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.

[martin_fierro]

The Acer Aspire One that I’ve been noodling around with these last few weeks must have a hardware problem.

It kept locking up under XP, and now also under Linux.

[markomalley]

Posting from an Asus EEE 1000HA. It has three USB ports.

I have upgraded it from 1GB to 2GB RAM. When I get the $$$ together, I will replace the 160GB hard drive with a solid state hard drive (a 64GB drive costs around $300). With the 6-cell battery, I figure my battery life will be over 10 hours!

Love this little toy!

[Nathan Zachary]

I use Microsoft street and trips on my laptop. It even tells you where construction zones are and creates alternative routes for you. It isn't dependent on any internet broadband signal either. It works like any GPS device. Your broadband dependent notebook would be useless once you are out of signal range, which is usually within a few miles of most cities perimeters.

[Nathan Zachary]

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

Yep, and once you are out of range of a broadband data signal, they become useless. That usually only extends few miles past the cities perimeter, depending on the coverage your provider has. Sometimes it can be further, but then you get dinged with roaming fees if it switches to another carriers signal.

[Nathan Zachary]

"I, too use mine with a Delorme GPS system in my Jeep and it's awesome."

Thats probably simular to microsofts street and trips GPS. Should work everywhere as long as you can see sky.

[Nathan Zachary]

I was looking at a few of those notebooks. The ones I was goofing with didn't have very much on them, all web based music/media stuff that is useless if you aren't near a flyin' j or hotel with a wireless internet signal. Plus they didn't have any with at least a duo core processor. No different wifi- wireless internet wise than the Toshiba laptop I have now, except the Toshiba is all business with the full office suite.

It has Microsoft vista business OS, however, which really sucks. Always having problems with it freezing up, sucking up memory. it's all that security garbage vista came out with that seems to be at the root of it's problems. It would probably be a better machine if it had XP.

[txroadkill]

that’s what i have, I must not be using it right because i can only get construction info via the internet, not thru the gps.

[Lokibob]

I have np idea what you are talking about with this “a few miles out of town” business.

I took my Asus aspire out on the Great Salt Lake desert this am. I was 100 miles from town (SLC) and the netbook performed flawlessly.

If I am around a wireless connection, I go with the hot spots, but switch to broadband if I can not find a wireless hot spot. With an unlimited data plan, if you can hit a cell tower with your cell phone, you have internet access. Look at most coverages, and you will see that the interstates are all covered, and 50 miles either side of them.

I have no idea what you want for performance, but that is plenty of performance for me.

BTW, AT&T and Qwest offer 1,000’s of wireless hot spots free to their customers now. Mostly McDonalds, Starbucks, abd B Dalton Book stores, but across the country.

.....Bob

[chris_bdba]

Thanks for all of the info! I know about hubs but the problem is that the embroidery machine needs a direct usb port and so far will not run off of a hub atleast none that I have tried. Since it will be pretty much used only for file transfer and my software only runs on XP is the reason why I’m mostly looking at the mini netbooks otherwise it would be a wide open field. I run a mac exclusively but for file transfer this is a very cheap way to go and makes it so I don’t have to take a chace on dropping an over $5K embroidery machine moving it to the computer. Thanks for the info about refurbished that would probably make a 10” more affordable!

[VeniVidiVici]

With an unlimited data plan, if you can hit a cell tower with your cell phone, you have internet access. Look at most coverages, and you will see that

My cell can be used as a modem. I can connect with Bluetooth or USB to my laptop. Haven't had a need to use it yet with my netbook as I only use it with my GPS on the road.

The Delorme topo maps give me great detail off-road. Combined with the superb software and a cheap netbook, I'm out the door for less than a hand-held gps with a smaller screen :)

[Lokibob]

I got my Acer at Wal Mart for $299 + tax.

Cancer has removed my vocal chords, so I am using the netbook and a text to speech software (etriloquist) to get my voice back. It is perfect at 1 lb. I can go to restaurants and order what I want.

....Bob

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Try looking at these:

ASRock NetTop ION 330

***************************EXCERPT*********************************

At the rear of the ION 330 are the DC power connector , S/PDIF, three analog audio ports, Gigabit Ethernet, six USB 2.0 ports, one HDMI port, and then a VGA D-Sub connector.

Manufacter Site:

ASROCK NetTop Series

Not sure who is selling this....Newegg sells their motherboards but I don't see the ION as yet....

[goldstategop]

A netbook is intended as a backup to a full sized laptop and you can use it during the times you want portability and ease of convenience. It will do 90% of what the bigger PC does and the only limitation is it can't handle intensive games, video editing and multi-tasking functions. Then again you wouldn't be doing them on a netbook.