Netbook

HP 2133 Mini-Note PC netbook
(front view, compared to a pencil)

A low-cost Craig netbook with Android.

A Hewlett-Packard Mini 1000 netbook computer, a type of notebook computer

Netbooks are a category of small, lightweight, legacy-free, and inexpensive laptop computers.

At their inception in late 2007^[1] as smaller notebooks optimized for low weight and low cost^[2] — netbooks omitted certain features (e.g., the optical drive), featured smaller screens and keyboards, and offered reduced computing power when compared to a full-sized laptop. Over the course of their evolution, netbooks have ranged in size from below 5" screen diagonal to 12". A typical weight is 1 kg (2.2 pounds). Often significantly less expensive than other laptops,^[3] by mid-2009, some wireless data carriers began to offer netbooks to users "free of charge", with an extended service contract purchase.^[4]

In the short period since their appearance, netbooks grew in size and features, and converged with smaller, lighter laptops and subnotebooks. By August 2009, when comparing a Dell netbook to a Dell notebook, CNET called netbooks "nothing more than smaller, cheaper notebooks," noting, "the specs are so similar that the average shopper would likely be confused as to why one is better than the other," and "the only conclusion is that there really is no distinction between the devices."^[5] In an attempt to prevent cannibalizing the more lucrative laptops in their lineup, manufacturers imposed several constraints on netbooks, however this would soon push netbooks into a niche where they had few distinctive advantages over traditional laptops or tablet computers (see below).[2][3]

By 2011, the increasing popularity of tablet computers (particularly the iPad)—a different form factor, but with improved computing capabilities and lower production cost—had led to a decline in netbook sales.^[6] At the high end of the performance spectrum, ultra-light portables with a traditional keyboard and display have been revolutionized by the 11.6″ MacBook Air, which made fewer performance sacrifices albeit at considerably higher production cost.^[7][8] Capitalizing on the success of the MacBook Air,^[9] In response to the MacBook Air, Intel promoted ultrabooks as a new high-mobility standard, which has been hailed by some analysts as succeeding where netbooks failed.^[10][11][12] As a result of these two developments, netbooks of 2011 have kept price as their only strong point, losing in the design, ease-of-use and portability department to tablets and to ultrabooks in the features and performance field.^[13]

History

An Asus Eee PC 700, the first mass-produced netbook, used a 7 inch screen.

The origins of the netbook can be traced to the highly popular Toshiba range of Libretto sub-notebooks. The 6" Libretto 20 dates back to early 1996 and weighed only 840g. Apple also had a line of PowerBook Duos that were ultra-portable Macintosh laptops in the mid 90s. More recently, Psion's now-discontinued netBook line, the OLPC XO-1 (initially called US$100 laptop) and the Palm Foleo were all small, portable, network-enabled computers.^[14][15][16] The generic use of the term "netbook", however, began in 2007 when Asus unveiled the Asus Eee PC. Originally designed for emerging markets, the 23 cm × 17 cm (9.1 in × 6.7 in) device weighed about 0.9 kg (2 lb) and featured a 7 in (18 cm) display, a keyboard approximately 85% the size of a normal keyboard, a solid-state drive and a custom version of Linux with a simplified user interface geared towards netbook use.^[15] Following the Eee PC, Everex launched its Linux-based CloudBook; Windows XP and Windows Vista models were also introduced and MSI released the Wind - others soon followed suit.

The OLPC project, known for its innovation in producing a durable, cost- and power-efficient netbook for developing countries, is regarded as one of the major factors that led top computer hardware manufacturers to begin creating low-cost netbooks for the consumer market.^[17] When the first Asus Eee PC sold over 300,000 units in four months, companies such as Dell and Acer took note and began producing their own inexpensive netbooks. And while the OLPC XO-1 targets a different audience than do the other manufacturers' netbooks, it appears that OLPC is now facing competition. Developing countries now have a large choice of vendors, from which they can choose which low-cost netbook they prefer.^[18]

Netbook market popularity within laptops in second half of 2008 based on the number of product clicks in the Laptop Subcategory per month by PriceGrabber^[3]

By late 2008, netbooks had begun to take market share away from notebooks.^[19] In contrast to earlier, largely failed attempts to establish mini computers as a new class of mainstream personal computing devices built around comparatively expensive platforms requiring proprietary software applications or imposing severe usability limitations, the recent success of netbooks can also be attributed to the fact that PC technology has now matured enough to allow truly cost optimized implementations with enough performance to suit the needs of a majority of PC users. This is illustrated by the fact that typical system performance of a netbook is on the level of a mainstream PC in 2001, at around one quarter of the cost. While this performance level suffices for most of the user needs, it caused an increased interest in resource-efficient applications such as Google's Chrome, and forced Microsoft to extend availability of Windows XP to secure market share. It is estimated that almost thirty times more netbooks were sold in 2008 (11.4 million, 70% of which were in Europe)^[20] than in 2007 (400,000).^[21] This trend is reinforced by the rise of web-based applications as well as mobile networking and, according to Wired Magazine, netbooks are evolving into "super-portable laptops for professionals".^[22] The ongoing recession is also helping with the growing sales of netbooks.^[23]

In Australia, the New South Wales Department of Education and Training, in partnership with Lenovo, are providing Year 9 (high school) students in government high schools with free Lenovo S10e netbooks in 2009, Lenovo Mini 10 netbooks in 2010, Lenovo Edge 11 netbooks in 2011 and a modified Lenovo X130e netbook in 2012, each preloaded with software including Microsoft Office and Adobe Systems' Creative Suite 4. This is provided under Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's Digital Education Revolution, or DER. The netbooks run Windows 7 Enterprise. These netbooks are secured with Computrace Lojack for laptops that the police can use to track the device if it is lost or stolen. The NSW DET retains ownership of these netbooks until the student graduates from Year 12, when the student can keep it. The Government of Trinidad and Tobago-Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bisseser - are also providing free HP laptops to form 1 Students (11 year olds) with the same police trackable software as above.

Greece is providing all 13 year old students (middle school, or gymnasium, freshmen) and their teachers with free netbooks in 2009^[24] through the "Digital Classroom Initiative". Students are given one unique coupon each, with which they redeem the netbook of their choice, up to a €450 price ceiling, in participating shops throughout the country. These netbooks come bundled with localised versions of either Windows XP (or higher) or open source (e.g. Linux) operating systems, wired and wireless networking functionality, antivirus protection, preactivated parental controls, and an educational software package.

Microsoft and Intel have tried to "cement" netbooks in the low end of the market to protect mainstream notebook PC sales, because they get lower margins on low-cost models. The companies have limited the specifications of netbooks, but despite this original equipment manufacturers have announced higher-end netbooks models as of March 2009.^[25]

Ending in 2008 the report was that the typical netbook featured a 1.4 kg (3 lb) weight, a 9 in (23 cm) screen, wireless Internet connectivity, Linux or Windows XP, an Intel Atom processor, and a cost of less than $400 US.^[26] A mid-2009 newspaper article^[27] said that a typical netbook is 1.2 kg (2.6 lb), $300 US, and has a 10 in (25 cm) screen, 1 GB of random-access memory, a 160 GB hard disk drive, and a wireless transceiver for both home and a mobile network. Buyers drove the netbook market towards larger screens, which grew from 7 in (18 cm) in the original Asus Eee PC 700 to 12 in (30.5 cm) models in the summer of 2009.^[28]

Having peaked about about 20% of the portable computer market, netbooks started to slightly lose market share (within the category) in early 2010, coinciding with the appearance and success of the iPad.^[29] Technology commentator Ross Rubin argued two and a half years later in Engadget that "Netbooks never got any respect. While Steve Jobs rebuked the netbook at the iPad's introduction, the iPad owes a bit of debt to the little laptops. The netbook demonstrated the potential of an inexpensive, portable second computing device, with a screen size of about 10 inches, intended primarily for media consumption and light productivity."^[30] Although some manufacturers directly blamed competition from the iPad, some analysts pointed out that larger, fully fledged laptops had entered the price range of netbooks at about the same time.^[31]

The 11.6-inch MacBook Air, introduced in late 2010, compared favorably to many netbooks in terms of processing power but also ergonomics, at 2.3 pounds being lighter than some 10-inch netbooks, owing in part to the integration of the flash storage chips on the main logic board.^[32] It was described as a superlative netbook (or at least as what a netbook should be) by several technology commentators,^[33][34][35] even though Apple has never referred to it as such, sometimes describing it—in the words of Steve Jobs—as "the third kind of notebook."^[34] The entry level model had a MSRP of $999,^[34] costing significantly more than the average netbook, as much as three or four times more.^[30]

In 2011 tablet sales overtook netbooks for the first time, and in 2012 netbook sales fell by 25 percent, year-on-year.^[36] The sustained decline since 2010 had been most pronounced in the United States and in Western Europe, while Latin America was still showing some modest growth.^[37] In December 2011, Dell announced that it was exiting the netbook market.^[38] In May 2012, Toshiba announced it was doing the same, at least in the United States.^[39] An August 2012 article by John C. Dvorak in PC Magazine claimed that the term "netbook" is "nearly gone from the lexicon already", having been superseded in the market place largely by the more powerful (and MacBook Air inspired) ultrabook—described as "a netbook on steroids"—and to a lesser extent by tablets.^[12] In September 2012 Asus, Acer and MSI announced that they will stop manufacturing 10-inch netbooks.^[40] Simultaneously Asus announced they will stop developing all Eee PC products, instead focusing on their mixed tablet-netbook Transformer line.^[40]

Trademarks

Psion netBook

In 1996 Psion started applying for trademarks for a line of netBook products that was later released in 1999.^[41] International trademarks were issued (including U.S. Trademark 75,215,401 and Community Trade Mark 000428250) but the models failed to gain popularity^[42] and are now discontinued (except for providing accessories, maintenance and support to existing users).^[43] Similar marks were recently rejected by the USPTO citing a "likelihood of confusion" under section 2(d).^[44][45][46]

Despite expert analysis that the mark is "probably generic",^[47] Psion Teklogix issued cease and desist letters on 23 December 2008.^[48][49][50] This was heavily criticised,^[51][52][53] prompting the formation of the "Save the Netbooks" grassroots campaign which worked to reverse the Google AdWords ban, cancel the trademark and encourage continued generic use of the term.^[42] While preparing a "Petition for Cancellation" of U.S. Trademark 75,215,401 they revealed^[54] that Dell had submitted one day before^[55] on the basis of abandonment, genericness and fraud.^[56] They later revealed Psion's counter-suit against Intel, filed on 27 February 2009.^[57]

It was also revealed around the same time that Intel had also sued Psion Teklogix (US & Canada) and Psion (UK) in the Federal Court on similar grounds.^[58] In addition to seeking cancellation of the trademark, Intel sought an order enjoining Psion from asserting any trademark rights in the term "netbook", a declarative judgment regarding their use of the term, attorneys' fees, costs and disbursements and "such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper".^[59]

On June 2, 2009, Psion announced that the suit had been settled out of court. Psion's statement said that the company was withdrawing all of its trademark registrations for the term "Netbook" and that Psion agreed to "waive all its rights against third parties in respect of past, current or future use" of the term.^[60]

Hardware

An MSI Wind Netbook motherboard featuring the Intel Atom processor

Netbooks typically have less powerful hardware than larger laptop computers and do not include an optical disc drive that larger laptops often have. Some netbooks do not even have a conventional hard drive.^[61] Such netbooks use solid-state storage devices instead, as these require less power, are faster, lighter, and generally more shock-resistant, but with much less storage capacity (such as 32, 64, or 128 GB compared to the 100 GB to 2 TB mechanical hard drives typical of many notebooks/laptop computers).

All netbooks on the market today support Wi-Fi wireless networking and many can be used on mobile telephone networks with data capability (for example, 3G). Mobile data plans are supplied under contract in the same way as mobile telephones.^[62] Some also include ethernet and/or modem ports, for broadband or dial-up Internet access, respectively.

Processor architectures

x86

Most netbooks, such as those from Asus, BenQ, Dell, Toshiba, Acer use the Intel Atom notebook processor (typically the N270 1.6 GHz but also available is the N280 at 1.66 GHz, replaced by the N450 series with graphics and memory controller integrated on the chip in early 2010 and running at 1.66 GHz), but the x86-compatible VIA Technologies C7 processor is also powering netbooks from many different manufacturers like HP^[63] and Samsung.^[64] VIA has also designed the Nano, a new x86-64-compatible architecture targeting lower priced, mobile applications like netbooks. Currently, one netbook uses the Nano; the Samsung NC20. Some very low cost netbooks use a system-on-a-chip Vortex86 processor meant for embedded systems, just to be "Windows compatible", but with very low performance. In 2011, AMD launched Fusion netbook processors which are included in Asus Eee PC 1015T and many others.^[65][66]

Although not officially sanctioned by AMD for this role, a 1.2 GHz Athlon 64 model L110 processor, dissipating 13W, was used by at least one company—Gateway—to power a 11.6-inch portable (1366x768 screen resolution), described as a netbook by the press.^[67] Launched in mid 2009 at $399 in the United States, the LT31 met with reviewers' approval for its performance, being generally recognized as faster than contemporary Atom-based products in the same price range, while having a considerably shorter battery life and still falling short of Intel's Core 2 ULV product line powering more expensive small-factor offerings.^{[68][69][70][71]}

The 11.6 inch MacBook Air debuted in late 2010 with a 1.4Ghz Core 2 Duo processor (a 10W part) and a 1366x768 display resolution for its entry level model priced at $999 (with 1.6 GHz available as upgrade), which put it "much closer to a fully modern laptop than the small-but-crippled netbooks".^[72] One reviewer described it as the "The Mercedes Benz of netbooks".^[35]

The September 2011 PC Magazine buyer's guide for netbooks observed that other "oversized netbooks" with 11.6 inch screens had appeared on the market, including the HP Pavilion dm1z (MSRP $449) and Lenovo ThinkPad X100e (MSRP $550), both using the AMD Fusion E-350 processor (an 18W part, although this includes the GPU), which was described as "faster than any given Atom processor".^[73]

Comparison

By definition netbooks accommodate processors with little processing power. For comparison a common dual-core Core 2 Duo T5600 at 1.83 GHz with 2 MB L2 cache used in low-end laptops has a PassMark score of about 1000 points. The following table shows benchmarks for most common netbook CPUs:^[74]

ARM

ARM Holdings designs and licenses microprocessor technology with relatively low power requirements and low cost which would constitute an ideal basis for netbooks. In particular, the recent ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore series of processor cores have been touted by ARM as an alternative platform to x86 for netbooks.^[75][76] In June 2009, Nvidia announced a dozen mobile Internet devices running ARM-based Tegra SoC's, some of which will be netbooks.^[77]

Some ARM-based products were advertised as smartbooks, particularly by Qualcomm. Smartbooks promised to deliver features including always on, all-day battery life, 3G connectivity and GPS (all typically found in smartphones) in a laptop-style body with a screen size of 5 to 10 inches and a QWERTY keyboard. These systems do not run traditional x86 versions of Microsoft Windows, rather custom Linux operating systems (such as Google's Android or Chrome OS).^[78][79] In the end, few such products were ever shipped to market under this branding, like the HP-Compaq Airlife,^[80] the Toshiba AC100 (sold as Dynabook AZ in Japan)^[81] and the Efika MX.^[82] Some of the devices, like the AC100, have been hampered by being sold with a phone-oriented operating system like Android.^[83] By the end of 2010, Qualcomm CEO Paul Jacobs admitted that tablet computers such as the iPad already occupied the niche of the smartbook, so the name was dropped.^[80]

In 2012, Microsoft announced the Microsoft Surface, a pair of products with a 10.6-inch screen and including a mixture of tablet and netbook features, e.g. a touch screen but also a keyboard.^[84][85][86] The thinner "RT" product will use an ARM processor.

MIPS

Some netbooks use MIPS architecture-compatible processors. These include the Skytone Alpha-400,^[87] based on an Ingenic system on chip, and the EMTEC Gdium netbook, which uses the 64-bit Loongson processor capable of 400 million instructions per second.^[88] While these systems are relatively inexpensive, the processing power of current MIPS implementations usually compares unfavorably with those of x86-implementations as found in current netbooks.^[87]

Operating systems

Windows

A Samsung N145 Plus netbook running Windows 7.

As of January 2009, over 90% (96% claimed by Microsoft as of February 2009^[89]) of netbooks in the United States were estimated to ship with Windows XP,^[90] which Microsoft was later estimated to sell ranging from US$15 to US$35 per netbook.^[91][92] Microsoft has extended the availability of Windows XP for ultra-low cost personal computers from June 2008 until June 2010.^[93] However, the discounted license costs only applies to reduced size and functionality netbooks, which effectively enables the production of low-cost PCs while preserving the higher margins of mainstream desktops and "value" laptops^[94] as well as avoiding increased use of Linux installations on netbooks.^[95] Microsoft also has ^[96] Windows 7 Starter for this class of devices. As of the first quarter of 2009 many netbook models previously announced with Windows XP for the US market were in fact being released with Windows 7 Starter instead, at the same price point previously announced for the Windows XP editions. However, unlike on regular desktops or notebooks that were sold with Vista but included a coupon for 7, users could not get a coupon for 7 Starter if they bought a netbook.^[97][98] Windows CE has also been used in netbook applications, due to its reduced feature design, that keeps with the design philosophy of netbooks.^[99]

Some netbooks have also been sold with Windows Vista (mostly prior to the release of Windows 7).

Many netbooks are by default unable to activate Windows in an enterprise environment using a Microsoft Key Management Service (KMS) as they lack System Locked Pre-installation (SLP) capability in their BIOS.^[100] The missing feature artificially segments enterprise customers from the lower end Netbook market; some hardware vendors offer an optional SLP-compliant BIOS to enterprise customers at additional cost.

Linux

As of November 2009^[update], customised Linux distributions are estimated to ship on 32% of netbooks worldwide (0.5% claimed Microsoft),^[101] making it the second most popular operating system after Windows. As Linux systems normally install software from an Internet software repository, they do not need an optical drive to install software.

As of August 2010^[update], major netbook manufacturers no longer install or support Linux in the United States. The reason for this change of stance is unclear, although it coincides with the availability of Windows 7 Starter and a strong marketing push for the adoption of this OS in the netbook market. However, companies targeting niche markets, such as System76 and ZaReason, continue to pre-install Linux on the devices they sell.

Netbooks have sparked the development of several Linux variants or completely new distributions, which are optimized for small screen use and the limited processing power of the Atom or ARM processors which typically power netbooks. Examples include Ubuntu Netbook Edition, EasyPeasy, Joli OS and MeeGo. Both Joli OS and MeeGo purport to be "social oriented" or social networking operating systems rather than traditional "office work production" operating systems.

Android

Google's Android software platform, designed for mobile telephone handsets, has been demonstrated on an ASUS Eee PC and its version of the Linux operating system contains policies for mobile internet devices including the original Asus Eee PC 701.^[102] ASUS has allocated engineers to develop an Android-based netbook.^[103] Freescale have also announced plans for a low-cost ARM-based netbook design, running Android.^[104] In May 2009 a contractor of Dell announced it is porting Adobe Flash Lite to Android for Dell netbooks.^[105] Acer announced Android netbooks to be available in Q3/2009.^[106]

In July 2009, a new project, Android-x86,^[107] was created to provide an open source solution for Android on the x86 platform, especially for netbooks.

Since the initial work on Android, Google announced a netbook specific operating system, Chrome OS, and future operating system development may be forked into Android for smartphones and similar handhelds, and Chrome OS for traditional keyboard driven machines like netbooks.

Chrome OS

Google's new Chrome OS is loaded on some netbooks. These are known as Chromebooks.

MeeGo

MeeGo is a Linux-based open source operating system project. It was first announced at Mobile World Congress in February 2010 by Intel and Nokia in a joint press conference, with the stated aim being to merge the efforts of Intel's Moblin and Nokia's Maemo former projects into one new common project. It is programmed in C++ and comes from Linux OS Family. It was initially released on 26 May 2010. The latest stable release available is 1.2 released on 19 May 2011. Official website http://www.meego.com/. As of 27 September 2011 development on MeeGo has ceased in favour of the newer project Tizen. Official website http://www.tizen.org

Other

Netbooks have been demonstrated running other operating systems including FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, and Darwin.^{[citation needed]}

The Cloud operating system attempts to capitalize on the minimalist aspect of netbooks. The user interface is limited to a browser application only.

Mac OS X has been demonstrated running on various netbooks as a result of the OSx86 project,^[108] although this is in violation of the operating system's end-user license agreement.^[109] Apple has complained to sites hosting information on how to install OS X onto non-Apple hardware (including Wired and YouTube) who have reacted and removed content in response.^[110] One article nicknamed a netbook running OS X a "Hackintosh."

Usage

A June 2009 NPD study found that 60% of netbook buyers never take their netbooks out of the house.^[111]

Another NPD study indicated that by September 2009 netbooks accounted for 20% of all portable computer shipments.^[112]

Special "children's" editions of netbooks have been released under Disney branding; their low cost (less at risk), lack of DVD player (less to break) and smaller keyboards (closer to children's hand sizes) are viewed as significant advantages for that target market. The principal objection to netbooks in this context is the lack of good video performance for streaming online video in current netbooks and a lack of speed with even simple games. Adults browsing for text content are less dependent on video content than small children who cannot read.

In addition to education, netbooks have become the tool of choice for the business road warrior. Because of the portability and intermediate size between smartphones and laptops, business travelers are increasingly choosing netbooks. According to Jim Rapoza, Chief Technology Analyst at eWEEK, at least 15% of the crowd at DEMO 09, a show that displays emerging technologies, were using netbooks over laptops, and that number, he says, may well have been higher.^[113]

Netbooks in education

Netbooks are a growing trend in education for several reasons. The need to prepare children for 21st-century lifestyles, combined with hundreds of new educational tools that can be found online, and a growing emphasis on student centered learning are three of the biggest contributing factors to the rising use of netbook technology in schools.^{[citation needed]} Dell was one of the first to mass-produce a ruggedised netbook for the education sector, by having a rubber outlay, touchscreen and network activity light to show the teacher the netbook is online.

Netbooks offer several distinct advantages in educational settings. First, their compact size and weight make for an easy fit in student work areas. Similarly, the small size make netbooks easier to transport than heavier, larger sized traditional laptops. In addition, prices ranging from $200–$600 dollars mean the affordability of netbooks can be a relief to school budget makers. Despite the small size and price, netbooks are fully capable of accomplishing most school-related tasks, including word processing, presentations, access to the Internet, multimedia playback, and photo management.^[114]

Smartbook

A smartbook is a concept of a mobile device that falls between smartphones and netbooks, delivering features typically found in smartphones (always on, all-day battery life, 3G connectivity, GPS)^[78] in a slightly larger device with a full keyboard. Smartbooks will tend to be designed to work with online applications.^[115] Smartbooks are likely to be sold initially through mobile network operators, as mobile phones are today, with a wireless data plan.^[116]

Gallery

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  An Asus Eee PC 1005HA size comparison with a 15.4 inch laptop

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  ECS G10IL XP Netbook with a built-in GSM best (HSDPA) module (Europe use)

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  Asus Eee PC 900

• 

  Acer Aspire One

• 

  Zelybron Micro Nina

• 

  Lenovo IdeaPad S10

• 

  Samsung NC20

• 

  OLPC XO-1

• 

  Classmate PC

See also

References

External links

• "The rise of the Netbook" article at CNET
• "The State of the Netbook" article at Ars Technica
• "The Netbook Effect: How Cheap Little Laptops Hit the Big Time" article at Wired
• "Light and Cheap, Netbooks Are Poised to Reshape PC Industry" article at New York Times