Thursday, April 09, 2009

Saw Netbooks in person

I saw a few Netbooks in person at Best Buy the other day. They look like toy computers. They are about half the size of a regular computer, just scaled down. The prices were only about $250 but I didn't get the feeling like their was a lot of value in them. It seems that every so often there is an attempt to make these mini computers but they don't sell well. It is more a novelty.

After you bring it home, you end up becoming aware of all the limitations you have with the mini computer. I think the only reason they are selling now is the low price. It is about the price of a periferal like a printer or external hard drive used to cost. I can't see it replacing the needs of a regular computer. It is probably more of an extra computer for the road. It gives you the ability to check the internet while away from home and is small enough to pack easily.

I remember back in about the year 2000, this guy I worked with bought a mini computer made by Sony. Everything was scaled down with mini keys and a mini screen. It was a novelty but back then they cost about $800. So it was an expensive novelty. I think they sold only a dozen of these.

2 comments:

Macintosha Fanatica said...

I completely agree, Stitch, which is why I doubt Apple will join the netbook craze. It seems to me they already have an extremely strong mobile web platform: the iPod Touch. It IS my web on the road. For those who want connectivity absolutely everywhere, they get the iPhone or a Blackberry.

I definitely remember the scaled down mini computers of yesteryear - I even thought about getting one, and I'm so happy I didn't. They ran a stripped down version of Windows - it's no wonder they didn't go anywhere.

I tell you Stitch, I carry the Touch everywhere. The tally for Wi Fi is: Four Peaks Brewery, MCC campus, Extreme Bean Coffee shop, my house, and all Apple stores. That is where I spend 95% of my life! I even use the Touch at Four Peaks - it's great! I never realized how convenient it would make email management. I am faster at deleting emails than ever, so I manage the mailboxes a lot easier.

You know you have married the right woman when she maxes out the RAM in her gifts to you.

Stitch said...

The last line is a Jem!