The NPD released a new report that says, essentially, consumers have no idea what the hell a “netbook” is. Something like 60 percent of consumers who bought a netbook thought that it would have the same capabilities as a notebook. Even more troubling for the companies who produce netbooks is that only 58 percent people who bought a netbook instead of a notebook were satisfied with their purchase. That leaves 42 percent of people who are terribly upset.
I’ve long thought this was the case, and it all stems from the name “netbook.” Consider this:
Regular Joe: Hey what’s that?
Tech-savvy elitist, like Doug Aamoth: Why it’s a netbook!
Regular Joe: Oh, like an Internet book, like that Amazon thing?
Tech-savvy elitist, like Doug Aamoth: No, stupid, a netbook. You know, like a notebook?
Regular Joe: Oh, like a Trapper Keeper thing?
Tech-savvy elitist, like Doug Aamoth: No, notebook, like a laptop.
Regular Joe: So why not just call it a laptop? Or, if you wanna go crazy, why not call it a “small laptop”? Why do we need a whole new word that, like, 10 people know what it means?
Tech-savvy elitist, like Doug Aamoth: Blah!
A simplification, yes, but illustrative of the point that NPD was trying to make: there’s still plenty of confusion out there about what netbooks are, and what they want to be. I hardly know, and I deal with them every day! Why would I want a gimped, extra tiny laptop, to use at a café? Hogwash. “Something to browse the Internet from your couch from.” No thanks, If I’m on the couch I’m either watching soccer or playing Xbox 360. I don’t want to be reading funny blogs or tweets while on the couch.
That’s just me, I understand, but it just seems like netbooks are largely pieces of junk. I’m happy to be corrected, of course, but I just have no use for them in my life, and it seems that there are several people who are in the same boat.
I agree.
Although I’ve never come close to buying a netbook, whenever I have an extra $400 in my wallet and I see a netbook, I have to as myself “Why?”.
I’m a big fan of netbooks, and have purchased more of them than I’d care to admit.
However, like anything, these things are built to do everything for everyone. I don’t know that the manufacturers have done the best job of educating the public on what the strengths of these machines really are.
If you live in a browser, these things are great. Otherwise, I’d look elsewhere.
Wow. Maybe I should read my posts before submitting.
I meant that these things aren’t meant to be everything to everyone, not “are”.
I love my dell mini 9. Goes with me everywhere. I only use it as an internet tool. Anything needing any sort of power or typing I use my full size laptops or my desktops.
I might one day use my mini9 to watch a ripped movie. But I’ll likely watch it on my blackberry, zune, or my tv before that.
Sorry…aka I don’t care what it’s called. It can be called a shitbook for all I care.
I’ve had a netbook for over a year and I absolutely love it. For tech-saavy computer users, a netbook is a very portable and convenient way to browse the web and perform everyday tasks.
Those of you with three different toolbars at the top of your web browser, twelve icons next to the clock in your system tray, and various “browser enhancements” and coupon printing apps running in the background, a netbook will never work well for you. Actually, a Windows computer is not for you, you’re too dumb to use it — get a Mac.
I love my netbook, but then I’m a writer who bought it simply to write first drafts and take research notes on. I love the 5+ hours of battery time and the fact it’s so small, it fits into a small satchel with room for a notebook and fountain pen. (Yes, some of us still use paper and fountain pen.) I also love that it boots in less than one minute. This is exactly what I’ve been waiting for.
If the manufacturers aren’t marketing them with writers/researchers in mind, in addition to “gotta have my Internet” users, they’re mad.
“That leaves 42 percent of people who are terribly upset.”
That must the the 42% who are illiterate.
I have had one for almost a year now and it is great for specific kinds of use. I use mine almost exclusively for word processing, spread sheets, email, web video, research and surfing. I always have a few books I like to take with me on trips on it and if I want, and don’t want a screen the size of my iphone, I will even put a movie on it. Why spend $1,000 – $3,000 for stuff you don’t want? I like it because it travels extremely well, fits on the airplane tray (also seat pocket) and you can carry it in one hand like a pocket book. I carry mine in a sleeve with a small mouse in my coat pocket and it gives me the opportunity to work anywhere anytime without having Stuff I don’t want or need.
“Something like 60 percent of consumers who bought a netbook thought that it would have the same capabilities as a notebook.”
I would bet that for needs of more than 60% of consumers; netbooks do have all the same capabilities as a notebook.
I’m an educated IT guy and if I were asked this question on a survey, I would consider answering agreeing with the above statement – because it is more or less true
I do like the name netbook because it’s a different class of pc kind of like pocket pc, pda or palm.
It’s more or less because the typical consumer is dumb and doesn’t ask questions or do research. They see $300 and think that the cost of technology has dropped even furthe and now they have an affordable computer made just for them and their trailer or something affordable for their kid to break because they do not want to deal with an extended warranty. Or just because they are cheap.
I work in retail, have for only a few years, I consider myself computer saavy and I don’t consider myself an expert at everything. In my experience the only customers I get that are unhappy are just the cheap ones who refused to take into account the information I provided them. I do call them an alternative to a PDA with a keyboard [adapter].
Some will listen and look at an inexpensive notebook instead and decide to get a notebook or save for one. Others cut me off mid-sentence and even after I finish a sentence ask to purchase one anyway and will be in a week later returning it.
I had a customer return a netbook unit because it did not have a cd/dvd-rom drive. Firstly I had told him it did not have one. Second he could have looked at the device and realized it was either too small/thin to have one or just looked a little more closely at what he was buying.
Now none of this factors in online sales where the customer isn’t demoed the product. But more or less I would say over 50% of these unhappy customers purchased one or saw one in a store at one point before they purchased one.
Maybe we need a new term for it I don’t know. I think the average consumer is too ignorant or stuck in a buying-first ask questions later mode.
I think we have a winner for “Post of the Day”.
None of this makes me enjoy my Dell Mini 9 less. Ubuntu 9.04 makes me like it even more. I’m not sure what average consumers with modest needs and modest incomes would be served better by, if not by netbooks? I have to admit by the time I spiced up my Dell Mini 9 I was probably getting close to the price of a low end laptop.
Bought the HP Netbook to upgrade my wife’s three year-old laptop. Other than the missing CD/DVD there’s nothing she’s missing. I showed her how to RDP (Remote Desktop) to the other desktops and laptops in the house and she now has all the capability she needs, including loading CDs into her iPod from the home-office machine.