The Netbook Revolution is Over, But it Served a Purpose

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://blog.laptopmag.com/the-netbook-revolution-is-over-so-what-did-you-win' target='_blank'>http://blog.laptopmag.com/the-netbo...hat-did-you-win</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Congratulations! The netbook revolution is over and you won. Monday, Intel announced the general availability of new systems from most major vendors featuring its dual-core Atom N550 processor. The company also shared that it has shipped over 70 million Atom CPUs since it first launched the low-voltage, low-priced platform back in 2008. Yet with so much success has come massive stagnation-and even declines in sales. The problem isn't that netbooks have failed. On the contrary, they've succeeded so well that they have become irrelevant."</em></p><p>Despite what some iPad hype-masters would have us believe, the drop is netbook sales has nothing to do with the iPad coming out - the reality is that netbooks re-shaped the notebook landscape,&nbsp;cluing&nbsp;manufacturers into the fact that for online tasks, a small form factor and "good enough" hardware are what many consumers were looking for. Netbooks still sell, especially amongst certain segments (they're big with students), but because the technology in a 2010 netbook isn't very different from a 2008 netbook, it's not surprising that people aren't rushing out to replace their hardware - especially since, odds are the first netbook they bought meets the "good enough" criteria.</p>

[Hooch Tan]

Netbooks still sell, especially amongst certain segments (they're big with students), but because the technology in a 2010 netbook isn't very different from a 2008 netbook, it's not surprising that people aren't rushing out to replace their hardware - especially since, odds are the first netbook they bought meets the "good enough" criteria.


To this I will completely agree. Netbooks have largely stagnated over the past couple of years. Manufacturers seemed to quickly pick up on some tweaks when the netbook first came out, but most of the technology in them remain the same, with the possible exception of HD/3D accelerators, which are not in wide distribution.

Dual-core netbooks might help some, but I think the iPad rush is partly fuelled because people are looking for something fresh and new. Existing netbooks look very dull by comparison, regardless of what capabilities they have.

[crimsonsky]

I have a netbook (the only Windows machine in a house full of Macs) and it serves its purpose for the few times I use it. The biggest advantages - 1) It's cheaper than an iPad, 2) it has a full and useable keyboard, and 3) I can run full versions of programs on it. And actually, using a netbook optimised OS like Ubuntu NBR or Meego or JoliCloud, the netbook experience can be quite nice.

[John London]

My Asus is from 2008 and it runs W7. Can be sluggish at times, but over all it does fine for all the things I need. I really only use the netbook when I am on the road as the 10 inch screen is hard to look at any long periods of time. And the keyboard is to small for my fat fingers.