LEX Do geeks lead the way? Small, low specification laptops are the latest minor revolution in consumer technology. Conceived for children in developing countries, gadget hunters began snapping up netbooks in late 2007. Last year, sales hit 13m as mainstream computer users took notice. This year, iSuppli forecasts sales of 22m – almost a third of the consumer laptop market.
However, the segment should not be overhyped just because it is the only area of growth still going for the PC industry in an otherwise severe recession. Novelty is part of the appeal. Light and, above all, cheap, netbooks are useful for casual travellers and children who are more likely to break or lose a computer and can live with less processing power. Business users, who buy half the world’s laptops, will still want something more capable.
