Study: Consumers still prefer regular notebooks over netbooks

i think part of the issue is that the price of the notebook has gotten so cheap that it is cheaper than some of these netbooks. notebook has larger screen and more powerful system hardwares and the ability to run windows 7/vista. While netbook stucks at 2GB max ram, xp, smaller screen.

I personally think netbook is good for as second system in teh house for checking email, typing while sitting on the couch.

And again, nice to know people read the comments...

@Putale: You can run windows 7 on a netbook.

@TomSEA: You can do some "serious" computing, I currently run sql servers for projects, some data architects and netbeans on a netbook, it might not be the most powerful or speedy gonzalez of all the possible solutions, but for the mobility it CAN do some "serious" computing.

Wait until next gen netbooks, with all the goodies comming as mainstreams SSDs, 1,8" HDDs, new atoms and more competivity from amd in this area (And VIA too), most will want a couple.

Of course people prefer notebooks. The netbook is caught in a pickle between laptops getting smaller and smart phones getting more powerful. You can not carry a netbook in your pocket and really seems like it has no place in the general consumer market. if I were a journalist/reporter a netbook would be great. I think the netbook will find a niche market to settle into, but never go mainsteream

I beg to differ stwongbad, netbooks have crazed people all around the globe, are no longer the 7" screen which you couldn't read (And even then a lot of people wanted one), now 10,1" or even 11,6" (I had a 7" and now I have a 10,1" and you do see a big difference).

Smartphones indeed are comming with more features every day, but you can't compare one another. Actually my dad has a blackberry with internet access and he hates it, asks for my netbook all the time since it's more comfortable to read and write.

Netbooks are great for traveling, but just too underpowered for daily use. It's not even ideal for web browsing. The screen resolution is too low and you're going to have problems playing streaming hd video from hulu or youtube. Unless you absolutely have to have the smallest computer, it's worth spending a little more for a 11-13" laptop. The weight's almost the same and you're going to be a lot happier.

Netbooks seem to be nice, but you sacrifice alot for the size they come in. If you wanted a small computer you could just go with a smaller laptop with more performance.

I'm also with the majority. I prefer the notebook which i why I'm still waiting for the perfect notebook deal with the price and specs I want. The netbook prices are very attractive but for what your losing(screen size, limited upgrade, no CD/DVD drive, etc) I just can't seem to pull the trigger on one.

Franktank et al., it all depends on what you value. Most netbooks aren't aimed for people that desire high performance. Netbooks are designed for the internet, and for office applications. That's perfect for a college student or someone on the go that has to make a powerpoint or something. Gaming material it ain't. What you have here is a barebones computer that is still competently fast for what is offered.

Optical drives aren't necessarily a problem because you can always buy a USB optical drive. Whoop di damn do. Screen size and limited upgrades are perhaps the bigger problems here. But as far as upgrades go, what do you really think you could upgrade to make it any better than what it is? Even if you added a RAM card, what exactly do you expect that to do? And is it REALLY worth replacing more than just memory on something like this? I don't think so. Some of the complaints may be somewhat legitimate, but in the context, half the hatred for this kind of a machine isn't totally warranted.

What I found interesting is that 40% apparently will buy a netbook as their next PC. That's a pretty high number IMO. It means that for a lot of people, netbooks are good enough, even with all their limitations.

Should probably have said "good enough or preferred". After all, netbooks do have benefits over normal notebooks.

It's the price for performance issue. Netbooks are ok for a few basic tasks however you can get a low end laptop for not much more that does quite a bit more. As smartphones have been adding features and capablities, why buy just a netbook?

Indeed, the whole point behind their next PC is as in replacing your current one (Desktop or Notebook) for a netbook, that I find interesting as well, it means some people are starting to think and not preffer the newest shiniest and most powerful ever thinked to for... facebook and chat on msn messenger.

Thumbs up for them!