  |  Alastair Stell said:

When travelling through Asia recently (across land) I noticed immediately that most travellers are carrying netbooks. Key elements are wireless internet, small size, low cost, robustness. The usages? Access to news, booking services, basic photo edit and upload, social networking (keeping in touch). The netbook format (size and use) is "just right" for mobile use. Phone is too small ergonomically and laptop is too large and mechanically fragile. Netbook needs improved graphics for streaming sources and stick memory devices. Also, it needs longer running time without bulky batteries. I have discarded my personal laptop in favor of a netbook and a high end quadcore desktop with 4TByte of HDD. For travellers, the worst thing you could do to netbook is make it larger or more fragile. The best you can do is make it cheaper, thiner, stronger and possibly add gps. bluray support is very marginal for this usage.

Apr 17  |  DNL said:

Just ordered an Acer Aspire for exactly the reasons noted on the video. Will install Linux first thing!

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