If you think there are a lot of low-cost ultraportable computers hitting the market this year, just wait. Intel officials say the company expects low-cost computer shipments to top 100 million between now and 2011. Meanwhile, Asus president Jerry Shen expects to sell 10 million Eee PCs in 2008 and twice as many next year. This all according to a report from DigiTimes.
Now, this could all be a case of counting chickens before they hatch. After all, while the Asus Eee PC is selling like pancakes, all that shows is that the computer is filling a niche. It remains to be seen exactly how large that niche is. Originally low-cost computers like the XO Laptop and the Classmate PC were targeted at educational markets and developing nations. Now we’re starting to see similar computers marketed toward consumers in developed nations as well. But does everybody who owns a computer need a low-powered device without an optical drive to compliment their existing desktop or laptop? I mean, I know I do, but I’m a bit crazy like that.
On the other hand, we’re starting to see another trend in the liliputing market. While the first few low-cost laptops like the XO, Classmate, and Eee PC all sported flash memory and slow processors, newer models like the HP 2133 come packed with large hard drives and marginally faster processors. And soon Intel and VIA will each release their next generation low-voltage, high(er) performance chips which should give these tiny laptops quite a speed boost, making it possible that we could start to see people picking liliputers up as primary computers, not secondary ones.
Sounds like a netbook revival. But this time, the new products won’t suck as much…as long as they don’t come bundled with windows 8
On a serious note, the 11.6″ laptop has straddled that space between netbooks and full size laptops. They offering enough power and features to do useful things that netbooks usually fail at, like HD video playback, and screen resolutions beyond 1024 x 600. Their prices start at only a few tens of dollars more than netbooks.
It’s not surprising this market segment is being heavily pushed by the manufacturers especially with new Silvermont Atom chips to be officially released next month and consumers being more cost conscious.
Intel was right, chromebook sales created massive new demand in the low-cost market.