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.

MSI unveils four new cost-effective laptops

The Windows 7 budget laptop onslaught continues, this time courtesy of MSI, which has launched four new systems that all run Windows 7 Home Premium. One of them even includes a Blu-ray reader/DVD writer combo drive for under £500.  

While three of the laptops use the new Intel Core i3 or i5 processors, the cheapest – the CR600, is powered by a Pentium Dual Core T4500 CPU. It’s also the only one using Nvidia GeForce 8200M integrated graphics and comes with 3GB of RAM instead of 4GB. On the other hand, the CR600 is the sole one of the four with a 16-inch display instead of a 15.6-inch screen.

The CR620-030 and CR620-033 both come with the Core i3-330M CPU, along with a 320GB hard drive. The CR620-030 costs £400, but the CR620-033 is priced £30 higher due to its Blu-ray combo drive. At £450, the CR620-031 sports the Core i5-430M and 500GB hard drive, but lacks that Blu-ray drive, leaving the potential buyer to decide if the more powerful processor is more important than Blu-ray.

Acer 532G is first dedicated graphics netbook

Acer is taking HD video playback in its netbooks seriously, with its new Aspire One 532G netbook offering smooth 1080p playback through an HDMI port.

Acer is boasting that the netbook can handle YouTube HD videos and high-def playback from Facebook without problems, while mainstream gaming and 3D computing should be no trouble either.

The video power comes courtesy of Nvidia’s upgraded Ion platform, which now makes use of the recently announced Optimus technology.

This allows the 532G to switch between integrated or dedicated graphics processors on the fly, which means when you’re just browsing the web you can get 10 hours of battery life, but the more powerful GPU kicks in automatically when you start playing HD movies or games.

The discrete half of the Nvidia Ion solution offers 512MB of graphics memory and CUDA support for some advanced applications, which means the netbook will be more useful for tasks like video editing and encoding than its Intel Atom N450 processor might let on.

The Acer Aspire One 532G also features WiFi, a high definition 10-inch LED-backlit display and optional 3G connectivity, while the whole package weighs 1kg and clocks in at 1-inch thick.

Acer laptops has also announced that it will introduce netbooks powered by the Android operating system to provide speedy internet access and simple usability.

Bill Gates not a fan of the Apple iPad…

Steve Jobs’ arch-nemesis Bill Gates has criticised the new Apple iPad, claiming that laptops will still be the mainstream choice for digital touch and reading.

Gates joins the growing army of iPad critics, with many consumers disappointed at the relatively low-spec and limited connectivity available on Apple’s new tablet PC device.

This, combined with the clear fact that Apple was never going to deliver a new computer that would satisfy its fans who were hyped on the pre-release rumour and speculation, has led to a somewhat muted response to the iPad by many.

Jobs’ longtime rival, Bill Gates said of the new iPad: “You know, I’m a big believer in touch and digital reading, but I still think that some mixture of voice, the pen and a real keyboard – in other words a netbook – will be the mainstream on that.

“So, it’s not like I sit there and feel the same way I did with iPhone where I say, ‘Oh my God, Microsoft didn’t aim high enough.’ It’s a nice reader, but there’s nothing on the iPad I look at and say, ‘Oh, I wish Microsoft had done it.’”

Samsung N150 is ‘world’s first LTE netbook’

Samsung has shown off a N150 netbook with Long Term Evolution (LTE) at Mobile World Congress, with a chip designed in-house allowing a more portable offering with this next generation mobile technology.

LTE is causing much excitement, offering what is widely becoming called 4G connectivity for mobile devices, and Samsung is keen to be at the forefront of the technology.

To that end they have designed an LTE chipset called Kalmia, which has been integrated into the N150, a netbook that currently sports 3G and Wi-Fi versions and will only get the LTE technology ‘according to service schedule and market demand’.

Samsung laptops showed off the live streaming using the company’s own LTE network equipment on the N150, pointing out that the ‘inclusion of LTE will deliver high speed, low latency and ubiquitous connectivity to all users who require high-volume data access whenever they want and wherever they are.’

“For the first time, operators preparing for the deployment of next generation networks can deliver high-powered products to showcase network strength and the true benefits to end users,” states Samsung.

Acer boss: “Forget tablets, we’ll concentrate on laptops”

Laptops specialist Acer has ruled out creating a competitor to the Apple iPad tablet, claiming it is more focused on producing a top notch line of ultra-thin laptops.

In a rather refreshing and honest interview, Acer Taiwan President Scott Lin says that while Apple’s product portfolio and online purchasing presence is perfectly suited to the tablet, others who try to copy their success will likely come up way short.

He said: “Apple has built its business out of carving its own niche, which means that while Apple could see success with devices like the iPad, other players are unlikely to be able to replicate its result simply by copying.”

Lin was also quick to point out that his company feels totally unthreatened by the tablet, claiming the two devices are not competing for the same space in the market.

Packard Bell pay homage to Moto GP star

With the slew of ‘jelly mould’ laptops and CULV ultraportables around, Packard Bell has tried to differentiate its new dot VR46 by making it a limited-edition model complete with nine-times Moto GP world champion Valentino Rossi’s pattern.

The VR46 takes its name from Rossi’s initials, plus the number he’s always raced with – this is visible both on the lid and inside, at the top of the 11.6in screen. Although Packard Bell calls the dot VR46 a netbook, it’s powered by an ultra-low voltage Core 2 Duo or Celeron (depending on the model) so is more of an ultra-portable laptop by our reckoning. It also makes the price seem more reasonable as it’s more in line with other CULV-based laptops like Acer’s Timeline 1810. Whether the VR46 can match the Timeline’s amazing blend of usability, battery life and value remains to be seen.

No finalised UK specifications have been announced, but models will be available with up to 4GB of DDR2 RAM and with a hard disk up to a 640GB in capacity. The screen will have a 1,366×768 resolution and be powered by Intel’s GMA 4500MHD chip. All models will come with Windows 7 Home Premium.

Acer continue Google collaboration with Chrome OS laptop plans

Acer’s journey with Google into new territory looks like continuing with the announcement that it will be bringing a netbook laptop running the Chrome OS in Q3 2010.

The announcement was made by Jim Wong, Senior Corporate Vice President and President of IT Product Business Group at Acer, who stated that the company was looking to shift over one million Chrome-based laptops in 2010.

The move would signal another step along the path to seeing Google begin to spread its OS from smartphones to netbooks, with the simplistic platform likely to gain widespread acceptance from a number of manufacturers.

Such is the belief in the Chrome OS that Acer is stating that the platform will be used in ‘7% of all its netbook shipments in 2010′, which would be impressive should the refined laptop come around September.

During the interview, Wong also confirmed the company will be creating an app store for the netbook to download easy to use widgets, and the portal will also carry apps that can be used on the company’s burgeoning smartphone range.

Apple tablet to change eBooks and small laptops forever

2009 turned out to be a huge year for eBooks and eReaders however many predict that the upcoming Apple iTablet will change the e-book and small laptops business forever.

Currently Amazon’s Kindle is the market leader in the e-book market, however many believe that Steve Jobs and Apple’s tablet device will dethrone the Kindle.

The device, which is due to be officially announced tonight at an event in San Francisco, is based on a version of Apple’s iPhone operating system, with the ability to have multiple applications running at the same time

Other specifications include Wi-Fi and 3G data connections, with both Verizon and AT&T listed as carriers in the US by Calacanis. Also mentioned are two “thumb pads” on either side for “mouse gestures”, plus two cameras, one front facing for video conferencing and one at the rear, presumably for capturing video or stills.

Omnifone strikes music service deal with HP laptops

Omnifone has clinched a potentially lucrative deal with Hewlett-Packard to pre-install its MusicStation music service onto HP laptops and computers.

The deal which will cover 10 European countries comprising of Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK will give music lovers the benefit of downloading from a library of 6.5 million tracks.

For £8.99 a month, MusicStation subscribers can download an unlimited number of tracks, plus get 10 DRM-free tracks each month to load onto any music device.

Spotify’s Premium service which would be its closest competitor in the UK, is £9.99 a month and while that does allow you to make tracks available offline, you’re not allowed to keep them.

MusicStation like Spotify, similarly has a mobile phone presence on networks such as Vodafone and features on Sony Ericsson handsets, making it a suitable rival for the current streaming music favourite.

Omnifone’s download service may not be the only new music provider to head to the UK in the near future. Sky Songs and MySpace Music already make up what is fast becoming a crowded market, but it’s the speculation surrounding an Apple streaming music service launching in the Spring that should make the digital music market a little more interesting.

The MusicStation service which will be packed into 16 HP computers and laptops across Europe from this week, offering a free 14 day trial with the opportunity to sign up to the full service.