Posted on 01/28/2009 10:03:59 AM PST by Domandred
A little more than a year ago, the computer industry came up with a new category of device: the "netbook."
Smaller than an ultra-portable laptop and designed primarily for Web surfing and e-mail, the hope was that these light-duty machines would carve out a new market sector as consumers' second- or even third-tier PCs — the equivalent of the kitchen TV.
Ironically, netbooks sales instead took off, thanks to the sluggish economy, and now threaten to cut into the margins of higher-end laptops. The computer industry may have succeeded in unintentionally cannibalizing its own products.
The day after market-research group NPD announced some of the first blockbuster numbers for netbook sales, I sat next to a college student on the train who was actually using one.
It was the Hewlett-Packard Mini-Note. She'd paid just under $300 for it, had had it for more than a month and was just raving about it.
"I tried them all, and this one had the biggest screen and the best keyboard," she said. "On some of the others, the keyboard was squished."
Netbooks can best be described as low-priced sub-notebook computers with limited storage, connectivity and functionality. Most of them use Intel's Atom processor and have built-in Wi-Fi but neither CD nor DVD drives.
When they first were unveiled in late 2007, many industry analysts were skeptical, to say the least.
At the low end, the machines were challenged by the expanding functionality of smartphones. At the high end, they were challenged by the shrinking size of full-function notebooks. One colleague even likened the genre to the Pet Rock.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
I own the Acer Aspire One. My father had the HP mini 1000 series, but didn't like the physical configuration and went got the Acer Aspire.
Posting this article as there is another market not mentioned. The business I and doing contract work for right now is moving AWAY from hand held PDA's for service techs and moving into these netbooks.
The PDA's aren't powerful enough and any custom software we write for them is problematic because if we want to move the software from a PDA to notebook/desktop we have to rewrite for a different OS. With a netbook running XP we don't have that issue and saves man power.
Second issue is that we can get a full functioning computer for less than the PDA in some cases, particularly if we are outfitting 20 service techs and don't want/need cell phone service for them.
Third issue is that a mobile computer PDA that has all the hardware required for some of our applications can cost upwards to $2500. Where we can turn around and grab a netbook + usb devices and come in under $500.
Netbooks are not "pet rocks" like industry people thought they would be in 2007.
Kind of neat.
Got an Acer Aspire w/ Windows XP. Love it!!!! I can slip it in my bag if I or the kids have an appointment. If there’s a long wait...we have it. I don’t have a network card, yet (too expensive) but I can hook my cell phone up and use it as a modem. :)
I got one of those Dell Mini 9’s a few months ago and I love it. Its the same size as those portable DVD Players and allows me to have a computer with me almost anywhere I need to.
Also very handy for my ham radio stuff when out working events and such. I Love my netbook :)
Mine goes in my lunchbox...and I’m a Mac guy!
Oh yea and one of the people here at work has tested World of Warcraft on her Aspire One. Said she wouldn’t run it in a raid or anything but kicking around in town while waiting for a meeting or appointment said works fine (other than screen real estate).
Would the size of the mini screen affect the picture the projector puts up on a screen ; or would the projector pick up the slides from the memory stick regardless of what computer is being used?- Tom
I have accumulated 3 in the last year. Two EEE PC’s Linux, and one Acer Aspire XP. Good deals out there!
I'm using them more and more. The EEE PC 701 takes up the least space, runs fast, excellent wifi, simple fast Xandros in ‘Easy Mode’, or Pupeee.
I like the Acer Aspire aspire mostly for the keyboard, easy to type on with big hands for more intensive typing operations.
The Meso looks interesting with Ubuntu, Ideapad has it's good points, I lost interest in the MSI Wind, price to high with descent features and looks bland.
I've been interested in an 12” laptop, the Dell Mini 12 looked good in the beginning, not much excitement though.
I'm thinking about Ubuntu on the Acer dual boot.
Think depends on the projector. The 10’ screen projector in my conference room here at work simply acts like a second monitor. Since the Aspire is a widescreen resolution I have to go into the video properties and tell it to use one of the standard resolutions for the projector.
Besides that looks the same as if was using a standard sized notebook computer.
Another thumbs up for ACER Aspire. Bought for my daughter and really love it. Very reasonably priced.
How do you do that?
I use T-Mobile service for my Blackberry (no, not rich, here, got it 2nd-hand) which I got the basic media service for. Went into the dealer and they downloaded the feature to use it as a modem. It’s free.
what kind of phone are you using?
Here is a vid that might help, too. There are a lot on YT that show how to do it. :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIYtPQJWZWQ&feature=related
I use my Treo as a modem. I have verizon and you need a special program but it’s downloadble for free
Yeah, but are you paying that bogus fee to do it?
I’ve got an HP 1030NR and love it. XP, 16 gig flash memory, 2 gig backup drive. Wireless and bluetooth. Cheap and good for editing docs and surfing, which is about all I do. I can sit in the living room, keep an eye on the kids, and grouse on FR.
My macBook Air has no dvd, cd.not even a hard drive.. It has this silly little solid state chip that is only 64 Gig.
Works really well.......... only way about a pound. greatest thing since sliced bread when coupled to a time machine and remote wireless N units.
Forgot that it cost over three grand... “o’ well.
My macBook Air has no dvd, cd.not even a hard drive.. It has this silly little solid state chip that is only 64 Gig.
Works really well.......... only way about a pound. greatest thing since sliced bread when coupled to a time machine and remote wireless N units.
Forgot that it cost over three grand... “o’ well.
And it hiccups ;^)
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