Netbooks in name only?

PC manufacturers continue to churn out new netbooks at a dizzying pace. A closer look at their specifications, however, reveals that they are creeping closer to traditional laptops in size and processing power.

For example, the original ASUS Eee PC debuted with a 7-inch screen and ran the Linux operating system, many of today’s netbooks have screen sizes up to 13 inches and include faster processors, graphics chips and run a full version of Windows 7.

Michael Gartenberg, partner at Altimeter Group, a research and advisory firm in San Mateo, Calif., said that netbooks will be a short-lived product category. As evidence of the blurring line he cited Lenovo’s 12-inch screen netbook and the popularity of the iPad as a device with a superior form factor and software.

“In practical terms [a netbook ] is just a laptop that’s pivotal axis is price,” he said. “How much can I put in this machine for X dollars?”

Over time he said the category will likely disappear as consumers opt for laptops that cost a little more money yet have a much stronger feature set.

“The net was an imperfect storm that made netbooks popular for a time but that's in decline,” he said. “Consumers are likely to opt for laptops that may cost a little more but do a lot more in terms of function.”

ASUS, Samsung and Toshiba are among netbook makers unveiling larger, more powerful models this year. For example, Lenovo’s web site does not have a specific category only for netbooks; they are grouped together with other laptop computers. The Samsung Go line has netbooks that launch with Windows 7 Professional, instead of the netbook-designed Windows 7 Starter or Windows XP.

ASUS promotes on its web site that the Eee PC 1005PR can do HD playback with a 1366x768 display. Only recently would the idea of HD playback on a netbook been non-existent. Along with the Eee PC line are several other ultraportables that only have minor differences in specifications from the netbooks.

The one constant that many netbook s seem to have is a smaller form factor that includes keyboard compromises, a smaller screen size and long battery life. Some of the newest models are marketed as capable of up to 11 hours of runtime. However, many mainstream notebooks are also sporting stronger batteries; the entry-level MacBook Pro gets up to eight hours. As the iPad grows in popularity and challenges the netbook , more consumers may opt for a more powerful laptop or desktop as the main computer and an iPad as a mobile companion.

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