Entry of Netbooks means end of Laptops/Notebooks?

I personally use an Asus Eee PC netbook. Considering the experieces I would say that netbooks have a long way to go for beating laptops. esp in the processing area and not to mention the perceived eye strain.

Having said this netbooks are a very useful travel accessory which is easy to carry and can be used anywhere if you restrict the usage to checking mails and simple word/powerpoint applications

Laptops are to be the default 'desktops' for everyone. Netbooks will be a different category where more of mobility and less of computing power is required. Smartbooks/ Tablets like iPad could become a second-computing-device / style statement to add mobility to power-users who want to use computing power of a laptop for specific functions. All 3 categories should grow.

no..........

Laptop will be there for long time. Netbook. iPad, eSlate are and innovative good things but not the replacement of Notebook yet.

Laptop is the replacement of Desktop with mobility features and compaies and people are use to it like Google. Hard to get rid of it.

I agree with u Smita.

No its not over yet for laptops. Already we have seen a generation of palmtops thought not that popular as laptops. But as of Product life cycle.. every product has a finite life n likings by customers which will be replaced by another innovative solution. If this wasnt true, we'd have still used floppy disks :-) We are still using Desktops even after we are having innovative, customised products to suit different requirement. So there will be a time, if complete equivalent yet different solution becomes available at competitive rate, there will be end of laptop too.

I don't think so; NetBooks have hardly any processing capacity equivalent to LapTops/NoteBook systems.      A small device with Internet facility or GSM capability that's it.

NetBooks are basically for Novices & Child education and not for serious processing/gaming/applications.

Cheers

-Srikar

Recently, net books became the newest players in the portable computing movement. These convenient devices offer users much of the same functionality of a laptop, but in a smaller, cheaper package. However, there are still some benefits to using a traditional laptop computer.

This makes deciding between a net book or laptop increasingly difficult. The ultimate decision depends on the needs of the individual user. However, a look at a few key features can help buyers make an informed decision.

Main Differences between Net books and Laptops

A glance at the current market shows that net books are clearly much cheaper than laptops. They are also considerably smaller. In general, net books have screen sizes of 8 to 10 inches and weigh less than 6 pounds.

Meanwhile, the biggest laptops can have screens as big as 17 inches or more. Net books also come with smaller hard drives and, as is discussed below, lower computing power. At the same time, they benefit from their portability and exceptional connectivity. 

Mobile Connectivity

Net books were specifically designed for users who wanted easy access to the internet on the go. All of them come with standard Wi-Fi and most also offer Bluetooth connections. The newest models even offer built-in 3G, which means users can access the internet from just about anywhere without needing a dedicated Wi-Fi network.

Multimedia Display

While net books are great for surfing the web, they are not as useful for viewing videos or playing games. Most feature only basic graphics capabilities and relatively low RAM. This makes it hard to get a smooth, crisp picture, especially if the user has any other programs running. It also limits a net book’s ability to edit pictures or do any graphic designing.

Also, keep in mind that net books do not come with optical drives. This means users need a separate piece of hardware (usually a USB connected drive) to use CDs or DVDs with a net book. This is an important consideration for users who may want to view movies, burn CDs, or even play basic computer games.

Operating and Processing

Laptops are specifically designed to handle multitasking. Most new models come with at least 2GB of RAM and some go much higher. Meanwhile, the average net book comes with only 1GB of RAM and can experience considerable lag when multiple programs are in use.

Additionally, laptops can run any operating system while net books are usually limited to Windows XP or Linux. For the most part, this does not affect usability. However, it can limit the programs that can be installed on a net book.

Net books or Laptops?

Ultimately, the answer to this question depends on a user’s needs. For those who want to travel a lot while keeping up with e-mail, news, and other web-based items, a net book is the most logical choice.

With their long battery lives and low cost, net books were made for those who are always on the go. However, those who want to do anything more than simple web surfing and basic word processing; a laptop is a more versatile pick.

At the same time, users must give up some portability when selecting this option and commit to paying more. Intel offers some more information on making the right choice as well as updates on the processors in each option.