Whassup with Netbooks?

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netbook problem: I completely agree that netbooks would be better off being marketed as a phone, with the option of a significant discount with an ISP contract. The problem netbooks have is that they are almost a single commodity. All of the big name producers use the exact same platform, Intel's Atom, so really the whole category has very little to distinguish itself. I'd love to get an HP Mini 1000, due to its superior keyboard (wow people don't want a microscopic right shift key), but HP is crippling it by waiting to sell it with a six-cell battery and its new MIE shell for Ubuntu until January.

I think the netbook will really come into its own when we see some variety, currently the most we see is Asus sticking a discrete graphics card in an eee (sorry if playing Unreal Tournament at 800x600 doesn't get me going). I keep waiting for Nano to make an appearance, but Via seems content to target it at developing markets. Imagine if Via paired the Nano, a more energy hungry processor, with an energy sipping chipset like the 780G (I don't think that exact pairing will ever happen, but something with similar TDP). I'd settle for a Atom based netbook with a different chipset, 3-cell batteries would actually get you into the 3-hour range.

I believe thats the reason critics are beginning to pile on netbooks, a specific criticism of one applies to almost all netbooks, there is very little room for innovation because the hardware platform is so specific.

Ironically I think the inevitable diversification of netbooks might actually hurt Linux's prospects on the platform. Currently Linux has the advantage because aside from the webcam that is obligatorily put in each netbook, the platforms are almost identical.

I think netbooks are a great idea, but I want to wait for the category to mature before I invest my money in one.; Posted by: ricstorms@... Posted on: 12/02/08 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use