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Netbook

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Black ASUS Eee PC in proportional comparison with a packet of tissues

A netbook is a light-weight, low-cost, energy-efficient, highly portable laptop suitable for web browsing, email and general purpose applications — primarily noted for its small form factor. Netbooks typically have less processing power than full-featured notebooks and limited ability to run resource-intensive operating systems.[1]

Netbook form factor

The netbook's form factor prioritizes small size and low weight — with a size smaller than a notebook and a typical weight of 2 to 3 lb (about 1 kg). To this end, netbooks typically feature an LCD screen of 7-10 inches, measured diagonally, and a keyboard usually 80 percent to 95 percent of a full-sized laptop's. Netbooks may include wireless connectivity and solid-state drives — and may forego a hard disk drive[2] or optical disc drive.

History

The concept of the netbook stems from subnotebooks, while the term itself was introduced by Psion in 1999[3] and re-introduced by Intel in the first quarter of 2008 shortly after they withdrew from the One Laptop per Child Association.[4][5]

In 2007, Asus, at the time a well-known laptop manufacturer, unveiled the Intel Celeron-based ASUS Eee PC range running a customised version of Linux (or, user installed, Microsoft Windows XP) on a 7 inch color screen.[citation needed] These netbooks measured 8.9 × 6.5in and featured less-than-full-sized keyboards. Since its introduction, the Eee PC has been a top seller on Amazon.com[6].

In mid February 2008, Everex launched its VIA chipset based CloudBook, running gOS. The CloudBook is based on the VIA nanobook reference design. Unlike its closest competitor, the Eee PC, the CloudBook has a hard disk drive. The design of the CloudBook is optimized so it can be held in one hand while typing, or in two hands when using the mouse-cursor control, with the left thumb controlling the two "mouse buttons", and the right thumb a small trackpad. Both mousepad and keys are placed directly under the screen.

On April 3, 2008, Microsoft announced a program to extend the availability of Windows XP in "ultra low-cost PCs", past its original deadline for ending OEM sales of this operating system, as long as hardware developers deploy it on systems with limited hardware specifications.[7] Commentators have seen this announcement as a market movement both to prevent mobile PCs eating market share of full-featured desktop and laptop PCs,[8] and to stop the advance of Linux installations on this format.[9]

In June 2008, MSI launched the MSI Wind PC with features such as Bluetooth and a 10" LED, backlit, 1024x600 screen. This new laptop is the first built with Intel Atom low power technology and competes with the HP 2133 Mini-Note PC which has a 8.9" screen and is capable of a higher resolution. Both laptops are offered with SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop (from Novell) and Microsoft Windows pre-installed; HP offers Windows Vista on their laptop while MSI ships with only XP Home edition.[10][11]

Software

Netbooks typically include a pre-installed operating system, either a custom version of a GNU/Linux or Windows XP Home Edition.[12] Many advanced users can be found heavily active on Internet forums discussing the installation of their choice of operating system (such as Ubuntu Netbook Remix or Windows XP Professional). Various netbook manufacturers are said to be catching on, and now pre-installing Ubuntu Netbook Remix.[13] Netbooks are capable of running full office applications; however, users often rely on applications and services available on the Internet (known as cloud computing) instead, as there are usually fewer hardware requirements.[14]

While Windows XP should have been replaced on all new computers by 2008, the upcoming netbook series with limited capabilities did not fulfill the requirements for Vista. Thus Windows XP Home is still available, currently extended from June 30, 2008 until June 30, 2010.[15]

Microsoft qualifies ultra-low cost personal computers (ULCPCs) as systems matching the following hardware classification requirements:[16]

  • Memory: Shipped with 1 GB RAM or less
  • Screen: 10.2" or smaller
  • Storage: 80 GB (although this limit seems to be increased up to 160 GB for HDD by now) or 16 GB SSD
  • No tablet PC functionality
  • DirectX version 9 graphics processing unit (GPU) or below
  • Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) S4 sleep state is optional

Sales

Cheap netbooks http://www.mynewcheap.co.uk/products/netbooks/


Netbooks have begun to take market share away from laptops[17] and sales are expected to increase up to 50 million by the year 2012.[18]. In Q3 2008, netbook sales overtook iPhone sales by 900,000 units.[19]

Netbooks were thought to be returned more frequently than ordinary laptops according to MSI's director of US Sales, Andy Tung who stated that Linux-based netbooks are returned four times as often as Windows-based ones, suggesting the excess over laptops is attributable to the purchasers' unfamiliarity with Linux or lack of software support.[20] However, this only reflects MSI's data because ASUS's CEO Jerry Chen believes the Linux and Windows versions have similar return rates while ASUS netbooks returns are low.[21]

Overall, the Linux market share on netbooks has increased over notebooks, especially in Europe where the demand is higher for Linux.[22][23]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Netbooks.
Look up netbook in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

References

  1. ^ "Cheap PCs Weigh on Microsoft". Business Technologies, The Wall Street Journal, December 8, 2008.
  2. ^ http://news.cnet.com/8301-13554_3-10063963-33.html
  3. ^ http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/release?id=16302
  4. ^ Paul Bergevin (2008-03-03). "Thoughts on Netbooks". Technology@Intel blog. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
  5. ^ Edward Chester. "Intel Sets Out Netbook and Nettop Plans". Trusted Reviews. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
  6. ^ Asus Eee News, Mods, and Hacks: Asus Eee PC Amazon Bestseller
  7. ^ Microsoft Announces Extended Availability of Windows XP Home for ULCPCs, April 3, 2008 Press release
  8. ^ Microsoft to limit capabilities of cheap laptops, IT World May 12, 2008
  9. ^ News – Computerworlduk - The latest, breaking IT news, reviews and analysis on Google, Yahoo, Facebook, AOL, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe Reader, IBM, Open Source
  10. ^ http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=prodpage2&maincat_no=135&cat2_no=582 MSI
  11. ^ http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF06a/321957-321957-64295-321838-306995-3687084.html HP
  12. ^ http://news.cnet.com/8301-13953_3-10069777-80.html
  13. ^ http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080818-dells-eee-killer-to-ship-with-ubuntu-preinstalled.html
  14. ^ http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/151950/shoot_for_the_clouds.html
  15. ^ Windows Life-Cycle Policy
  16. ^ Windows XP Logo Program
  17. ^ Ian Lamont (2008-10-04). ""Netbooks" Move Up In Notebook Rankings". Slashdot. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
  18. ^ Nicole Kobie (2008-08-12). "Netbook sales to top 50 million by 2012". PC Pro. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
  19. ^ NetBookBoards.com (2008-12-12). ""Netbook" Sales Overtake iPhone Sales". Retrieved 2008-12-10.
  20. ^ http://linux.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/10/05/123253
  21. ^ http://blog.laptopmag.com/asus-ceo-reveals-eee-pc-sales-numbers-plans-for-touch-eee-pcs-and-more-eee-family-products
  22. ^ http://mobile.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/11/08/1842212
  23. ^ http://blog.laptopmag.com/asus-ceo-reveals-eee-pc-sales-numbers-plans-for-touch-eee-pcs-and-more-eee-family-products
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