Netbook Sales to Decline, Say Makers

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The IT industry is full of buzzwords, most notably in the mobile space. We've got laptops, notebooks, ultra-portables, netbooks, MIDs, and more acronyms than you can shake a stick at.

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We had the chance to sit down with several manufacturers to speak about the trend for netbooks and similar size portables. Their forecast: netbooks to see a decline going into Q3 of this year. One manufacturer, who makes a famous netbook that many associate for use as hackintoshes, told us that its management even wanted to shift resources back into other business areas such as graphics cards and motherboards.

There's more netbook supply than can be had say the manufacturers. There was a lot of hype and excitement that built up, but eventually we fell into the current economic crisis. Despite the idea that netbooks are cheaper to buy, many users already have regular notebooks that they purchased in the last year to three years. This makes netbooks more of a want than a need for many.

There's no denying that netbooks have the portable appeal, but many industry insiders feel that because of their size, they provide a good long-duration computing experience.

Do you have a notebook and a netbook? Do you feel netbooks are useful?

Tuan An Nguyen
17 Comments Comment from the forums
  • judeh101
    I knew stuff like this would happen.
    oh well, I actually NEED a netbook, I use it for school everyday, for taking notes, finishing assignments, it's quite useful.
    I'd say "Support Netbooks!"
    Reply
  • adbat
    Netbook on ion will be very useful - it would be good to see a true dual core processor in them soon.
    Also screen size does not have to be there main feature.
    I do not believe that the sails will fall as long as manufactures and developers will put new features in them 11"-13" screen multi touch track pad and so on.
    Reply
  • 08nwsula
    if I want a machine to do everything, I use my desktop. If I want something to carry around I might as well save the money and get a netbook then spend more on my home pc.
    Reply
  • Ramar
    I've been in IT for almost ten years now and I love my little 1000HE! At idle and normal desktop use, even at 2.0ghz, the processor stays around room temperature. Netbooks are a wonderful alternative for people that already have a full gaming or otherwise desktop computer.
    Reply
  • zodiacfml
    still can't accept the term/usage since i first heard the term "notebook". when i was in highschool, i immediately thought that the term notebook meant the size of a true notebook and thought "notebooks" were actually the size and weight of books. hehe
    to make it short, it's only in netbooks that i found the words portable and notebook appropriate.
    tried the HP Mini, it is truly usable, portable, and for me, only worthy of the classification of notebook.
    Reply
  • razzb3d
    Their problem with netbooks is the price. Netbooks are naturally cheap. Witch means low profits.

    In my opinion, a true laptop is trully portable. I cannot call a 17 or 18" monstrosity a laptop. In my book it's a desktop with a battery and built in screen.

    Therefore - a netbook is the essence of a notebook.

    (does any of the above make any sense? :)) )
    Reply
  • Perhaps netbooks will decline, but we all will now buy "mini price efficient mobile laptops" or whatever the case about Psion netbooks came up with...

    I think smaller netbooks are in decline because their price is not relative to a laptop (where they started out with).
    When they can reduce the cost of netbooks, probably the netbooks will continue to sell.
    I'm just waiting for my first eeePc to break down, after which I'd almost certainly buy a new EePc901 or something.

    They are handy as GPS devices, or for taking with you on a small weekend out. They matter less when they get stolen, since they cost less.
    Reply
  • jerther
    Netbooks are naturally cheap. Witch means low profits.

    Maybe and maybe not. I mean, there's ofter more profit to be had on cheap stuff than expensive one. Profit margin or % for nEtbooks would be something interresting to compare with nOtebooks'
    Reply
  • talys
    I have notebooks, a high-end compact ultralight, and a netbook. The netbook IS useful. It's cheap, and I don't care much if it gets broken.

    This makes it ideal to use in a car or near water. What a netbook is not useful for is watching movies (go get an Archos).
    Reply
  • christop
    I think netbooks would be great for use in schools.. Some kids cant afford a laptop so it would be cool if they could check out a netbook from school to take home to use for learning... Kinda like the one laptop per child program....
    Reply