Laptop trends

[rpm]

Laptop trends

As laptops become the preferred computing device for most users, they evolve new capabilities. We look at some of the trends shaping their manufacture.

 

[acidrain]

Out with the mouse

The mouse will never die, can you just imagine gaming without one

 

[bwana]

While I personally dont like the new Apple trackpad at all I do generally prefer trackpads over other input devices.

 

[apogeeza]

Another trend that will become more commonplace is this "speed up my computer" bit with external USN and NAND stuff.

 

[DblD]

Do you think that Micro$oft evil empire will include this gesture to their new prodigy OS. As a gentle reminder how much they care for their clients.

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[Guest 20221009]

No mouse..what, try working Photoshop/ 3Ds Max or Reason without a mouse. Maybe i am biased..I dont like lapies, sure they getting powerfull all the time and they great for everybody's fav buzzword after web 2.0 and that cloud thingy: "mobility"..

bought one, an HP..lets just say, I will never!

 

[bwana]

No mouse..what, try working Photoshop/ 3Ds Max or Reason without a mouse. Maybe i am biased..I dont like lapies, sure they getting powerfull all the time and they great for everybody's fav buzzword after web 2.0 and that cloud thingy: "mobility"..

bought one, an HP..lets just say, I will never!

Funny but I do all my considerable amount of photoshopping and other photo editing with a trackpad (before that I used a trackball) so having to PS with a mouse would actually slow me down.

 

[porchrat]

What a meaningless article. Didn't even comment on the new ATI and Nvidia monster laptop GPUs coming out. That is going to really shake the laptop world up. Imagine a laptop with a 4870 in it, wow.

Also I use a mouse with my laptop constantly and wouldn't use it any other way, I find trackpads unusable and I have no need for Blu-Ray at those prices. Wrong on both accounts IMO.

Better screens, definitely.

There will also be an increase in even larger screened laptops - 15-inch and upwards

Isn't this already an industry standard selling large numbers? Almost every laptop at retail stores (Incredible Connection etc.) is a 15.4 inch. I wouldn't go larger than a 15.4 inch those 17 inch beasts are portable desktops machines, not laptops.

 

[apogeeza]

Talking about laptop trends...

http://www.goodbyemicrosoft.net/news.php?item.429.3

Microsoft: Crippleware for Netbooks

Brad R Wednesday 04 March 2009 - 15:57:39
Bloomberg News reports that Microsoft's strategy for netbooks is to push Windows 7 onto them, and then "upsell" to more expensive versions.

Microsoft is planning to offer several editions of Windows 7 for netbooks, scaled-down laptops that cost less than $500. Microsoft wants consumers to opt for the more expensive versions of the software...

...To push customers to pricier versions of Windows 7, Microsoft is limiting the features of the cheaper edition. The most basic, called Starter Edition, can only run three programs at a time.

Microsoft will make it easy for consumers to quickly upgrade to more advanced versions, as all the required software will already be installed on the machine and it just takes a few minutes to switch from one version to the next, said Parri Munsell, a director at Microsoft’s Windows business.

So, your Win7 netbook will have to be fat enough to carry the full bloat of Windows 7, but Microsoft will simply block most of it from working. And limit you to three applications. If you're like me, you keep your web browser and email open constantly, so that really means you can run only one application at a time. Did they learn nothing from the "Vista Capable" fiasco?

Of course, Microsoft wants your netbook experience to be miserable, so they can stick you for upgrade fees. It's classic "bait and switch" marketing. You buy the netbook in the store because it looks cool and has a low price, get it home, and find out it's nearly useless. What are you going to do? Throw it away, or shell out another few hundred so that your purchase doesn't become an embarassing doorstop?

I think this will fail. The word will get out, just as it did with the "Vista Capable" machines, that "Windows 7 Starter Edition" is a lemon to be avoided. (Although I wouldn't be surprised if someone hacks Starter Edition to enable full function. Recall how quickly it was discovered that a Vista "upgrade" disk could be used for a fresh installation.)

Meanwhile, with 20% of new laptop buyers choosing netbooks (thanks, Charles!), the competition in this space will be fierce. And anyone who would scrimp a few bucks to buy Windows 7 Crippled Edition might well be open to saving a few more bucks and giving Linux a try.

 

[antowan]

Out with the mouse

The mouse will never die, can you just imagine gaming without one

Yes. With my mind!

I "ulti" your hero with a single thought, right between the eyes. Then I will harvest some creep just for some more cash to spend on extra manna generating gear at that secret shop only I can find on the map to zap your ass DOTA style man!

 

[apogeeza]

Yes. With my mind!

Last night's re-run of Nextworld showed the head-device thingy that they already use to read your thoughts and control the game play and other OS related tasks.

I "ulti" your hero with a single thought, right between the eyes. Then I will harvest some creep just for some more cash to spend on extra manna generating gear at that secret shop only I can find on the map to zap your ass DOTA style man!