What makes a netbook a netbook?

[Zephik]

What do you guys think determines whats what? What makes a netbook a netbook? Size? Price? Computing performance? etc etc?

Just curious. It seems to be different with every person.

[crenn]

Small, cheap, just useable.

[simon275]

The size/form factor small screen like 10" max and also the low price are the two key things that define what a netbook is.

[progbuddy]

Any notebook smaller than 13" and geared towards using the internet and checking email, hence the name "netbook."

[Omega]

My definition is as follows

~10" screen or less


that's it. it can be expensive, powerful, brightly colored, but for me, it's size.

That being said, I also think that if you pay for a expensive, powerful, but tiny computer, you're a knob. but that's me. My Eee has 900MHz of computing fury. I was stoked when it ran WoW. =p

[FuzzyPlushroom]

My definition is as follows

~10" screen or less


that's it. it can be expensive, powerful, brightly colored, but for me, it's size.

That being said, I also think that if you pay for a expensive, powerful, but tiny computer, you're a knob. but that's me. My Eee has 900MHz of computing fury. I was stoked when it ran WoW. =p

+rep for saying what I'd've said. 12" laptops are ultraportables. 10" down are netbooks. Performance is irrelevant.

And no, the Air isn't a netbook. It's a notbook. As in "not good for anything".

[Zephik]

I'm pretty dead set on it being a size only thing.

Why not price? Because you can get one for $300 all the way up to $699. (which is more than what most LAPTOPS cost)

Performance? Do I really need to explain this one to people? First we had the Atom 1.60GHz, now we have the Atom 1.66GHz. Its not static, it fluctuates constantly. Eventually we'll have something probably like Core 2 Duo's running in our Netbooks.

Here is a list of devices from largest to smallest. See how everything fits perfectly in here? How they don't cross over into one and another? My guess is because its all defined by size. (There are exceptions by the way, however, the majority rules. One device doesn't change the definition of a thousand other devices. Why do exceptions exist? Probably because of misinformed/confused people.)

Notebook/Laptop: 15"-17"

Ultra-Portable: 13"-14" (Example: Dell XPS M1330)

Netbook: 9"-12" (Example: Dell Mini 9, Asus Eee PC 1002HA and Dell Mini 12)

Ultra-mobile: Everything else that is capable of being defined as a "PC" and is smaller than a Netbook class computer, such as hand held computers. UMPC is what they are called I believe. Usually 5"-7" according to newegg (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&SubCategory=628&N=2034940628&SpeTabStoreType=3).

So thats my opinion anyways. They can be small and affordable, they can be small and expensive, they can be small and powerful or they can be small and weak. Those are all of the options possible for defining a netbook. Whats the one thing that didn't change? Size. They may of started out being small, affordable, low-powered devices, but that won't last forever. The size will though. If they get bigger, then they become ultra-portable's or laptops. Smaller? UMPC's or maybe some new class of PC.

[Durrthock]

I think the basic idea is that you can only really use it for surfing the net.

[TheGreatSatan]

I think the basic idea is that you can only really use it for surfing the net.

and no optical drive