Netbooks look increasingly appealing but I’m not sold yet

The category of mini low-cost laptops, known as netbooks, seems to be growing rapidly and not just with copy-cat “me too” offerings but with innovative new features continually cropping up as well. Today I’m intrigued by the latest Hewlett Packard netbook, the HP Mini 1000. It has one of the best physical designs I’ve read about and includes multiple options if you want a wireless 3G card. PC Magazine’s Mini 1000 review concludes by praising the look and feel: “Design is a huge win for the 1000, as the flush screen, inlaid patterns, and large keyboard are superior to what its rivals offer.”

But, of course there are problems. PC Magazine complains about the mouse button placement (at the sides of the touchpad, as you can see above). More puzzling is the lack of good options for storage:

While competitors are offering netbooks with 120 GB and even 160 GB drives — and drives that spin at a performance-enhancing 5,400 RPM — Hewlett-Packard is for some reason offering only a crummy 60 GB drive spinning at a performance-sapping 4,200 RPM. So I guess I am still awaiting the perfect netbook.

Then again, maybe Apple will come out with its netbook sooner rather than later.

Elsewhere on the web today, Laptop Magazine is loving the Samsung NC10 netbook and JKontheRun posts his review of the HP machine.

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5 responses to “Netbooks look increasingly appealing but I’m not sold yet”

  1. Shabbir Avatar
    Shabbir

    I've been wrong before. Actually, very wrong many times. But I think Apple's strategy is not to try and break a new category like netbooks, but to make the iPhone so useful you don't need one.

    I've been playing with my Asus palmtop for months now and it's unrewarding purely because of the expectations. I expect it to be something it can't be in its form factor. On the other hand the iPhone blows away any previous cellphone I've owned.

    Ever since the Newton lesson (not Jobs' mistake), I think people have learned how much user expectation matters in the success of a product. A netbook looks like a smaller laptop, and is doomed to be less pleasing.

  2. ampressman Avatar
    ampressman

    What's the Asus? Does it have a meatspace keyboard?

  3. Shabbir Avatar
    Shabbir

    The ASUS EEE PC (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asus_eee_pc#Eee_70…) is a small form factor portable that misses the boat in a couple of ways.

    First, as items get smaller, their network connectedness must rise. The Asus 700 series (what I have) is still wifi at best, with no edge or 3g. Also, as items get smaller, their form factor and flexible operation becomes more important. Can I operate this one handed? No. It's just a really small laptop with a cramped keyboard.

    The ASUS has been described as a response to the One Laptop Per Child project boxes, but I disagree. There's no way this competes with those units for durability in the field.

    I think this is a really good example of the “straight line innovation” fallacy. “Laptops are getting smaller, let's make the smallest one!” “Portions are getting bigger, let's serve the largest one!” Product usability is a balloon, when you change one part, another part has to change in response to it. The EEE PC palmtop just got smaller without taking into account those other factors.

  4. Shabbir Avatar
    Shabbir

    The ASUS EEE PC (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asus_eee_pc#Eee_70…) is a small form factor portable that misses the boat in a couple of ways.

    First, as items get smaller, their network connectedness must rise. The Asus 700 series (what I have) is still wifi at best, with no edge or 3g. Also, as items get smaller, their form factor and flexible operation becomes more important. Can I operate this one handed? No. It's just a really small laptop with a cramped keyboard.

    The ASUS has been described as a response to the One Laptop Per Child project boxes, but I disagree. There's no way this competes with those units for durability in the field.

    I think this is a really good example of the “straight line innovation” fallacy. “Laptops are getting smaller, let's make the smallest one!” “Portions are getting bigger, let's serve the largest one!” Product usability is a balloon, when you change one part, another part has to change in response to it. The EEE PC palmtop just got smaller without taking into account those other factors.

  5. games Avatar
    games

    This article I so true, keep on writing like this, enjoyment to read :) 348

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