Smartbooks, ultra low power portable computer, are beginning to get more and more press which begs the question of if smartbooks will rise in popularity as netbooks get more advanced, larger, and more expensive.  Below is a video of a smartbook in action.

It was only a few years ago when netbooks hit the scene.  With prices under $200, 7 inch screen, SSD hard drives, and weighing under 3lbs netbooks they answered the need people all over the world.  As the months and years passed by they got larger, more powerful, and unfortunately more expensive.  Since people flocked to netbooks because of their simply and price it only makes sense for a new contender to appear as netbooks have increased in price to $500.

Multiple things had to take place in order for this shift to even be possible.  Google Android has grown in popular and has been used by multiple companies as way of extending the phone experience onto a portable computer.  The lines have blended as devices like the iPhone are just seen as small tablet computer instead of as simple phones.  Screens under 10 inches in size have dropped in price making it easy for almost any company to create a device.  Lastly, advances in media decoder technology have made it both viable and inexpensive.  Watching local and online streaming HD video will happen without a breeze and without taxing the battery.  With all of these positives everything with smartbooks isn’t great.

Netbooks have caught on because they provided an experience people are already familiar with.  Even though Microsoft’s browser business has been deteriorate an overwhelming majority of people have Windows computers, and use Microsoft Office.  Smartbooks use an ARM processor which currently don’t work with Microsoft Windows.  Manufacturers and geeks all over the world would love for Android to take off and replace Windows, but it isn’t going to be an easy road.  Originally netbooks came with different flavors of Linux and returns were through the roof.  Netbook makers promptly opted to pay the extra money for Windows licenses.  Lots of buzz have surrounded alternative OSes but it will be a long road.

In the meantime, inexpensive smartbooks are making their way and they will be sure to give netbooks a run for their money.

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