Netbook Computer Sales Soaring

One of the fastest evolving aspects of computer technology is the portable computer, whether it be the laptop, notebook, or netbook. Even in a slumping economy, companies are finding netbook sales soaring. Acer sold 5 million in 2008 and expects to at least double the sales for 2009.

April 2010 will see the release of Wifi and Wifi-3G capabale iPad, an electronic tablet with the ability to read ebooks, cruise the Internet, display color in a 9.7 in. model that starts at $499. For what it doesn't have it will make up in the devoted Apple users jumping on it as soon as possible. The iPad looks like a sleek presenter of content with a limited ability to create content considering the limitations of the on-screen electronic keyboard.

The netbook has found a niche in the computing world by offering users a low price and a small size. The netbook is larger than hand-held devices and smaller than laptops and notebooks. A generally accepted definition of a netbook is a computing device that is between 5 and 10 inches, weighs less than 3 pounds, uses a simplified operating system (Linux or Windows XP), is low priced, and relies on remote access to Web-based applications.

On April 10, 2009, AT&T announced that they would be selling their version of a netbook for as low as $50 contingent on the buyer signing a data plan contract. AT&T has shown interest on entering the e-book market after considering the success of Sprint/Amazon's electronic book reader, Kindle. Kindle's success has come from its ability to access Amazon's huge 250,000 titles wirelessly.

As technology advances, it is inevitable that the definition of netbooks will change and has done so already. Some of the key features of a netbook are the simplicity of their use: many do not have optical hard drives, and they are used primarily to access the Web wirelessly without the expense and added drag of memory intensive software.

Linux was the preferred operating system of netbooks due to its quick boot time and low processing power, but with the introduction of faster processors (e.g. Intel's Atom 1.6 GHz processor) other operating systems have become possible players.

At one time solid-state drives (SSD) instead of hard drives were the standard for a netbook, but with time almost everything is starting to change concerning the basics of a netbook. Even the price of netbooks is starting to show signs of change with the release of the pricey but amazingly powerful Sony VAIO P (see below).

Battery power can be an issue. The lower-priced machines may provide only one to two hours of power with three-cell batteries. Six-cell batteries can provide four hours or more.

As HP's category manager Kyle Thornton says of notebooks, they "aren't meant to replace PCs but rather to be a companion." And though netbooks are not designed to run a lot of popular software nor have extended battery time, if you "want a second computer . . . this is the perfect companion PC."

Some of the latest and best in netbooks.

• Asus T91 (www.asus.com): special features include a swivel tablet, touch and stylus screen, GPS, FM transmitter, TV tuner. Asus has always been a key source of quality netbooks. The T91's price is unavailable at the present. (see picture)

• Dell Inspiron Mini 9 ($299, $449 with mobile broadband; www.dell.com): special features include 8.9-inch display, 3G mobile broadband, and 3G-data SIM card into the slot beneath the battery.

• MSI Wind ($349.99; www.msicomputer.com): special features include a 10-inch screen, large keyboard, Intel Atom technology, and numerous PC ports.

• Sony VAIO P ($900; www.sonystyle.com): special features include weighing just 1.4 pounds, 1,600 x 768 display, 3G mobile broadband, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS, excellent keyboard, Windows Vista, 2GB DDR2 SDRAM, 60GB hard drive to a 128GB solid-state drive,Verizon Wireless 3G mobile broadband, Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n); Stereo A2DP Bluetooth®.

Others of note: Samsung NC10 ($469) has up to seven hours of battery power; Acer Aspire One ($350) boasts a 160-GB hard drive, Windows XP, and a fast processor.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netbooks

Farwell, Jennifer, "Netbooks, Features and Options, PC Today, March, 2009. http://pctoday.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles%2F2009%2Ft0703%2F09t03%2F09t03%2Easp&articleid=54077&guid=60302EE17B194D2FADCFF56F5DD38749&searchtype=0&WordList=NETBOOKS+FEATURES&bJumpTo=True

"Quick Guide to Notebooks and Portables," PC Today, March, 2009. http://pctoday.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles%2F2009%2Ft0703%2F06t03%2F06t03%2Easp&articleid=54005&guid=60302EE17B194D2FADCFF56F5DD38749&searchtype=0&WordList=NETBOOKS+FEATURES&bJumpTo=True

Scoble, Robert. "Net Worth," Fast Company, April, 2009, p. 56.