AMD VP says netbooks only good "around the house"
By Nilay Patel 
posted Sep 15th 2008 2:02PM
posted Sep 15th 2008 2:02PM
AMD's Ultra Value Client line might be set to go head to head with Intel's Atom in the netbook market, but it sounds like the company isn't particularly confident that users will accept the design compromises involved in building cheap, small laptops. According to Pat Moorhead, AMD's VP of advanced marketing, the choice between a $499 netbook and a $499 full-sized laptop with 15.4-inch screen and a dual-core processor is clear to him -- a netbook might be fine for "around the house," but the shorter battery life and lack of features means that "it's a big tradeoff." Those are some fair points, even if they have a hint of sour grapes to them, but it certainly seems like consumers don't care -- Intel can't make enough Atom chips, and machines like HP's Mini-Note are selling like crazy. So, we put it to you: if this was your $499, would you rather get a netbook (say, the Eee 901) or a full-featured 15.4-inch laptop like this AMD-powered Acer Extensa? Video after the break.[Via Eee PC News]
I use a 15.4" Lenovo T61P and a 17" MBP. For a power user, I don't need a netbook. Make a real performance machine lighter and thinner.
I agree with you. My primary computer is a 17 inch DV9074ea and I've had some play time with an Acer Aspire. As much as I adored it's affordability and size it simply isn't anything I can live with. I known that it's main purpose is to act like an extra computer or a companion for road warriors but it simply doesn't cut it for a power user. I've you're sitting in front of a powerful computer and then hop on to something offering only a fraction of the capabilities you're used to, it will turn out with you wanting to throw the computer out the window.
I am a blogger and have thought about buying a netbook but in the end the performance trade off is too much for me to handle.
Hey Bloggy Blogenstein (Homeboy), first of all, how much power could you possibly need in a laptop? Wordpress and blogger too much for your computer to handle?
You guys don't get it, at all. First, a real power user doesn't need lots of mobile power, only wannabe power users (graphic designers) who lug MBP's around trying to look cool at Starbucks think they need a fast laptop.
You see, SSH barely takes up any resources, SSH connects you to real computing power you can leave at home. Any more questions? Faux power users think a GUI makes them look smart or something, I guess.
Hold McGroin:
Uhmm you think that a Blogger page is all I have running while I'm sitting in front of the computer? Geez. And who said that power users don't need a lot of mobility power?? When I'm on the road or away from home I want to have access to the comparable power I've go at home now obviously you'll blow this up by saying that I want to play Crysis while am at Starbucks.
The point is that the computing power of a netbook is highly limited and is in most cases only sufficient for word processing, movie playback and simple tasks. Sure netbooks are small but what else do they have going for them?? I do appreciate their entry to the market but given their current price points they aren't really the "damn good deal" as some people perceive them to be. Many of they don't even have impressive battery life to to mention the tiny keyboards.
Netbooks are good but they aren't the second coming of Christ and it seem like everyone here become very defensive whenever there's some performance related criticism directed at netbooks.
Movie playback is surely the most resource-intensive thing you're going to be running on a Netbook. Do you have any actual examples of things you do on the road which a Netbook couldn't handle?
I'm a firefighter and I just want the big screen to watch movies on. I prefer the MBP, but having a backup is good. Especially when I have one crunching something and I need a computer.
@McGroin, agreed. I'm in the market for a netbook because I do want power ... I use desktops at home and the office because of performance and the netbook fills the gap moving between locations without having to lug a full laptop around. Though I'm looking more at the ones like the Acer Aspire One because of the 120GB drive instead of an SSD (BestBuy had them with 1GB ram for $350, which I think is a great deal).
My Cloudbook (with XP) plays movies, MP3s, runs Firefox with multiple tabs, and will run any game that's as recent as four years old (as well as a slew of console emulators). All at the same time. It's also smaller than a hardcover book. Everyone who sees mine wants one, and it's more than a conversation starter. When they hear it's $299 their jaw drops through the floor. I think the Netbook platform is here to stay. For a meager $299, it has plenty of power. And I consider myself a power user. I think a lot of people with Netbooks also have other laptops. For when I need a full-size laptop, I bring my HP.
Netbooks are a dream come true. Subnotes, once only the realm of Sony, Fujitsu, and Koujinsha, have gone from $1,700 specialty items to $400 mass market PCs.
True, but I'm a Mac user and the Air was a disappointment. That and I have an LED backlit WUXGA screen on my MBP and It's a thing of beauty. And I don't have a problem with the size of my MBP. I travel a decent amount.
If there was a decent 720p widescreen laptop that could play blu-ray rips would be great. Like 14"
12 inch PowerBook up in this bitch! woo yeah. I love my baby, 12 inch screen, dvd writer, made out of strong aluminium (al-ew-min-e-yum), why would I get a netbook? I can easily hold it with one hand, I have a PowerMac G5 sitting next to me right now, and my PowerBook easily fits UNDERNEATH the PMG5, I guess some netbooks might even fit through the handle/feet loops though :)
I thought the appeal of netbooks was their portability, so it's easier to carry them out of your house.
My thought too. I think he has it backwards. I have a 14.1 inch Dell with a 160GB, 7200rpm hdd, high res screen, and full size keyboard that I use around the house and for "true" computing on the road, but it's kinda bulky and heavy with the 9 cell battery. The performance is great, but is much more than I need for browsing, email and most basic functions.
I'm considering buying a netbook to keep in the car and to also use as a portable video player for my son.
I travel a lot. 4.5lbs starts to weigh on you & typically I only use email, browse the web & occasionally watch a little slingbox. Battery life's not an issue except @ airports & you can always find a plug (or buy another battery).
I think netbooks are perfectly fine for most business travelers too.
Exactly.
I would say a 15" laptop is ideal for around the house, when you don't have to carry it very far, and a netbook is ideal for out and about you have to carry it around all day.
Also, I thought the battery life was pretty poor on your average 15.4" cheapo laptop, and pretty epic on at least some netbooks (the ones with 6+ cell batteries)
I'm just not sure that you gain much portability using a netbook. They are that problem middle-ground between the PDA/phone and the laptop: too big for your pocket and not very powerful.
If you get a netbook, you'll still want to carry it in a case. My laptop case is almost as heavy as the laptop itself; the same is probably true about netbook cases. And heavy or not, they can be awkward.
It may be great for a purse, but if you aren't already planning to carry something on your shoulder, a phone or PDA or other pocket-size device just seems so much better, even if it isn't quite as powerful.
If you compare most cheapy acer 14.1/15.4 laptops they're about 1 to 2lb more than your typical 'netbook' and cost the same.
The tradeoffs are as discussed...your netbook is underpowered in most every way and you're looking at spending more if you get a battery than runs a typical laptop for 2 hrs. But the netbook is a few lbs lighter and very small.
The appeal of the netbook has been totally lost to me. Essentially what they've successfully done is 'repackaged' slow, underperforming hardware (in comparison to what's out or now) into a brand new gadget. It's like taking a P3/Athlon and slapping it into a computer that has some gimmick about it.
Unless I can find one for $299 or less with the specs I want (1gb Ram and 80gb HD minimum), then I personally can't find a reason to buy one. So, I think he has a point....although I suppose the 1 or 2lb difference is a huge deciding factor for most netbook fans. In the end I think it's more personal preference than anything else, so there's no 'wrong answer'. You'll either want a netbook because they're small and light (who cares about price?) or a 15.4 because you want value for your money (who cares if it's a lb or 2 more?).
cheapy Acer 15.4" (Extensa 5220): 2.9kg/6.4lb
typical netbook (Eee PC 900): 990g/2.19lbs
I'd really like to buy Netbook, but the manufacturers have to realize this price discrepancy with the low-cost, full-featured laptops. If they would offer the Netbooks at a cheaper and more competitive price, people would overlook the compromises. If Asus was actually able to sell a $199 Netbook, people would pay attention.
I have to agree. The netbook is a cool idea. To me, it is just an around-the-house convience. It has a bigger screen than my smartphone, basically. But, to me, a notebook is more expensive, and better featured. I suppose the tiny size of a netbook is nice, but as the AMD guy pointed out... the tiny battery kind of hamstrings it.
I don't know about that, most people who have seen my Eee 1000h were surprised at the price, after they saw what it could do, and its one of the more expensive netbooks out there. I think it's just the geeks that have a problem with the price/performance ratio, whereas this thing can do everything I need except games, it can even handle Visual Studio.
The problem in my household is that my girlfriend prefers to take my netbook (MSI Wind) rather than her laptop if she has to get about with a computer. We both prefer the portability and convenience.
She's really only taking your computer out so she can check to see what porn you've been viewing...
Saying Netbooks are ONLY useful around the house misses the whole point, as does saying they have limited battery life.
Take the Asus 901. Lasts around 7 hours and weighs about 2.6 lbs with an 8.9 inch screen.
First Quarter this year I used an Asus 701 during extensive travels as I wanted a useful communications device with an ability to do email, browser AND basic PC tasks. It worked extremly well. Now I have an order in for it's replacement the 901 because it does everything even better. GONE are the days of my lumping around a 5-6 lbs 14 incher.
In short I use a netbook for ALL my travel needs and it's ALSO useful around the home, where it does NOT replace my desktop.
Yes I have a phone capable of doing emails and yes I also own a Nokia N800 deviice (useful but w a very small screen). meantime I gave mt 14 inch laptop to my daughter.
No wonder AMD is struggling when they don't understand the uses for good chipsets.
I agree with your thoughts. I have an eeePC 901 (Linux version) and I take it on business trips where I need access to information, the ability to quickly access e-mail and web resources. What I don't need is a heavy laptop to carry around with me. If I am in one location for an extended period of time, I simply hook up a monitor and keyboard (I carry a wireless mouse) and I'm good to go for basic computing.
I purchased the Aspire One mainly to use around campus. I also have powerful desktop and even a 15.4" laptop. I bought the Acer cause I didn't want to lug around my 6.5lb laptop. Instead I toss the acer into by bookbag and go.
This is exactly why I never understood the whole netbook frenzy. Sure they're small and cuddly, but for the same price you can get a laptop that can actually do things.
Kinda like Smart cars, or a moped instead of a motorcycle...
From a different standpoint, the $499 15" laptop is kind of like a cheap gas-guzzling 4WDs. Can't go miles without filling in, bad handling, yet not good enough for real mud. The moped otoh, is a perfect city slicker, goes on and on, swim through traffic jam, and on it's bumper there's a sticker that says "my other car is a quadcore" :)
I never understood this whole notebook frenzy. For the same money you can get a very decent desktop pc.
I think a bit of context is needed, personally I don't like laptops bigger then 13.3 inches but if I had no laptop at all I would easily go for the 15.4 since it has all features. A Netbook would purely be a second laptop for me, for "around the house" etc.
I have the opposite opinion. A 15.4" laptop is nigh unusable except in the office or at home, while a Netbook can be used pretty much anywhere. I've tried to use a 15.4" laptop on a train, it just can't be done unless you take half a table to yourself. It'll take over a cafe table too. Not to mention the weight and bulk when pulling it around. As larger-capacity batteries become the norm, battery life will be much less of an issue too. My notebook can do about 2.5-3 hours on a charge, and most netbooks can match that, even on small batteries. And features? Aside from 3D gaming there's little that a full-size laptop can do "on the go" that a netbook couldn't.
I agree with the guy, netbooks are a passing fad like most things :)
"a netbook might be fine for "around the house," but the shorter battery life and lack of features means that "it's a big tradeoff.""
I'd say it's the reverse. A netbook is fine for bringing places, but not to use as your main computer.
I got a MSI Wind to replace my aging 15inch laptop not because I needed more power but because I didn't like taking the larger laptop with my anywhere and the battery life was abysmal. My Wind has the 6 cell battery and gets 4-5 hours with the screen ~50% brightness and Wifi on. That's about 3.5-4.5 hours longer than my larger laptop and it's just as powerful, has a camera, integrated Wifi and Bluetooth to boot.
You really don't need much to couch surf and you don't want much to tote out and about with you. I think netbooks fulfill that need quite nicely.
interesting name you have there
I just made this very choice not three weeks ago. Asus eee w/16GB HDD and 1 GB RAM vs Compaq 15.4" AMD 64 Bit dual core w/3GB RAM, 200GB HDD, DVD RW DL, GeForce 8200M and more. Price was about $100 in difference. I went with the 15.4" because it's still MUCH more useful.
It's not supposed to be a one or the other choice. Netbooks complement your usual home or office computers. They don't replace them. I have a docked big old laptop at work, a tower at home hooked up to the TV, and I just ordered a netbook to throw in my bag for when I'm on the go. If you only have one computer, then yes, get one that will do everything you need to do.
There are places in this world for both types of laptops, value and netbook. The value laptop is great for a non-power user or as an extra (usually semi-stationary) machine. For example, I got a $500 laptop for my grandmother. She keeps it on a desk or in a closet unless she's using it. Not much of a point in getting her a netbook, and this way she has a real laptop with an OS that people can help her with when I can't be there in person.
The netbook is great as a second or third machine (in addition to a desktop or power laptop) to carry around for work or classes. Much like buying an ultraportable notebook, the convenience of having something small that can do most basic tasks appeals to many power users. Why buy another value laptop when I have a 15" mbp? The netbook offers something I don't have - that is, a small footprint and light weight - that is great to take to class or walk around with.
Having said that, I'm perfectly content waiting this out, and hoping netbook prices fall, before I purchase one. Nothing can quite beat a solid desktop/laptop combo in the current market, in my opinion.
They have great potential to be a complimentary machine for our digital lifestyles...
but not for $500
There's really no general rule. It depends on what you want to do with your laptop. If you want a highly mobile laptop which you use for communicating, browsing the web and entertainment, you would buy a netbook. If you need to do work on a mobile platform, you would be better off with a 15,4" laptop with big screen and normal sized keyboard.
I said 15.4". But if the price of the netbook were $299 (and there was some $299 notebook) then I'd have to go with the netbook. I'm just not prepared to spend $500 on such a limited machine, $300 yes.
I agree, although I'd really like them to be even cheaper, closer to the original $200 pricepoint Asus used as marketing fodder. But I really feel like around $200-300 they're competing with smartphones, and I'd rather have the smartphone in that case. Also, Pandora (http://openpandora.org ) seems like a better alternative to a netbook, if it can deliver on its promises. QWERTY keyboard, 4.3" touchscreen, gaming controls, wifi, 800x480 resolution which is equal to the original 7" EeePC. More portable, and about the same horsepower as a netbook, and better for gaming/emulation.
It really depends on the circumstances.
For me, it's a netbook, because netbooks are easier to carry around to my classes. Also, I don't need the power of a regular notebook because I have a desktop in my dorm room. The netbook is mainly for taking to class for notes, doing homework outside if it's nice out, or walking to other rooms to hang out with my friends but still have the ability to be online.
I agree - he's got it backwards. My HP 2133 Mini Note is strictly for out-of-the-house portability. Anyone who's lugged 9+ pounds of laptop, power adapters, and assorted hubs and cables through the airport and around the country or world should enjoy these smaller laptops.
I think my eee1000h can do the job.
It's not slow.
Hang on, you're calling that POS Acer a full-featured laptop? Please explain. If you're going to have mediocre specs, then I am going to at least prioritize portability.
I was the 666th voter for 15.4". /runs and hides
Heh, I bought my Vostro 1400 last November for $450. 15.4 is just too big to tote around 14 is pushing it, but it's mobile enough. Too bad no one has deals like Dell did last year and too bad they don't sell the 1400 anymore.
Yeah, I'm in the same boat. Also got a 1400, and it's a fine machine. A bit on the heavy side and battery life could be longer, but otherwise it works very well and replaced my desktop, also for gaming. Getting a 15,4" cheapo notebook? Never. 15,4" is too big to carry around, it doesn't fit on many tables/takes too much space. Ideal would be something between 11 and 13". If I could, I'd be getting a netbook for when not at home... I mean when I'm not at home the CPU usually idles at 600 MHz... Also, a cheap 15,4" Acer is prone to break in a year or so, I need something more reliable, and with better build quality.
$499 15.4" are useless - too big and heavy to be portable, and yet too small to replace a desktop workstation; too underpowered to play games well, and yet too powerful for long battery life. I've never understood why those machines are so popular.
They're cheap as shit so people eat 'em up!
you have all thouse non-computer literate people who think "OMG its a really cheap laptop thats much better than buying a $2000 laptop and it cheaper; I want it"
I know many people like this and simply you can't stop them.
But I would get a netbook for $299...
I own an MSI Wind, and voted for a 15.4" notebook.
Why? I do admit that it's great to be carrying around a 2.9lb netbook rather than a 5-6lb notebook around in my backpack all day, but the tiny resolution of the screen is really a little too restrictive for me. I would be happy with a netbook if I had a minimum of 1024x768 lines on the screen, but 600 is just cutting it too short, especially when most applications are designed to fit at least 768 lines of vertical real estate. Everything else is great on the Wind, though, I have no other complaints.
My wife and I have 901s. We got them for the ultra portability our 15" laptops struggled to give. $499 netbook quality is superior to $499 laptop quality.
I bet in the near future, netbooks will be as powerful as regular laptops. Or maybe it's the other way around where regular laptops are as small as netbooks (and still be sub $500). If AMD wants to beat the Atom, they simply have to come out with a CPU that allows for a netbook sized laptop that's sub $500. It would be the best of both worlds.
I'd say, if your home is your only 'main base' - all you should surely ever need is a netbook... I don't need to get down to any hardcore gaming on a plane / train or you're in a hotel room for a few days. If you have several main bases then I can see the need for a larger laptop that can do more.
I'm surprised no-one thought to invent netbooks earlier to be honest...
I'd never buy anything over 14 inches. Usefulness also should factor in where you can take it.
Does this mean that people and companies are starting to realize how utterly STUPID this fad is/was?
Sorry but the whole concept is just dumb to begin with. Smaller doesn't always equal better. And then people want all these things in their netbooks that will add to the performance, etc yet they want it to be as small as hell AND cheap? It's completely illogical.
Sorry but I'd rather have an excellent performing 14' or 15' laptop than a 10 inch pos/mediocre netbook that doesn't have a CD/DVD drive inside of it and looks for the most part to be made of plastic and/or cheap hardware....
Hopefully this fad ends soon.
Odd. Why do you hope that the fad ends soon? Does it pain you that people are buying a computer that you don't want?
Ack, I'm so torn between getting a netbook or a 13.3" notebook for classes and on-campus work to complement my desktop rig.
Both seem to be rather portable to me, but I really don't have much prior experience to guide me. Bigger keyboard and much more power for more $$$, vs. very small and portable with less capability for less $$$.
If netbooks were less expensive, my decision would be much easier.
Go somewhere that has a netbook in stock (good luck) and check it out. I just bought my Asus Eee PC 1000h and I love it. It starts up super-fast and hibernates super-fast. It's a lot easier to lug around. People mention the weight, but the size of it is about 75% of a "normal" size laptop. It's smaller than the marketing book I just bought for class.
I bought my girlfriend a Toshiba satellite over a year ago, and would bring it once in a while to school to take notes. I had to use a "laptop" bag to carry it and the wires needed to power it. That power brick is big! The Eee PC will be much easier to put in the bag, carry around, and will take up much less real estate on those TINY slabs of wood they call desks in the lecture halls.
Yeah, it doesn't have a CD/DVD disc drive, but if all I am going to do is use it to take notes or surf the internet between (ok, during) classes, why do I need a CD/DVD drive. Just hook up your iPod, and you're fine.
I work full time, also, and sometimes bring work home. I don't do any graphics design or computer programming, so I don't know how much computing those tasks need. But for regular "office" work: creating spreadsheets, word docs, powerpoint, etc, my netbook can do that.
These things are selling like hotcakes right now, so that's why the prices are so high. You can wait it out and save some money, or you can spend the 100$ and start enjoying the portability of these things now.
15 incher... because I already have an Acer One netbook ;).
Seriously, the best option is something like VAIO Z which I bought last week (SR would be a cheaper alternative). Not only it is as portable as a netbook (weight wise for sure, and a bit larger footprint) but it's much more powerful than a 15" you can get for $500 - I installed Sins of a Solar Empire last night and it runs smoothly even at full 1600x900 that LCD offers. And you can still play it on your lap - hot air is expelled to the side, just as Engadget said. And it DOES get 5 hours in stamina mode (Engadget screwed this test up, 3 hours is in speed mode and you don't need Nvidia graphics for browsing the web). Sure, it costs money ($2000) but if I wasn't willing to spend money on gadgets, I wouldn't be reading Engadget daily, now would I?
I already have laptop for power use so a netbook wouldn't be bad to have since I could take it around with me, the $499 price point is a little higher than I would like however.
anyone notice the link to the acer extensa is a 14.1 inch, but id take the netbook, well i did buy an aspire one but have a 15.4" 'laptop' it basically doesnt move, too big to be practically brought around
the question isn't a fair one. netbooks aren't 499 anymore. they aren't even 399 in some cases (dell, acer). perhaps it's time to stop defining netbooks as just the eees? mm?
I have to say the idea of the Netbook is great! I have a 15.4 in. Dell and it is great. However, now it seems like a desktop when looking at portability. I am days away from purchasing the EEE 901. I travel extensively for my job and it will be a welcome travel mate around the globe.
Ironically, I'm typing this on my netbook at my campus computer lab. If I didn't have my netbook, I'd still be wandering around, searching for an open computer now.
And my netbook was $329. Not $499.
And a $499, 15" notebook with better battery life than a $499 netbook? Ha! Show me one that has better battery life than the $399 6-cell Aspire One, for that matter.
The biggest problem with this article is that $50 is a lot for a netbook. The Aspire One is only $349-$400. $400 is a netbook at the high-end, ASUS needs to fix their pricing scheme if they want to become competative again.
That just seems totally backwards to me. Why do you need power and features when you're out of the house? I use my full power laptops exclusively "around the house" (they have never been outside for any reason) and I am in the market for a netbook so I have something that I can carry around with me without being a huge burdon.
And a $499 full-size laptop isn't exactly going to be a powerhouse anyway. They usually come with batteries good for 45 minutes per charge and extreme low-end features. Yes, they are more capable than a netbook, but they're not exactly good for power users.
I think he misses the point that the desktop computer market is basically dead. I have a 17" laptop that is truly a desktop replacement. My old desktop is now an in-home server and my laptop is my primary workhorse. Other than a server, I can't see myself ever buying another desktop. However, I really don't want to drag it around with me so a netbook works great for my on the go needs.
Netbooks are a good concept and I think this is just the first step to something really big. Ive see quite a few of these things now and I think it really comes down to an individuals needs and pricing. I feel that most netbooks are over priced and could be cheaper. I like the direction that Acer is heading in with a cost price as low as $350. I think if these things were cheaper and had an avg screen size of 10" they would be worth more than a 15" laptop. Also, I think these things will be much better when intel releases a duel core atom. Then we might see things get a little more poweful. I just hope the pricing issue can be sorted out. I like to see something like duel core atom, 20/40/80gb, lets say a vista capable graphics card, 10-12inch, 6cell for about $300-350
I thought the whole point of a netbook was to be cheaper than a full-fledged laptop. If I was in the market for a netbook, saw that it was $500, then saw a cheapie, not-the-greatest-but-still-has-more-than-a-netbook laptop right next to it for the same price... you'd have to be dumb to not go with the laptop.
yea, the Acer in question is a 14.1 inch, indeed.
and i'd prefer it to either a netbook or a 15.4"
in my opinion 12" to 14" laptops have the sweet spot of not needing to deal with much trade-offs. They're typically low cost, but not so small that features have to be removed.
I never think to myself "god this 13.3" MacBook is bulky", nor do i wish it were any smaller. (not the best analogy, due to price, but you get my drift)
Netbooks should be seen as a simple option, and not so much a direction that the market is going towards.
a netbook is way easyier to carry around then a 15inch one
i had a powerbook before and i know the diffrence in wait
compard to my eeepc
it is so light to carry around at school
instead of a 15inchr
yaha it has a hard drive
but sd space is faster to transfer files over then a hard drive
and also who really uses a cd or dvd drive anymore
everybody uses usb drive or portable drives or mp3 players now to hold there stuff not cds
i don't think this guy knows what he is talking about like come on
It's funny, reading this article and some of the comments. When I'm at home i use my desktop for just about everything while my laptop sits in my media center acting like a glorified MP3 player and sometimes browser for when I get stuck playing whatever console game I'm into at the moment. I've been looking at the Mini 9 to replace my 15.4" laptop because it's smaller, uses less power, etc. I personally don't need a 15" screen, Windows OS and the programs it comes with, 2GB RAM, 90 different ports, etc. I could just go buy an iPod, Zune, Sansa Player, etc. but I don't want to be limited that much and still want some internet access. The "netbook" would fill that void perfectly. Now, the price needs to drop on the cost of the SSD so Dell and whomever can offer more than a 16GB SSD as an option. I guess there's the external hard drive, but ...meh.
It is first when the price of a netbook is substantially lower than a 15" laptop, that I will buy a nettie.
A netbook often has a 45nm small dye processor which is amazingly cheap to manufacture. The LCD screen is cheaper. The mobo is cheaper. The material cost for plastics etc. is cheaper. The cost of transportation to the retailer is cheaper. Everything is cheaper ... so as long as they take a premium fee for just being small ... I will never buy a netbook. Hope financial reality will be reflected in the price of a nettbook soon.
Lower battery life? Only good around the house?
I think he has the two mixed up, netbooks are way better for outside of the house than a 15 incher, and the battery life stomps normal-size laptops at that price point.
My PC at home is for the heavy lifting and gaming.
My current laptop is too big for my liking (15" Powerbook) and you can really feel those extra kilos in a bag full of school books. I'd like a netbook because it'd be light and convenient and perfect for note taking.
I am making this post on a $399 Acer Extensa right now. and the ability to actually read the text on a screen twice the size of a netbook without having to bust out the magnifying glass is a definite plus.
All the people in the house who remember when "netbooks" were called sub-notebooks say Yeah!
I just want a modern day Toshiba Libretto, and I think I've found it with the HP Mininote (aka Omnibook 2008)
To Pat Moorhead:
"Your Mom is only good around the house!" BURN!
Seriously, Pat, don't be such a dumb-dumb. Don't you ever go out of the house? When I travel to school (and am there all day) my netbook is perfect @ ~2lbs in my pack. Then there is traveling to distant countries. Wow, again, the netbook form-factor proves itself.
Certainly I will not be writing any dissertations on this thing, but it definitely is of great value to me (and my ilk). LOL.
The price point for the netbooks are too high. Make it $199, and lots of us will be more willing to overlook the lack of computing power and screen resolution for it. If the manufacturers included a docking station with the netbook for $299 it might be the deal breaker. The docking station would be connected with the 1600x1200 display, maybe even has a slot to take in a PCI video card, a dvd reader/writer, have they keyboard/mouse connected, audio out to some stereo, wired network jack, etc. When you need to take it out of the house, just undock it, and it's ultra portable.
Why would anyone need a netbook? What do they do with it? From what I've seen and read, it's mostly about being able to surf the web, take some notes/wordprocessing, play some music or videos, read and write some emails, skype/video conference with it, read ebooks, etc. With phones now being able to do half of those things, and even devices like the Nokia N8x0, netbooks seem to have a place for some users who need a full keyboard all the time, and the other half, a smaller device can perform those tasks like reading emails, listening to music, etc.
Reality check.. A Netbook is a wretched idea, just like it was when Sharp and HP were offering them 9 years ago (though calling them by a different name).. An Atom processor is a Netbook" is an even more wretched idea, almost as bad as a C7-M. The Atom wasn't designed with Netbook use in mind, which is why the perform so poorly on them (if you want a good processor in a Netbook, look for the VIA Nano, a far superior processor is nearly every way to the Atom in Netbook use)... Intel is now playing catch-up trying to soop up the Atom for passible performance on Netbook use. If you really want to blow some money for these toys, then get one of the refurbed models that DO run $299 and less...
Anyone think the Palm Folio was such a flop now? I believe it was well ahead of its time (much like the original Pilot);
. light, good battery life, quick power-on; serves the functions that the netbook market are intended for (email, browsing); no additional OS to manage; paired with the ever increasing adoption of mobile-broadband services; solid-state; ... did I say again, almost instant power-on
I really think Palm had something here, though abeit ahead of its time; It's only downfall was such poor pricing; anyone want to call Palm and have them resurrect that product? to hit the sub-$100 price point ... maybe?
I'm In.
$350-600 is an alright price for netbooks but as most people notice:
exactly why are they relatively expensive when compared to a cheap 15.4" notebooks? (with better performance, better onboard graphics, more ram, and DVD capabilities)
I'm interested in the direction netbooks head: DVD, touchscreen, GPS, higher efficiency, more powerful performance, lighter, slimmer, more rugged?
if you don't have a computer: get a notebook;
if you only have a notebook: you could get a desktop, or possibly a netbook;
if you already have desktop: get a netbook, or a notebook;
if all you have is a netbook: get a computer :)
I'd get the sturdiest build of a full-featured for that price. Then again, I'm typing this on a CF-28 Toughbook, so I obviously don't care about the size of my laptop.
I own a dekstop, and I used to have a 15.4" laptop. I replaced that laptop with a $450 Acer AspireOne, and havne't looked back. My notebook I use when I go outsomewhere, which means I'm using it mostly for wordprocessing, email, IM, and internet. I carried around that 15" laptop for 2 years of school, and I would have killed to have a netbook. It's not like I'm typing term papers on this thing, that's what the full sized desktop is for.
I can really see the value in the netbook as being the laptop you take to compliment your desktop. It will never be a primary computer, but it is a good second computer, one that's much easier to carry around.
Honestly I would go with the netbook. This year my wife is starting her final year in school and she has more books and has to carry around her laptop for both work and school. When I saw the price drop for the Aspire One I jumped on it. When she opened it and saw how small it was she was amazed and now she doesn't have a bulky laptop that takes up alot of room in her bag plus books. Its not only about the weight but a combination of the dimensions as well. Everything just goes right in her bag and she can do her projects on it and take notes in class. So far she has had it for about 3 weeks now and loves it. For my purposes I want a 10 inch with 6 cell battery at a $400 price point and I would leave my laptop at home and throw it in my Jansport and take it to work.
All I did was increase the font size, enable compiz with desktop wall (she needs the multiple desktops) and find a small emerald theme so the title bar is a bit smaller so it maximizes her screen real estate. I also got her a Logitech VX Nano with the tiny receiver so she doesn't have to use crappy touch pad.
I have an Asus EeePC 1000h ($450) and it's really great. My main PC has an e8400, 4GB RAM, 1TB total HDD space,8800GT, 22" LCD so I don't really have a "need" for a "powerful" laptop. This thing is running Vista Ultimate SP1 without a hitch anyway. The dual core atom versions are gonna be even better. I take this to college, open it up in between classes, watch some videos, chat with my friends, etc. If I want to listen to music I have my 30GB iPod with 20GB worth of music in it...whee. I did upgrade the RAM to 2GB though. My sister has a bulky and heavy 15.4" laptop. No gracias.
Give me a $349 netbook over a $500 15.4 laptop any day.
If it doesn't fit in your pocket(smartphone) your going to be carrying it around, it doesn't matter if its 7" or 18.4" there all portable. I would never buy a notebook with such a small screen when you can find a 15.4" notebook(dual-core/2gb ram) for $499. The price of netbooks will come down in the near future but why bother just pay the extra $200 and get the real deal.
It's all about a super-desktop to do all of your heavy duty stuff and a netbook for work or school and the like.
The only good net book...
is one that has exploded due to an overheated battery...
is one that has been drop from the Burj Dubai...
is one that has a Wii remote protruding from its tiny screen...
No one is ever really happy to spend money, and everyone would prefer to spend less for any given set of features. That said, the netbook companies are selling a lot of their products to customers who seem to be happy with them. Who can fairly say the products are overpriced? If they cost more than you are willing to pay, or they don't have the features you need to the price, then no one will complain or call you stupid if you buy a full-sized notebook instead. There must be many satisfied owners of netbooks who are happy that the market exists.
As for me, I primarly work on a desktop computer (I like my detached keyboard, double monitors, and building the box myself). I also own a couple of very old laptops (IBM t21 and t41) and a Asus EeePC 701 that I almost never use due to its small keyboard. As a web developer, I use a text editor for development and a browser to test (and surf of course), so I am not a power user. I could get real work done on a netbook.
I am in the market for a small, lightweight computer on which I can confidently type (I make too many typing mistakes on the Asus). I am trying to decide how much the extra screen real estate is worth to me. 1024x600 seems too small. I would buy the HP Mininote in a heartbeat if it had (or if a new version has) a more thrifty CPU with slightly more power and less heat. I am also a bit worried about the glossy screen. A roughly comparable computer with respect to keyboard quality, screen resolution, and weight, is the Lenovo X200 for twice as much. It is surely more than twice as nice, thus a "better value," but it is also clearly more than I need. It's not a bargain to pay so much for features I won't use. I'd love to have a trackpoint because I am much slower with a touchpad, but it's not worth $500-600.
I've gotten comfortable with Linux, so I'd prefer that. If I had a Windows netbook or laptop, my kids would end up using it at the very times I would be trying to get work done on it. That is, I need to be in the same room as them while they play computer games so I can attempt to interrupt the fighting before permanent damage or injury occurs.
Summary of long story: For my use, I would spend $500 on a linux netbook before a heavy windows laptop. For my kids who play simple games, I would prefer to spend $500 or less on a cheap, heavy 15" laptop. I don't expect everyone to agree with me, but I'm happy to have the choice. I hope I have more netbook choices soon with a good keyboard, a cooler CPU and a 1280x768 or so screen.
Hahaha, I picked up the Acer Extensa 4420-5963 that you are referencing for $399.00 on sale last week, no rebates, no bull. Deal of the year for me. And like others have mentioned, it's 14.1", but that's fine for me.
I have given up on desktop. I use a 17" laptop as a semi-portable desktop and an Eee as my travel computer. I have taken various laptops of various sizes around the world and have the physio bills to prove it. I'll stick with the Eee to do the tasks one needs to do on the road, and use a more powerful computer when required at home or work.
I use my Eee around the house to surf, listen to music and do my banking. It does the job fine.
I've been watching this rant about netbooks on engadget for some while and I think anyone who spends $500 dollars to have something just to surf the internet, but is incapable of carrying around an extra half of a pound should invest in something more useful like some work out equipment. If the extra couple inches on either side makes it too clunky, stop crawling underneath fences with your laptop with you. Netbooks will either go away or become extremely cheap for one reason, they're only selling point is small size which is limited by the need for a keyboard. Eventually there will be laptops capable of doing way more tasks than netbooks and still be the minimal size necessary to have a desirable keyboard. Then everyone who jumped on the netbook bandwagon early will realize how much of an over hyped fad it really was.
My wife wanted a laptop for her occasional use. $499 for a netbook would have been a bit silly, but we got an Acer Aspire One for $349. The $50 that Acer took off them recently made the difference for me since I was toying with a $399 15.4" laptop.
The Apsire One is a nice little gadget BTW.
Mark
The portable solution is Internet Tablet. How do I know it. i am using Nokia's Internet tablet for almost 1-1/2 year. good for browsing, email, chat, VoIP, mp3 and fits in my pocket.
Between Netbook and laptop I would go for a laptop.
*points and laughs at the 'tards at AMD*
No seriously. This is behavior I see in 5 year olds. their friends have a cool new toy....so they tell them it sucks. Its not that cool. Meanwhile they are pissed that they don't have that toy. Hey AMD. Grow the hell up.