Netbooks survey shows laptops are still king

The results of a study conducted by Experian subsidiary Pricegrabber show that more than half of American consumers do not regard netbooks as a feasible replacement for standard-size laptops, and that almost two-thirds view the role of the netbook as a complementary device to other computers.

However, netbook ownership is on the rise, according to the study, rising to 15 percent of those surveyed from 10 percent in a similar study done the previous year. Pricegrabber reports that 11 percent of online consumers said they planned to purchase a netbook in the coming year.

Netbooks have also exerted an influence on the mobile computing world overall, acting as drivers of lower prices across the board, the study showed. “Survey data reveals a significant difference between the dollar amount consumers are willing to pay for their next computing device and the amount they paid for their last device,” the company reported.

Experts say that new form factors and increased capabilities could yet see wider adoption of the netbook model.

These aren’t just ordinary netbooks, these are M&S netbooks….

Marks & Spencer has jumped on the laptops and netbooks bandwagon and, in partnership with electronics manufacturer Elonex, has released its own branded machine, called the MSNB-2009.

The MSNB-2009 boasts the standard netbook specifications, including a 10-inch LED backlit screen, Intel Atom processor, 1024MB of memory and a 160GB hard drive.

Elonex claims that the battery will keep you productive on the road for as long as six hours, and that the machine weighs only 1.3kg.

Other features include 802.11g Wi-Fi for connecting to wireless networks, say in a café for example, and a 1.3 megapixel webcam for video chatting to your friends over the internet.

Available now in three colours – Midnight Savvy, Shocking Pink and Jet Black – the MSNB-2009 costs £279 (inc. VAT).

Asus dual-core netbook gets debut release

Asus laptops have been competing at the forefront of the industry for a decade and are once again looking to drive the market forward with its ION-powered Eee PC 1201N.

This 12.1-inch machine boasts a host of innovative features, including the first dual-core Intel Atom processor to be seen in a netbook. With multi-tasking a possibility, performance should easily better all current, single-core netbooks.

The ION chipset also brings a dedicated nVidia GeForce 9400M graphics card – offering enough power to play HD videos, stream flash content from the internet and even carry out light gaming.

The 250GB hard drive is a nice touch, but it’s the 500GB of accompanying online storage that really sets this machine apart, letting you upload all of your media files without fear of losing them.

With rounded edges and an isolated keyboard design, the 1201N is also an attractive and eye-catching choice. Available now, the Eee PC 1201N costs £399.

Squinters’ joy as netbooks grow up

They may be all about portability, but as the old adage goes – size matters.

Apparently, 8.9-inch netbooks are just too tiny, according to industry sources who say that 10- and 12-inch netbooks will become mainstream sizes in 2010.

The same sources say today’s 10-inch models will be relegated to entry-level markets, where they’ll do battle with smartphones. Expect the next generation of 10-inch netbooks to sport touchscreen displays, which will fill in the mid-range markets, while 12-inch models will drive the high-end and get closer to old-school laptops.

Because Intel has pigeon-holed its Atom platform to netbooks sized 10 inches and less, vendors are expected to turn to Nvidia’s Ion graphics platform combined with an Intel Atom or VIA Nano chip for 12-inch models. The downside to this is cost, as the Ion chipset raises the price by about £40.

Despite Netbook growth surge, laptops are still the benchmark

Research undertaken by analysis firm DisplaySearch revealed that netbook shipments grew an impressive 40 per cent compared to the same quarter last year, almost doubling the 22 per cent for laptop sales. These figures equate to 30 million globally.

However, netbooks still lag behind with regards to overall sales, with laptops accounting for 77.8 per cent of the overall market and netbooks claiming the latter 22.2 per cent. Even though the gap is still quite large, figures show that during the second quarter of 2008, netbooks held just 5.6 per cent of the overall market, proving their growth is fast and continual.

And not everyone is enthralled by the new world of netbooks. A separate survey conducted by industry watcher Spiceworks has found that only 13 per cent of small to medium sized businesses are buying netbooks for their staff compared to the 56 per cent ready to invest in laptop deals.

Netbook sales growth almost doubles laptops

We all knew that snazzy little netbooks were becoming more and more popular, but figures released this week emphasise their true demand. 

During the second quarter of 2009, netbook sales growth almost doubled traditional laptops according to research from DisplaySearch.  The analytics firm found that netbook shipments grew an impressive 40% compared to the same quarter last year, as opposed to 22% for plain old laptops.

They are also predicting worldwide sales of netbooks will double in 2009 with unit sales reaching almost 33 million while the market for normal laptops (those with displays 12.1” and larger) will be ‘flat’.

End of the road for the Sony Vaio TT

The word on the street  is that the Sony Vaio TT has been confined to laptop heaven after Sony removed it from the product range on its global website.

It’s believed that the 11.1 inch Sony VAIO TT will not be making a comeback despite fairly decent sales figures overall.

Sony’s decision is said to be based on price, and in these testing financial times, a price tag of around£2,000 was just too expensive for many laptop-hunters despite how aesthetically-pleasing the TT was.

Asus laptops gain top marks for reliability

Asus laptops were the most reliable notebook computers during Q2, a US repair specialist has claimed. Apple followed behind them whilst Lenovo picked up the inaugural bronze.

The three manufacturers scored 416, 394 and 314, respectively, on Rescuecom’s reliability index. Fourth-placed Toshiba scored 218. HP, which came in fifth place, rated 142 points. Notable absentees were Acer, Dell and Sony Vaio.

Rescuecom’s figures are based on the number of support and repair calls it receives – some 11,560 in all across the quarter.

Students turn to netbooks after being priced out by big Apple

More than a third of the students want small, lightweight notebooks this year, and more than half had a budget under £450, according to an online survey.

Retrevo, a product search engine, found that the “majority of student laptop shoppers will not consider buying a Mac,” after polling more than 300 site visitors.

According to Retrevo, 34% of students said they want cheap laptops that are small and lightweight, while 49 percent wanted full-size PC laptops.

“While Apple has done well historically in the education market, 2009 marks the dawn of the netbook,” said Retrevo CEO Vipin Jain, in a statement. “Students told us they wanted longer battery life, smaller size and a lighter laptop. 58% of them plan on spending less than £450. Only 18 percent have a budget over £500. Netbooks are affordable; some costing only £90.”

Jain added: “At a time when many people are experiencing economic hardship, having a new Apple laptop isn’t a necessity.”

Lanyu unveils the world’s cheapest laptop for £59

Lanyu, a Chinese company based in Shenzen, claims to have made the world’s cheapest laptop.

The eBook LY-EB01, priced at 666 Yuan (nothing evil about that), is powered by ARM and features a a 266MHz AK7802Q216 processor, a 7-inch 800×480 TFT LCD, WinCE 5.0 as OS, WI-FI connectivity, 128M of RAM and a 1800mAH Li-Ion batter.

It weighs in at a featherweight 0.6kg with dimensions of 213.5mm×141.8mm×30.8mm.

From Lanyu’s official website, it seems the company has a foreign trade department, which leads us to believe that they’ll be introducing this cut-price netbook to the international market at some point in the near future, which will truly put the cat amongst the pigeons in the cheap laptops sector.