Comments on: Netbooks: mobile social computing laptop killers

By: Irregular Enterprise mobile edition

Irregular Enterprise mobile edition — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:35:42 +0000

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By: What Does it Take to be a “Top 10″ Social Media Speaker? | Technically Women

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 21:18:25 +0000

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By: Rick

Rick — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:46:26 +0000

Netbooks are a great opportunity for providers of EVDO internet access to develop their market (i.e. make a ton of money).

Something I’d consider when choosing the OS on a netbook is security. While traveling between a lot of wi-fi hotspots and unsecured networks, the computer will be exposed to some threats. Linux/Unix is reputed to be the most secure OS available.

I think that most netbook makers have tweaked the included Linux GUI so that all your web apps are easy to access, use and update. Even if you’re new to Linux, you’ll probably be productive right out of the box.

By: Wayne MacPhail

Wayne MacPhail — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:11:23 +0000

I have a netbook and a MacBook Pro (and just ordered a new one). I’m finding I use the netbook much less than I would have imagined. Yes, it’s small, has great battery life and is light. But it doesn’t run OS X, so it doesn’t run Keynote and that’s my go-to presentation tool for classes and clients. I agree that netbooks don’t replace anything but lower-end laptops. If I were a Windows user, or if there were an OS X -based netbook, maybe I’d feel different. As for Linux vs. XP. Avoid Linux. It’s a bag of hurt if you try to do or install anything beyond what is baked into the netbook. Had Linux on mine and returned it for the XP version within a day.

By: Nicole DeRuiter

Nicole DeRuiter — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:05:07 +0000

While I think that netbooks offer great opportunity (especially in the US where people seem more reluctant to give up computer-based networking), I’m still a bit slower to adopt the mindset that this will be a huge trend. In the rest of the world, mobile phones provide the primary base for frequent web access/social networking and I imagine that with more global networking, the US will continue to move more in the direction of ’smart phones’.

By: Michelle Evans

Michelle Evans — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:43:45 +0000

I agree that the future of the web is mobile, but I’m still not sure how. I think it will be a combination of devices and I am still certain that mobile devices will play a big part. Netbooks are still bigger than many purses Besides, how sites will be displayed now that there is a shift back towards smaller screens (does anyone still design for 800×600?) that will have to be taken into account, so design may take on even more challenges than they’re facing right now with the array of devices used. I was just saying yesterday that I want to get a netbook asap. No point hauling a 17″ laptop around anymore.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 17:42:29 +0000

Maggie,
Agreed. I have a Lenovo T61 from my employer, but I’m thinking of getting a netbook simply for the weight saving and better UMTS integration. I will then just leave the T61 in the docking station.

Next debate for me is Ubuntu or XP. I like the idea of learning something new, but I sense also I’ll need to work harder if I want it to be compatible with my windows work machine.

What are you mac types doing? XP or Linux?

By: Maggie Fox

Maggie Fox — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 01:54:23 +0000

@Andreas, true that the Macbook is not a comparison, but I think the point was that Apple is not even dipping a toe into this emerging market, which is a little surprising (and perhaps a decision that may come to haunt them).

As far as computing horsepower goes, I think that’s just it – most portable home computers don’t actually need more than Internet browsing, word processing and perhaps a spreadsheet for basic budgets. Throw cloud computing into the mix, and you can even cross the last two things off the list.

I would argue that the “low end” laptop market is emerging and potentially far larger than any other segment.

By: Andreas Duess

Andreas Duess — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 18:51:51 +0000

The $2799 Macbook is a totally different tool to a netbook – the comparison doesn’t hold water.

What netbooks are cannibalizing are not the high end laptops for those of us who need the horsepower, they are cutting into the low end laptop market.

By: J.J. Toothman

J.J. Toothman — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 17:25:39 +0000

I’m with you on this prediction, Maggie.

Which is partially why Apple’s tuesday keynote totally befuddled me. With netbooks trending upward and the current economic climate, they come out with a $2799 macbook.

As I (snarkily) blogged yesterday, I could buy 5 Acer netbooks for that price.