Log in

View Full Version : Netbooks Continue Creeping Into Notebook Country


Hooch Tan
10-28-2009, 07:30 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/27/next-gen-atom-n470-to-relax-netbook-spec-restrictions-slightly-f/' target='_blank'>http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/27/...ons-slightly-f/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Netbook specs have been held in check by Microsoft and Intel's dizzying array of rules and restrictions for low-cost machines, but now that Windows 7 is out and Intel's getting ready to release the next generation of Atom chips it sounds like things are about to get slightly better."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1256745862.usr20447.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>Netbooks became an incredible explosion in the PC industry, with the wee machines flying off the shelves.&nbsp; Of course, customers soon realized that netbooks, while cheaper, were essentially castrated notebooks.&nbsp; Over time, this has improved, but only in small increments.&nbsp; When Intel starts pushing out its Pine Trail chips, that should change some more with some of the limits imposed on the netbook class being lifted.&nbsp; Of course, I would expect prices to go up a bit as well, which begs the question, is there really a line between netbooks and notebooks anymore?</p>

Felix Torres
10-29-2009, 02:04 AM
Dividing line?

Dunno, but I recently picked a Netbook to supplement my Tablet PC for 3 basic reasons:
- weight under 3 lbs
- price under US$300
- real-world battery life of 6+ hours (it might actually deliver the nominal 8 hours of the spec but I'm the limiting factor right now)

Maybe at some point next year the new ultralight class that is now running US$500-600 might start getting discounted and meet that particular price/size/performance spot, but today there's still a clear divide.

I'd say that if you particularly care about gaming or graphics you don't want a netbook. If you don't and some combination of form factor/price/battery life persuades you, then you'll do fine with an Atom-based system.

Odds are there will be some cross-shopping between the more expensive Netbooks and the cheaper notebooks--especially now that Netbooks aren't stuck with a 5-year-old OS--but the core of each market will remain distinct for at least another year, if nothing else on pricing; netbooks much above $300 don't make much consumer sense and thin-n-lights don't make much manufacturer sense much below $500.

The big fight should be over the no-man's-land of $400...

Lee Yuan Sheng
10-29-2009, 02:19 AM
You know, I liked the original idea of a netbook. Small, light and good enough for browsing on the Internet.

I hate the way they keep on upsizing it. Like I've said before on the forum, a netbook to me should not exceed any dimension on a Thinkpad X61.

I personally am very fond of the 8.9" form factor. Where did they all go to?!

Pdaholic
10-29-2009, 03:51 AM
I think Dell stopped making the Mini 9, right? I have a Mini 9, and I love it. It goes everywhere in my backpack, and I hardly know it's there. Lighter than most of my books. I was hoping manufacturers would stay at this size, and just keep making them lighter and adding things (like dvd drives). I guess I just want a fully functioning laptop in the lightest and smallest functional package possible!

Lee Yuan Sheng
10-29-2009, 07:32 AM
Yea, it seems people want them bigger. I think this is really a problem of market mis-segmentation as well as misplaced needs. People want to have a cheap notebook that's not too heavy, and thus choose a netbook, but realise it's not quite the thing. Manufacturers build bigger versions to appease them and grab a larger slice of this pie. Since they're cheap, it's quite the growth sector, despite what I think are even worse than pitiful margins.

Felix Torres
10-29-2009, 03:00 PM
When I started my purchase run at my netbook, I was determined to go with the 8.9" models; plenty of Acers still to be found cheap.

I found there are a lot of 10 inch models that are physically the same size and weight as the 8.9s. There are even some 11 inchers that come close.

In the end I went with the 11in wxga screen model which runs 2.7 lbs with the small battery and 3 lbs with the bigger one. The extra inch allows for a full size keyboard and I lucked out; it fits nicely in the neoprene sleeve and leather case I have from my IBM Z50 era. (The pre netbook Jupiter HPCs)

I think the netbook market is, over time, going to diverge into 11.6 screen clamshells at 3 lbs and 8.9" slates like the Archos 9 at under 2lbs. A big change from the early 7" designs but feature creep comes to all products and eventually market forces will optimize the product. With Win7 and multitouch on the slates and the unavoidable hype from the mythical Apple slate, the keyboardless netbooks will take over the smaller form factors. They make excellent ebook readers, too.