5 ms·

Netbooks just seem like a solution needing a problem to me. My kids have a netbook that I bought them for Christmas last year, but the greatly prefer using a r

by jaxn 16y ago

Netbooks just seem like a solution needing a problem to me. My kids have a netbook that I bought them for Christmas last year, but the greatly prefer using a regular sized computer or my iPad.

ukdm 16y ago
Well netbooks have always been seen as a solution for someone who just wants to surf the web. In a lot of respects a full OS gets in the way of that. If Google deliver with Chrome (less than 4 second boot, focus on browsing and web apps, much cheaper than current netbooks) then it could reinvigorate the market for them.
- mikeryan 16y ago
  I have a netbook that has been completely replaced with my iPad. (Browsing the web is a strong suit) I think the netbook market is going to dwindle in the face of expanding tablet options.
  - stcredzero 16y ago
    With an 11" or larger screen, better keyboards, and under 2 pound form factor, something like a netbook will still be able to give the tablets a run for the money. The problem to date has been keyboards/touchpads that have been too cheap and uncomfortable and screens that are too small. Optimize for surfing from the couch or the bed, and netbooks (w/physical keyboards) will still have a place. (Especially for those who post lots of comments!)
  - dhimes 16y ago
    I have a netbook that I use for development when I am on the go. It's quite small and light and has a long battery life. I have apache, coucdb, mysql, php, etc. all loaded. I work on two web sites with it. I back up to a usb stick with mercurial, so in a couple of strokes everything I do on it is backed up to my dev box when I get home. I have always loved the idea of a tablet since I had one that was supposed to read my handwriting and automatically convert it to text (never really worked well). But they have a ways to go before I could use one instead of a netbook. Now, if Santa is good to me this year...
cryptoz 16y ago
The problem: I want to browse the web (on the go) for long periods of time, on a reasonable screen and without a cord. Potential solutions: Traditional laptop: nope. Probably < 4 hours battery, huge and heavy, overpowered for the task. Phone: nope. screen is too small for comfortable web browsing, typing is slow. Tablet: sure, this would work. But they're > $500, so that's a pretty solid commitment. Netbook: yep! > 10 hour battery life, okay screen, perfect solution to "I want to browse the web on the go". They can be had for ~$200, so you can save hundreds by not going for a tablet. Note: I own a netbook and love it (I have the new System76 Starling). I don't own a tablet. So maybe I'm biased.
- stcredzero 16y ago
  The problem: I want to browse the web (on the go) for long periods of time, on a reasonable screen and without a cord. Once again, Apple has the right answer. Go lighter and not too small. I think there was a powerful economic incentive to go with smaller screens for early netbooks because one could still deliver laptop-like functionality with cheaper hardware. The problem with this is that the user has to pay with less comfort. The smaller Unibody Air still has a comfortable keyboard and a screen larger than most netbooks. To make a profit: sell something with components like the 11" Macbook Air, with just as much performance and a comparably slick design but just a tiny bit thicker, with a plastic body, even less weight, and over 8 hours of real-world battery life. There are currently 11" netbooks, but they seem to fall short in one or two of the above aspects. (HP Mini 311 is close.)
- wh-uws 16y ago
  Or you could get a ultra low voltage laptop and have the best of both worlds. (Good battery life and a decent amount of processing power)
lallysingh 16y ago
Hacking code on the bus -- my 17" macbook pro isn't good for this.
- jonnathanson 16y ago
  Haha. I, too, insisted on the 17" when I got my new one awhile back. So delightfully impractical. But I wouldn't have it any other way.
- percept 16y ago
  Codename: "ThighScorcher" [Or are they running cooler now?]
jessriedel 16y ago
My anecdotal evidence is the opposite.
- jaxn 16y ago
  Your kids prefer a netbook to a full-sized computer or iPad?
  - jessriedel 16y ago
    Yes, except it's me, not my kids (which are, as of yet, just a twinkle in my eye...).
ahn 16y ago
>Netbooks just seem like a solution needing a problem to me. My kids have a netbook that I bought them for Christmas last year So then the problem is what useless gadget to get your kids for Christmas.
ramidarigaz 16y ago
I actually found a problem that the EeePC 701sd solved magnificently. I traveled around Asia for six months with one backpack's worth of gear. A full size laptop would have killed me, but that little 9" (8"?) netbook was perfect. Although, once I got back, I had no use for it, so I installed Ubuntu server on and got OpenVPN working on it.

by jaxn 16y ago

Netbooks just seem like a solution needing a problem to me. My kids have a netbook that I bought them for Christmas last year, but the greatly prefer using a regular sized computer or my iPad.

ukdm 16y ago

Well netbooks have always been seen as a solution for someone who just wants to surf the web. In a lot of respects a full OS gets in the way of that. If Google deliver with Chrome (less than 4 second boot, focus on browsing and web apps, much cheaper than current netbooks) then it could reinvigorate the market for them.

mikeryan 16y ago
I have a netbook that has been completely replaced with my iPad. (Browsing the web is a strong suit) I think the netbook market is going to dwindle in the face of expanding tablet options.
- stcredzero 16y ago
  With an 11" or larger screen, better keyboards, and under 2 pound form factor, something like a netbook will still be able to give the tablets a run for the money. The problem to date has been keyboards/touchpads that have been too cheap and uncomfortable and screens that are too small. Optimize for surfing from the couch or the bed, and netbooks (w/physical keyboards) will still have a place. (Especially for those who post lots of comments!)
- dhimes 16y ago
  I have a netbook that I use for development when I am on the go. It's quite small and light and has a long battery life. I have apache, coucdb, mysql, php, etc. all loaded. I work on two web sites with it. I back up to a usb stick with mercurial, so in a couple of strokes everything I do on it is backed up to my dev box when I get home. I have always loved the idea of a tablet since I had one that was supposed to read my handwriting and automatically convert it to text (never really worked well). But they have a ways to go before I could use one instead of a netbook. Now, if Santa is good to me this year...

cryptoz 16y ago

The problem: I want to browse the web (on the go) for long periods of time, on a reasonable screen and without a cord. Potential solutions: Traditional laptop: nope. Probably < 4 hours battery, huge and heavy, overpowered for the task. Phone: nope. screen is too small for comfortable web browsing, typing is slow. Tablet: sure, this would work. But they're > $500, so that's a pretty solid commitment. Netbook: yep! > 10 hour battery life, okay screen, perfect solution to "I want to browse the web on the go". They can be had for ~$200, so you can save hundreds by not going for a tablet. Note: I own a netbook and love it (I have the new System76 Starling). I don't own a tablet. So maybe I'm biased.

stcredzero 16y ago
The problem: I want to browse the web (on the go) for long periods of time, on a reasonable screen and without a cord. Once again, Apple has the right answer. Go lighter and not too small. I think there was a powerful economic incentive to go with smaller screens for early netbooks because one could still deliver laptop-like functionality with cheaper hardware. The problem with this is that the user has to pay with less comfort. The smaller Unibody Air still has a comfortable keyboard and a screen larger than most netbooks. To make a profit: sell something with components like the 11" Macbook Air, with just as much performance and a comparably slick design but just a tiny bit thicker, with a plastic body, even less weight, and over 8 hours of real-world battery life. There are currently 11" netbooks, but they seem to fall short in one or two of the above aspects. (HP Mini 311 is close.)
wh-uws 16y ago
Or you could get a ultra low voltage laptop and have the best of both worlds. (Good battery life and a decent amount of processing power)

lallysingh 16y ago

Hacking code on the bus -- my 17" macbook pro isn't good for this.

jonnathanson 16y ago
Haha. I, too, insisted on the 17" when I got my new one awhile back. So delightfully impractical. But I wouldn't have it any other way.
percept 16y ago
Codename: "ThighScorcher" [Or are they running cooler now?]

jessriedel 16y ago

My anecdotal evidence is the opposite.

jaxn 16y ago
Your kids prefer a netbook to a full-sized computer or iPad?
- jessriedel 16y ago
  Yes, except it's me, not my kids (which are, as of yet, just a twinkle in my eye...).

ahn 16y ago

>Netbooks just seem like a solution needing a problem to me. My kids have a netbook that I bought them for Christmas last year So then the problem is what useless gadget to get your kids for Christmas.

ramidarigaz 16y ago

I actually found a problem that the EeePC 701sd solved magnificently. I traveled around Asia for six months with one backpack's worth of gear. A full size laptop would have killed me, but that little 9" (8"?) netbook was perfect. Although, once I got back, I had no use for it, so I installed Ubuntu server on and got OpenVPN working on it.