It is not a surprise but the ‘netbook’ style and size of machine appear to be making a bull run even in a bear market. And some Mac users have made the move and others are considering it. Most ‘netbooks’ run Windows (XP for now mostly) or a version of Linux. I’ve got a super-netbook like Toshiba Protege and I gotta say I love it. If the G-Phone isn’t ready for prime time well this make room for more netbooks. I am not seeing covergence in mobile devices instead I see people havein many mobile devices to serve a specific need or mode, its sort of like bags (luggage) and shoes. Hmmm, anyway need to ponder this trend some more.
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8 responses so far ↓
ubuntucat // 16 December 2008 at 6:23 pm |
I think if Apple made a netbook, it would make a killing.
If it doesn’t, this could be the rise of consumer Linux. Even getting to the 10% market share point would be huge for Linux.
dylanfuller // 16 December 2008 at 7:47 pm |
Agree, Apple could rock in this space. The iPhone is sort of super-sub netbook anyway. This could see the rise of consumer linux or the next gen G-phone. Will be interesting to see. What do we want from a netbook? Small, fast, good battery and few key apps. So the O/S needs to cut down etc etc.
Jon // 17 December 2008 at 7:59 am |
I have a MacBook Pro and recently purchased an Aspire One… Gotta say I’m using the little guy a lot more than I thought I would. The MBP never gets off my desk these days (it’s still used all day for work, but it might as well be a desktop, the AAO is so much more portable).
I’d love one that ran OS X natively. Not sure I’d love to pay for it, but that’s a whole other story
dylanfuller // 17 December 2008 at 11:12 am |
Thanks for this. I am similar in my use of my netbook. I now have a Mac as home, Dell lapto as decktop replacement at work, Toshiba netbook (R500) – which rocks, Treo and Sony Ericsson. I think these ‘tools/toys’ are like bags or shoes. You need many!
http://uk.computers.toshiba-europe.com/innovation/series/Portege-R500-Series/129898/
Jon // 17 December 2008 at 7:06 pm |
I wonder what the stats are on netbooks sold with XP vs those with some kind of Linux offering?
As more and more of our data moves to the cloud then the machine only need have a decent browser and some tools for uploading multi-media content: and the netbook is, currently, the perfect form factor for that.
But, look at the operating system share of marker: http://tr.im/2e6p – iPhone as an OS is already half way to the Linux share and Windows market share dived below 90% for first time: http://tr.im/2e6q
I think the future will be a mobile device that you can work with – I’m not sure we’ve seen the form factor yet not know who will come up with it. Netbooks may only be a temporary half way house.
Jon
ubuntucat // 19 December 2008 at 12:57 am |
I think the stats are about 9 to 1 on XP v. Linux.
Apparently, the MSI Winds with Linux have a 4 times higher return rate than the Winds with XP on them.
Asus has said, though, that the return rates on Eee PCs are roughly even for Linux and XP.
mo79uk // 19 December 2008 at 1:22 am |
I have a Toshiba NB100 netbook with Ubuntu 8.04 (Remix) which I’m adoring as a second computer.
If Apple had a netbook out I would’ve seriously considered it. I’m primarily a Windows user and I’m only really put off by the prices for Apple’s computers which is their loss as much as mine.
From what I know XP netbooks are unsurprisingly outselling Linux ones due to customer familiarity and more promotion for Windows models (I haven’t seen Ubuntu demo’d in a shop yet!) This is a shame as most people could easily grapple with most of the new popular Linuxes and I’m no geek, but I try!
If the fight heats up it could be that we end up with custom Linuxes by hardware manufacturers, so in effect unique OS’s that run the same engine and is kind of a return to the 80’s where we had the Spectrum/Amstrad/Commodore clans, which I think is healthy. I don’t hate Microsoft, but the desktop needs more democracy. Diversity breeds innovation.
dylanfuller // 19 December 2008 at 10:37 am |
Thanks for the comments and all the data on netbook O/S state of the world… Sounds like the netbook speace is going to evolve and be interesting one to watch.