Netbook

Netbook is getting popular, it will not supplant notebook as it has a different purpose. The main reason for its existence is portability. Notebook computers have been around for 2 decades, but the truth is, they are heavy and bulky. Netbook is actually a cheap version of Toshiba's Libretto, which costs almost 10 times more than a netbook a few years ago.

Seeing that netbook is all about portability, the main criteria for choosing one is definitely the size and weight. Current trend indicates the opposite, they are getting bigger. Asus first started making a 7 inches netbook running Linux OS. It grew to a 8.9 inches WinXP machine, then followed by 10 inches and now there are 12 inches ones coming out. A Mac mini is 12 inches so now it can be designated as a netbook?

By making bigger netbook with higher performance hardware doesn't make sense. One can buy a sub-notebook at 13 inches size that can outperformed any atom chips based netbook. 9 inches netbook are the best size for portability, the form factor is the same as a hard cover book. If the netbook is so heavy and bulky that you won't take it with you everywhere, then it defeats the purpose of buying one in the first place.

Notebook computers are getting bigger as well, from the standard 15 inches growing to 17 inches a few years ago and now there are 21 inches ones meant to replace desktop. This is funny, notebook will replace desktop and netbook will replace notebook.

The main 2 criteria for choosing a netbook is first: size and weight, secondly: battery. A small and light-weight computer allows you to do computing anywhere but is limited by the battery. The atom-chip inside a netbook allows one to surf net, write emails, browse photos, read pdfs, listen to music and other light computing task. No one should expect a netbook to do 3d rendering, playing demanding games or editing videos, etc. The cpu and screen size are not adequate.

The popularity of netbook since the beginning is all because of its small and lightweight form-factor, giving us the ability to carry a real computer (iphone is not a real computer) everywhere. Netbook is meant to supplement a notebook or desktop computer, you can't expect it to replace them. Netbook makers on the other hand are trying to squeeze dual-core atoms and high performance 3d graphic chips in them. They are trying to get netbook to perform like notebook at a price, bigger size and weight and drain on battery, which defeats the reason why people buy netbook in the first place.