Current location: Home Laptop News Netbooks - About Price Or Portability?

Netbooks - About Price Or Portability?

Posted by Daniel Shain

Comments
3
Likes
1
Dislikes
0

9513_main_NetbookQuestions.jpg

In a troubled time for the world economy, from which the tech world has not been excluded, netbooks have been a consistent hot seller. Is that because netbooks have fit into a new consumer need for something smaller and lighter than traditional laptops, or just because they're cheaper?

I read a few interesting articles today that made me think. First, over at Engadget, Mr. Gartenberg has predicted the end of netbooks by basically describing the same trend that I've been seeing for a while. In short, he predicts the end of the term "netbooks" because a netbook has always been more about price point than about portability, and his evidence is that while prices have been stable the size of a netbook has continually increased. So a netbook will eventually fully blend into a notebook. He concludes that he'd like to see that happen.

Though we have slightly different tastes, so would I. 13-14" display, HD resolution, lots of RAM, dual core processor and a $500 price point by 2010 you say? Sign me up!

But I also understand that the current netbook is a portable thing. I understand the value it has as a companion to a desktop. According to NPD, 60% of consumers don't. To be more specific, "60 percent of buyers said they never even took their netbooks out of the house" and "60 percent of consumers who purchased a netbook instead of a notebook thought their netbooks would have the same functionality as notebooks".

Really? A netbook may one day become a laptop, but it's not there yet. This seems to support the argument that the majority of people don't buy a netbook for the "right" reasons - that they buy it only for price. According to a recent Laptop Magazine poll about netbook use, over 50% of its readers only occasionally take their netbooks out of the house - and that's out of a pretty tech savvy readership.

So is that really what people are buying netbooks for? Is that what you would buy a netbook for? Let us know in the comments.

Rate this article

Most Popular Laptops at Pricegrabber.com

Model    
1. G71-340US Notebook [+] Best Offers  
2. Inspiron 14 Notebook [+] Best Offers  
3. Pavilion Dv6-2150us Notebook [+] Best Offers  

Comments

  • By: 247 Jul 03, 2009 5:17 PM

    For me, its a great companion to an array of devices: desktop, laptop, smartphone etc. Take the Dell mini (no HD and no optical drive). Perfect round the house with wireless. Fits in well with cloud computing. And plug in a 16Gb flash drive and your watching movies in the car or in bed. And rarely travel with the laptop as the netbook can be plugged in to projectors for powerpoint presentations. Add a 3G wireless modem and your online pretty much in any capital city. Anyone want to buy a laptop? 247

  • By: 247 Jul 03, 2009 5:17 PM

    For me, its a great companion to an array of devices: desktop, laptop, smartphone etc. Take the Dell mini (no HD and no optical drive). Perfect round the house with wireless. Fits in well with cloud computing. And plug in a 16Gb flash drive and your watching movies in the car or in bed. And rarely travel with the laptop as the netbook can be plugged in to projectors for powerpoint presentations. Add a 3G wireless modem and your online pretty much in any capital city. Anyone want to buy a laptop? 247

  • By: Matt Jun 25, 2009 12:47 PM

    I also read that Engadget article, can't say I liked it much.

    I believe it's price, and size, well it is for me.

    Everyone would of course spend less money, and netbooks are a great bargain!

    Portability is very important to me, and a sub 11-inch netbook, with a great battery is perfect for traveling around.

    The combination of this, with the lower price, makes it great for traveling. I would also rather loose my netbook, than my larger $1500 laptop!

Add your Comment

Verification Code
Verify (type this text in the box below the image)

Newsletter Sign-Up

Most Popular Laptops & Gear

  • 1. G71-340US Notebook

    G71-340US Notebook

  • 2. Inspiron 14 Notebook

    Inspiron 14 Notebook

  • 3. MacBook Notebook

    MacBook Notebook

  • 1. D3000 SLR Digital Camera Kit w/ 18-55mm Lens

    D3000 SLR Digital Camera Kit w

  • 2. EOS Rebel T1i Black SLR Digital Camera Kit w/...

    EOS Rebel T1i Black SLR Digit

  • 3. EOS Rebel XSi Black SLR Digital Camera Kit

    EOS Rebel XSi Black SLR Digita

  • 1. iPod Touch 8GB Black MP3 Player

    iPod Touch 8GB Black MP3 Playe

  • 2. iPod Touch 32GB Black MP3 Player

    iPod Touch 32GB Black MP3 Play

  • 3. iPod Touch 64GB Black MP3 Player

    iPod Touch 64GB Black MP3 Play

  • 1. Windows 7 Professional

    Windows 7 Professional

  • 2. LN32B360 32" LCD TV

    LN32B360 32" LCD TV

  • 3. Riley Gold Tone Multifunction Watch

    Riley Gold Tone Multifunction

Powered by
PriceGrabber.com

Reviews & News by brand

Latest Updates

  • ASUS Eee PC 1000HE

    The Eee PC has a slightly faster Atom processor and a faster FSB compared to the previous models. While this is not enough for anyone to upgrade, it could certainly attract first-time netbook buyers. Read More

  • Dell Vostro A860

    When price and performance must share in compromise, few laptops on the market readily answer the call of duty. When it comes to getting high quality at an affordable price, the Dell Vostro A860... Read More

  • Dell Mini 9

    By now Dell has a full range of netbooks in sizes 9", 10", and oddly a 12" model, of which we’re looking at the smallest 9-incher here. Read More

More Reviews

More Top Lists

  • Apple Worldwide Developers Conference 2009

    Yet again, Apple's professional geeks will offer up sessions and hands-on code probing and testing at Moscone West in San Francisco. The dates for 2009 are June 8-12. Read More

  • E3 Expo

    The E3 Expo - also known as the Electronic Entertainment Expo - is the one trade show to visit to get the latest news from the computer and video games industry. Read More

  • CeBIT - Hannover 3-8 March

    Unlike CES, CeBIT is open to the public, so there's no need to be a press or industry affiliate to have a look at this massive trade show, which is the largest in the world. Read More

  • International CES 2009

    Find out all you need to know about the 2009 International CES. It features 2,700 exhibitors, including companies who manufacture products or provide services for the audio, digital imaging, home... Read More

  • Mac World Conference

    Make sure to make a note about the Macworld Expo at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, January 5-9. If you're a Mac user and wish to meet equivalent people in the industry this is the place for you. Read More

More Events

More Apple

More Linux

More Microsoft

Editor's Choice

  • Weird, Extraordinary and Record-Breaking Laptops

    Here are the laptops that break one record or another, be it oldest, ugliest, cheapest or just very out of the ordinary. Read More

  • Top 10 Technologies of 2008

    Laptopical's T.J. Aaron summarizes the breakthroughs in technology of 2008. As we are nearing the end of 2008 - find out what made his Top 10 of the most successful and talked about technologies of... Read More

  • Top 10 Netbooks

    The netbook world has gotten increasingly crowded, and until the massive popularity of the form factor wanes this trend will only increase. Beyond Asus and Acer, major corporations like Dell, HP... Read More

Latest Laptopical.com tweets

  •  

Follow Laptopical.com on Twitter