CES 2009- netbooks taking the press corps by storm
Gadget freaks that we are we are always on the lookout to spot great mobile gear in use in public. It gives us a feel for how far into the maintream particular types of mobile gear are penetrating. We pay special attention to the mobile gear we spot in use at the CES convention to help us spot trends.
We expected to see netbooks in use at the CES and we haven’t been disappointed. What has surprised us however is how much the lowly netbook has penetrated into the press corps here at the CES. Sure we expected to see members of the press who cover technology to be savvy about the mobile benefits of the small and light netbook but even so the number of netbooks we’ve seen in just a few days has been staggering. Everytime we enter a press room or bloggers lounge at the CES we are sure to see multiple netbooks in use with fingers flying over the keyboards.
One time yesterday I walked into a crowded press room and started counting netbooks in use on the tables and gave up after hitting 20. That is easily the most netbooks I have ever seen in one room before, and that includes retail outlets. The lowly netbook is here to stay no question. What is really cool is seeing how often netbook users are approached by others wanting to know how well they work. The conversation quickly turns to how easy netbooks are to travel with and use in mobile settings such as the convention.
I would have to say that the various EEE PC netbook models are the most popular netbooks in use at the CES if you lump all models together. I’ve also seen quite a few MSI Winds (or rebadged variants) too. I have only seen one Dell Mini 9 and no Acer Aspire Ones.
What, no love for the Aspire ONE??? Must not be very many Walmart shoppers, that’s probably how Acer sold so many. Hey I’m not knocking it, I have one and love it. Definitely one of the better keyboards, you’d think all those bloggers would take notice.
Interesting the majority using various Eees. I wonder if that’s a reflection of techie writers being early adoptees (when the Eee was ‘it’) or more of practical experience – the Eee proving to be the more worthy machine? Certainly other netbook manufacturers may offer a better keyboard / hardware experience than many Eees, as noted by Brad above.
Similarli-wise, I wonder what is the preferred OS on these writer’s ‘netbooks’?
(Posted from my Linux Eee 701 via my local Starbucks hotspot…)
I’m really amazed the “experts” (nothing against you James) still have yet to embrace the HP mini note. I’m sure I’m not the only one who is able to harness the potential of this feature-rich device.
Not surprised that journalists are picking up on netbooks — they’re a great form factor for the job, which involves traveling (light), note-taking, writing, and transmitting copy (I am a former journalist). Journalists always have liked such devices, ever since the Trash-80 (TRS-80s) debuted. Of course, netbooks are relatively powerful and cheap, so they’ll probably become standard-issue for many reporters. I think they’re also great for students, of course, and make a sensible 2nd or 3rd computer at home.
Yep, no surprise at all. As a magazine journalist a decade ago I carried a minimal windows CE machine that was much like the Netbooks of today (what is old is new again).
The Netbook was inevitable because the traditional notebook market got into bigger and bigger desktop replacements, leaving truly portable market to the uber-expensive UMPCs, leaving real people hungry for a basic and easy to tote machine that simply GETS THE JOB DONE at minimal cost and weight. The only surprise is that we didn’t back to this style of machine faster.
Love my HP Mini 1000….and I look forward to the next generation that is coming. On the other hand, WOW, the netbook market is crowded with “me too” machines now that all share the same boring specs. Obviously manufacturers are going to be forced to spice things up soon….hopefully without losing sight of that low cost/low weight factor which defines the space.
NETBOOK TRENDS for 2009?
Instant-ON…Every maker will need it soon because once consumers re-discover the joy of instant on, every netbook will need it (again, what is old is new again…we had this feature with Windows CE clamshells a decade back and it got lost in the rush for more power we didn’t really need or want to carry).
BATTERY LIFE
In another year 8 hours will be the norm.
Additional trends? Better screens 10.5 inch? 11 inch? If the weight stays 2.7 pounds and the cost and size are the same then perhaps even something like the 12 inch Dell is still a Netbook? I don’t know….but I know that my 41 year old eyes can only take so long on this 10 inch screen. :O
If you have a HP mini 1000 or SC10, you are not an early adopter.