Today's Netbook Market: Current Trends and Our Take Discussion

[Charles P. Jefferies]

The market for netbook computers (you know, those miniature laptops) has exploded since their inception in late 2007. Today we take a look at current and future netbook market trends, netbooks themselves, and the pros/cons of netbook ownership.

Read the full content of this Article: Today's Netbook Market: Current Trends and Our Take

[vēer]

Nice overview. Im still hoping that someone puts Core i or next gen CULV into 10" form factor just like Panasonic did with their R8 (Core 2 Duo SUxxxx)/R9 (Core i7 LV) laptops.
I wonder why no one else released netbook sized laptop with real CPU and couple hundreds $ more price tag than netbook?
I would be willing to get something like Panasonic R9 but with sub 1000$ price tag squeezed into 10" form factor, shouldnt be that hard nor much more expensive to produce than netbook, i think profits can be made in this category as well but probably not so many consumers will want to look at tiny 10" screen.
Now there are rumors about dual core N series Atoms coming, but im not sure those will meet my and many other potential user requirements :/

[JTF2]

Interesting read, though I can honestly say I would never buy a netbook. You might as well just get a smartphone. Email is a breeze on any modern smartphone, web browsing... well that's getting there, depending on what phone and network you use. Though if you're on wifi it shouldn't be much different from a netbook.

I would never want to suffer a 3 hour lecture with a cramped netbook keyboard. The bigger chassis of an ultra thin is a huge plus in the comfort factor - screen and keyboard size - and doesn't seriously detract from a netbook's other main benefits, size/weight and battery life. In short, I can't wait for the death of the netbook. I'm also glad this website has stopped reviewing them constantly, and are getting back to some more real laptops

[ChristopherAKAO4]

Because networks typically cost between $250 and $300, they become an impulse buy for holiday shoppers.

Might want to fix that.

[bjcadstuff]

Just over a year ago I really wanted a netbook, but I have other computers and I had no real justification for buying one. In the year since I decided that a single core processor wouldn't do it for me and ideally I would like to have a screen slightly larger than 10". Well by this past Christmas there was a good selection of 13" CULV dual core notebooks out so I couldn't wait any longer and bought one of those. It is still relatively small and light, but it came with Win7 Premium and the dual core processor adds a good performance increase, and it has good battery life.

However for veer or anybody else interested, there are a few models of CULV machines available with screens in the 11" range.

[yuio]

I still think netbooks are a bit of a fad. selling well-yes. but a fad none the less. all of my friends that own them wish they had gotten the 13inch eg HP DM3.

[zeth006]

I'll admit it. For a long time, I was considering a netbook purchase soon as netbooks were first released 3 years back. But after reading reviews and listening to owners' experiences, I'm glad I held back.

I'm sure netbooks have their functions and I'm sure there are satisfied owners out there. But if there's one thing I learned to dread back in my Pentium 1 and 3 days, it's slow application load times. Call me impatient all you want. But I decided long ago that if I'm going to spend hard-earned money on an internet-capable device, the least it should be able to do is open winamp, Firefox/Chrome, and Office in short time. The problem I have with netbooks is even with the Nvidia Ion GPUs now available, I'm not so sure I could seriously use a netbook for more than 30 minutes before getting myself into bouts of impatience.

That's why I've decided to ditch the netbook and go with an ultraportable for school for a few hundred more. A bigger screen with a dual/quad-core processor, ok battery life, solid construction fits the bill.

[Mikazukinoyaiba]

Netbooks are great solely as companion PCs for when you're on a trip or for when you have a desktop at home.

If you're a student who doesn't play games, I agree ultraportables trump netbooks. I have only one computer and thus as netbook wouldn't due for me, a 13" ultraportable is what I require. Long battery life, light weight, a full keyboard, and a large enough screen to view and work on for hours.

[vēer]

However for veer or anybody else interested, there are a few models of CULV machines available with screens in the 11" range.

Well yes, i know there is plenty of 11.6" CULV notebooks out there, but im curious about something even smaller, not Sony's 11.1", rather Panasonic's 10.4"
As for netbooks as a whole - i dont know how powerful and user-upgradeable software wise smartbooks will be, but i believe that they will co-exist for quite some time, because what smartbooks cant is running WinXP/W7 and thus limiting its use as web browsing tool ONLY for vast majority of users, some actually do want to install some productivity software on their netbooks and use them just like they do with desktops/full sized laptops.
And yes, i do agree that netbook is only good as complementary laptop, especially for those who travel alot and dont want to risk with expensive computer being stolen.

[Angelic]

I've always thought their use was too limited to be taken seriously, but people like having a portable secondary laptop.