Cell phone and hardware vendors are starting to the drum to for yet another device into the already-confused world of netbooks, thin-and-light laptops, and ultramobile PC devices – the smartbook. A number of manufacturers will be shouting about the "joys" of the new devices between now and CES (News - Alert), but, with the exception of various vertical-market applications, the smartbook category will likely end very badly.
Designed to fit in between the smartphone and the netbook, a smartbook built by Lenovo (News - Alert) showed up at Qualcomm's analyst day last week and is expected to be formally unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in January and to purportedly be carried by AT&T.
Since the smartbook is designed to be relatively cheap and portable, devices are being built with non-Intel (News - Alert) chips, non-Windows Vista operating systems – Windows CE listed as the OS on one contender while Linux seems to be what is on the Lenovo offering – long battery life, a small keyboard with a 7- to 9-inch screen, and built-in 3G/4G connectivity. People will be torn between categorizing the device between a "netbook lite" in terms of capability and a beefier smartphone with a keyboard and enough processing power to server up at least 720p video and Adobe Flash graphics.
The problem is the smartbook is trying to split the difference between the smart phone – let's say the current generation of iPhone and Droid offerings – and a netbook to end up with a mass-market device. While the bundle of integrated connectivity and integrated keyboard sounds attractive, users have already spoken for their preferences for applications and form factors.
Initially, netbooks came out with options for Linux and Windows XP. ABI Research (News - Alert) projects that Linux will represent 32 percent of netbook sales in 2009, with Linux picking up market share in developing markets overseas over the next five years.
However, business users want supportable business applications, retailers are stocking Windows-loaded netbooks and as much as one might find many reasons to dislike Windows, people are still defaulting to it rather than having to learn and support another operating system and a different set of apps.
Yes Linux fans, I know there are a number of Office look-alike business apps, but there's so much Windows software out there in comparison that you guys have to wait a while before taking over the world.
Similarly, the playing field for netbooks started out at cramped keyboards and 7 to 9 inch screens and quickly evolved to nearly full-sized keyboards and 10.1 inches and larger screens. Before netbooks, the UMPC crowd churned out a bunch expensive, small-sized devices that didn't go anywhere except into vertical market applications and the occasional cameo appearance on TV shows.
The mileage may vary and the smartbook may have some attraction in some particular vertical markets, but I'm betting that most people who look at a smartbook will find that a Windows-based netbook already has the apps they are looking for and a form factor that will be more acceptable than the cramped confines of a smartbook.
Doug Mohney is a contributing editor for TMCnet and a 20-year veteran of the ICT space. To read more of his articles, please visit columnist page.
Edited by Amy Tierney
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