Comments on: 2009: Netbook or notebook?

If a good number of people start opting for a Netbook, then we have the foundation of, at the very least, a rethinking of the pricey ultraportable.

[Pointedly]

Two words: Multiple desktops.

[dragonbite]

I prefer a Netbook with Linux installed. Practically guarantee hardware compatibility, portable size and reasonable price tag all sounds good to me!

Then again, I also go for the Netbook because that's the OS I'm familiar with (Linux or Windows XP).

[Iamtrifan]

i currently have a good c2d desktop, c2d laptop, htc p3600i and ipod touch but still looking at the netbooks for useable internet surfing and some ware to dump my digtal photos when memory card is full (which the p3600i and ipod touch don't forfill) when away from my other machines.
Also working in pc sales(Australia) I have found that it is a lot of travelers that are buying the netbooks for their light weight and using them for booking their next accomadation, photo dump, to hold a change of music for their ipods and as a way of keeping in touch with their family and friends.
now compare using the above senaros;
Mcbook Air 1.2 kg $1900;
sony viao tt 1.3kg $3000;
cheap laptop 2.6kg $600;
netbook w/hdd >1.1kg $565
prices given are general rrps and you will certainly get better if you look around and don,t include cashbacks or rebates but upfront you pay

[Iamtrifan]

oops made mistake with price a MBA should be $2900, was think of normal macbook

For me the choice is simple.
As I print to multiple Photocopier based printers (none of which have postscript, jobs that are more than the simple print ie duplexed and hole punched) ill be going for the Netbook over the Mac as the Mac cant print to a PCL only printer you have to buy the post script options for the printers I print too.

Mac really needs to get to gether with the copier manufacturers and develope proper print drivers not one of those damn clunky PCL wrappers.
Cheers
DrW

[within6degrees]

I have a few ultraportables, including a Flipstart and a Netbook, and I love them both for different reasons. My Flipstart is the device I carry with me everywhere, and just happen to have in case I need a computer (a fantastic luxury:-). It is also a terrific entertainment device, especially when it comes to Ebooks. It is just the right size--as comfortable as a book in my hands---and with a pair of nice bluetooth headphones (I have the Motorola S9), it is also terrific for enjoying music and audiobooks.
But I bought it cheap when the company closed down and I would not have been able to afford it at $2,000--its debut price. I think that this has always been the problem with those really expensive ultraportable devices---they had to confine their sales focus to the professional businessman who could afford them, and it seriously limited their market. The other problem was that even rich businessmen would not feel comfortable loading their expensive work UMPC's up with entertainment; books, music, movies, etc, and a window to the digital world and all of the entertainment it has to offer is by far the best application for these devices---at least it is for the Flipstart. The computer is adequate for work, but killer as a rugged personal entertainment device. The other problem is that people are not going to pay so much for this kind of in-between device, even if they could afford it. The use defined the price people expected to pay--less than a laptop, more than a phone, and the fact that these things were priced higher than most laptops killed the product.
Enter the Netbooks, which gave people the price they expected, and enough applications to be happy. I am not surprised they were a hot item this Christmas. My Netbook was easy to afford, great for writing, and is adequate for most laptop applications. And the price made buying it a no-brainer.
The next step is to invent something that is as great to use as a Flipstart, but is priced like a Netbook. I think we haven't arrived at the perfect ultraportable yet. But with Netbooks, we are really close.
One more thing---if you want the ultraportable to be a true essential, you should gear your market towards high school or college students. Businessmen know they can live without UMPC's---they've been doing it for years. But you give college kids the choice of having to lug a thousand pound backpack around to classes all day or a 1 lb computer with all of their E-textbooks, and throw in access to Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, Videophone via Skype,a camera, a library of movies, music, etc., and all of the sudden the UMPC seems like a serious necessity. Not only that, but most college campuses have Internet access thrown in if you're a student, which would make the subscription fees a non-issue.
So---Netbooks are not surprisingly all the rage now, but we're not there yet. The perfect UMPC sensation is still to come, and it when it does, it won't cost $1,800. :-)

[john55440]

2009: Netbook or Smartphone? Do most people really need both?

As for me, my main computer is a powerful desktop. I may pick up a netbook as a secondary computer someday, but not next year.

[hkuwert]

The size issue is minor , I do full digital photo editing on a 12" g4 powerbook . Being able to get wifi when traveling - walk around with the notebook " pinched " with 3 fingers like a pie plate is great .

Slide it out of a bag and flip it open like a magazine is priceless, using less desk or lap space - makes much more useable .

With memory prices falling , I see a 10" net book with all ram / flash memory in the future . With say 4GB ram 100 GB memory web cam , 10 hour lithium- ion battery for $250 .

[BenzTech]

I personally love the AIR. Used one at an Apple store recently and was very impressed by the vibrant screen, especially when compared to the new Macbook (hello super-glare!).

Ended up buying an eeePC, though. Price aside, I just had a hard time living with one USB port. The Asus has three AND an SD card slot. Portability is great and all, and granted I probably don't use more than one USB device at a time...... but just in case.....

Junked the XP for Ubuntu, and I've never been happier. Not to mention the killer battery power.

[matthewbulat]

Consider using a laptop at your desk and a Netbook when traveling. Your electrical running costs will be $100s less each year compared to a desktop. I have created an computer energy calculator to work out the savings. http://www.matthewb.id.au/media/Computer_Energy_Calculator.html If your want to test your efficiency skills then try the Green IT Quiz. http://www.matthewb.id.au/energy/Green_IT_Efficiency_Quiz.html

[becton22]

Netbooks can be hooked into rj-45 cables to surf for free in most hotels, where as most hotels charge for wifi access. People who travel often would know this. The Ipod touch because of wifi only becomes very expense or useless in most hotels. Frankly, typing on an Ipod Touch is inefficient. And let's not forget that the small form factor of net books is perfect for children. I'd rather have a 7 year old on their netbook than my $2700 mega laptop.

[samjohnston]

A "netbook" is an "Internet notebook" - a single-purpose device designed to do one thing (Internet browsing) well. A laptop on the other hand is a general purpose device with a general purpose operating system on which you can run many applications of your choice. There will always be a grey area in the middle but there is nothing to say you can't have a large, expensive netbook.

[davide1982]

Of course, recent trends have considerably diminished the difference between these 2 gadgets, but anyway there are still points to consider before purchasing one or another. Below I've tried to list them all:

http://www.myhowtoos.com/en/how-to-choose/87-how-to-choose-between-netbook-vs-laptop

[chadkutz]

right now im going to tell you all why i currently use a mini. i personaly dont know what macbook airs are like but i can only tell you what i know, i as a mini user am very, very satisfied because i luv the portability of it and how fast it is, especially when u use 3g or city networks, but from what i have read (as i have been thinking about getting an air) i have found every where that the mini's have more ram and gb's and that is what i need in a netbook, plus i dunt care for cd drives because i have externals, but a mac and mini i like the style equally but i have searched online interfaces for the macs and at my friends mac pro, and i find the interface a little hard at bfirst but after like a day or 2 u get used to it pretty quick, so right now im teedering on wether i should drop the mini and get an airso for me its about the same theyare both very good in my eyes