Laptops Versus Netbooks Versus Tablets in Schools

As an mobile tech enthusiast and avid iPad user, you can forgive me for believing tablets have a great future in education. For anyone else, I have to remember that not everyone has embraced tablets like I have and that laptops in general are what students turn to write their papers, conduct research, or get online.

But the time will come, probably as early as this year, when educators and students will be at the crossroad where they’d have to choose their mobile weapon of choice: laptops, netbooks, or tablets?

Current State of Mobile Computing: Tablet or Laptop

Depending on who you talk to you and who you believe, the netbooks, perhaps even lsptops, are taking a sales hit because of the iPad.

Perhaps. Then there are those who are not so sure this is happen on a large scale. Given the potential that Apple may be on the verge of a $20 billion quarter and cuts on orders by dorm laptop and netbook makers, it has industry and mobile observers such as myself very excited.

Is this the beginning of the end of mobile computing as we know it?

More at Greenjava Mobility.

Mobile Tip To Extend Battery For MacWind (Maybe Other Netbooks and OS's)

This tip came from Dave the Mobile Warrior.

A poster who turned his Wind netbook into a MacWind offered readers at the MSI Wind forum some pointers on how to extend the battery life for their Winds. Well, that's just one of the tips he offer.

• Time Synchronization
• Battery Life - CPU Throttling
• Ext Monitor
• Audio
• Scaling resolutions for applications.

Some of this doesn't necessarily apply to folks who run OS X on their Atom-based netbooks. I encourage you to take a look. Maybe you know a thing or two that you can share with the rest of us.

Link: MSI Wind.net

Verizon Selling Netbooks This Year

Others have done it. In Britain. ATT with Radio Shack. Now Verizon.

Dave the Mobile Warrior King has informed us that Verizon will begin selling netbooks that will be subsidized with monthly data subscriptions.

Last year, we predicted that 2009 will be inundated with all sort of mobile deals between wireless providers and netbook makers. In fact, Orange is in negotiation with Apple in providing Macbooks with wireless plans. Things are moving along.

So far, no one knows how popular these deals are but I think this will be very popular with folks who are true mobile warriors and need these tools for their livelihood. However, this is not for everyone.

While I applaud these moves, keep in mind I'm on the side of the mobile folks, such as you, myself, and Dave. Let me tell you this right off the top. At rate of $60/month, this is a deal killer. Look, I promote such a combo but I'm not about to recommend it to regular mobile users who don't absolutely need wireless connections.

A two year contact with taxes will take you what I believe to be $1700. In this economy? Kudos to the wireless providers for finally getting into the market but they'll need to do something about the monthly rates before they see armies of mobile users get in on this.

To put this in perspective, ATT and Verizon subsidizes the iPhone and Storm about $400. They charge users a monthly fee of about $80. $35 Of that is the data plan for two years. The wireless netbook deals are almost twice the rate of these mobile plans. Doesn't make sense. (My numbers are very rough estimates.)

And another thing. Here's another estimate. Netbook prices have come down quite a bit. I'm estimating it to be $250-300 each. Not even close to the $600-700 unsubsidized iPhones. The wireless guys can do much better on the plan.

I'm still excited about the move by the market but for now, I'll pass. We'll be keeping an eye on this for ya!

Via Consumer Reports

Concept: Mobile Thin Clients - But It's Already Happening

The clouds are forming and I'm talking about the good kind (here in CA, even dark clouds are welcome as Sacromento contemplates water rationing). Cloud computing.

Let's not fool ourselves. That is the future but it's not exclusive. Remember when Larry and Oracle was trying to unseat Microsoft in the Internet booms of late 90s and all he could talk about was thin-clients. Well, I think we're largely here right now but except there's a bit of more than even Larry expected.

We're dealing with cloud and mobile computing. In fact, what escapes most people is that they're already doing it and don't realize it. I'm sure we'll soon be graced with a jazzy name for just such a thing.

Here are some things that are happening that will make cloud/mobile computing even more powerful and ubiquitous than it is today:

• green tech - energy, better design, costs
• processor, display, and battery advancements - focus on efficiency, speed, multi-core, and touch/gesture.
• LTE, WiMax, and beyond.
• social change - touch is in. Perhaps gestures as well. But that's use the UI. I'm talking about a society that is no longer bound to the desk, office, or home. Plus, with advanced battery technologies, we can pretty much forget about the outlets as well.
• mobile devices - as advanced as the iPhone is today, what we'll see in the coming years will blow these antiquated devices away.

One of the fastest growing segment of the ad industry is the mobile ad market. And what is generating this growth? Just your average mobile warrior surfing the Web, conducting business, and moving away from traditional means of computing. It's in no small part that these gains made by the smartphone submarket. iPhone to be sure. And in the last six months, we've also seen much growth from Blackberry, WM, and Nokia users embracing this new paradigm in mobile computing. And without the cloud infrastructure and new thought dynamics to support it, no matter how advance the devices or smartphones are, people won't use it.

But one part of the cloud/mobile computing that no one seems to be thinking much about are those mobile devices that have no phone functions. One such device is the iPod Touch. Feel free to lump netbooks into this for now. More mobile tablets will soon join the iPod Touch with similar strengths and shortcomings that will likely be addressed by clouding computing. Storage space comes to mind but with Wi-Fi access points popping up everywhere, people can leave files in the cloud to access from anywhere, leaving the limited precious gigabytes for the OS and apps.

Now, Wi-Fi may be all most of these non-phone devices have access to in order to be connected to the cloud but we will likely see more devices equiped with 3G or WiMax chips to access the Internet anywhere the mobile users want. Onxo has noted and posted about deals wireless providers and netbook makers put together for users to buy subsidized netbooks with 3G subscription. We'll probably see more of this. How much will largely depend on the economy.

To be sure, this is where the direction cloud/mobile computing is headed. The road ahead is clear and there are a few fleeting obstructions that may affect the rate of adopting for this new computing life in the short term. Perhaps when we get there, people will coin this Web 3.0.

Note: mobile cloud computing. MCC. Has a nice ring to it. What do you think?

Netbook 2.0

The biggest news in the netbook realm is that Acer has gained quite a bit of ground with their Aspire netbooks and that netbook sales are eating up shares in the laptops world at the expensive of their bigger but more capable brethren. More than that, it's killing margins and revenue growth at HP and Dell.

It's beginning to look like a downward spiral at this point. But some are beginning to come out to the market with a different take on netbooks. We'll come to this point in a bit.

First, please read Onxo's previous post on what happened to the promises of netbook. SSD. Long battery life. Instant-on.

Now, let's come back. Netbooks are evolving as they should. Technology evolves. But they're evolving into bigger netbooks. More power requirements. Faster chips (though you wouldn't know it). It's become a laptop again but without the optical drive. But they carry a higher price. Still, it's a netbook wanting to do more.

Eventually, the margins and revenues on that will suffer as well. Netbook makers are fooling themselves. They need netbooks in their line but they all need products that differentiate themselves from the rest.

Sony has the Viao P and, well, Apple has nothing. But neither companies want to have anything to do with netbooks. For the pack of PC makers, someone needs to get started on netbook 2.0 so that they can break out of this shell they're in. It's killing them. I mean that literally.

Netbooks - What Happened To Instant On? Give Us A Real Netbook

One of the best advertised features of the netbooks when the EEE PC came out was the promise of fast startup or instant on and long battery life.

Well, so far, I have not seen anything close to anything like it.  The promises of solid state drives and startups haven't been what we were promised.

In fact, things have gone in reverse.  To drive prices down, cheap and older motherboards have been used like Intel's 950 chipset.  Standard drives became the normal as netbook makers realized people are using their netbooks as laptop or desktop replacements.  In fact, battery life have  been dismal and the native Linux OS were inefficient and largely replaced with the aged but true Windows XP.  If not XP or Linux, then its OS X.

I think it's time someone come out with a real netbook.  One that boots up in seconds.  One that offers long battery life because it uses fast efficient SSD drives and a power management that allows for all day use instead of the 2-3 hours or the 5 hours of battery life only because of 6-cell batteries.  

Make it a real netbook.  Get rid of the video out.  Do we really need HD playback?  A netbook should be not replacing any regular computers.  If it's a task or job needs a regular laptop, get a real desktop.

I suppose today's state of netbooks maybe largely due to the sagging global economy.  But at the same time, increasing netbook sales have failed to augment regular computer sales but instead contribute to shrinking revenues and markets.

It is a wonder why Sony's Viao P costs closer to $1000? Apple has not come out with their answer to the netbook?  It's quite simple.  There is no answer to the netbook as it exists today.  But there are some qualities that netbook makers should consider for what we originally though netbooks would bring to mobility:

• Light.  3lbs are fine but there are subnotes in that range.  The Macbook Air quickly comes to mind.  Two pounds would be ideal.  2.5 is acceptable if it means a bigger battery.
• Fast.  E-mails.  Surfing the web.  IM.  Standard office or social tasks that make up much of daily digital communication.
• Wireless.  3G.  Wi-Fi.  Wireless USB.  No cords.  Even wireless charging.  Evidently, the technology is there.  Ask Palm about charging the Pre.
• Long runtime.  I don't want to go overboard here.  I'm not talking about days.  I can dream but I dare not make such a request.  But make it run for a day.  Certainly, that isn't too much to ask.  

Are such conditions unreasonable to ask or difficult to meet for the likes of Apple, Sony, or an innovative and hungry startup?  Maybe there's a reason why netbooks are so cheap.  It's a good thing.   However, it doesn't mean we should accept the state of mobility as it is today.

Note:  When asked about Apple's answer to the netbook, Jobs jokingly (or maybe he wasn't) answered the iphone was Apple's answer to the netbook.  No, it's not.  But close.  Recent days, it's been blogged to death that Apple has "ideas" about the netbook market.  I wonder if Jobs hinted at Apple's plans but no one was really listening?

Busy Mobile 2009

A lot of tech companies have done well in the last few  years.  Some have done better than others.  That is without a doubt.  So, it's safe for us at Onxo to say that we won't see the kind of wholesale failures that this credit market has inflicted on the banks and investment firms.

So, Samsung, Acer, Dell, HP, RIM, and Apple will likely be keeping mobile warriors happy with new softwares and gears through this economic downturn.  I truly envy those with disposal capital to spend on these cool toys.

First up will be GSMA in Barcelona.  Yes, my fellow American mobile warriors.  Not everything revolves around the US I'm afraid.

A lot of mobile gears will make their debut between Feb 16-19.  Heck, even Acer is getting in on the action after they took the pole position with netbook sales.  A quick glance at the exhibitor list has HP, Sony, RIM, and Samsung at the show.  From the list, it looks to be a busy event.

It's no Davos but I think Barcelona is where mobile folks wants to be.  Who cares if Clinton, Putin, or the diminishing bankers aren't here.

Then what?  Looking at production cycles of the past, we may see RIM refresh some of their smartphone lines.  I doubt we'll see a new version of Bold or Storm in the first quarter.  I would say second quarter is possible but third quarter more likely.

For Google's Android, we're suppose to get an update, Cupcake, any time now.  A hardware update is direly needed.  Seriously, compared to the sleekness of the iPhone, Bold, and Pre, the G1 leaves a lot to be desired.

Besides, HTC, others are also working on their own Android phones.  Samsung and Motorola.  Samsung is doing well and Motorola is looking at an Android phone, a Pre of their own, to save what's left of their mobile device operation.

And speaking of Pre, this is going to be interesting.  Palm didn't give up a date.  I wouldn't even call "some time in the first half of 2009" a range.  Are you kidding me?  Your whole future rides this and you can tell your fans and investors when it'll come out?  Regardless, the Pre has me excited and I'm hoping for a T-Mobile version in the second half of 2009.  I'm not switching to Sprint just to use it.

Okay, you probably think I'm going right into Apple and the iPhone.  Not yet.  I'm wondering what Nokia is up to.  Lots of folks believe Apple will take the crown for smartphones (I still don't think of the iPhone as just a smartphone) but Nokia has been in this business for a long time.  They've seen what RIM did with Storm and how Android hasn't quite set the mobile world on fire.  Sight still on the iPhone.  N97 is pretty cool but much as with the rest of the industy, it looks more like a "me too" rather than anything revolutionary.  However, I'll take that over the G1 any day.

Now, Apple.  No idea or clue.  We'll see the iPod Touch refreshed in the fall just in time for what's likely to be another dismal Holidays Season.  More memory - definitely.  Other features are likely but with voice just added with 2nd gen iPod Touch, we might see more softwares that utilize it.  The headset could be upgraded to one with voice capability like the one they're selling now.

iPhone.  Money's on June/July time frame.  There's no hurry right now for Apple to rush anything out.  Personally, I'll settle for longer battery life with 3G use and more memory.  I kind of like the first iPhone look. These plastic white and black cases doesn't do it for me.  Expect Apple to make it thinner if they can.  I think most of the improvements will happen on the software front rather than hardware.  Love to see more Jetson features but given the battery life as it is, it's not gonna happen.  Rumors will carry us through boring days but don't get too excited, okay?

Now, netbooks, UMPC, and tablets.  I probably wouldn't have used one (given how poor I am) but I was majorly upset when Nokia ended their N810 WiMax edition.  Dude, what's up with that?  Ever heard of perseverance, Nokia?

We're likely going to see a new tablet from Nokia in 2009.  It really hasn't done much with it nor has Nokia promote the heck out of it either.  It stands to reason that if they spend even a quarter of the effort they spend on the handsets, the N820 or whatever they decide to number it will really be one heck of a device.  Add E-ink tech in there and it'll really blow the Kindle out of the water.

This goes the same for the iPhone platform.  Already e-reading is very popular on the iPhone and iPod Touch.  I spend a great portion of my time on these Apple devices reading.  Of course, I love to a bigger screen just for that.  I can really use a tablet based on the iPhone platform but that's wishful thinking.  We'll see Apple tablet rumors another three to four times in 2009 but I doubt we'll actually see the device.  Nokia and Archos can really take this opportunity to rule this segment of the market.

And guys, innovate.  Don't think just because Apple doesn't have a tablet means you can sit pretty.  They're perfecting another "insanely great" revolution here.

And how about Android on a netbook or UMPC?  Well, that's difficult to say.  I'm sure Google and Android partners has locked up some top engineers and won't let them see the light of day until they crank out something really cool.  Okay, forget the cool part.  Just Android on a netbook or tablet.

It'll be a busy year as device makers try to grab an increasing mobile market that is expanding beyond simple handsets and smartphones.

So, how about mobile gaming?  DSi for America in April.  That's so lame.

Briefly about Apple gaming.  I honestly don't know if anyone is afraid of the iPhone or iPod Touch in gaming but I'm sure Nintendo and Sony are looking at the multi-touch potential really hard.  And given the diminishing pricing on in the app store, I think tier one developers aren't crazy about bring over their franchise games to Apple's mobile platform.  There are a few.  Konami has a few coming and EA with Spores.  But we'll have to see how these folks make out with volume instead.  Love to see a great Madden or Tiger Woods though.

Back to DSi.  With it's older DS sibling, it's outselling PSP in Japan...and pretty much everywhere else.  Sony needs PSP2.  Again, Onxo will not traffic rumors but we've heard a lot of PSP2 chatter lately.  It means nothing without Sony confirming it.

PSP 3000 came out in August of 2008 (wiki), so if PSP2 comes out this summer or the fall, that would really be something to watch.  Take that, iPod Touch!

Okay, but the thing to watch for mobile gaming is Nintendo and Sony's app stores.  Those we'll see in 2009.

And speaking of app stores, just about every mobile platform from Windows Mobile to Nokia to RIM will have one this year.

Like I said, 2009 will be quite busy.  Mobile warriors, rejoice!

Link:  Mobile World Congress

Netbooks Hot, Revenues Not

Can anyone really not see this coming?

Even as mobile warriors snatched up netbooks by the millions because of their mobiliyt, ease of use, light weight, and, in some models, speed.  

However, there is an impact as a result of this.  Lower revenues.  But more than that, it really speaks the weakness of the sector as PC growth grew a mere 1% while revenue dropped 20%.

Liluputing's blog has an interesting note.  Even while netbook sales skyrocketed, I have always thought some folks bought them because as a secondary computer, again for it's mobile qualities.  But we'll know in 2009 if the netbook invasion will continue as economic conditions have curtailed consumer spending worldwide.

It's my belief that the industry is in trouble if mobile users decide netbooks and low-cost computers are the way to go.  For years now, we have been devoid of innovation and this lack of compelling reasons for consumers to upgrade.

This can turn into a vicious cycle for the computer firms that are relying on netbooks to prop up their sales. With shrinking revenues and profit margin combined with a lack of vision and innovation, we can be looking a downward spiral not unlike what we've seen with the television industry in the 80s.  

Note:  There's a reason why Sony come out with the Viao P.  And I applaud their decision to come at the netbook segment in a different way.  Now, I like good inexpensive tech as the next guy.  I love my MacWind.  But Sony will insulate itself from a shrinking revenue pie.  

Impact on mobile users:  I think netbooks will only get cheaper and cheaper.  I'm talking about XO cheap.  The magic number for netbooks is going to be $200.  There's a chance we'll reach in 2009 particular if the economy worsens and these PC guys start eating their young.

Source:  Litiputing

Intel To Lock Out Nvidia From Atom And Netbooks

Let's hear from the legal mobile warriors on this issue.  According to Digitimes, Nvidia wants to offer the 9400M GPU with Atom to make for more powerful netbooks.  Netbooks capable of playing games and HD content.

You say that's great.  Me too.  Except that Intel is making sure that Atom is only sold with its own chipsets, meaning all those sucky integrated graphic processors.  Okay, sucky is too strong a word.  Intel's IGP works and if you know what it's capable of, there should be no complaints about it.  If you want better graphics, there are other solutions out there from AMD and Nvidia.

Nvidia is offering their own custom solution dubbed "Ion" which marries Atom with its 9400M GPU.  Such a combo would offer a great deal for mobile warriors.  Imagine playing a lot of today's games and HD video.  the 9400M first appeared in Apple's new Macbook lines in the fall.  So far, the Mac folks only have good things to say about it.

But without Intel's cooperation, Ion would not be possible as Intel made sure to remind netbook makers Atom and its 945 chipset (very very old) are married together.  No exceptions.

So, what now?  Well, Intel has been the subject of many anti-trust and anti-competitive lawsuits and complaints in the past.  I can't say this is where its headed and I can't say if Intel is doing the right thing or not.  Certainly, mobile users will be stuck with a slower graphic solution with Intel's 945 chipset.  But we are talking about netbooks here, not Alienware or Macbooks.

Still, it sucks.  Impact on mobile users?  Well, either Intel opens up or Nvidia says "fine, I'll go make my own chips.  See if I care".  Now, that could take a whole.  Years down the road if Nvidia designs its own CPU.  But it also means competition in the marketplace and could very well force Intel to get more serious about graphic cards.

Since Apple switched over to using Intel CPUs, it had been using Intel's integrated graphics solutions.  It was not until this fall the new Macbooks sport Nvidia's 9400M GPU and forgo Intel's X4500 offerings.

Via Digitimes , Gizmodo

Wide-Spread SSD Deployment in 2009?

While many of us who watch Steve Jobs and Apple, among other companies and mobile characters, mourn the passing of an annual event where Mac faithfuls gather in SF for the Macworld keynote, it was at Macworld 2008 that Steve introduced to us the Macbook Air with a 64GB of SSD as its main storage.

Now, Apple is by no means the first company to put an SSD in its laptops.  XO and EEE PC all came out with SSD as their storage.  I think even Dell also had SSD options for its laptop lines.

Then 32GB and 64GB.  The 64GB option from Apple originally cost $1000.  Today, Apple is offering the 128GB option for $500.  Half the price and double the storage.  Now, Toshiba is offering a 512GB SSD option with 240MB a sec read and 200MB a sec write.  Oh, did I mention that its suppose to last over a hundred years?  I wonder what the warranty will be like.

Speed, sturdiness, and power efficiency are all why SSD will likely play in important role in future laptops and mobile devices.  Not only that, it's a backup option making its way into servers as well.  In recent tests by some blogs, the speed and power efficiency are not quite there yet but for studiness alone, it's worth it.

Besides, it's a natural evolution from regular hard drives.  With SSD prices dropping so fast, I'm willing to call 2009 year of SSD.  A cursory check of some online stores show a big drop in SSD prices.  Some are low enough (but nowhere near the price of regular HD) that it is an option for people who are data worth protecting.

Now, I'm not saying SSD drives will overtake regular HD in 2009.  But I certainly do see more SSDs offered as an option.  Besides, with the recession...anyway.

Here are just some examples:

• 32GB - $75 and up
• 64GB - $135 and up
• 128GB - $249 and up
• 256GB
• 512GB - From Toshiba.  No price yet.  Samples will be available for testing in Q1.  

What do you think?  Is there an SSD in your future?

Via Electronista, Toshiba

Netbooks Wipe The Floor With iPhones!

Netbooks rips Blackberry a new one!  Or how about this one:  More Netbooks sold than DS and PSP Combined!

No, I haven't gone off the deep end.  That happened a long time ago.  What I'm babbling about is a post originating from jkOnTheRun that has been picked up by the likes of MacNN and PC World, all very respectable .  Apparently, the tech blog found recent news days so slow that they have to pit two completely different products from different categories and compare their numbers.

And let's not forget that the comparison here is a whole segment of netbooks versus one product, the iPhone.  So, why do it?  Suffice to say, the explanation in the post doesn't make sense.  The fact that an explanation for this comparison is needed, well, you'll have to take a go at it yourself.

I think there is an explanation not mentioned in the post.  It stemmed from the last financial call when Jobs said the iPhone was Apple's answer to the netbook.  So, here are some things you should know.

1. Don't believe everything Jobs say. 
2. An Apple answer to the netbook is coming.
3. An Apple answer to the netbook is coming.
4. An Apple answer to the netbook is coming.
5. Don't believe what Jobs say. The iPhoen is not a netbook. An Apple answer to the netbook is coming.

Even the comparison is flawed if you allow it. To make such an Apple to orange comparison, you still have to take into account the iPod Touch units. But you can't do that because Apple doesn't offer those numbers. Then you also have to take a look at the netbooks and see which ones uses SSD instead of traditional drives. Then you have to go further and see which one offers 3G connectivity.

 

And when Apple's answer to the netbook comes out, so what? I'm sure comparisons will be made but it won't be a netbook. Still, that is not going to stop folks from making comparisons.

 

Source:  jkOnTheRun 

 

Note: If such a comparison as JonK is allowed, they would need to take into account devices like Nokia's N800 and Archos devices.

Another note: This is the result of dearth of Apple rumors. Shame on MacNN for reporting it though. Better off reading the stars for Apple's future plans than to report on this.

Another note note: Read the comments on the original post. Most folks agree this was a bad comparison.

Apple's Answer to $500 Junk and Netbooks

It's that time of the year.  Rumors on the next and greatest Apple device are getting going and should turn into a category 4 or 5 iHurricane by Macworld 2009 in January.  So far, it's an iTropical storm.

But over at On Apple, I've chimed in on what I think would be Apple's "not a netbook" netbook. 

It's a two-part post and part one has been posted.  It's all idle speculation on my part but it's in keeping with Cupertino's habits and spirits of going against convention.  I've called the new device that we ALL know is coming:  Access.  As in being able to "Access" all your life and data.

Let me know what you think.

Subsidized Laptops Come To The US

Want a netbook for $99?  For that and $60 a month for two years, Radio Shack, Acer, and ATT will offer you an Acer Aspire One with 3G access.  Not bad considering.

Onxo had said this was coming because it made sense and if you live in Britain, such deals has already been available for a while now. 

Now, this isn't cheap.  It's a hefty amount over the lifetime of the contract.  However, this is not meant for the average mobile warrior like you or me.  However for someone like Dave the Mobile Warrior who works in a professional web and programming development and needs access at any time and any where, it makes sense.  Again, it's for folks who need it.

But I'll make another prediction.  This rate will come down over time in 2009.  We don't have a lot of these types of bundles at this time.  Look for the other wireless providers in the US to follow in 2009.  Even look for additional tethering rates.  Then look for these rates to be challenged as WiMax become more ubiquitous (Sprint, I live in CA - waiting for you still).

It's going to be an exciting 2009.  Beyond that, how we'll just have to wait and see.  But I would not be surprised see these netbooks offered for free.  So, with AWS-3 and white spaces potentially coming online in 2010, things are looking up for mobile users.

 Source:  Engadget

Note:  Now, if ATT would just get up and offer the new Macbooks, I'll totally sign up.

Related Onxo Posts:

• Another company offers netbooks with 3G access (this time in India)
• EEE PC offered with 3G in Euro zone
• 3G Modem Growth Set To Explode
• Should Apple offer wireless access option to Macbooks?

Accessories for Travelers

TUAW has come up with a few items for travelers, or as I like to call it, mobile warriors.

It's a bit limited.  I spoke about the solar chargers and possibly solar backpacks.  I think there should be among the items that mobile users should carry with them at all times. Truly, if millions of us all over the world use solar or wind to charge our gadgets like iPhones, DS, Blackberries, and netbooks, I certain there could be a significant reduction in carbon footprint collectively.

Anyway, love to hear what you use and recommend.  We are currently compiling a list of mobile gadgets and accessories that will help mobile users through all kinds of situations.

Meanwhile, check out  TUAW's recommendations.  Also check out Camerahacker and Gearhack for tips and articles.  They've got a few on practical mobile articles.

Netbook: Race To The Bottom - Next Stop $200

That is correct.  When the XO from One Laptop Per Child started, all the rage was how we were going to see XO running all day long that would cost only $100.  Well, that certainly fell short.

Sorry, I had to vent.  But now, Asus promises $200 EEE PC in 2009 and I'm more inclined to believe this one.

Should you get one then?  Definitely, my fellow mobile warriors.  If you don't, well, okay.  But at $200, it's quite a steal when it happens.  But I can't tell wonder about this race to the bottom.

I've got two concerns.  First is the $200 price.  Great for mobile warriors to be certain.  But you have to also wonder about how this will affect the whole market including companies that make them.  And it is certainly going to affect the laptop segment of the market as well.

The second concern I have is the quality of the screen.  I love the LED on my MacWind and I'm sure others do as well.

We'll just have to see where this goes.

Note:  I am still waiting for domestic (US) wireless providers follow their EU counterparts to bundle netbooks with wireless services.  It's a no-brainer.  Why aren't they doing it already?

Netbooks: Booting Up In Under 3 Sec

2.97 Sec to be exact.  That's what The Inquirer is reporting Lineo, a Japanese company specializing in embedded Linux software, has done just that.

To do this, Lineo loaded about an 18MB Linux system on an ARM chip.  Even more impressive is that they achieved a compressed image in 3.17 sec.

That's faster than my iPhone or G1.  Heck, I think it's faster than some not-so-smart cell phones.  When will we see this on our netbooks or laptops?  Well, not sure.

However, The Inquirer did get into what others are doing.

• Asus sues "Express Gate", loaded with an embedded Linux and web browser system, on all it's motherboards.
• HP and Lenovo uses a similar system called DeviceVM Splashtop.
• Dell has it's Dell Latitude On that runs on an ARM chip.  
• Toshiba and Intervideo will have their own Linux boot for quick startups.

So, there you have it.  Less than three seconds.  

Impact on mobile warriors:  Keep in mind that these are Linux systems.  And I just don't know how this will figure into purchasing decisions by consumers in general.  For more experienced mobile warriors, a system with quick startup time may be enough to win them over.

Factoring in Microsoft:  What about Microsoft?  Provide folks with the choice, they'll like go with XP.  Still, Microsoft does have a lot of work to close this startup gap and put more distance between itself and its agile Linux competitors.  People are becoming less and less reliant on all things Microsoft as more computing and mobile tasks move into the browsers and onto the cloud.  

Source:  The Inquirer

Barclays Capital Agrees With Onxo on Apple's Netbook

We've speculated in the last on Apple's move into the nebook arena.  It'll be a netbook that's not a netbook.

What are you talking about?  It's just not like Apple to follow what everyone else is doing.  We think it'll be a large form iPod Touch and, if we're lucky, with wireless broadband like 3G.

Head on over to On Apple for more.

Netbook, The New Craze: Can it Save Christmas?

Any other year, this would be a great Christmas and Holiday Seasons.  Jack Frost is safely behind bars and Homeland Security is keeping tabs on the Grinch.  Alas, we are in deep doo-doo as far as the economy goes.

But there a small bit of hope.  I'm not talking about the wave of hope President-Elect Obama is spreading.  Believe me, he's gonna need all of it back for his first term.  No, I'm talking about the netbooks.  Can it save Christmas?

Well, I've been encourage folks to try the live.com/ebay deal that let's you save 20-30%, depending on the week.  And given the interest in the power these little guys have, Asus and MSI selling container loads of these, it's almost a crime not to have one.  And it seems a lot of people are looking at netbooks to supplement their mobile computing needs or using it as their main computers.

When the original EEE PC came out, it was something an oddity.  A subnotebook that did not cost $3000 the way a decked-out underweight Viao would cost.  However, Asus's first netbook was lacked the horsepower and didn't go easy on the battery.

With Intel's Atom chip, things are more different.  My MacWind runs 4.5 hours per change on a 6-cell battery as with most models in its class.  And prices are dropping.  Taiwan has dropped prices to clear inventory and due to competition.  And just today, Engadget (via Wired, Liliputing) reports Best Buy is selling a similar model for $350.

I suspect Dell, HP, and Asus will follow with similar price drops of their own.  Gizmodo is also reporting Acer's netbook starting at $350.  So, if you're looking for a mobile device that has power and goes easy on the battery, seriously consider a netbook this Christmas.

Normally, I might be pushing the iPhone, Blackberries, or the Macbooks.  But the netbook deserves heavy consideration and it's worth.  But I don't know if it'll save Christmas.

Note:  I really suggesting going down to the local tech superstore like Best Buy to try out these things before jumping in.  The small screen takes some getting used to.

Link:

• Gizmodo - Acer deal
• Wired - Best Buy Deal - it's a 3-cell battery model.  Still, not bad.
• Engadget

Laptop Sector May Be Doomed By Netbooks

Over the weekend, I read that Woot was offering Acer's netbook for a shade under $300.  Without thinking, I thought to myself, "what a deal!"  When I remembered that I got my MacWind for about $350 through Live.com and Ebay (deal still works by the way).  Then I saw on LA Times' Frys ad on Friday selling a full-sized laptop for $399.

Now, Laptoping's post about Asus coming out with $200 netbooks next year.  Is this a good thing?  In the short-term, if the post's information is correct, it would be a boom for mobile warriors.  However, I truly wonder how this would affect research and development of laptops going forward.

We can leave it to innovations to command premiums but these netbooks are very capable computers.  It is just something to think about.  From the perspectives of the likes of HP and Dell, a wholesale move by consumers towards these cheap (by that, I mean price) would seriously stunt revenue growth.  The condition of the global economy will only spur buyers towards lower end laptops and, more likely, netbooks.

In fact, we may see low-end laptops taken off the market and the growth of high-end netbooks - $400-$600 range.  Maybe that's isn't a bad thing after all.

Impact:  Good for the pocketbooks of mobile warriors.  Good for wireless adoption if more wireless providers want to subsidize netbooks with wireless subscriptions.  A potential bad thing is innovation may slow for laptops but work on low-powered chips may increase.

Link: Laptoping