RSSNetbook prices approach affordability after Acer cuts
By Jacqueline Emigh | Published August 25, 2008, 6:06 PM
Although netbooks really only hit the market less than a year ago, the pint-sized notebooks seem to be showing signs already of commoditization, though maybe with greater differentiation on the high end.
Acer has just announced price drops of on both the Windows and Linux editions of its Aspire One netbook line. An Aspire One netbook with Windows XP Home, a 120 GB hard disk drive, 1 GB of RAM, and a three-cell battery is now list priced at $349.99.
A similarly outfitted netbook outfitted with Linpus Linux now retails for $329, or only about $30 more than a 16 GB Apple iPhone 3G. Of course, with the netbook as opposed to a smartphone, you might have no need to contact with a wireless service provider.
Meanwhile, a higher-end Aspire One with XP Home and a six-cell battery can now be purchased for $399. Like other members of Acer's line-up, it sports an Intel Atom processor and an 8.9-inch LCD.
At the same time, though, Asus -- a major netbook pioneer with the Eee -- is reportedly now planning its own high-end model, dubbed the N10 and priced at around $486 to $630 in US dollars. The N10 will be equipped with a 10-2-inch LCD, along with niceties such as as a fingerprint reader and Altec Lansing speakers.
I recently bought the Acer Aspire One for $349 at http://www.netbookcomputers.com
It features a 120gb HD, 1Gb ram, Windows XP and I couldn't be happier. It is perfect for bringing to work, for e-mail and writing when I have time. It is worth the $350 so I don't need to bring my $1500 macbook.
The Linux version is cheaper, and may be more desireable if you already use Linux.
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|The N10 makes no sense as a netbook. I guess 10" netbooks are popular in some demographics to support obese fingers but my max is 8.9" - its gonna be in my bag anywhere tethered to the cell phone. The N10 with 10.2" and that huge bezel must be the same size as a 12" 'real' notebook.
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|dubbed the N10 and priced at around $486 to $630 in US dollars. The N10 will be equipped with a 10-2-inch LCD, along with niceties such as as a fingerprint reader and Altec Lansing speakers.
There has to be a market for this I am blissfully unaware of. I have an Acer laptop I paid only slightly more than that $630 figure above for that *far* outstrips this machine....and I bought it almost a year ago. I just don't get it.
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|There is a market I think. Just not a market they'll easily tap into. There are many people who loved their ibooks (is that what they were called?), those tiny underpowered macbooks that were 'cheap' by Apple standards compared to macbooks at the time. So on one hand you can have small and useful with not so much 'power' and then you can have small, useful with 'power' and I guess, some style - albeit for about the price of a 15-17 inch lappy with decent graphics.
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|I am thinking about replacing my aging pocket pc with one.
If I could just get a battery that lasted as long (I get ~30+ hours of constant use with the extended battery)
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|(I get ~30+ hours of constant use with the extended battery)
*laughs*
Anyone using a PDA for 30+ hours straight has more to worry about than battery life, my friend. ;)
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|I didn't say that I used it for 30+ hours, however it was handy on the way to and from california a few weeks back, ran it for over 8 hours each way and I still had ~75% battery life (charging in between flying there and back of course).
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|I have the Acer 5620 and have been running Ubuntu linux on it and love it. $499 at BJs. Acer is looking like Hyundai - trying to improve their image by creating a product that fits the lower end price with high end quality. This makes a great second computer for family trips, etc.
http://afewtips.com
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|Most folk now only need a low spec. machine, and these netbooks are just the job. But I've noticed that just like a nice bit of software they can't leave well alone, and the things are getting bigger and more expensive by the day, kinda defeats the object really.
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|and way cheaper than the macbook
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|Not really the same product either. Kinda like saying apples are cheaper than oranges: well that's nice, but what was your point again?
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|Just goes to show that for all of the Windows based competition out there, a few STILL focus on the Mac and hold it as the unit to beat!
That speaks volumes!
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|but macbooks are better?
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|That's more like it....
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