| Many people are starting to think that the smartphone | | | | netbooks and possibly laptops in the future if |
| is going to replace the netbook. The reason for this | | | | something like this was possible. |
| thinking is because smartphone sales are growing | | | | The other issue is that netbooks don't come with |
| rapidly while netbook sales after their initial burst into | | | | contracts. Many can buy one for around $200 that |
| the market place have leveled off a bit. Could a | | | | performs a multitude more functions than a phone |
| smartphone really replace a netbook? Opinions may | | | | does without having the large data plan that is a |
| vary slightly but here is a reasonable viewpoint based | | | | monthly fee. These fees will have to become cheaper |
| on todays state of the technologies. | | | | for them to dominate over the netbook market. |
| What people are wanting is to have portable devices | | | | Another common problem that many smartphones |
| that can perform basic functions. All they really want | | | | currently face is an issue with multitasking and higher |
| are certain applications to be run portably. The end | | | | processing tasks. These types of things are what |
| user can care less about the platforms that run these | | | | people are used to doing on a portable computer. |
| basic applications. If a phone or netbook can do these, | | | | Since the hardware is slower, it's hard to yet replace a |
| most will be happy. End users care about functionality. | | | | netbook completely. But it still depends on what your |
| The big issue though, despite smartphones improving, is | | | | exact needs are. There could be a time where this |
| that they still are missing out on my basic functions. | | | | doesn't matter anymore with technological |
| While they are good enough for basic applications, the | | | | improvements, but that day has not come yet. |
| netbook market still has it's place as a traveling | | | | Some believe that smartphones might replace |
| portable laptop. The issue that the smartphones will | | | | netbooks. Is this type of thinking realistic? An |
| have to overcome is the keyboard and screen size. If | | | | improvement in keyboard and screen size as well as |
| there was a way of inputing text that wasn't limited to | | | | costs will be needed before a phone replaces a |
| a small keyboard and a way of having a large yet | | | | netbook. This may happen in the future but our best |
| portable display in a phone, they would replace | | | | estimate is that this is at least 2 years away. |