I was reading this article, which reports the results of an online consumer survey of 600 people, and highlights that a fair proportion of users who buy a netbook instead of a laptop are left feeling disappointed. My first thought is “well they clearly didn’t by an NC10 then!“.
More seriously, I guess it highlights the current limitations of these products, for as functional as they are, the current crop of netbooks still can’t quite replace a fully comprehensive laptop. Although I am sure it is just a matter of time until they do!
Perhaps people aren’t clear on the pros and cons of the devices available at the time of writing? Hopefully this quick guide will clear things up:
Netbooks are good for:
- Carrying on the train
- Taking into college
- Using in bed
Netbooks are not good for:
- Mapping DNA
- Solving multi atomic wave functions
- Cleaning the Kitchen
Easy!
What would you add to the list?
via Portable Monkey via Business Week
Further Reading:
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Not good for, playing a CD/DVD?
Where’s the disk drive???
On the contrary, the article never says they were disappointed.
Might seem tricky, but “58 percent of consumers who bought a netbook instead of a notebook said they were very satisfied with their purchase” — this however, does not imply that the remaining 42% were dissatisfied. I know many people who wouldn’t say they’re “very satisfied” either, because it’s an Atom of course. But it does fit their needs quite well.
The reviews for netbooks are great though! It’s nothing to brag about, not like a 2000$ laptop of course, but the value is quite impeccable.
Fair point Mark, I wouldn’t actually read much into this kind of survey anyway hence my rather tounge in cheek approach. If they’d all got NC10′s it would be 100% satisfaction
!
And Yeah Alf, I think the lack of drive will be a negative for anyone without another computer already. For most “power users” it thankfully isn’t a limitation in this age of wireless connectivity.
I think they are missing a trick here. The main difference between a laptop and a notebook (apart from price) is the lack of a DVD drive. So why not promote this by offering a special deal on an external DVD drive at the point of sale and turning it into a positive sales pitch. Such as emphasising the portability aspect of the package and the fact that the netbook is light and portable without the need to carry around the excess weight of the DVD drive etc…..
Usually for surveys, they have a spectrum range of choices to dispel the dichotomous fallacy. Eg, Very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, very dissatisfied.
“If they’d all got NC10′s it would be 100% satisfaction”
Good point! ;D This is a fair point.. the survey, additionally, does not mention whether those (if any at all) are dissatisfied with their netbook was because they’d rather have a pc, or whether or not they made the wrong netbook purchase. I was dissatisfied with my first acer purchase (partly because you had to disassemble the thing to upgrade the ram) but luckily I could return it before I discovered that.
I love mine, does it do everything I wish it could do? No!, but I knew it would have some limitations when I purchased it. I do think the newer netbooks with better video will make a lot more people happy, but when you pay $350 to $400 lets face it, you aren’t buying a super fast multimedia system anyway.
I have certainly enjoyed mine and it goes with me when I need to have a computer, the rest of the time I use my iPhone.