It doesn’t matter where you go it seems that Netbooks are still very much on the top of the agenda for discussion by those involved in or interested in the computer industry and are still on the top of shopping lists for buyers.
Consumers just love them but the sellers can’t stand them, and funnily enough for pretty much the same reason and that is that netbooks are cheap.
There just isn’t a lot of profit in them for companies but to stay in the game, particularly as the economy entered into a rough patch, they had to play their part or lose out to others who were all clamouring to cash in on the wave of popularity that Netbooks have been surfing for the past two years.
One analyst firm has now said that although companies have maybe missed out on the much larger profit margins offered by fully fledged laptops and desktop computers, these cheap and cheerful devices have proven their worth and transformed the industry.
Canalys, a European tech analyst company, said that Netbooks were “the only PC segment enjoying growth this year”.
Company Vice President Mike Welch said at the Canalys Mobility Forum in London recently that Netbooks are three times more likely than laptops to be used in cafes or other public places like parks or on trains. Even on holiday.
That isn’t really surprising though is it, considering that is what these ultraportable devices were meant for?
Netbooks were designed to be portable, to be small and light, to provide convenient internet access, so we could take them with us everywhere and anywhere without having to lug around a heavy duty laptop. And that’s exactly what we did.
However, the popularity of Netbooks has come at a price for Microsoft and Intel says Mr Welch.
“It forced Microsoft to fend off a threat from Linux by reducing its operating system prices and to continue promoting its ageing XP brand.
“Netbooks have dramatically lowered industry price points… furthermore, hard-pressed PC vendors have been forced to cut their operating costs to have any chance of turning a profit” said the company Vice President.
Canalys CEO Steve Brazier got straight to the point and summed it up very succinctly “Netbooks have been a necessary evil for Wintel” he said.
“They have kept the industry going this year, but have been detrimental to (Microsoft) and Intel” he continued.
Well for the rest of us they’ve been an absolute blessing.
