WHEN the Apple iPad was released, many industry observers said it would signal the end of cheap, low-powered laptops known as "netbooks".
The thinking was: "Why have a teeny-tiny portable laptop, when you can have a big touch screen device, complete with built-in mobile internet?"
Maximum PC: Say goodbye to the netbook as you know it. In a couple of years, netbooks will virtually disappear from the market place, becoming the first true casualty of the tablet era. Even today there really isn't much of a market for netbooks, a category that was at the height of its popularity just three short years ago. In 2010, it seemed like OEMs were lining our inboxes with new netbooks announcements on a daily basis.
Digitimes: While Asustek Computer and Acer will no longer launch netbooks in 2013, Intel will still maintain its Cedar Trail M platform primarily for use in its Classmate PCs, according to sources with Taiwan-based notebook supply chain makers.
Maximum PC: Remember when netbooks were the hottest item in PC land? You could hardly go a week without being buried under an avalanche of new netbook announcements. My, how things have changed. Strictly speaking, the netbook category is no more. Asus is reportedly ending its Eee PC line, and Acer hasn't announced plans to launch any new netbook models. The same goes for MSI and all the other netbook players. So, what happened?
Why anyone would want a netbook is beyond me. The keyboards are too small, the screen is too small, everything about it is just not ergonomic.
Honestly, I like my netbook for walking around. I keep my fancy-ass laptop around for real work and legitimate travel.
Netbooks are handy for trips (trains, plains, etc.), good battery life, small size which is good if you on the move..