Chinese netbook makers phase out 7, 9 inch models

You may have noticed that netbooks with 7 and 8.9 inch displays are getting harder to find as 10 inch models (as well as larger machines with 11 and 12 inch screens) are becoming more common. Apparently this isn’t just a trend in the US and Europe. According to a Market Intelligence & Consulting Institute study,shrinking demand for smaller netbooks has led Chinese PC makers to foucs more heavily on 10 inch and larger models.

In late 2008, 8.9 inch netbooks were at the head of their class, but by the first quarter of 2009, 10 inch netbooks made up 70 percent of shipments from the Greater Chinese netbook industry.

While most netbooks are sold in Europe, the US, and other developed countries, they’re starting to pick up steam in China. The overwhelming majority of netbooks and laptop computers generally, are manufacturer in Taiwain, which is either a part of China or a separate country depending on who you ask (China claims it as a territory).

via TG Daily

Posted on Tuesday, June 9th, 2009, 1:47 pm by Brad Linder

ricord

7 screen netbooks can be very useful in ultra mobility,for very short browsing session and email sending.
Garamond

Have to agree with ricord. 10″ (no matter how small you make it) can never as ultraportable as 7″ or 9″.
SBS

As above really, my Eee 901 is far more loved than my NC10 ever was. It's just so… dinky.

It sounds daft to moan over an inch but if you shove them side by side the difference really is quite substantial.

Why anyone would want a 12 inch is beyond me, why not just have a proper laptop?
DougC3

I recently bought my first 8.9″, an eee 900A refurb and was really surprised at how much I like the tiny size and low weight. This will have to be compromised by a bigger battery, but I'm sure I'll still be crazy about it, white finish, distant right shift key, Xandros OS, and all. I may buy a spare

I'm apprehensive about the upcoming ARM netbooks with regards to their capabilities compared to Atom driven systems. Any reassurances would be appreciated.
John Morris

Really depends what you need in a netbook. If you are happy with Xandros you will probably be able to live with an ARM. The first batch might be right on the borderline on cpu power, really depends on whether they get a Flash player that uses the hardware dsp or not. By next Xmas they should be shipping dual core clocked at 1GHz or better and cpu performance issues will be history.

The big question mark is whether they can get people to give up Windows in exchange for all day battery life and a $200 price tag this Xmas. If they sell well they will be even better next year, but if not all the pundits will declare the failure to be customers demanding Windows and most of the retailers will drop em.
Leah

Having recently moved from a 7- to a 9-inch model, I think that the 9″ netbooks are the perfect fit of portability and screen size. 7″ felt too cramped. I think the keyboard is the main factor in people moving to 10″ models. I think switching focus to 10″ is a self-perpetrating cycle, as both improved form factors (thin) and battery life have been attached to the 10″ models, thus making them more popular, and so on…
DougC3

This is encouraging. It sounds like ARM devices could adequately fill the sub-10″ inch niche if it's vacated by regular netbooks.

People seen to accept anything but windows on PDAs and cell phones (Windows Moblie PPCs seem to be dying out.). Maybe this will carry over more for smaller ARM netbooks than it has for the bigger ones.

But phones and PDAs are more foolproof than Linux netbooks have been, at least in the eyes of the market. Maybe we need more communication and education from the Linux community–maybe more standardization. That's one reason I favor Ubuntu.
DougC3

I think the same improvements could and should be made on 9″ models, making them even “more better” than 10 inchers.
DougC3

I think the same improvements could and should be made on 9″ models, making them even “more better” than 10 inchers.

Chinese netbook makers phase out 7, 9 inch models

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