The Netbook: Big Future for a Small Notebook

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The Netbook: Big Future for a Small Notebook

Posted On : Jun-25-2009 | seen (905) times | Article Word Count : 553 |

This year’s Computex conference has shown us a preview of what the future holds for the netbook industry. Based on what we have witnessed so far, it’s looking like these mini laptops have the potential of gaining even more ground in the mobile computing market.

Chips to Extend Functionality

One of the challenges that netbook manufacturers face has to do with performance. Owing to the size of these devices, there have been certain compromises that had to be made when it came to a netbook’s capabilities. Several companies however, appear to have overcome this stumbling block with next generation chips designed to extend netbook functionality.

Telecom company Qualcomm demonstrated their new Snapdragon chip which, the company says, will provide significant improvements in battery life, power consumption, speed and graphics capability. Qualcomm refers to these devices as smartbooks as they will function similar to the way smartphones do. They will have 3G support and always-on capability among other things.

Then there are other manufacturers that have introduced processors that are designed to improve multimedia functions in netbooks. Nvidia, for example, has showcased the Tegra, a processor that brings advanced mobile visual computing. It functions as the main and graphics processor on a netbook which should allow for enhanced viewing and at the same time, low power consumption.

Addressing Keyboard and Screen Dilemma

Another problem that a netbook’s size poses is keyboard and screen real estate but it appears that with the latest netbooks, these may no longer be an issue. Synaptics is coming out with a new touch pad product to add to their line-up, the impressive ClickPad solution. The ClickPad enables multi-finger gestures as a way of operating the device thereby eliminating the need for physical buttons. On ClickPad, you will be able to zoom in through a two-finger pinch motion, switch on your device with a three-finger press and scroll through pages using two fingers among other things.

Those that want to extend their viewing pleasure on their netbooks will also be pleased to know that there are high-quality LCD displays being produced that are designed to be used on netbooks. These screens are so flexible you can switch from a full color display to a standard black and white view, so you know these consume much less power as well.

The Road Ahead

The netbook industry has, in the past, been dominated by devices that possess low power strength, limited technology and performance but the years ahead perhaps spell an increase in popularity what with the new developments currently cropping up. There is a great potential for the creation of varied applications that can be utilized on netbook and this can only mean good things for the consumer. Look at the things you can do on a smartphone now? Who would have thought that one day a cellular device will be able to support full scale Internet browsing?

The entry of Google’s Android into the netbook industry may pose considerable challenges to Intel’s Atom, the platform currently used in most netbooks. Acer has already confirmed the use of Android on one of their netbook models, the Aspire One. GP

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<h1>The Netbook: Big Future for a Small Notebook</h1> Author: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/profile_Ritchie Smythe.aspx'>Ritchie Smythe</a> This year’s Computex conference has shown us a preview of what the future holds for the netbook industry. Based on what we have witnessed so far, it’s looking like these mini laptops have the potential of gaining even more ground in the mobile computing market.

Chips to Extend Functionality

One of the challenges that netbook manufacturers face has to do with performance.  Owing to the size of these devices, there have been certain compromises that had to be made when it came to a netbook’s capabilities.  Several companies however, appear to have overcome this stumbling block with next generation chips designed to extend netbook functionality.

Telecom company Qualcomm demonstrated their new Snapdragon chip which, the company says, will provide significant improvements in battery life, power consumption, speed and graphics capability.  Qualcomm refers to these devices as smartbooks as they will function similar to the way smartphones do.  They will have 3G support and always-on capability among other things.

Then there are other manufacturers that have introduced processors that are designed to improve multimedia functions in netbooks.  Nvidia, for example, has showcased the Tegra, a processor that brings advanced mobile visual computing.  It functions as the main and graphics processor on a netbook which should allow for enhanced viewing and at the same time, low power consumption.

Addressing Keyboard and Screen Dilemma

Another problem that a netbook’s size poses is keyboard and screen real estate but it appears that with the latest netbooks, these may no longer be an issue.  Synaptics is coming out with a new touch pad product to add to their line-up, the impressive ClickPad solution.  The ClickPad enables multi-finger gestures as a way of operating the device thereby eliminating the need for physical buttons.  On ClickPad, you will be able to zoom in through a two-finger pinch motion, switch on your device with a three-finger press and scroll through pages using two fingers among other things.

Those that want to extend their viewing pleasure on their netbooks will also be pleased to know that there are high-quality LCD displays being produced that are designed to be used on netbooks.   These screens are so flexible you can switch from a full color display to a standard black and white view, so you know these consume much less power as well.

The Road Ahead

The netbook industry has, in the past, been dominated by devices that possess low power strength, limited technology and performance but the years ahead perhaps spell an increase in popularity what with the new developments currently cropping up.  There is a great potential for the creation of varied applications that can be utilized on netbook and this can only mean good things for the consumer.  Look at the things you can do on a smartphone now?  Who would have thought that one day a cellular device will be able to support full scale Internet browsing?

The entry of Google’s Android into the netbook industry may pose considerable challenges to Intel’s Atom, the platform currently used in most netbooks. Acer has already confirmed the use of Android on one of their netbook models, the Aspire One. GP
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