Netbooks On Their Way Out the Door?

Netbooks were the newest, hottest items last year, outselling iPhones in the third quarter by nearly 1 million units. We predict that netbooks will continue their upward trend through 2009 and will be seen on nearly every table in the coffee shop. But what about 2010? Does the netbook have enough momentum to carry it through the ensuing years and competing technologies?



Market analysts think the netbook is about to go the way of the HD DVD player, the standalone GPS unit and the dodo bird. But will it really be gone? Personally, I think the netbook's future lies in the Sony VAIO P netbook, I mean laptop, I mean ultraportable, I mean Lifetime Companion, whatever. The VAIO P is clearly suffering an identity crisis because it does not yet have a home. As much as Sony will deny the P is a netbook, I think that is where the future of netbooks lies.

Netbooks as they are today, underperforming pocket-sized laptops, really don't have much more going for them other than the novelty factor and price. Once lightweight laptops like the VAIO P (I mean ultraportable, I mean...) drop their price down into the affordability range, netbooks will likely be out of business. Size will meet function. Plus, with the proliferation of the iPhone, BlackBerry, Palm Pre and other smartphones, the underperforming computer will be in the palm of your hand. Netbooks will never be able to compete with the all-in-one fact found in the smartphone.

But until then, enjoy the latest trend and check out our reviews of the best netbooks out there. Or, already a netbook owner? Find out how you can get it to perform as well as a laptop with our "Pimp My Netbook" series. Or you can just read these other blogs that, small or large, perform as well as the best of them:

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