Linked by Thom Holwerda on Tue 21st Apr 2009 21:23 UTC
We've already seen numerous rumours about Google's Android making a move into netbooks, only fuelled by companies expressing serious interest in the concept and by Google's CEO making some hints about it not too long ago. Well, the rumours are now no longer rumours, as a Chinese company is now the first to offer an Android-based netbook, at USD 100-200.
Thread beginning with comment 359870
To view parent comment, click here.
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
To view parent comment, click here.
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
RE[7]: Without a touch screen Android makes no sense
by Laurence on Wed 22nd Apr 2009 14:14
in reply to "RE[6]: Without a touch screen Android makes no sense"
Member since:2007-03-26
First off, I'm not getting defensive. I'm just discussing while I think you're point is wrong, rather than modding you down.
If you prefer me not to comment in the comments section, then I'll be happy to -1 you in future disagreements
Anyhow, back to the topic:
Now go back to the highlighed quote:
"I'd buy one, even if just for a toy. "
This is to say it sums up what many are in fact buying these for.
"I'd buy one, even if just for a toy. "
This is to say it sums up what many are in fact buying these for.
That was one guy. He's hardly the monopoly of netbook buyers
How long have netbooks been around, and yet not a single business client of ours has ever expressed any interest. Netbook sales: 0%, Laptop sales: 100%.
Businesses don't hold the monopoly of PC sales either.
In talks with other people I know in the B2B/VAR/Consultant, the same statistics seem to carry over.
Well, as I've already stated. I know a number of people who bought netbooks for work (be it a cheap programming environment in the case of a couple of geeks mates, or, in the case of my girlfriend and her university friends, an OOo suite for Uni assignments).
I'm not going to argue the scale of the netbook market is huge. Clearly it isn't. I'm just arguing that your original point about netbooks being good-for-nothing toys is grossly inaccurate.
After the desktop and laptop, it begs the question of what the use for a netbook other than to catch the train so to speak.
A netbook is just a cut-down laptop. Thus, if you don't need a powerful laptop then a netbook is usually plenty powerful.
You seem to have this jaded view that netbooks are somehow incapable of real-world tasks.
Maybe this is just a generational gap. But I think it speaks volumes how defensive people are to the mere suggestions they paid for a fad. To me I find this no different than those that purchase the latest greatest video card every 6 months just to have the fastest card available.
A few points:
* Nobody is getting defensive mate. We're just discussing a topic you started. If you don't want a discussion, then don't post on a public forum.
* I couldn't care less if it's a fad or not. I'm arguing that they are used by people for work and aren't just toys for the geeks.
* and if I had to argue the above, then personally I don't think they're a fad. but unless either of us has mastered time travel (I know i haven't), we both can only guess. However, fad or not, they are very useful to a good number of people. So does it really matter if they're sales numbers dwindle, sustain or grow?
* and finally, buying the latest graphics card isn't a fad. Gamers having been sourcing the latest and greatest hardware for years and, as long as new PC games are produced, gamers will continue to buy new hardware. It's not a fad that society will grow out of - it's just upgrading.
RE[8]: Without a touch screen Android makes no sense
by Bobthearch on Wed 22nd Apr 2009 15:35
in reply to "RE[7]: Without a touch screen Android makes no sense"
Member since:2006-01-27
"I'd buy one, even if just for a toy. "
That was one guy. He's hardly the monopoly of netbook buyers.
Perhaps I should clarify why the Android netbook would be a toy.
First off, I already have an EeePC - company bought me one for international travel. The Asus runs Office 2000, Windows XP, Firefox, and Thunderbird, everything I need for communication and productivity when out of the country. So a second netbook or mini-laptop would be for novelty purposes.
Second, my three-year-old son would really like his very own computer. For $100, why not? It's not much more expensive than the literal "toy" computers (Leapfrog, V.Smart, etc.) on the market, probably less expensive when you consider the ripoff prices of the "toy" cartridges.
So even though some folks might buy them as "toys", netbooks are also completely functional computers for many applications. The big advantage is the price. Consider that someone might buy a laptop and only use it for internet and e-mail. They'd save a bunch of $$$ buying a netbook instead.
Recent Original Stories
Recent Comments
Headlines
Random Comments
Random Stories
Random OS Link
Member since:
2006-04-22
My this seemed to have touched a nerve with some, my the mere suggestion that some are buying this merely to fulfill a need to get in on the latest fad gadget.
Now go back to the highlighed quote:
Sure they may evolve into a decent tool, but please do not give me some bullshit at this point that these are not merely geek toys at the moment. I think I have seen quite a few comments, no make that an abundance of comments over the past years, that give a pretty clear picture of why people want these.
When these netbooks first arrived, people were merely salivating at getting their hands on them, yet I never did see a good suggestion as to why someone wanted these. Good for the person in particular that actually finds one useful. But the sales as a whole pretty much indicates to me that young people are just buying these up out of consumer fetish.
After the desktop and laptop, it begs the question of what the use for a netbook other than to catch the train so to speak. Maybe this is just a generational gap. But I think it speaks volumes how defensive people are to the mere suggestions they paid for a fad. To me I find this no different than those that purchase the latest greatest video card every 6 months just to have the fastest card available.