State of them Netbooks (December ’09)
A quick review of the latest online buzz around netbooks:
Consumer Electronics Show (CES) – new netbooks and USB 3.0
CES is coming up Jan 7-10, and we’ve already heard of a couple of netbooks making an appearance. We expect a lot more, especially some bearing Windows 7 and showing off the touch features. Some PC industry innovations will also be unveiled, such as USB 3.0 – which will be a LOT faster than USB 2.0. Not sure if we’ll see netbooks with this new technology any time soon, maybe in another couple of months. Combine the faster USB with the lack of optical drives and larger storage spaces — USBs will soon replace CDs and DVDs for good (Windows 7 and Norton Antivirus already make their software available via USB!)
Rumors of Google Tablet replace those of Apple Tablet
Not sure if the Google Tablet story is still in rumor form – I haven’t see anything on the Google blogs – will update you when I do. The story is: Google Chrome OS should be available at the end of 2010 and Google’s gonna be involved in the hardware it comes out on. Allegedly, the Google Tablet will be a slate that will have 3G and Wi-FI – c’mon it’s based on cloud computing, it HAS to connect to the web ;) – will probably not have an Intel processor, but will go for ARM instead.[Via JKontheRun]
There’s a lot of talk about this Google machine coming out for free. I personally don’t think this will happen. The OS is free yes, but the hardware? Hell no. Maybe if it’s being sold from telecom providers AT&T, Verizon (again, cloud computing means a data card is way vital). Unless Google pays the price for it – since they make money from people going on line, and that’s the only thing this slate would do :P
Alternatively, there’s also talk Google teaming up with Acer, Asus, HP, Lenovo and Toshiba on netbooks that will come out with only the Google Chrome OS. Acer’s aiming to take the spot of ’1st netbook with Chrome.’ Will they? Who knows – it’s way too early to speculate. Remember the race to be the first netbook with nVidia?? The Windows 7 release date messed up that race, and the HP Mini 311 was the first – it came out with nVidia on Windows XP!
Point is, why would Acer/Asus/etc. offer a Chrome OS running netbook for free? Will Chrome OS be available for people who want to replace Windows/Linux on their current machines?
P.S. Great piece on the subject by Gizmodo: Why Google should make a Tablet
Oh yeah, Pine View – Intel’s new processor which is coming out after CES
The 1.66GHz N450 PineView will be on the market starting January 10. A bunch of netbooks have already been slated for release with this processor, including the Asus 1008P, MSI Wind U150, a Lenovo S10 IdeaPad and a netbook from Acer.
The 1.83GHz N470 PineView processor will be available in March.
Toshiba stats - 16% of all PC sales for 2010 estimated to be netbooks
A common statistic floating around the internet this year: 1 in every 5 PCs sold is a netbook. I came across Toshiba’s sales estimates for next year via DigiTimes. They saw sales of 15-16 million PCs this year and estimate 19 million pieces will be shipped out next year. 3 million of those they claim will be netbooks. That’s 16%. Less than 20% but hey Toshiba only sells one netbook – the Mini NB205 - a best-seller at that too!
And that’s all for now folks :)
Related posts:
- Google Chrome OS for Netbooks
- $20 Netbooks with Google Chrome?
- Apple iBook, iNetbook – Why Apple will definitely release a Netbook in 2009
- August 2009 a great month for Asus
- Amazon’s Top Ten Bestselling Netbooks : December 17, 2009
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