Is mobility the coming thing in computing?
A trend toward lighter and smaller computing platforms is growing. In contrast to Microsoft’s enormous Vista system and its demand for more and more resources, we have a recent shift to slimmed down systems. Partly this can be attributed to the need in less developed countries for inexpensive systems; another factor is the desire of many people to have Internet access wherever they go. It has already been noted that the cell phone is also the computing platform for many people. Recently, there has been a rash of announcements of new ultra-light small laptops, now called “netbooks”. The recent industry show Computex unveiled many new offerings. ZDNet reports:
The message out of Computex this week is loud and clear: The Netbooks are coming. Intel is touting its Atom processor. Acer is on the board with its Aspire one. Microsoft is adapting Windows to the Netbook market. Nvidia says Netbooks will be graphics intensive. The big question: Are buyers as enthusiastic as the vendors?
That question looms large–and I’ve raised it before. Mobile Internet devices, Netbooks, UMPCs are all based on the same thing–cheap devices that are designed to simply access the Internet, check email and provide on-the-go connectivity. Our resident education blogger Christopher Dawson sees these Netbooks as the next big thing.
Even the desktop is seeing some new small systems. CNET reports on an Asus offering:
Word got out a little early this morning regarding Asus’s small Eee Box, so we can share what we saw in a preview in our offices a few weeks back. The small, Wii-looking PC will hit the U.S. via online retailers (and perhaps a few specialty brick-and-mortar shops) later this year.
The listed dimensions of the unit are 8.5-inches high, 1-inch wide, and 7-inches deep, standing upright on its included stand. It can also lie down flat.
Here’s a picture:
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