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While most likely not their only game plan, Intel ponied up to the netbook game by buying netbook.com.  By combining the grim economic outlook with one part of tech that continues to boom, Intel is hedging their bets that netbooks will continue to thrive, perhaps even more so in the run up to the holidays.

But what’s a netbook?

Fantastic question.  Up until recently, you could just say Eee PC and be done with it.  But now, with more and more iterations, more manufacturers and more price points get in the market, the focal point blurs.  Heck, I’d argue a machine with Windows on it is not a netbook.  My list of what makes a netbook would include quick boot, relies on web apps, small form factor and being all about mobile. 

Funny, Intel and Best Buy would kinda agree with me.

But folks like Dell and Acer don’t.  They are trying to build more and more into these machines, making them suitable for more; just make our product more attractive than the next is the makers creedo.  But to Intel and Best Buy, with perhaps a little more of a big picture view, their stance is these small machines fill a niche, not the market for small laptops.  Intel and Best Buy wish to keep the distinctions clear for consumers.

netbooks.com

The team over at notebooks.com believe Intel will set up a consumer site based on education.  They expect a clear delineation of what makes a netbook and what makes something more serious.  Laptops are not fun, they are tools.  A netbook is a different beast.  Netbook users should be smiling whilst using, while laptop users should be worried about a deadline.  That is how I see it.  I think this visual sign that Intel is behind this stuff is good.  After all, they’ve got to do something now that MIDs (mobile internet devices) has fizzled.

Making headway?

I expect Intel to make a good stab at it, but it won’t matter.  Makers will continue to fill every conceivable price point with machines to cover their bases.  Sadly we’ll all still be trying to figure out how netbook 234509kckd98 is different from netbook 234509kckd97, we’ll still get just as frustrated, and we’ll just give in and buy the closest one.  Just like they want us to.

Source: [notebooks.com]