Netbook craze to get over in 2010?

According to BBC folks, the craze for netbooks could get over in 2010. Although 2009 was seen as the year of rise of netbooks; rising prices may harm the sales of netbooks in year 2010.

Market analysts say that Netbooks users don’t want to use netbooks for basic computing anymore. This is so true. Back in 2008, Asus launched 700-series which portrayed what the netbook was all about – a cheap computer with a 7-inch display that was meant to be used for (basic) web-surfing and checking email. People just could not get hold of smaller displays and cramped keyboards, which forced the netbooks manufactures and vendors to shift their focus to the bigger netbooks where they could throw-in a bigger keyboard and display. Now, if the prices do get increase, people will see a little to no advantage in buying a netbook over a laptop, which would ultimately harm the sales of netbooks.

Imagine if we all start doing this..

A PC user who just bought a Dell Studio laptop running Windows Vista got himself refunded $115, which is the actual cost of Vista’s license. Here is what he wrote:

“I do not agree to the terms of the Dell Software Licensing Agreement or the Microsoft Windows End User License Agreement.

“I confirm that I have not used any of the software, have not opened or broken the seal on any software packet and have deleted all preloaded or embedded software from my Dell.

“1. How may I promptly return the disks and other software items to you?

“2. How will you refund the cost of the software? I note that Windows Vista Home Premium retails at £133.96, Microsoft Works at £39.99 and Cyberlink PowerDVD at £39.99 today, which means a total refund of £213.94 is due.

However, he did not get the full refund due to the fact that apps like PowerDVD comes pre-installed. In the end, with 14 email exchanges and incredibly calm attitude, he got 70 pounds directly from Dell!

Read full story here

Sharp Mebius Netbook making its debut next week

Sharp is all set to unveil its netbook next week in Japan. Sharp has sent several invites to Japan Tech journalists to the unveiling of the Sharp’s Netbook.

Sharp has been very successful in keeping the pictures of Sharp Mebius Netbook under the wraps. My Japanese friends have told me the pink bubble says, “your time will change”

[Sharp UK]

Another proof of how popular the netbooks are – Total sales to reach 37% of total notebooks sales in 2009!

Nobody had thought 2 years back that the netbooks would become so popular. Last year, the netbooks had already conquered 20% of the total notebook market. This year, it is being estimated that netbooks will account for nearly 37% of the total notebook sales by the end of this year and about 40% by the year 2012(!).

However, by 2012, I don’t think there would be any difference based on the feature set between a notebook and netbook (except for the small size, of course).