Draw of new tech gadgets
By Rachel Metz |
January 7, 2010, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
SMALL and inexpensive "netbooks" were some of the most popular computers in the recession, wooing consumers with their portability and prices that were often below US$400. Now with the economy improving, consumers will be asked to open their wallets to new styles of computers, including some costing a bit more.
The new offerings being unveiled this week at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas include lightweight, medium-sized laptops meant as a step above netbooks in price and performance. There also will be at least one "smartbook" - a tiny computer that combines elements of netbooks and so-called smart phones.
That is not to say the netbook has reached the end of its line. PC makers, including Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo and Toshiba, are expected to show off new netbook offerings with such features as touch screens and the latest Intel Atom processors, which offer improved performance over the earlier Atoms that fueled the initial run of netbooks.
But the netbook's popularity has meant slim profit margins for chipmaker Intel Corp and the PC makers. For many PC makers, netbooks have meant falling revenue and profit from PCs. And while netbooks proved there is an appetite for highly mobile computers, consumers will likely want more power and portability.
The new offerings being unveiled this week at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas include lightweight, medium-sized laptops meant as a step above netbooks in price and performance. There also will be at least one "smartbook" - a tiny computer that combines elements of netbooks and so-called smart phones.
That is not to say the netbook has reached the end of its line. PC makers, including Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo and Toshiba, are expected to show off new netbook offerings with such features as touch screens and the latest Intel Atom processors, which offer improved performance over the earlier Atoms that fueled the initial run of netbooks.
But the netbook's popularity has meant slim profit margins for chipmaker Intel Corp and the PC makers. For many PC makers, netbooks have meant falling revenue and profit from PCs. And while netbooks proved there is an appetite for highly mobile computers, consumers will likely want more power and portability.
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