2. NETBOOK
Netbooks are a category of
small, lightweight, legacy-free, and inexpensive
laptop computers.
3. PERFORMANCE
• At their inception in late 2007,as smaller
notebooks optimized for low weight and low cost
netbooks omitted certain features (e.g., the
optical drive), featured smaller screens and
keyboards, and offered reduced computing
power when compared to a full-sized laptop
4. PROPERTIES NETBOOK
• Over the course of their evolution, netbooks
have ranged in size from below 5" screen
diagonal to 12". A typical weight is 1 kg (2–3
pounds). Often significantly less expensive than
other laptops,by mid-2009, some wireless data
carriers began to offer netbooks to users "free of
charge", with an extended service contract
purchase.
5. • In the short period since their
appearance, netbooks have grown in size and
features, now converging with new
smaller, lighter notebooks and subnotebooks.
6. HISTORY
• The origins of the netbook can be traced to the highly popular
Toshiba range of Libretto sub-notebooks. The 6" Libretto 20 dates
back to early 1996 and weighed only 840g. More recently, Psion's
now-discontinued netBook line, the OLPC XO-1 (initially called
US$100 laptop) and the Palm Foleo were all
small, portable, network-enabled computers. The generic use of the
term "netbook", however, began in 2007 when Asus unveiled the
ASUS Eee PC. Originally designed for emerging markets, the 23 × 17
cm (9.1 × 6.7 in) device weighed about 0.9 kg (2 lb) and featured a 7
in (18 cm) display, a keyboard approximately 85% the size of a
normal keyboard, a solid-state drive and a custom version of Linux
with a simplified user interface geared towards netbook
use.Following the Eee PC, Everex launched its Linux-based
CloudBook; Windows XP and Windows Vista models were also
introduced and MSI released the Wind - others soon followed suit.
7. PREFERENCES
• By August 2009, when comparing a Dell netbook
to a Dell notebook, CNET called netbooks
"nothing more than smaller, cheaper
notebooks," noting, "the specs are so similar that
the average shopper would likely be confused as
to why one is better than the other," and "the
only conclusion is that there really is no
distinction between the devices.
8. • nitially offered with compact versions of Linux
or Windows XP, netbooks now typically use
Windows 7 Starter which Microsoft sells at a
lower price but restricts to lower spec hardware.
9. Trademarks
• In 1996 Psion started applying for trademarks
for a line of netBook products that was later
released in 1999. International trademarks were
issued (including U.S. Trademark 75,215,401
and Community Trade Mark 000428250) but
the models failed to gain popularity and are now
discontinued (except for providing
accessories, maintenance and support to existing
users). Similar marks were recently rejected by
the USPTO citing a "likelihood of confusion"
under section 2(d)
10. HARDWARE
• Netbooks typically have less powerful hardware
than larger laptop computers. Some netbooks do
not even have a conventional hard drive. Such
netbooks use solid-state storage devices
instead, as these require less power, are
faster, lighter, and generally more shock-
resistant, but with much less storage capacity
(such as 32, 64, or 128 GB compared to the 100
GB to 2 TB mechanical hard drives typical of
many notebooks/laptop computers).
11. • Netbooks typically have less powerful hardware
than larger laptop computers. Some netbooks do
not even have a conventional hard drive. Such
netbooks use solid-state storage devices
instead, as these require less power, are
faster, lighter, and generally more shock-
resistant, but with much less storage capacity
(such as 32, 64, or 128 GB compared to the 100
GB to 2 TB mechanical hard drives typical of
many notebooks/laptop computers).
