Samsung NC110

Korean electronics maker Samsung has been producing high quality netbooks since 2008. But there’s an unconfirmed report from Blogeee suggesting that Samsung could get out of the netbook game in 2012, instead shifting its focus to notebooks with 11.6 inch and 12.1 inch displays, including ultrabooks.

The move wouldn’t be a huge shock. Ultraportable laptops and ultrabooks sell for higher prices and offer higher profit margins. While netbooks originally sold for $400 and up, 10 inch netbooks with Intel Atom processors have gotten cheaper and cheaper over the past few years, often selling for as little as $200.

The market is also much more saturated today than it was in 2008, with dozens, if not hundreds of netbook models available for purchase. It’s much harder to stand out in the netbook space today than it was a few years ago.

Still, it would be disappointing to see Samsung end its netbook line, since the company has a pretty good track record of producing mini-laptops with sturdy designs, decent keyboards, and attractive styles.

Even if Samsung does end production of 10.1 inch netbooks though, it doesn’t mean the company is giving up on thin, light, and affordable laptops. This year the company introduced new 11.6 inch and 12.5 inch notebooks as part of its Samsung Series 3 laptop line including models with Intel Core i3 or AMD E-350 processors which sell for $500 or less.

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7 replies on “Rumor: Samsung may pull out of the netbook market in 2012”

  1. i just get the idea that a lot of commenters here never got the conceptual idea and power of netbooks. personnally i use them as mobile powerhouses of information of any kind and scientific tools of every day. just for this form factor, run time on battery and the ability to run virtually any software be it win, linux or other systems easily makes them outstanding devices. having the size of a textbook is one of the reasons why 10.1 inch fits and everything else already begins being to big. kick in a small digitizer flexible pad from aiptek, medion and you will have everything needed for professional work.
    aside from this, it always needed powerful workstations with really big screens for multimedia/crossmedia publishing or eg cad  and modelling. that is nothing new as well as the trooth of most tablets around is not productivity but consumation of content the light way (show me a tablet able to run a browser withh 300+ tabs open in up to 10 windows) and still beeing capable running video and graphics software in parallel).

    1. Yes, I would definitely buy a 10.1″ screened notebook (ie. no Atom or Fusion).

  2. Samsung can’t compete with the sub $300 netbooks. This subject really touches a nerve with me because it points out stupidity. The assumption that 10.1 inches is the maximum size of the netbook category is the equivalent as falling on your sword. The difference is when you fall on your sword it’s intentional. Limiting the “netbook” category comes down to simple stupidity. 11 inches has always been the best size for netbooks. Personally this is bad news if true. On the other hand, let’s see how Samsung’s tablet endeavors turn out. Lets not give them too much credit on intelligence. I do wish they pushed their solar powered netbook. 

    1. Solar isn’t yet affordable or efficient enough for wide use.  Making it little more than a gimmick for the niche market of green energy enthusiast who don’t mind paying more for even a small impact on their carbon footprint.

      It would be nice once the technology does become truly viable for it’s wider use but we’re not there yet unfortunately. 

      While it’s debatable whether 11″ is the best size for netbooks.  After all, netbooks appeal never had a lot to do with optimal usage.

      Netbooks just provide a low cost basic computer system with the added appeal of being very small and light, but also the appeal for many was the simple concept of having a mini (almost toy like) laptop.

      The 10.1″ size just became dominant between a combination of cost effectiveness and usability for a larger range of people. 

      However, there is very little consensus among netbook users on what the perfect size really is as they range from wanting smaller 7″ size systems to those wanting larger than 11″ systems. 

      Though larger is preferable for ease of use but the diversity of netbook user preferences does shift the dominant size to the more compromised 10.1″ for the average user.  Albeit, many don’t have much choice with the lack of sub 10″ model options these days and so the average may shrink to a even smaller size if the option for smaller systems was returned.

      However, the main problem is we’re still over a year away before the next gen ATOM chips become available to finally revitalize the netbook industry and till then there are an increasing number of alternatives that Samsung and others are going to be paying more attention to for now. Especially when those alternatives can provide them with better profit margins and play better to their marketing strengths.

  3. Netbooks are probably being squeezed out by tablets and smartphones. From what I recall, netbooks are typically secondary purchases in addition to a main laptop or computer, and now that affordable tablets that are better adapted for consuming media and can also be used for email, surfing, etc. are in the same price range, the netbooks have little going for them.

    And if you really need to type something, then you can always get a keyboard dock for your tablet.

  4.  netbook is still on the run of technology but the only thing is netbook dont have the qualities of a laptop which is really a trend,fashion, and wants of the consumers.They have been very supportive of the new apps and new things developed through the age,cycle and progress of laptop.Thats one of the reason why netbook’s market sale has been down since 2008..

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