Netbooks vs. MIDs

I’m a fan of mobile devices with keyboards and I don’t see a big hole in the market between netbooks and smartphones that needs to be filled. But we’re seeing a growing number of companies putting out 10 inch or smaller touchscreen devices that Intel likes to call Mobile Internet Devices or MIDs, although a few years ago the term was UMPC or Ultra Mobile PC.

MIDs certainly haven’t taken off the way that netbooks have in the past few years, but they’re getting more and more versatile. Two of the biggest proponents for netbooks and MIDs got together recently to have a little cage match dialog. Sascha from Netbook News and Chippy from UMPC Portal and MID Moves shot a little video, which you can check out after the break.

They both make some good points. But as much as I don’t see a lot of feed for a device with a small screen and no keyboard, there is one thing I noticed while watching the video. Chippy’s MID was open and ready to check a web page or send an email throughout the conversation, while Sascha’s netbook was tucked away under his arm waiting for him to get to a place where he could sit down at a table.

via Netbook News.de

Posted on Friday, October 9th, 2009, 6:28 pm by Brad Linder

MonkeyKing1969

Well, that’s why Blackberry, Palm, and now iPhone took off. Some tasks just need looking or hitting one button, like e-mail, phone, or a web browsing

However, there is no need to separate tablets and netbooks into two devices; a light weight flip screen tablet is the answer. A 10” touch screen netbook that flips into a tablet mode that weights 2 lbs or less would be a single device that does what people, want: netbook/tablet/e-book.

The two important technologies that need “crash programs” are Color eInk displays and smaller stronger batteries. The issues of screen power draw and battery power reserve are key. Nevertheless, today we could make great convertible tablets but I haven’t seen the breakout device yet.
rustinhwright

You've finally hit exactly the point of MIDs. All else is details.
schwerd

what is the device that Chippy is holding?
http://www.facebook.com/pallenberg Sascha Pallenberg

a Umid M2
http://www.kis-systems.com/ rickbsgu

Actually, to amplify on MonkeyKing1969's comment, I think a keyboard-less tablet fill that space, nicely, and allow for some more screen space.

You could always hook up a USB or wireless keyboard, when you needed to do 'sitdown' tasks, or a big, on-screen touch-typable keyboard could work, too, if you didn't want to carry around a keyboard.

Rumors are that's where the Apple Tablet is heading.

We'll see, we'll see…

Netbooks vs. MIDs

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