Netbooks only good for home use?
Moorhead laments the pitiful 1.5 hours of battery life, adding that it's easier to use a Blackberry - it lasts longer. Playing back 720p video was a completely useless experience, and the screen's lacklustre 1,024x600 resolution left a lot to be desired.
What really irks Moorhead, however, is netbook pricing. In a recent video interview, he had this to say:
I went out and saw what I could buy for $499. I could buy a netbook with a smaller screen, without a hard drive, or I could buy a notebook with a 15.4in display, a full notebook with a dual-core processor, 160GB hard drive and Vista.
As long as people understand the big trade-off, things will be ok.. If you remember, they started off at $299, and you can actually see models that are $599 - they're actually increasing in price.
It's a valid argument, and Moorhead's conclusion is that "if you want to do ANYTHING other than surfing basic, light websites AT HOME without the bells and whistles, go for the full-size notebook".
On the other hand, it should come as no surprise that AMD's VP of marketing isn't thrilled by a machine that usually contains Intel processors. What do you think, dear readers, are netbooks missing the point, or do they serve a valid purpose? Share your thoughts in the HEXUS.community forums.
Useful links
Pat Moorhead's blog: Five Disappointing Days on the Road with a Cheap Mini-Notebook
