If Microsoft Wants to Rename Netbooks, How About Something Bingy? - Business Center - PC WorldOne of the more surreal moments at this week's Computex show in Taipei must have been a chat during which Microsoft's OEM boss laid down the law. Steve Guggenheimer, a friend of long standing, told the crowd that netbooks don’t really exist.
If anybody can pull this off, he's the guy. A much-traveled and well-liked Microsoft exec, Guggs now has the job of protecting Microsoft's longest-lived cash cow, the revenue it gets from selling operating systems to hardware vendors for delivery with new PCs.
Microsoft has been toying with how to charge for Windows 7 on netbooks in a way that protects the Golden Goose (Windows hardware sales) without killing the newest brood of Goslings (netbooks).
As much as Microsoft wants more netbook revenue--as close to "real notebook" OS prices as it can get--it can't risk putting too much of a crimp in netbook sales by raising the reported $15-a-machine it gets for Windows XP.
Increase the price for Windows netbooks very much and Microsoft potentially gives an unintended push to non-Windows netbooks, meaning Android more than Linux.
What's a Microsoft lifer supposed to do? Give a speech! And as for its content, there are two ways things can go:
Good old Microsoft. That's right, netbooks no longer exist; it's official.
~Lordbob
Ah Microsoft, what will you say/do next. Those people high up really know how to make us in the real world laugh.
Thanks for the information.
As you can tell its a very slow day for me here in Pittsburgh, everyone is still hungover do to the Pens. So I have time to read what people are talking about here.
i personally think the whole prospect of netbooks is stupid. i can imagine kids will want them, and possibly Japanese folk (i hear they like tiny electronics) but for the battle hardened business man? I SAY NAY!
i wouldn't want to get the comments like this, thrown at me:
"hey! that's a cute little lappy. where'd you get it? a gum ball machine?"
and if they're going to rename them. why not something cool, like 'Face-Breaker'
LOL. I prefer Desktop Replacement laptops. That is the size of the one I will get. Huge. More Power! MORE POWER!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHi personally think the whole prospect of netbooks is stupid. i can imagine kids will want them, and possibly Japanese folk (i hear they like tiny electronics
i wouldn't want to get the comments like this, thrown at me:
"hey! that's a cute little lappy. where'd you get it? a gum ball machine?"
and if they're going to rename them. why not something cool, like 'Face-Breaker'
~Lordbob
To be fair, i own a netbook and its one of the best things i ever bought, and i own two buisnesses lol
To be honest, other than being lighter and smaller I don't see much difference between a netbook and an old laptop. Slower, smaller hard drive, good for email and web browsing, viewing pics. I already have the old lappy that I never use. I tend to agree with MS on this. Whatever you call it it's just a cheapy laptop. Talk about hype.
Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong as I have never seen one.
Gary
I'm a college student and I have an EEE. I love the thing. I can put it my backpack without it taking up too much room and its perfect for studying on the go. The battery life is also another great asset, 7+ hours.
Hi all
I just LOVE these netbooks -- if you travel a lot these are brilliant -- you can do nearly everything you need to do on the road (including watching movies on a plane / train) and I certainly wouldn't leave home without one.
OK I wouldn't even THINK of running Photoshop CS4 for creating a HUGE professional A2 size print for pre-press using a RAW file from a top of the range DSLR like a Canon 1DS M2 but for typical office apps (presentations, spreadsheets etc etc), email and internet.
A 10 inch screen is plenty big enough for watching DVD's while travelling and a 1GB RAM machine can run W7 Ultimate just fine -- why bother with "Starter" etc.
These types of netbooks will continue to be developed -- the major problem in developing more powerful models (more RAM, faster processor) is in removing the heat in such a small size product.
Eventually these will be solved -- an 8GB QUAD processor is not beyond the technology to deliver in a reasonable time in the future -- with a slot of external keyboard and monitor these could render the "standard" laptop obsolete -- and if you look now there are actually incredible bargains to be had if you need a new standard laptop now.
Cheers
jimbo
Sure. No such thing as netbooks. This from the people that try to connect you to "desperate locations."
Source:...the new text only Command Bar buttons and Libraries which focuses on aggregating data from desperate locations...
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/win...51E3DB-2123469
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