Comments on: The evolution of the Netbook

The line between an Atom-powered, low-cost Netbook and a traditional notebook is blurring.

[Mr. Dee]

To be honest with you, if I got a Netbook right now, I am most likely to use if as my main laptop for the things I do on a PC a lot, IM, surf the web, web mail, light word processing and listen to music. That's basically what most user's though with the exception of my brother who I see opening Microsoft Publisher a lot lately to create business cards.

[czmyt]

It's such a shame that Microsoft Outlook is too much of a resource hog to run with decent performance on these Atom-powered machines. I could sure benefit from a slimmed-down version of Outlook that would run decently on my netbooks.

[scarlethawk]

Maybe Open Office could be an alternative. http://www.openoffice.org/product/

[Maccess]

Maybe, Thunderbird will work, as well as a slimmed down XP Home version using XP Lite at litepc.com

[newminilaptop]

I'm a big fan of gmail. It takes care of mailing, address book, and scheduling... sharing is a breeze... plus you don't need to install anything =)

[becton22]

Leave it to the computer companies to cannibalize their own high end products. Acer and Asus got it right. A netbook is a small notebook that allows you to access the web. small storage, decent graphics, sturdy. All the people needing film editing 160GB have to buy a standard or better notebook. Keep the netbooks dead simple, but reliable.

[Dan7637]

netbooks are stupid and suck with those crappy specs, just buy a low end compaq and you will get a better machine at about same price

[gbelk08]

I completely agree that some $450 Compaq machines are more powerful than any netbook. But the Eee PC I'm typing from hasn't been charged all day thanks to it's 6 hour battery life. As a college student this is wonderful for taking notes and having a computer away from my apartment. The extended battery was the reason I bought my Eee 901, not the specs.

[clamenza]

It'd also be much heavier for many people, who have other things to carry as well.

[Maccess]

What many netbook and notebook users don't realize is that at your desk at home or office, a netbook (and notebook) can be attached to a large screen LCD monitor--with added equipment, it can even be attached to two or three LCD monitors, and an external keyboard and mouse.

[linuxkg100]

Hi ... I have a Acer Aspire One Netbook, I also have a Dell Studio 15' Notebook. I must say, I was like wierd on the idea of the netbook to at first. But I use my netbook just as much as my Notebook. It's clearly my Notebook has become my desktop replacement. Guess what the netbook has become, yep you guess it. my Notebook replacement. My netbook is smaller, so it's easier to conceal and carry around, and yes it's might not be a gamer power house PC, but it's great for quick access to web, and checking email, checking myspace blogs and stuff like that. I even use twitter on it. Yeah the netbook is not for the ones that are into performance. But it sure does the trick for passing time when you waiting to get your car repaired. Oh yeah also it's nice for listening to podcasts to while you wait. :)

[WhoMe14]

I love my Samsung NC10 netbook. I now only use my netbook, while my overpriced and outdated desktop collects dust. I know some hardware companies are scoffing at this market or trying to twist it into some high fashion high dollar gadget (Sony); but lets be honest; most users don't do much more than web, email and, word processing. These machines can do that and the price is right. At this time, with the recession in full swing THESE are the machines people want and can afford to want. The companies that refuse to acknowledge this market are going to lose. Sure you can get a 15inch laptop for close to the 500 netbook mark, but its a 15 inch notebook! You guys are missing the point; At work when I bust out the NC10 and everyone else is lugging around 15s....they looks and say, "Oh wow.....where can I get that and how much?" Size matters, and while they are tethered to the wall charging that two hour battery I'm free for cables for six carrying something thats no bigger than a book.

[Open Outlet]

For me, my laptop is a secondary computer anyway. I use it for basic computing stuff: word processing, email, everything that does not need a lot of resources. So from a marketing standpoint are some of these manufacturers suggesting that consumers own a desktop, a regular laptop and a netbook? I think HP has it right and is paying attention to people like me who already use any laptop as a secondary computer.

[hnwu]

The success of netbook last year is just a signal from consumers for change. People need a convenient device for communication, not as big as the notebook but not as small as a smart phone.

You may see a possible replacement for netbook, a pocketbook design from Acroscape. A 7-inch screeen plus a 3.5-inch screen (total area around 7.2-inch screen) functions like a 9.3-inch screen. My favorite application is the cooking recipe on one screen and the video instruction on the other. More information from Acroscape press release at http://www.acroscape.com/p11709.pdf.

[NWLB]

I replaced my ancient Fujitsu B2130 with a Acer Aspire One....bought on Amazon BTW not at a retail store. Yes you can rip on the specs, but I use it at work, dealing mainly in matters of e-commerce and such. It does everything I need, does it well, and has a six cell battery that lasts all day.

They are simple, attractive, functional. Everything laptops have ceased being.

I do use Open Office 3, in fact I just bailed my company out by having the only functioning means to present a MS Powerpoint presentation at a key moment last week.

Firefox runs great too.

[matthewbulat]

Consider using a notebook for fixed locations and a netbook for travel. You can save a lot of energy , $100s per year compared to a desktop. Consider Network Attached storage and online applications such as Gmail to assist with limited storage. To see the energy saved I have created on online calculator at http://www.matthewb.id.au/media/Computer_Energy_Calculator.html

[1812dave]

I've got a desktop XP machine, a 1 year old Toshiba Vista machine and a 3 month old Acer Aspire One. It, boots in 1/3 the time of the Toshiba, opens Firefox faster and can balance on the arm of my chair. oh, and the battery lasts over 5.5 hours. The Toshiba is doing good to last 2 measly hours. oh, and the screen is MUCH brighter than the Toshiba. Hence I use the Acer far more than any PC in my home. The only thing it doesn't do well is watching online movies--they are jerky due to a wimpy GPU. I offered to order one for my wife, and she resisted for a while. Eventually she decided to join me in using a netbook, so I got her a Pink Aspire One. It has replaced her 14" Gateway laptop for web surfing