Asus Reduces Netbook Shipments; Blames iPad
Eee PCs aren't as hot these days, and Asus thinks it's because of the Apple iPad.
Asus, the pioneers of the netbook, are dialing back shipments due to weakening demand.
Although the third quarter is typically a high point for the company, Asus has adjusted its netbook shipment down to 1.4 million units, a fall compared to 1.5 million and 1.6 million from the previous quarters.
Asus CEO Jerry Shen blames the decreased demand on the Apple iPad, which he thinks is cannibalizing the sales of netbooks.
We think that another possible explanation is that the netbook craze may be dying down a bit due to heavily discounted notebooks and the stagnation of netbook hardware.
On the bright side, Asus will be seeing gains in both its laptop and motherboard shipments for the third quarter.
(Source: DigiTimes.)

Exactly how is something people use a waste of money? I could understand if it sat there, useless, but it's not the case.
but it would be awesome to get a tablet netbook with physical keyboard and the screen to write on with stylus...
They are already in the maiking. Intels next step of Atom will have dual cores and a integrated IGP capable of playing Doom 3. Not impressive compared to discrete but impressive jump.
It will also be able to run full 1080P.
Once thats out we will see a flood of non Apple based touch pads that will probably be better and Netbooks that are worth their price.
OTOH, netbooks have been overhyped. And that's what I think the market is responding to.
I don't have an iPad and I don't know if I ever will. And as far as netbooks I hope the best for this little brothers but I think I better expend the money on something that I can use or I really enjoy. I bet netbooks will suffer even more when more tablet options become available as at least these tablets may be better or more enjoyable at some uses. Anyway, not to offend any netbook user who feel they are best at something they do.
$500.
If offered, any other takers?
I've considered a netbook for a while. While the Intel CULV chips are sick, the Atom is downright shameful.
For $500... no.
That $500 would be better put to use on a full size laptop with much more power.
Printing is a major must and the last time I checked most printers companies only have drivers for Windows, OSX and Linux.
Not iOS.
Not Android.
No OSX tablet likely so I guess Linux and Windows are the only ones left.
Generally you can install Linux on any Windows based machine, so whoever gets a Windows based tablet out will give access to users of both OS's.
C'mon hardware vendors! What're you waiting for?
Sometimes, I want small.
If I want big, I always got my desktop and 23".
I could even throw a 9" thin laptop in some cargo pants.