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As Netbooks Fade, Successors Await

Sales slowdown hides fact that low-cost laptops are taking over

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 17, 2009 8:11 AM CDT

(Newser) – You may not be able to buy a "netbook" in the not-too-distant future, but a new generation of low-power, low-priced laptops descended from the netbook are poised to conquer much of the PC market, experts tell Wired. Sales of the netbook—one of last year's hottest gadgets—haven't met expectations so far this year, but manufacturers are turning their attention to new categories like "consumer ultralow-voltage notebooks."

CULVs have the similar innards as netbooks, but feature bigger screens and roomier keyboards. And, modestly priced between $500 and $700, they adhere to netbooks' impact on your wallet. As the owner of tech blog Liliputing says, the rise of netbooks over the last year is actually the rise of "computing at low cost. And It’s what a lot of people have been waiting for.”

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (1)]

A sixth-grader works with a new Dell "netbook" during math class in Austin, Texas last month. (AP Photo/Harry Cabluck)

Dell Vice President of Global Consumer Sales and Marketing Michael Tatelman holds up the new 10-inch "netbook" Inspiron Mini 10 at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, file)

An Intel employee demonstrates a Lenovo netbook at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, file)

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The concept of the netbook is beginning to vanish as a thing itself. By the end of the year it’s just going to be called a cheap PC.
- Michael Gartenberg, a technology strategist at Interpret

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As Netbooks Fade, Successors Await