09/17/08
Intel’s Atom and the Rise of the Netbook
Now, I'm not the most tech savy individual out there, but I understand the computer model, and how the various parts work together. This article is defiantly geared for the more technologically advanced reader, but still had some good information that I thought I would share with you all. :-) After googling some terms, (ASUS Eee PC and UMPC) I had a better understanding of what was going on. Netbooks are portable computers that are smaller, stripped down versions (more of just the basic features,) of their big brother laptop notebooks.
From my understanding of the article, the netbooks do primarily the same basic functions of a regular desktop or laptop computer and that’s it. Using a lower grade processor on a more condensed operating system, the end user experience for basic functions like social networking, surfing the internet and using email is the same (in terms of speed and user interface) as it is for a regular desktop or laptop notebook computer.
The differences between the 3 categories listed in the article of MID’s (mobile internet devices) and UMPC’s (ultra mobile personal computers) like PDA’s and smart phones, netbooks and notebooks are: first, cost. The net books are the least expensive of the 3 ranging from $250- $350 according to the article. The MID’s are the next expensive ranging form $450- $600. Although I am going to disagree with this assessment. This article is from March of this past year, so the price information defiantly could have changed from then until now.
When researching mobile phone companies last month, a major consideration for me was price. I wanted either a smart phone or an iPhone. My weekend of hitting the mall and visiting the various mobile phone carriers showed that most companies were very competitive in terms of price. Ranging form $250 -$400 for phones with internet, and email capabilities. A lot of these phone offered mail in rebates for $100- $150. I ended up changing my plans, because T-Mobile doesn’t carry an iPhone similar phone, I went with the Sprint Instinct for $130 after a $100 mail in rebate. Notebooks price range according to the article, start at $500 and go up. Dell has a 15” Inspiron for $499.
This brings me to the next difference between the 3 devices, hardware and software. The obvious differences are size, a MID is usually smaller than 7”, and uses processors, like the Intel Atom, designed to handle the functionality of mobile internet computing. Basic feature like email and surfing while using an internet connection that is going through your wireless phone service, are handled fairly well by this model of processor. Factors that can cause dissatisfaction of end user experience are not usually processor based, and can include poor signal cell strength, interruptions or obstructions between the signal being received by the device, and operator error and impatience.
The net book is in the 10” range and according to the article, can have a processor like an Intel Atom, Celeron, and even a Duo Core processor. (Why a computer designed to do basic platform functions that are simple internet centric usage doesn’t make sense to me. It’s like putting a 400 horsepower engine on a lawnmower, it just seems like a waste to me.)
A notebook is typically 12” or larger, and has the best processors available at the time they are made. Notebooks are designed to be portable desktops, fully functioning platforms that run computer programs designed to generate data in many forms from documents to image editing. And while all 3 can use a windows based operating system, a notebook will typically use that exclusively, and a MID and netbook will use either a windows based system or linux operating system.
The third major difference is target audience/end user needs. A notebook and MID are target towards people whole need more functionality out of their technology. A MID for people who want (or for their job) to constantly be available to access their email, phone calls, messages, etc. The notebook is targeted for people who need to be mobile either out of necessity, like someone who travels for their job, and needs to be able to access data of any kind, (documents, images, spreadsheets,) or a college student who needs the functionality of fully enabled computer programs such as the Adobe Creative Suite, or Microsoft Office, and still needs to be able to store a computer in a small space like a dorm room.
The netbooks come in to fill a void here for the person who wants a computer for things like, emailing family members to stay in touch, joining a social networking group, surfing and shopping on the internet, viewing photos, blogs, and general basic computer usage. If more capabilities are needed, like running Microsoft Office for writing a document, or image editing software, then a netbook is not the proper choice for computing needs. The people in this target audience for netbooks are the same category of people who only want nine buttons on their cell phone.
There is a huge audience for netbooks. There is a whole generation of people who want to connect to the internet experience, but don’t want to learn a whole lot of new information. The only downside to this is the actual hardware size. Being a screen size of 10” or less, makes it difficult for one segment of the population, who are going to want a larger screen that they can have a larger screen resolution to view the internet. While this screen size is suitable for a younger audience, the limited technology doesn’t really fit their end use needs seeing as how younger persons have a tendency to pick up and acclimate themselves to technology and various programs faster than an older generation who, form my personal experience has told me, “I only want to learn what I need to know to do what it is that I want to do.”
In summary, the rise of the netbooks has an audience, and a viable market for a more simplified, stripped down, but still fast processing and enjoyable user experience, if the hardware can change, (ie larger screens) while still keeping the price point affordable.
|
