Net-books are little computers that are receiving big attention these
days. Net-books are actually mini-notebook computers with limited
applications. They are designed to be extremely portable, allowing
internet use while out and about (hence the "net" in net-book). A
net-book has a screen size of twelve inches or smaller and is very
light-weight, generally less than three pounds. These energy-efficient
mini-computers are perfect for email, chat, Web surfing or even movie
watching. Most designs out now run Windows XP or Linux operating systems
and are not intended for extensive data storage or complicated programs
like Photoshop or 3D games. However, at less than $400 they may offer
the perfect solution for consumers who want the newest gadget at a
reasonable price.
It is the price that is posing a problem for manufacturers. It was likely that the net-book was created to complement the notebook computer; a consumer would want both to serve different purposes. But as the economy has gotten tougher, people are buying the cheaper net-books at a faster rate. "... the low price tag that makes them such a hit these days means less revenue and profit for PC makers than what their full-size counterparts produce," said tech columnist Dan Zehr. Last fall, of the top-selling laptops on Amazon over half of them were net-books. An analysis on Barron.com noted net-books "could dent Mac-book sales." This was particularly true during the back-to-school and holiday shopping periods. Of course, sales of iPhone and Blackberries are not being impacted in the same way as notebook computer sales, as they hold a different niche in the market.
It is the price that is posing a problem for manufacturers. It was likely that the net-book was created to complement the notebook computer; a consumer would want both to serve different purposes. But as the economy has gotten tougher, people are buying the cheaper net-books at a faster rate. "... the low price tag that makes them such a hit these days means less revenue and profit for PC makers than what their full-size counterparts produce," said tech columnist Dan Zehr. Last fall, of the top-selling laptops on Amazon over half of them were net-books. An analysis on Barron.com noted net-books "could dent Mac-book sales." This was particularly true during the back-to-school and holiday shopping periods. Of course, sales of iPhone and Blackberries are not being impacted in the same way as notebook computer sales, as they hold a different niche in the market.
