Netbooks: Small but disruptive

Economist ^ | 06/11/09

[TigerLikesRooster]

Small but disruptive

Jun 11th 2009 | SAN FRANCISCO AND TAIPEI

From The Economist print edition

Laptops are evolving—and forcing the rest of the computer industry to change

IT WAS like waiting for Godot: in the end, the great man did not come. The crowd at Apple’s jamboree in San Francisco this week was visibly disappointed when Steve Jobs, the computer-maker’s legendary chief executive, did not even put in a brief appearance after a six-month medical leave. But another no-show was perhaps more important. Proving many techno-pundits wrong, Apple did not present a “tablet”—a pared-down computer in both size and abilities, with a touch screen. Had it done so, it might have helped settle a question that has preoccupied the personal computer (PC) industry for some time: are netbooks—cheap and basic laptops that are flying off the shelves—just a fad, or the future?

The answer is probably both, as an “iPad”, or whatever Apple’s device may be called, would have demonstrated. Netbooks are already being supplanted by a plethora of new gadgets, including tablets and increasingly computer-like mobile phones (see article). But the idea they embody, that a near-permanent connection to the internet permits simpler technology, is already changing the economics of the PC business.

[null and void]

I see this story has legs...

[Larry Lucido]

OMG, they’ve evolved legs???

[pennyfarmer]

I love my netbook.

I use it as a GPS navigation unit in the car. I use it with astronomy software when I have the telescope out. I use it as a cookbook when I am in the kitchen.

It is possibly the most versatile computer I have ever owned.

[chris_bdba]

Does anyone have a mini netbook? If so can you tell me how many usb ports they have? I’ve looked all over the internet and no one seems to answer this question. I need atleast two to send machine embroidry designs to my embroidry machine and still be able to use a mouse. One of thse would be great because they are cheap and would save me from having to move my machine to the computer and also if I drop it accidently I only lose $300!

[KarlInOhio]

For the typical user running web/email/word processing/simple spreadsheets we have topped out on the processing power needed. Other than the ever increasing demands of Windows, most users are looking for smaller (and easier to carry), longer battery life, more rugged and with a constant net connection. Gamers and other people doing heavy CPU operations like authoring DVDs and big graphics still need the "big iron" and faster CPUs, but most others would be better served by smaller computers. It comes to the point where the human interface with a screen big enough to see and a keyboard big enough to type on are the limiting factor in practical computers size. (I consider an iPhone to be too small to do any real data input on).

[txroadkill]

I love my little netbook. I mounted it in my truck and added a $30 GPS program and receiver plus mobile broadband. I’ve got live traffic, e-mail, I can search for addresses on line, my kids watch movies on long trips, and best of all, I can FReep on the move.

[null and void]

[Insert Johnny Hart “Clams got legs” cartoon here]

[9YearLurker]

I’ve got an Asus eee and I love it. (Keep it as a live backup and for those times when I want to carry a small laptop.) Anyway, plenty of USB ports, this one has three:
http://eeepc.asus.com/global/products101-spec.html

[Nathan Zachary]

"It is possibly the most versatile computer I have ever owned."

Until you are drive out into the country and there is no internet. Then it becomes the most useless computer you've ever owned, since all the useful programs on it are web based.

Plus I don't like the idea that personal or business work is on some server somewhere in cyber space where it is vulnerable to being stolen.

[Nathan Zachary]

You can buy a e machine or Acer laptop with a dual core Pentium and 2 mb ram, plus a large hard drive for about the same price at Walmart. They usually have 4 usb ports on most laptops.

Alternatively, you could always buy a USB hub for a USB port challenged notebook.

[Big Giant Head]

Mine has two or three, I forget. I’m not on it at the moment. Buy a refurbished one on ebay for under $200 and your argument has even MORE merit....

I paid $155 shipped for my Asus 8.9 inch Linux version. I want a 10” for the better keyboard.

[ottbmare]

I wanted to buy a netbook, but realized that the keyboards of the affordable models are really too small for my hands. You can get netbooks with larger keyboards but those models are so expensive you might as well get a full-featured laptop.

I don’t see the point, frankly.

[Big Giant Head]

Then it becomes the most useless computer you've ever owned, since all the useful programs on it are web based.

Uh, what? I have programs on mine. Office programs, games.....

[dfwgator]

If there is even one USB it is easy to add on as many USB ports as you need.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I need atleast two to send machine embroidry designs to my embroidry machine and still be able to use a mouse.

All you need is one, to which you can attach a USB Hub.

[PugetSoundSoldier]

I use my Windows Mobile based cell phone (a Samsung i760) for telecommunications, and since it runs Windows Mobile I can edit Word, Excel, PowerPoint, I can view PDFs, etc. With the Freedom Mini Bluetooth GPS all my Bluetooth devices (laptop, cell phone, etc) have highly accurate GPS at all times, too.

What makes my phone a slam-dunk tool (because the phone is always with me - it's my only phone number) is the Celio Redfly. Now I have a large screen, 90% sized keyboard, and 10+ hours run-time. It makes the Windows Mobile platform truly an alternative to a full-blown computer. In fact, I have a server on the Internet that I connect to remotely with my cell phone. I can run FEA simulations from anywhere I get cell phone reception, from my phone. My laptop rarely leaves the house any more - it's my phone and the tiny, lightweight, long-lasting Redfly.

Not to mention the Redfly is just the right size to be truly usable on an airplane - it's small enough that I don't have problems putting it on my tray, but big enough it's easy to read and type on. I turn the phone on, and leave it in my pocket, holster, or bag and just work on the Redfly (Bluetooth connectivity). Great accessory!

[RosieCotton]

I think you’re confused as to what these actually do. Current netbooks are basically just small, basic computers that are otherwise like any other computers. They run Windows, any office software you’d run on any other computer, have hard drives with as much capacity as many regular laptops, etc. They don’t have huge screens or optical drives, the keyboards tend to be compressed a bit (some more than others—some are pretty much full size) and you can’t get a high-end graphics card in a netbook, but other than that, they’re fully featured.

[9YearLurker]

I don’t have any work or apps up in cyberspace. Have XP as the OS, and my two sacrifices are not all web pages showing all you’d want in a single screen and having Works rather than Office—so having to convert docs between them. But it’s a heck of a lot smaller and lighter to carry with me and a bargain.

[VeniVidiVici]

Until you are drive out into the country and there is no internet. Then it becomes the most useless computer you've ever owned,

Think you're confusing a netbook with something else.

The new netbooks are small screened, usually 8"-10" and have wifi, ethernet, usb and either an SSD or legacy drive.

I, too use mine with a Delorme GPS system in my Jeep and it's awesome. There are few other programs I need on it as other than occasional surfing on the couch I have my regular laptop or desktop.

Best part is one with a 16GB SSD and extra gig of ram for $25 put my netbook at about $300.