Comments on: I’ll Just Buy a Netbook: Why Netbooks 2.0 will do More than Cannibalize http://blog.laptopmag.com/ill-just-buy-a-netbook-why-netbooks-20-will-do-more-than-cannibalize News and views on today's hottest laptops, cell phones, and other mobile devices. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:22:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Brian Dougherty http://blog.laptopmag.com/ill-just-buy-a-netbook-why-netbooks-20-will-do-more-than-cannibalize/comment-page-1#comment-18771 Brian Dougherty Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:16:13 +0000 http://blog.laptopmag.com/?p=12779#comment-18771 Another phenomenon that will fuel netbook growth is the emergence of consumer cloud computing. Most people think of cloud computing today as an IT outsourcing solution, but companies like ours (<a href="http://www.areset.com" rel="nofollow">www.airset.com</a> are letting small and medium sized businesses set up a shared cloud computer for a group for just $9.95/month. This shared computer comes with 20GB of storage (that is really 60GB because every file is stored with triple redundancy) and is pre-loaded with a suite of web apps including a shared calendar for coordinating the team, shared contacts, task list, website hosting, collaborative document editing and more. Your shared storage is infinitely expandable in 5GB increments ($2/5GB/month) and is always backed up and available to all group members. As more and more compute task move into the cloud, a small, lightweight, inexpensive web access device like a netbook becomes more and more compelling. Especially if the screen size increases so there is no disadvantage in the screen size. Another phenomenon that will fuel netbook growth is the emergence of consumer cloud computing. Most people think of cloud computing today as an IT outsourcing solution, but companies like ours (http://www.airset.com are letting small and medium sized businesses set up a shared cloud computer for a group for just $9.95/month. This shared computer comes with 20GB of storage (that is really 60GB because every file is stored with triple redundancy) and is pre-loaded with a suite of web apps including a shared calendar for coordinating the team, shared contacts, task list, website hosting, collaborative document editing and more. Your shared storage is infinitely expandable in 5GB increments ($2/5GB/month) and is always backed up and available to all group members. As more and more compute task move into the cloud, a small, lightweight, inexpensive web access device like a netbook becomes more and more compelling. Especially if the screen size increases so there is no disadvantage in the screen size.

]]> By: Small Laptops http://blog.laptopmag.com/ill-just-buy-a-netbook-why-netbooks-20-will-do-more-than-cannibalize/comment-page-1#comment-18760 Small Laptops Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:32:53 +0000 http://blog.laptopmag.com/?p=12779#comment-18760 I bought a netbook when the Asus EEE PC came out, but soon found that it just couldn't do what I wanted it to do. I have since went back to the laptop and use the netbook on occasion. I still find it handy to take on trips, it fits in the glovebox of the car and I can do basic surfing and emailing. If an inexpensive 11 inch model were available with enough options, I'd buy it. I love netbooks with solid state drives so having an 80GB SSD would be my preference and if it was less than $500, that would be even better! I bought a netbook when the Asus EEE PC came out, but soon found that it just couldn’t do what I wanted it to do. I have since went back to the laptop and use the netbook on occasion. I still find it handy to take on trips, it fits in the glovebox of the car and I can do basic surfing and emailing. If an inexpensive 11 inch model were available with enough options, I’d buy it. I love netbooks with solid state drives so having an 80GB SSD would be my preference and if it was less than $500, that would be even better!

]]> By: Fanfoot http://blog.laptopmag.com/ill-just-buy-a-netbook-why-netbooks-20-will-do-more-than-cannibalize/comment-page-1#comment-18746 Fanfoot Wed, 18 Mar 2009 01:22:40 +0000 http://blog.laptopmag.com/?p=12779#comment-18746 Yup. I'd like to see some netbooks in the "ultraportable" 11" size too. Why should the Sony Vaio's be the only choices here. If over time we see decently performing mini-PCIe SSDs that don't cost too much, these might even compete against the ultraportables on size and weight. High prices on laptops are doomed! What fun. And if Dell or anybody else thinks they can sell EXPENSIVE ultraportables in any volume, well they better be trying harder. Built-in Intel Graphics? 1.2GHz processors? For $1999 to "start"? Who are they kidding? The good news is that some people (well, me) may upgrade their netbooks more often that they would a more expensive system. I'll likely swap out my Dell Mini 9 for something in the 10" size with a better keyboard, the new 720p displays that should be available in the next quarter, better HD playback support, etc. And in another year, with sufficient progress, I might be upgrading again. Yup. I’d like to see some netbooks in the “ultraportable” 11″ size too. Why should the Sony Vaio’s be the only choices here. If over time we see decently performing mini-PCIe SSDs that don’t cost too much, these might even compete against the ultraportables on size and weight. High prices on laptops are doomed! What fun.

And if Dell or anybody else thinks they can sell EXPENSIVE ultraportables in any volume, well they better be trying harder. Built-in Intel Graphics? 1.2GHz processors? For $1999 to “start”? Who are they kidding?

The good news is that some people (well, me) may upgrade their netbooks more often that they would a more expensive system. I’ll likely swap out my Dell Mini 9 for something in the 10″ size with a better keyboard, the new 720p displays that should be available in the next quarter, better HD playback support, etc. And in another year, with sufficient progress, I might be upgrading again.

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