2009 predictions for the netbook segment

Now half way into 2009, it’s clearer and clearer that the netbook market is getting big. It will probably take a serious market share piece from regular laptops, replacing them for those needing a portable device good enough for standard everyday use (office, internet, music + movies) and affordable.

So, where is the netbook segment going and what are the tendencies for this year? Here’s what we believe:

• 10″ netbooks are getting quite good hardware specs, are better built and have better screens (bigger image quality and resolution). They will slowly become mainstream.
• 12″ fancy netbooks start to emerge and they will try to attack the 13.3″ laptops class. After all, these devices are the perfect combination between size and every day usage experience. They’ll probably be priced around 7-800$. Dell, Asus, HP, MSI, all of them already have such a netbook in this class.
• Intel will launch the new low consumption CPU series based on their new Nehalem architecture by the end of this fall. Better graphic units will emerge also with the new CPUs, so next year’s netbooks will see a great increase in performances. Also, there are others trying to get into this segment, like Nvidia with their ION platform.
• Small netbooks are getting cheaper, thus more easier to get. Many producers claimed they’ll have decent $200 devices in their offer by the end of the year.
• Netbooks will even get touchscreens. This way, they’ll attack the tablet PC market also, as they’ll probably have a way better price tag.

The competition will get fiercer and fiercer on the netbook market also, and probably other producers will join it pretty soon. I for one am waiting for an Apple netbook, and i might not have to wait for too long…

So, what do you think? What’s the future of the netbook segment?

Tags: cheap netbook, future