Netbooks' achilles heel isn't processing power, it's screen size

http://www.thestandard.com/news/2008/10/07/netbooks-popularity-highlight-short-comings-small-screens

by ilamont • 18 years ago

12 14 18 years ago

Maybe a browser that has a zoom in function like the iPhone could be devised for these netbooks?

th0ma5• 18 years ago

i thought i saw compiz running on these things? it has a very nice zoom feature i use all the time... like win key + scroll wheel... very handy

LogicHoleFlaw• 18 years ago

The Atom-based netbooks generally have the Intel 915 video processor onboard, which runs Compiz quite nicely.

speek• 18 years ago

I totally agree that the screen real-estate is the biggest drawback of netbooks. Projectors might help (or foldable OLED screens)...

carterschonwald• 18 years ago

Yeah, I'm really looking forward to the day when laptops have mini projectors associated screens for active lighting and hence high contrast awesomeness for reading. And considering the current trends in relevant technology, I think thats going to happen in the next decade or so (oled's would be nice too)

wmeredith• 18 years ago

I couldn't agree more. My favorite computer I've owned is still my G4 12" Powerbook. It's the perfect size. Sure, I wish the screen was bigger, but I also wish it had no mass. In other words, Speek's projector comment was right on the money in my book.

jonknee4• 18 years ago

I'm reading this on an Aspire One. The screen is plenty for most sites (1024x600). Even with its small size there is space in the case to make the screen quite a bit larger and I expect that will happen in the future.

zhyder2• 18 years ago

I'm waiting for a 14/15" notebook with a Netbook-class processor. It would be light, have great battery life, and be cool.

If they can put those processors in desktops ("Nettops"), they should be able to put them in standard-sized notebooks. Altho I'm not sure MS will still allow XP on them, and -barring Linux- XP is needed for battery life and performance.

It's well established that larger screen sizes increase productivity. A 9/10" screen may be sufficient for web-browsing, but I'd like to use the device for many other things, and I'd like it to be more than barely sufficient anyway.

There isn't much difference in the portability of a 15" laptop and a 10" one. Neither can be pocketed; both need a laptop case.

jonknee4• 18 years ago

> There isn't much difference in the portability of a 15" laptop and a 10" one. Neither can be pocketed; both need a laptop case.

I own a Mac Book Pro and bought an Aspire One primarily because I was tired of lugging around the MBP. There is a huge difference. It's hard to realize until you have both, but the MBP feels giant and I hardly move it now.

One thing I bet they will do in future revs is up the video power so you can hook it into larger external screens--the VGA out to my 24" doesn't look so hot.

zhyder2• 18 years ago

What bothers you abt the MBP, size or weight?

brandong• 18 years ago

I'm fine with my eeepc's 7" screen, it's the small keyboard I can't get used to.

This isn't any better on the 9" versions either...

Zev• 18 years ago

I would argue that its not processing or screen size, but rather battery life.. Which the article touched on briefly at the end.

With my MacBook Pro (15.4"), I can get a good 4-5 hours per battery (I've got two batteries, one a year old and one 2-3 months old) if all I'm doing is surfing the net or reading an ebook/watching a non-HD show. And it takes maybe, 10 seconds to switch my battery and a minute to boot back up and back to what I was previously doing.

Until there's a netbook that gets an average battery life longer then my current setup, I've got no reason to switch - or even recommend a netbook to someone over a regular laptop. This way has a nice screen size, good wifi range, same battery life, etc. And I'd carry the same bag around either way.

jonknee4• 18 years ago

I don't get close to that battery life with my MPB (maybe 3 when the batteries were new), but even then there are plenty of netbooks in that range. Some Eee PCs are rated up to 7. Same with some Aspire Ones. Basically any that advertise a 6-cell battery will have plenty of juice.

Fun facts: the MBP battery is about half the size of my [whole] netbook, not far from the weight and most amazingly a replacement MBP battery costs 40% of the price of the netbook.

Netbooks' achilles heel isn't processing power, it's screen size

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