define netbook

#1 (**permalink**) 07-07-2009, 09:58 AM

How do you define the netbook? Price, screen size, weight, lifestyle?

cokids · #2 (**permalink**) 07-07-2009, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by netbooking

How do you define the netbook? Price, screen size, weight, lifestyle?

...it's about price and size, but google 'netbook' to get the 'official' definition.

Beth

ThisIsNot · #3 (**permalink**) 07-07-2009, 06:21 PM

Every company has their official definition along with terminology. There are some companies that don't like the term netbook, there are some companies that call them sub-notebooks or mini-notebooks, and I can keep going on. I don't really care, I call them netbooks.

To me, a netbook needs to have the right combination of screen size, battery life, weight, and price. HP has a multimedia netbook on the market but it costs over $600. I don't think that really is a netbook, it is more of an ultra portable multimedia netbook. I think the right combination of these is to have either a 10" or 11.6" screen, maximum price of $399, and an average battery life of 7 hours for real world usage.

There was a time when the definition of netbook fit only 8.9" screens but times have changed. I am sure by definition will change again as technology keeps advancing. Still, I hate it when companies slap high prices onto their products and label them as netbook. It appears that netbook is fast becoming a hip term much like putting a lowercase i in front of a product.

I think that the netbook standards for Windows 7 are pretty good and fit my definition of what a netbook is.

#4 (**permalink**) 07-07-2009, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cokids

...it's about price and size, but google 'netbook' to get the 'official' definition.

I'm more into the netbook as my do everything on the Net netbook. Hardware and OSes across the board are fairly standard.

I'm looking for capability in Net tasks, netbooking if you will. Which apps can be downloaded and installed without conversion to CD or use of CD drive, how is data backed up online and also saved to a SD/USB drive, in what way is data creation (not just consumption) possible for presentation to others and how does a netbook enhance my Net life are questions for my netbookery. My netbook needs to be portable so battery life is a big deal. It needs to connect so ports are a big deal. It needs to be useful so functions are a big deal.

My netbook is used in travel so I want to be able to reinstall the OS and apps on the road without using a CD drive. In fact, I don't even want to carry a CD drive.

Microsoft's definition of a netbook is set for its business reason(s). Size and price don't seem to be adequate for me as a definition. Different people can carry different weights without problem and afford (or not) all sorts of price ranges. I'm more interested in how you define the netbook for your own use.

I have a Mac desktop, an all in one portable MacBook, an Asus 1000HE sans CD netbook and an iPod Touch for smaller connectivity and games.

Chris · #5 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 02:41 AM

Actually I wrote my definition several months ago in a blog post:

What is a netbook?

Which still seems to sum it up pretty nice. If you're too lazy to read the whole post this is the gist:

"A netbook is a thin, lightweight (3 lbs or less), ultra-portable computer with a screen size of 10'' or less operating on an ultra low power processor."

Although perhaps I should change that to say 11.6 inches now eh?

#6 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 03:15 AM

Nice post Chris.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Guthrie

Actually I wrote my definition several months ago in a blog post:

What is a netbook?

Which still seems to sum it up pretty nice. If you're too lazy to read the whole post this is the gist:

"A netbook is a thin, lightweight (3 lbs or less), ultra-portable computer with a screen size of 10'' or less operating on an ultra low power processor."

Although perhaps I should change that to say 11.6 inches now eh?

ThisIsNot · #7 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Guthrie

Although perhaps I should change that to say 11.6 inches now eh?

Probably. The 12" netbooks will be phased out as the basic version of Windows 7 will require a 11.6" screen or smaller (as part of Microsoft's definition of what a netbook is). It appears that 10" and 11.6" will be the standard screen sizes for the next few years (at least until Microsoft changes their definition). 12" notebooks running Windows 7 will be classified as notebooks and not netbooks.

So yeah, maybe say 10" and/or 11.6".

ericinboston · #8 (**permalink**) 07-09-2009, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Guthrie

If you're too lazy to read the whole post this is the gist:

"A netbook is a thin, lightweight (3 lbs or less), ultra-portable computer with a screen size of 10'' or less operating on an ultra low power processor."

Although perhaps I should change that to say 11.6 inches now eh?

I would alter it to summarize (and of course things change every year):

"A netbook is a thin, lightweight (3 lbs or less), ultra-portable computer with a screen size of 12'' or less operating on an ultra low power processor and selling for under $450."

Who knows, next April the wave could be that 12.5" or 13" screens are the new standard. As long as the "machines" leave off the cd/dvd drives and other bulkiness and implement more solid state drives, there will be plenty of room to make the machines larger without adding weight. I forsee SSD taking over the netbook market very soon so that vendors can make larger machines without the weight of a non-SSD hard drive. 32gig SSD drives already exist (sure, a tad expensive) and 64gig and 128g are right around the corner for consumer adoption (again due to pricing). Not to mention that if you really want to complain "but I NEED to store 15,000 pictures on my netbook!" you can buy yourself a 64gig USB Flash drive for $80 these days.

-Eric

#9 (**permalink**) 08-11-2009, 05:21 AM

Time to revisit this thread.

Do you want to revise the netbook definition based more on or by adding net centric tasks instead of hardware limits? Is netbookery more about a revolt against size and price than a net centric niche?

My netbook is a briefcase companion and a personal electronic assistant. It matches well with the iPod Touch and both have little to do with my notebook and desktop.

My notebook is work related and a completely different genre from netbookery. It's my grunt and the software costs more than the hardware.

My desktop is home/office based and the power/performance unit. It runs 24/7 and takes care of big screen Excel/movie editing tasks.

ericinboston · #10 (**permalink**) 08-11-2009, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by netbooking

Do you want to revise the netbook definition based more on or by adding net centric tasks instead of hardware limits? Is netbookery more about a revolt against size and price than a net centric niche?

No we don't want to re-define.

...the netbook is already defined quite well by the vendors...it is a computer with an operating system that comes with inexpensive hardware to be attractive to people as a lightweight computer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by netbooking

My netbook is a briefcase companion and a personal electronic assistant. It matches well with the iPod Touch and both have little to do with my notebook and desktop.

Please elaborate...I can't fathom why you would drop $300 on a Personal Assistant device when you can buy them for $25 at Sears or get them free with 4 Cheerios UPC cutouts. Please talk about exactly what you use your netbook for and how its use is compared to your briefcase as well as your iPod Touch, notebook, and desktop.