Technology Advisor

[#1]

Have you heard of netbooks? They are those tiny, 2ish pound computers that resemble the size of DVD players but they actually don’t have a CD / DVD drive at all. Most people use them for email and web surfing and up until now, they primarily ran on Linux. Now you can get them with more memory and the Windows XP operating system. And the trend seems to be that manufacturers are making more of them with laptop equivalent (or close to it) system requirements.  

Why are people buying them? Well, for one thing they are cheap. Target.com has one for less than $250 and I was able to find one on Amazon.com for $179. “According to IDC 182,000 were sold in 2007 which increased to 11 million in 2008 and they are predicting 21 million this year (other analysts are predicting as many as 50 million).” The jury is still out though on whether customers are highly satisfied with these devices.  A study by Biz360 shows, “consumer advocacy for the netbook category lags behind consumer advocacy for all laptops."  

So who’s buying them? It appears that the bulk of customers today look like gamers and more casual users of technology. I’m really curious whether small businesses will be snapping these up in lieu of, or to complement a larger home or office system.

Are you considering a netbook in the next year? Do you have an opinion about netbooks vs. laptops or traditional PCs? Let us know.  

Andrea

Related articles and sources:

http://seekingalpha.com/article/116634-netbook-sales-explosion-amazes-the-market

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news/2009/01/netbook-user-satisfaction.ars 

[#2]

I love these smaller, ultra-portable netbooks for traveling! Although they could conceivably be used as a full-time computer, for me they're more suited for traveling, where I can get full-fledged computing with an acceptable display screen size, in a very portable device.

I have an Asus eee pc 700 (7 inch display) running Linux, 512Mb RAM, solid-state hard drive, Wi-Fi, and it's great for accessing web and email while traveling. I've also used (and prefer) an Acer Aspire One, with 8.9 inch display, Windows XP Home, 1 Gb RAM, Wi-Fi, and 120 Gb hard drive. Both are just slightly over 2 pounds.

They were both excellent values - the Asus was $299 new, bought about 7-8 months ago. The Acer was $279 online, open box item, bought about 3 months ago. The days of lugging around a huge 14-15 inch, 6-8 pound laptop are over for me, and are better suited for portablility around the home or office. For portability while traveling, the netbooks are the future!

Regards,s Bill

[#3]

Interesting! Thanks, Bill, for your response.

I'm curious - If you could, would it be useful to have Peachtree loaded on your netbook? Or would you rather be able to access information online or through a mobile device?

Andrea

[#4]

I prefer to access the apps or info I need via the internet, instead of needing to load applications on the netbook. Using technologies like VPN (Virtual Private Networking), Windows Remote Desktop, or VNC (Virtual Network Computing), I already have the capability to access Peachtree and any other apps or data on my home and business networks, so no need to also have the application installed on my netbook. Can also use the Windows Remote Desktop client on my mobile phone (running Windows Mobile 5) to access computers on my home and business networks.

Regards, Bill 

[#5]

I appreciate that feedback and understand where you're coming from. If it were me I'd do the same thing, but I'm not the customer

Anyone else have experience with netbooks or have an opinion on this?

How about comments on accessing Peachtree data over a mobile device like a Blackberry or iPhone? What would be the top 3 things you would want to see on a mobile device?

Andrea

Message Edited by AndreaM on 02-05-2009 08:08 AM

[#6]

When friends talk about their mobile devices I find that there are two camps: Purists who "use my cell phone to make calls, and that's all" and Fanatics who use every function available from texting to playing music and beyond.

I'd love to know which camp the rest of the Community falls into (I admit to being a Fanatic), and, like Andrea, what Peachtree info you'd like to access via your phones. Maybe just a reminder? Customer or Vendor info? Let us know.

Shari

[#7]

I just bought a Acer netbook, 9". 160gb w/ 1gb ram. Amazing little creature. I have been evaluating them for buying 8 or 9 of them for out service trucks to store inventory price lists and keep current that way and also for data manuals for equip. we work on. Also download our customer list for our service techs to see if clients are current when it's after hours. At 299.00 or so they are a great deal. Tim