Comments on: Would you rather have a super smartphone or a new Netbook?

Nvidia's Tegra processor may hit Netbooks and smartphones. Is this the start of a new trend?

have an iphone and an hp mini, love em both!

[baconstang]

Cheap cell phone, iPod touch, MacBook and iMac (24") works for me.

[patrick_i]

Assuming you already have a computer/laptop at home and work why waste money on another computer. A Smartphone makes better sense most of the time if you're not a student or traveling businessman on a budget. Most people are either at home or at work or on the way to one or the other so why would you need a another computer to lug around in between? If you travel on business you already probably have a business portable that has to have some decent power. With either a netbook or Smartphone you can bypass cell data charges by going through Wifi hotspots or leeching off someone's unsecure AP. With a smartphone you can at least kill time with some games, videos, internet, then put it in your pocket when your done.

[sting7k]

Smart phone for sure. Netbook is nothing, newest smart phones are far more useful IMO.

[Forked_Tongue]

Netbook but not as they are now, if they ever get around to putting a dual core cpu (Atom n330), better discrete graphics, more ram (not the 2 GB single channel restriction Intel has put on netbooks), hdmi out, and integrate BT with it then more people would use this to replace their existing laptops and it'd be portable enough to carry. At home people can use their hi-def TV as a monitor and use a BT wireless keyboard and trackball/touch pad to control it with. BT cellphones can be used as a modem for those areas you can't get a wifi signal, where you can get wifi take advantage of using video chat with Skype or Gizmo for free or use their voip services cheaper than most cell services for those people who don't use the Internet in such a fashion. We're still at the beginning stages of the netbook market, we haven't seen it bloom enough for a fair comparison.

Netbooks should also be redesigned as well, replace the keyboard with a thumb board (keyboard can be plugged in at home or connected wirelessly when using it on a desk for a long period of time), the extra space from the keyboard removal would allow a touchpad so people can cursor right/left handed as needed by brushing it with their thumbs, middle part made vacant when the keyboard is removed would allow all sorts of innovation such as a small solar panel, expansion cards (broadband mobile network, subwoofer, media drives, TV), graphics/physix booster port, ect all of which could be an option for an online order to personalize. Combine it with a touchscreen and external media controls (so you can listen to your music by BT and control it without opening it up everytime) and it may converge away the pmp, smartphone, laptop, gps units, etc.

I expect this to eventually become a market of it's own with low, mid, and high end being addressed (I think only the low end has been addressed only). Who knows, it may end up the difference between a netbook and future laptops is that the netbook will be the docking station for the smart phone for it's expanded capabilities.

[BrujoSalazar]

ill take the "super smartphone" i have been without a computer for a bit and my laptop died as well, so i thought wouldnt it be great to whip out my phone a bit to check emails and a few other important things, when all else fails? i have started my quest for a smartphone especially with the android os or apple? k thanks

[C433Z]

Dockable smartphone w/ HDMI out? probably the smartphone, especially if I can attach peripherals.

The Apple needs to get some full fledged game developers on their side. I like enjoying my "hard core" games like Fire Emblem and God of War.

Basically I want a touch screen, dual analog stick, PSP with a robust online service. Cmon Sony/Apple.

[stevent1992]

To be honest, I can't see anything that a netbook can do what a smart phone can't do.

For me, it is a more worthy investment to spend more on a powerful laptop for accessibility and a good mobile phone for mobility. Who could argue with that?

[acarswell]

Good screen/keyboard and pocket-size are two conflicting requirements. How can we get both?

[clynx]

Data caps make all mobile a waist of money. Plus the price of the ISP per year. No thanks.

[stevent1992]

It is better to use a phone's WiFi features than waste money on BIG data plans.

[kucingliar]

To who like to make/receive call less than online activity (browsing, chat etc) I prefer powerful netbook if I could get one. Big screen smartphone to big to buging jeans, and I didn't like using belt strap.

[albertsoler]

I go back to Roddenberry's original concept:

One device for communications and one device for everything else. *And one for shooting! :))

These devices are so light that there really is no need to constrain ourselves to all-in-one smart phones. This would free up designers who are currently limited to creating designs that won't make someone look foolish having it pressed against their face.

Besides, do you really want a very important business call be interrupted by a dead battery because you were watching reruns of Sex and The City in HD?

[loriensleafs]

definitely the super smart phone. I think something similar to an iphone with all that impressive processing power you guys are talking about, but with an attachable peripheral for gaming.

[gefitz]

Netbook. No question. If I can slap a 3G card, or its ilk, into it, I can skype anyone I want. (Cellphones don't provide any better quality for phonecalling, that's for sure). Plus I can do some lightweight work on the keyboard, and even watch a movie I've ripped onto a USB stick.

I don't care about HD. 13 inch HD? Whatever. Give the price is roughly equal for the hardware, I swing at a netbook.

[johnqh]

To those who don't want to pay for the monthly - get iPod Touch. No monthly fee.

Netbook cannot access net without a 3G card, which costs as much as smart phone data plan or more. So, if you want to compare, compare netbook w/3G to a smart phone, or compare netbook w/o 3G to iPod Touch.

[senitel10]

I'd have to say, super smartphone. If tegra supports flash, it could good Youtube quality and even work on gaming websites like Addicting games or miniclip! HD video and High quality gaming! I love my iPod touchs casual games but console worthy games on a PHONE?!?!? That's to GOOD to be true!!!! Smartphone, Who agrees?

[LogicProphet]

If they make a super smart phone with the ability to run full windows ,allow me to download and use any program I want,160gb space ,a keyboard I can comfortably write passages in my projects, and keep it under $500. Then I'd get rid of my net book, till then I carry my bag with my phone.

[Spanwite]

Logic,
You mean Full Windows aka Vista Premium? What for Computer Horse Power do you need to run that Pc. of Software smoothly?
Maybe in 5Years a "net book" will be capable to run the (by then) old Vista Software ;-)

In my opinion Microsoft on a Phone is like GM in small Car Business, others will rule this Market!
MS is not a Company for this market! Every bit of Code should be usefully, MS will be pushed out of the Net book and Smart Phone Market soon. Maybe 10% market left for them!
PS: I just have MS Products, so no need for Fan boy remarks :-)

[tikoro]

Netbook, I'd really hate to try to program a webapp or au3 script on a phone. If I have to manufacture bigger pocketsto make it "pocketable" that's fine. If I come up with an idea for some code and want to work on it while i'm waiting somewhere, I want to be able to do it. I can communicate a myriad of ways on a netbook whereas trying to write code on a smartphone is rediculous, even if it had a qwerty keyboard.

[djkeddie]

Smartphone if you're willing to pay for data, ipod touch if not. I'd rather use my smartphone, or ipod touch, for mobile email and web browsing. If I'm going to bring along a laptop then I want it to be able to do photo storage and editing as well as gaming.

[stass34]

Good article. Check out this blog post that sheds some interesting insight into the smartphone industry: http://lunchpail.knotice.com/2009/07/01/secrets-of-the-smart-phone-industry/