Pervasive Computing Meets Netbooks — And Thinbooks
For years I have been speaking about pervasive computing, the concept that technology will be ubiquitous in our everyday life. The debate has centered on whether we will focus on one powerful and flexible computing device to service all of our needs — from email, web surfing, gaming, managing personal finances to running our small business. Or will we leverage a myriad of devices that are optimized for our current location? Before you answer, consider the Netbook boom.
Watching people fumble with a 17” wide Notebook on a regional flight or saving their work from a desktop computer onto a memory key remind us that a single device will never be optimized for all different uses. Our world has become increasingly connected, meaning that electronic devices are with us 24/7. It makes sense that these devices are becoming more web enabled and delivering more value than their intended use.
Say Hello to Netbooks
Today we are witnessing the explosion of Netbooks as a secondary device, either in the home or small business environment. These devices have changed the business model for the computer industry, for the first time offering “thin and light” for the lowest price.
In the past, the thinner and lighter a Notebook was, the higher you would expect to pay. That’s no longer necessarily true — as Netbooks prove. Buying behavior research shows that the (US)$300 price point, regardless of consumer electronics category, drives a product to be mass-market. Think of VCRs or DVD players, digital cameras, XBox, cell phones, etc. When these devices fell to the (US)$300 price point or below, it seemed like everyone had them on the Christmas list.
Plus, the Thinbook
Another segment of computer that you will see very soon is Thinbook. These devices are very thin and light, stylish, have larger screens and longer battery life than Netbooks. Powered by Ultra Low Voltage technology from Intel, these devices weigh around 3 pounds, are less than an inch thick and have all day computing ability. The price point will be between a Netbook and a full function Notebook.
Looking at these growing segments from a screen size point of view, they fill the gap between smartphones and Notebooks. Thus, depending on your job or lifestyle, or simply depending on the activity you are planning, you may choose a 4-6” smartphone, an 8-12” Netbook, a 13” Thinbook, 14-17” Notebook, or 22”+ desktop to stay connected and add value.
Looking into the future, it makes sense that other electronic devices from alarm clocks to fish finders to car radios become web enabled and serve as the appropriate device based on activity. This concept of “location based computing” will better fit technology into our busy lives and make it a more natural environment for communicating.
You will likely own 20 or more computers within 10 years, they will just be integrated in the things you already buy.
Jay McBain is director of SMB for Lenovo. Guest blog entries such as this one are contributed on a monthly basis as part of The VAR Guy’s 2009 sponsorship program.
wait to see smartbooks (ARM)
OK, Koko… you’ve got The VAR Guy’s attention. Where do you think Smartbooks fit in the picture?
It will only be a short time before smartphones step up to aquire more of the netbook functions. As processors continue to increase in speed, and internal storage and ram increase in size, more and more functions are being added to the phones that make them more computer than some of the pc’s from a couple life cycles ago.
NetApex: Yes, smart phones will gain more netbook functions… But The VAR Guy still wants a decent size keyboard so that he can easily write longer blogs rather than mere Tweets. That’s why our resident blogger is looking to buy a netbook, but now curious about Thinbooks, too.
I understand that. Granted I love my HTC Touch Pro, and the keyboard does good for short emails, texting and that sort… but I always turn to the laptop for doing real typing. One day I may consider a laser keyboard (http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/keyboards-mice/8193/) even though there is no tactile feedback, it would be just geeky enough to be carried around. Meanwhile, let us know your Thinbook vs. Netbook decision.
NetApex, great comment. I have seen regional differences in the evolution of technology. For example, Europeans tend utlitize technology “as is”, whereas Americans are always on a bigger, faster, more powerful mission.
The idea behind pervasive computing is that each device will provide a utility (think 20 different devices in your daily life) as opposed to devices growing beyond their intended scope.
While smart phones with camera’s, MP3 players, video, web browsing, etc.. are great – is it at the expense of size, weight, battery life, or ease of use?