Photo: -eko- / Flickr

When the iPad first arrived on the market, the first victim of the sales explosion was the netbook. Though many tried to talk away the impact tablet PCs would have on netbook sales, suggesting that they could well co-exist, tablet sales have been growing at rate so incredible, ABI Research notes that in Q2 of 2011 they overtook sales of netbooks.

The changing order

The research firm reports that tablet PC sales topped 13.6 million units compared to just 8.4 million units for netbooks in Q2 2011. Speaking to this finding, Jeff Orr, who is ABI Research’s group director for mobile devices, called it ‘a trend that we do not expect will reverse’. He continued, saying: ‘As they are different segments, this is not a direct replacement behavior, but a changing of leadership for the most interesting device type.’

Certainly not indirect

Orr is careful to note that tablets are not replacing netbooks at a one-to-one ratio, but it is undeniable that there is an overlap of shoppers who pick either a tablet device or a netbook.

Why tablets are dominating

Explaining why tablet sales have exploded, Orr says: ‘Media tablets are perceived to be easy to use, compared to the keyboard and mouse interface of a netbook computer. Those who have avoided PCs because they are difficult to use – think the Baby Boomer generation and older – see media tablets as an opportunity to re-engage with Internet access.’ The ABI Research analyst notes that tablet devices are still too expensive, with the average one costing $600 (£376) compared to the average netbook price at just $300 (£188).

The research firm insists that netbook sales will remain strong in some markets, especially in developing nations where computer penetration has not been high in the past due to the cost of PCs. Oh, and for added perspective on how strong tablet sales have been growing, Forrester Research predicts tablets will have eclipsed desktops by 2013.

Photo: andysternberg / Flickr

Search giant Google has found itself in a spot of bother over the name ‘Chromebook’ for its incoming suite of netbooks. The company has a lawsuit on its hands, filed by ISYS Technologies, who says that the wording on the Google netbooks is too close to some of ISYS’ own trademarks.

ChromiumPC

ISYS owns the name ChromiumPC, with the company saying it feels Google is nabbing the trademark by calling its netbook series the ‘Chromebook’. As such, ISYS Technologies has requested a temporary restraining order to prevent any manufacturer which is associated with Chromebook, a list that includes Google itself, manufacturers Samsung and Acer, and retailers like Amazon.com and Best Buy.

We will fight

Kirton & McConkie, who are the lead attorney for the suit, released a statement bringing to light why this has become an issue. They wrote: ‘When Google’s plans to use Speedbook for a new PC hardware product were derailed by the owner of another Speedbook mark in late 2010, Google switched its behind-the-scenes efforts to Chromebook for PC hardware products while delaying ISYS’ trademark registration by filing unnecessary extensions of time until Google publicly launched its new hardware PC products on 11 May.’

The statement claims that ‘This causes damage and irreparable harm to ISYS.’ Explaining what it is their client wants as a result, the firm writes: ‘ISYS seeks an expedited review of the matters, invalidation of Google’s claims to rights in the mark Chromium and an injunction to prevent the sale of computer hardware by Google bearing a mark confusingly similar to ChromiumPC, namely.’

Walk away?

Needless to say, it’s safe to assume the search giant will fight for the right to brand their netbook range the Google Chromebook. What often happens with these types of cases is that a suit is filed, protracted legal battles commence, and then a settlement is reached. With the first Chrome netbooks scheduled to arrive this year, still, this case will likely pass by quite swiftly.

Photo: thinknew / Flickr

While netbooks rarely make news these days, news of a dirt cheap netbook running Google Chrome OS is a story that cannot be ignored. Rumour has it Asus is developing a bone cheap netbook running on Google’s latest mobile OS platform.

$200

While these devices generally sell for $300 (£186) and upward, Asus is aiming really low, making a Chrome netbook that will be priced between $200 (£124) and $250 (£155).

The computer is rumoured to ship in either 10-inch or 11-inch variations. And, given that by spec every Chrome netbook must have built-in 3G, there are additional reports suggesting some carriers may offer them for free on six-month plus data contracts.

The effect of pricing

While it’s easy to dismiss netbooks as devices that had their time but no longer have a place, many people still purchase them because they’re so cheap and accessible.

When unwise meets unwise, do you get stupid?

After months of anticipation, Google Chrome OS was announced to very little fanfare. That’s partly attributable to the fact that tablet PCs are all the buzz these days, to the expense of netbooks. And partly attributable to the fact that Google Android has gotten so big and so versatile, Chrome OS no longer seemed to have a place.

It seems risky for Asus to be launching a struggling device format – a netbook – on a mobile operating system that might never get traction – Chrome – but at the dirt cheap price tag of $200 (about £124), it could be a colossal hit.

Photo: Mobile Edge Laptop Cases / Flickr

Dell, once the number one computer manufacturer in the world, then number two, and recently languishing in third place, has leaped back into second position, according to an iSuppli report. What makes this turnaround rather astonishing is who the company has to thank – Apple and its netbooks sales crushing iPad.

The netbook factor

The latest iSuppli report pegs Dell at the number two spot, wedged between Hewlett-Packard and Acer. Netbooks – a big component of Acer’s business – saw sales absolutely crushed by the iPad tablet PC. This meant that, as opposed to Dell seeing unprecedented growth, Acer did not have the netbook sales they would have otherwise had to keep in second spot.

Given Dell’s presence in the netbook market is nowhere near the level of Acer’s, and that Dell still has a very strong presence in the enterprise market, the company used Acer’s netbook misfortune to snag what iSuppli analyst Matthew Wilkins called a ‘firm lead’ over its competitor.

Overall sales robust

Outside of the positional switch between Dell and Acer, the iSuppli report says fourth quarter sales of PCs were the best the industry had ever seen. More than 93 million units were sold in Q4 2010, up an impressive 5 per cent from the year prior. Sales for the full year totaled 345.4 million units, up an impressive 14.2 per cent on the 302.4 million units sold in 2009.

It’s your fault, iPad

With a growing chorus of analysts saying the iPad is affecting the entire PC industry, all the naysayers who proclaim it not a productivity tool are overlooking what matters most – and that is the device is stealing sales from other personal computing devices. Netbooks were always most vulnerable, and Acer is feeling it seeing netbook sales declining rapidly enough that out-of-favour Dell has been able to steal some much needed spotlight.

Photo: Annie Mole / Flickr

After some confusion regarding Acer’s stance on netbooks, and whether the company will continue to produce them, the group has released a statement saying that the rumours of the Acer netbooks demise are greatly exaggerated, and that they will continue supporting the diminutive computers for now.

Your own people say so!

Lu Bing-Hsian, a Taiwanese sales manager at Acer, made a recent comment that Acer’s heavy tablet bet was ‘aimed at phasing out netbooks’.

As smart, and likely true, as that sounds, Acer PR have come to clear up the storm that comment has sparked. The company says [via Techradar] ‘Acer recognizes that the computer market is changing: As PCs are no longer used to only create content but are more and more becoming consumption tools, new devices and new form factors are appearing.’

The statement continues, reading: ‘This means the range of devices available to users is getting wider and tablets are just another piece of the mosaic. Therefore they will find their space next to netbooks and notebooks, without taking over.’

We don’t believe you

Acer continues justifying the backtracking, by explaining that tablets are ‘just another piece of the mosaic’ and that ‘they will find their space next to netbooks and notebooks, without taking over.’

This backtracking sounds very much like the actions of a company that don’t want to reveal their entire strategy just yet. The fact is, netbooks haven’t fared too well since tablet PCs arrived. And, given that the iPad sold 7 million units in one quarter means that, in terms of growth, there is a far bigger opportunity with tablet PCs than there is with netbooks.

Acer netbooks will fall to the wayside eventually, whether or not Acer likes it. Hopefully by then, the company’s tablets will be competing with the best on the market so far.

Photo: psd / Flickr

A report coming out of Ericsson says that worldwide mobile data users will top 1 billion in 2011. This remarkable feat is only further exaggerated when one considers that the half a billion milestone was only crossed a few months ago.

Significant milestones crossed

In a statement (via Reuters) Ericsson said that: ‘During the course of 2010, a significant milestone in terms of mobile broadband subscriptions was reached as their number surpassed the half-a-billion mark globally.’ Considering the company is the world’s biggest maker of mobile network gear, it’s safe to say the company knows what it’s talking about. Things are only going to get better with respect to mobile data users, with the statement going on to read: ‘Ericsson estimates that this number will double before 2011 ends.’

Internet everywhere

With the proliferation of smartphones, as well as feature phones being paired with decent browsing experiences like that provided by Opera Mini, on-the-go mobile data usage has exploded. Add to this the proliferation of cheap netbooks, more data solutions for notebooks and tablet PCs, it becomes clear why the number of mobile data users has seen the torrid growth it has in recent years.

We win!

Ericsson has benefitted from this since it means more carriers are buying more gear from the company to handle the load. Carriers are also benefitting from this exploding demand, since this rise in data use is helping their earnings across the board. The only group who haven’t seen significant benefits are consumers, who are battling carriers reducing data allowances so that they, the carriers, can better handle the load from this surge in demand, as well as reap greater profit.

The revolution has been repeated

Mobile phones have fundamentally changed how people communicate and connect with each other. In the 90s, as handsets and networks became more ubiquitous around the world, people who previously couldn’t afford expensive to maintain landline connections had a way of connecting with each other affordably.

Now, what mobile phones did for voice communication, they are doing for internet connections, providing new ways for longtime web users to connect, as well as enabling first time web users access to the world’s most important communications platform. The growth of mobile data usage and mobile data users is to the benefit of all parties involved.

Photo: HP

In the last 12 months, you’ve no doubt come across at least one doomsayer post on how the netbook is dead or dying slowly. Supposedly tablet PCs are a more interesting offering, while laptops have begun competing on form factor and price.

Well, if the HP Fusion netbook with built in LTE technology and powerful hybrid GPU/CPU tech is anything to go by, it may be premature to write netbooks off just yet. Or, at the very least, the slow decline has been delayed somewhat.

Enter the Pavilion

On Tuesday, Hewlett Packard announced the HP Pavilion DM1 – a netbook that packs an 11.6-inch screen built around AMD’s new Fusion processor. What does this mean, exactly? Well, according to concept product marketing manager Cara Baez, ‘It’s got the portability of a netbook, but it’s got the performance of the notebook all wrapped up into one.’

The HP Pavilion DM1 will ship with a 750GB hard drive, yielding 9.5 hours battery life. When the moving parts hard drive is replaced with an SSD, battery life increases to 10.5 hours.

Fusion the evolution

The main event, however, is the recently announced Fusion chip that powers the HP Pavilion DM1. The AMD developed processor will let users get full 1080p HD video on this HP netbook, something not common to the platform. Where it is present, like in some of the other entries in the HP netbook range, a separate decoder has to be used for this function, in turn being a glut on battery life.

The AMD Fusion processor is not dissimilar to Intel’s Sandy Bridge architecture, where one sees the CPU and GPU on the same piece of silicon, thus negating the need for a stand-alone graphics card.

Evolution in connectivity

In addition to the already promising specs, the HP Pavilion DM1 ships with built-in LTE mobile connectivity – a wireless networking protocol superior to and faster than 3G.

This HP netbooks ships from 9 January 2010 at a starting price of $449 (£288), and we will have a review up as soon as we’ve put it through its paces.

Photo: -eko- / Flickr

No matter who you ask, sentiment is universal – the netbook, as we know it, is under dual threat from both the new crop of tablets as well as the old stalwart, the laptop. With laptops fast miniaturising, the size advantage afforded by the netbook computer is being negated, while tablet computers with their touchscreen interfaces are far more exciting products with very bright futures and incredible developer interest. Even with all of this pressure, there are still some people who would do well to buy one of these miniature computers.

Broke college students

If you’re at university on a student loan or a church mouse budget, like most students, getting a laptop or a tablet may be a bit on the expensive side. As such a netbook computer is perfect for you since its proficient at what most university students need a computer for – word processing. Essay after essay, report after report, assignment after assignment, these computer can kick them out as well as any other, even if the cramped keyboard is uncomfortable if you have large hands.

You value size, yet insist on a keyboard

If you’re all about miniature computers that are exceptionally transportable, a netbook computer and a tablet computer are for you. If, in addition to the portability, you value having a physical keyboard, you can scratch tablet PC off of that list. Netbooks were designed with you in mind.

Performance doesn’t matter much to you

Writing about technology daily, just like reading about technology daily, places us in an echo chamber where we only hear our own voices and our own demands. The truth is most consumers don’t care much for performance insofar as it can do what they require of it, and it can do it well.

Sure, netbooks cannot run demanding applications, and will fall over at the mere sight of a ‘game’. However they browse the web well enough, can edit documents and spreadsheets well, and are very portable computers. If your demands do not exceed these requirements, there is no need to drop a huge sum of money on the new Macbook Air, for example. Just stick with what you know.

All evidence suggests that the market for these miniature computers will be forced to adapt or continue to decline. But that doesn’t suggest you should ignore them, particularly if the above descriptions sound similar to your financial position or your needs.

Photo: Ed Yourdon / Flickr

Writing about tech we have the fortune of getting to try out a number of different devices in the name of the job. The ‘Call of Duty’, if you will, requires we try most big deal devices out as they come out, with a particular focus on ‘computing devices’.

This means, like many of you readers, we’ve tried the hyped-up tablet PCs and Apple iPad, spent time with Asus Eee PCs and netbooks of that ilk, and have spent many years with trusty laptop in tow. Which of these devices is still our go to for ‘all around’ use?

The tablet experience

We’ve been bullish on tablet PCs, and especially the iPad, since day one. We are of the belief that pound for pound (both in capabilities and monetarily) it is a superior purchase to the netbook, easily, and a case can be made against the notebook.

More than anything else, it’s the promise of brilliant developers building tablet-specific apps that cannot be replicated elsewhere that has the world excited about tablets, and it’s this reason mixed with how ‘new’ tablets feels that has people so excited about them.

The netbook experience

The netbook was widely compared to the notebook upon its arrival, and now finds the comparison going twoways with it being wedged between that and tablet PCs today. And this focuses our mind on what makes the netbook great. In truth, when boiled down to its core, these miniaturised computers are only handy because they are impossibly small and portable while retaining a keyboard – something tablet PCs notably lack.

The problem is this size advantage has been achieved at the compromise of speed and performance, which is not a good cocktail. The applications compared to tablets and the touch computing that brings are not awe-inspiring, nor are they powerful enough to run much more than a browser and a bare-bones word processor. If you need a computer that will put in work, you need to look elsewhere.

The laptop experience

And that ‘elsewhere’ is the trusty laptop. Even with tablet PCs feeling new and receiving unprecedented levels of attention in media, along with tablets shrinking the bulk that accompanies most laptops, they’re still not as good for productivity as laptop computers are. Yes, trackpad and keyboard will soon seem like relics from years gone by, but nothing has been designed that is nearly as functional and efficient when creating something.

Furthermore the netbook size factor will become less and less relevant with the trusty laptop shrinking in size, while retaining its speed and performance factor. Basically, one look at the new Macbook Air shows the future of the laptop form factor, rendering netbooks almost irrelevant a few short years after their arrival.

We love the iPad and the Samsung Galaxy Tab, make no mistake, and are convinced that these devices, along with smartphones, represent the future of computing. However, today there is still no substitute for the trusty laptop. No single computing device is more rounded, and more capable, especially when you get to the top-end in performance, than these classics.

Photo: Stock.Xchng

Renowned travel writer Ralph Potts is doing a twelve-country journey and he’s travelling very light. How light? Oh, super light – as in he has no luggage whatsoever, and only that which is on his person (read: in his pockets) gets to tag along. Crazy, huh?

How he does it

The only travel technology accompanying Ralph on his journey is his smartphone – an iPhone, to be specific – with a foldable Bluetooth keyboard. He argues you can do virtually everything you need with it. Booking flights? Check. Keeping in touch with the world and friends? Check. Let’s be fair, you can even use it as your trusty GPS device for finding hotspots in any locale you may be visiting.

How we do it

Ralph is at the absolute peak of his game. Having traveled on no budget, let alone a shoe-string budget, with varying degrees of luggage for years, he has the experience to make a luggage-free trip work. Is this for us? Not so much. It’s safe to say the vast majority of us are not built for light travel taken to the extreme, but we can travel ‘kinda light’.

So, how then do we recommend you do it?

Assuming we limit our light travelling goods to a single carry-on backpack, you want your tech to fit into the same bag your clothes will fit into. We recommend you take only a smartphone and a netbook (or a tablet if you’re bold enough). This way you’ll have the only devices you need for content consumption and basic communication while freeing yourself from the desire to work.

Photo: djking / Flickr

For snapping photographs, you have your smartphone. For writing the occasional email or communicating via IM, you have your netbook (or tablet). The trick is switching a laptop for a netbook/tablet forces you to actually travel and enjoy being on the trip, freeing you from wanting to get any work done. All you have is the bare essential travel technology you need without going off the grid completely.

If you’re curious about Ralph’s trip – and more specific details like what he’ll wear – you can follow his progress here, where he will blog frequently during his journey – from his iPhone, of course.

Which pieces of travel technology would you pack in if you were going on a journey and wanted to limit luggage to the bare, bare minimum?