NetBook

A netbook is a small to medium sized, light-weight, low-cost, energy-efficient laptop, generally optimized for internet based services such as web browsing and e-mailing.

Contents [hide]
1 History
2 Hardware
3 Software
4 Sales
5 Gallery
6 See also
7 References



[edit] History
The concept of the netbook stems from subnotebooks, while the term itself was introduced by Psion in 1999[1] and re-introduced by Intel in the first quarter of 2008 shortly after they withdrew from the OLPC Association.[2][3]

In 2007, Asus unveiled the Intel Celeron-based ASUS Eee PC range running a customised version of Linux (or, user installed, Microsoft Windows XP) on a 7 inch color screen[citation needed]. These machines measure just 8.9 × 6.5in and have less-than-full-sized keyboards. The Eee PC has been a top seller on Amazon.com[4] and is often sold out in retail stores. The EEE's success is largely attributed to the relatively low price (around $350/£230/€300) compared with standard-sized laptops, which easily priced above $1000 at that time.

In mid February 2008, Everex launched its VIA chipset based CloudBook, running gOS. The CloudBook is based on the VIA nanobook reference design. Unlike its closest competitor, the Eee PC, the CloudBook uses a hard-disk. The design of the cloudbook is optimized so it can be held in one hand while typing, or in two hands when using the mouse-cursor control, with the left thumb controlling the two "mouse buttons", and the right thumb a small trackpad, both mousepad and keys are placed directly under the screen.

On April 3, 2008, Microsoft announced a program to extend the availability of Windows XP in "ultra low-cost PCs", past its original deadline for ending the support of this operating system, as long as hardware developers deploy it on systems with limited hardware specifications.[5] Commentators have seen this announcement as a market movement both to prevent mobile PCs eating market share of full-featured desktop and laptop PCs,[6] and to stop the advance of Linux installations on this format.[7]

In June 2008, MSI launched the MSI Wind PC, with features such as Bluetooth and a 10" LED, backlit, 1024x600 screen. This new laptop is the first built with Intel Atom low power technology and competes with the HP 2133 Mini-Note PC which has a 8.9" screen and is capable of a higher resolution. Both laptops are offered with SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop (from Novell) and Microsoft Windows pre-installed; HP offers Windows Vista on their laptop while MSI ships with only XP Home edition.[8][9]

On September 4, 2008, Dell launched its netbook, the Inspiron Mini 9 starting at a RRP of $399 USD for Microsoft Windows XP, and $349 USD for Ubuntu Linux. The Inspiron Mini 9 has a 8.9" WSVGA LCD (1024x600, Bluetooth, 802.11g, 4-16 GB SSD Storage, 512M-1GB DDR RAM and an Intel Atom N270 (1.6GHz). It is available in Black or White. The Inspiron Mini 9 is named Vostro A90 in the UK market.


虽然微软是互联网业软件巨头，但微软一直在努力，不断更新自己的软件产品，而微软把Linux当作对手很久，近期Windows 收入有所下滑，与Linux以及netbooks相关。

　　据悉，netbooks厂商宏基，以及华硕运行的Linux占据30%左右，最后一个季度Windows 销量低于预期，Windows操作系统占据70%以上。

　　宏基厂商以及华硕高层表示，在他们的电脑上，30%以上运行Linux操作系统。当然，这是有原因的，这两家厂商占据90%以上的netbooks市场。而netbooks主要是选择Windows 以及Linux，因此，Windows 收入下滑也是可以理解的，Linux的市场份额在上升，而微软Windows 已经基本达到饱和状态。

　　2009年全球netbook市场容量预计将达3000万至3500万台，其中宏基将会占领40%－50%的市场份额，也就是说宏基明年欲卖出1200万至1500万台netbook产品。

　　业内人士表示，netbook市场将是微软真正的威胁，这给用户机会去尝试新的软件产品、操作系统，增加他们的选择机会，微软就多一份威胁。

　　当然，Windows 收入还包括Vista所带来的收入，如果微软没有延长Windows XP的销售期限，或许Windows 的市场将更少，而Linux将争夺更多的市场份额。

　　此外，netbooks将以上升状态一直持续到2010年，Linux市场份额一直在上升，如果微软Windows 7不能够让用户满意，那么Linux市场份额将更多，微软的威胁将更大。