Let's see... how many netbooks do I see here?
There has been some talk that netbooks are going to die. I’m not too sure about that because I am happily using a netbook and I have no intention of changing my de facto travel computer. It seems to be true in the dining area in the Hong Kong airport.
Walking around, not everyone has a computer with them, but when I do see a computer, it will, in order of popularity be: a tablet, a netbook, a regular-sized notebook, a Mac, a large 15″+ notebook.
Nom and watch a video
What I noticed was really writing on the wall. Tablets are really outstripping the netbook as the travel… entertainment device? One thing that is certain is that I won’t trade the convenience of a netbook for the portability and ease of use of a tablet, but it seems that for casual surfing and time-wasting on long transits to somewhere, people really love their tablets. For every netbook I see out there, there’s probably 2.5-times the amount of tablets out there. And when I talk about tablets, I refer solely to the iPad. Not one Android tablet was seen, even though you can legally buy a Samsung Galaxy Tab here.
On the other hand, the margin between regular-sized notebooks and netbooks is one that is a close match. I’d say it’s near 1:1 ratio. However, netbooks really are used by people here – I saw Samsungs, Acers, the HP Mini 110 (that I had and broke), and a Reddit Alien-branded… oh wait, that’s my Asus. Everything that people on tablets are doing, people who have netbooks are doing too. They’re time-wasting on Youtube, entertaining themselves on Farmville, or WordPressing this article out while looking at a Hong Kong girl with a University of Toronto shirt.
Om nom nom and read email
Another notable thing is the users of Macs. I saw an Asian girl who had an American accent with her MacBook Air as she was sending her luggage through the X-Ray, as well as a middle-aged, Australian-accented, Susan Boyle-lookalike that is on the standard size Macbook. Don’t know much about Macs, but are Macs a feminine thing?
Over time, I realised that netbooks are particularly useful for backpacking travellers, or even travellers in general, as netbooks offer computers that are fully functional, albeit a bit slower than normal laptops, but they are really extremely portable, extremely cheap and quite light. When baggage space is a luxury and weight is costly, netbooks make a lot of sense. Whether netbooks will die or not, I’m not sure, but as far as I understand, the death of netbooks have always been predicated on technological grounds, and that’s just not relevant for people travelling.
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Just bought my first ever netbook, dell inspiron 1018, for my blogging anywhere needs.
I’m very satisfied and happy. It far away useful than tab with limited features. its handy and I can carry it anywhere
and prices are also reasonable.
mine is 2 GB DDR 3, 300GB, 1.66 Ghz 455 atom (a little less than my requirements) with 6 cell 7 hour (with power saver) for just 350USD. not bad :/
I bought it just for few months, because Im waiting for win8 netbook / tabs
Hi Muhammad,
That’s great, though US350 is quite a lot for such a spec! If I could chosen a new netbook, I’ll go for the AMD-powered notebooks (high-power, fast) or the Dell tablet-netbook!