Netbooks... Are they really useful or just gimmicks?

[Nightwatch]

They were one or two at the beginning and many reputable companies shunned them. But now almost every company has offered at least one -or several, in many cases- example to the market. they are tiny, about 10-inch, lack many features but the supporters insist that Netbooks are very useful in daily life.

Are they really that useful, or is this yet another gimmick that will fade away into the long catalog of "once-looked-very-promising" creations?

As a starter, they use -mostly- Intel Atom CPU or Via chip. And this is the list of Intel Atom Processor Family:

http://ark.intel.com/ProductCollection. ... lyID=29035

And,
COMPARISON OF MOBILE PROCESSORS (CPU BENCHMARKS)

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Mobile-Pro ... 436.0.html

[VINTAR]

I voted the last one. I see potential in the future with everything getting smaller. Even the ion chip out now is making huge advances in graphics. Who knows, maybe one day you could play the likes of stalker on your net book. At the moment, i would just get a blackberry or something. Nothing you cant do on that that you can on a netbook and you can make calls. Or buy a cheap wap enabled mobile with pull out keyboard if you want to chat to your mates. That all a netbook is good for anyway.

[ket]

I vote miss. Sure, their smaller and lighter than a laptop, but they can't do anything a laptop can't. Laptops ftw.

[VINTAR]

Thats why i said for the future.

[rockingmtranch]

I bought my Sylvania g Netbook in 2007. It has a VIA C7-M processor. Slow but for e-mail and light web browsing it is ok. That's pretty much it though.

[VINTAR]

Apologies if this is a bit off topic but, have you guys seen the new booktop pc? Its a laptop that has a docking station and can be used as a normal pc too check out the gigabyte M1022. If this is old news, sorry but i do live in africa

[rockingmtranch]

Haven't seen it. Link?

[VINTAR]

On my mobile so i'll try type in the link. http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/2855/gigabyte_booktop_m1022_netbook/index.html

[rockingmtranch]

Damn! With all the "extra" features that thing has, the learning curve might do me in

[ket]

You talk like its going to bully you

[rockingmtranch]

It just might with the, "two fingers for this" and "three fingers for that".........crap

[ket]

lol I never would of thought technology could be intimidating

[rockingmtranch]

The only computer around when I was in school was Old Blue My calculator was the size of a soft cover book and it was state of the art (without square root or any cool functions). So I think I'm doing pretty damn good considering.... you young whippersnapper!

[ket]

I'm not young I'm 25 on wendesday

[rockingmtranch]

So, until Wednesday, I'm 25 years older than you. You're YOUNG! Heh-heh-heh.

[Nightwatch]

I see "Hit" option got no votes so far, it seems nobody sees it a viable machine yet; while "miss" and "A replacement of laptop/notebooks" options got 20% votes. However, "Not quite at the moment, but improvements will make it a contender" answer has got the most votes by 60%. C'mon guys, not everybody voted yet, even those who posted; we need more votes.

[ket]

Netbooks will never be that useful. Their ultra portable yes, but they don't even have a built in optical drive so people can't even watch a dvd. fail.

[Grump642]

I vote Hit! I am looking at them now. Small, light, and long battery life. Perfect for people like me. Cost is about the same as a I-Phone, but it does much more and is faster too. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834152137 This is the one I am looking at. Or this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220554 They have big limits, but within those limits, they are very nice.

[audioave10]

I must be too Retro. I would have no use for one of these, but then I
don't even have a use for a cell phone (I've never had one). When I'm
at home, I have my two big gaming PC's. When I'm mobile, I have no
devices whatsoever. I guess if I went 4-wheeling out in the boonies, I
would need a cell phone for emergencies. I don't even do that anymore.