Netbooks overpriced

If you look at what you get from upcoming handsets like the new Nokia N97 then it becomes clear that netbooks are entering the top-end mobile phone segment in terms of features and storage. Therefor they already have very stiff competition and being overpriced does not help them in anyway.

I believe that a phone like the N97 for example, will lure away people looking to buy a netbook.
 
jmak said:
Bought my wife an Asus EEE 700... she absolutely ADORES it! And the only reason I bought it for her was because it cost less than R3K (R2600). I would have gone to about R3500 if it was the 8.9" screen opposed to the 7" inch she has now. She uses it for email, writing documents and browsing the internet wherever she goes...

So I have to agree with you guys.. The netbook market has (imo) lost the point... Even at R4k it is starting to become to expensive
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ASUS started off so well with the EEE range of netbooks. Hell, you could get an entire PC with an OS and Office software for less than the price of Windows and MS Office combined!

But then it all started going south very fast. Prices went from $200 to $300 to $400 and now they are too expensive! Their whole appeal was their price.
 
cbrunsdonza said:
Being in the market (and just order my Aspire One yesterday) what I did see is that notebooks under 5K are crap *. This is where netbooks will rule and do, but I do agree, paying 9K (yes @ pcmall) for a netbook is plain stupid.

* Looked at an entry level Acer @ HiFi saturday, keyboard quality is pathetic (1 key was already loose), build and feel was as if it was a R10 toy for my son. The netbooks next to it felt oh so much better and a far better purchase.

What you do need to remember is that entry level notebooks do not come with SSDs, where as the AAO has an 8GB one. Also they use a 1.5" drive so their SATA drives are more expensive but use the same power consumption as a 4200 rpm one.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that my netbook is costing me a total of R4320 over 36 months (R120 pm)
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Theres a difrence cbrunsdonza between a sub-notebook (which you obviously lookin for) & a netbook ! Netbooks are LOW COST in terms of LOW SPECS & therefore LOW PRICE ! Absolutely anything over R3000 is an absurd ripoff. Why do you need a 160gb hdd in a LOW COST pc ? How much of porn do you expect to keep watch on that small 8.9 inch screen ? Wanna know why the prices are so high look at the specs avaliable its ridiculous, consumers like yall dont seem to realise that these are low cost computing machine and therfore manufactures listen to yall about higher power and relase there product accordingly. Its sad because with these high prices the average Thabo or Thandi cant afford to buy one for there kids. This was suppose to bring a new era in affordable computing its just sad to see that its become a fashion trend amongst geeks...:confused:
 
Yes, thats all good and well, having so many sub genres of portable computing. But still I think netbooks are either a flash in the pan or the start of a convergence from the mobile computer to what we traditionally called the smart phone.

The thing is, would you really go out and buy a netbook and then carry it around with you if you already have a smartphone to the likes of the Nokia N97 ?

The N97 does a lot more in a much smaller device. It has more storage, better connectivity, better HMI, excellent multimedia capabilities, more uses while it is stored in your pocket.

Yes - netbooks are overpriced - but apart from that, I also think they are a dying bread cause they look very unrestrictive when compared to smartphones. I'd love to hear other peoples thoughts on this though.
 
i bought myself the LG x110 (3g)- MOER happy with it...had a compaq nx 9010 - yuck - this new baby is much faster and has more features for me...

got mine for 6grand...compaq back in the day 8grand.

+1
 
somnambulist said:
Theres a difrence cbrunsdonza between a sub-notebook (which you obviously lookin for) & a netbook...
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I'm rather aware of this fact. As a LINUX user my hardware requirements are minimal. I'm not getting a desktop replacement, just an extension of what I have. Hell, I can and have used my E65 to ssh into a production server and do sysadmin work.

But then again, Windows user never quiet understand these things.
 
kaspaas said:
I would rather have the ability to plug a proper keyboard of some kind into my smartphone than to lug another piece of computing along.
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Did you give that a lot of thought? It's much easier lugging the netbook around than the keyboard. :D

picture.php
 
kaspaas said:
I would rather have the ability to plug a proper keyboard of some kind into my smartphone than to lug another piece of computing along.
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The N97 is full touchscreen, with a slide out full QWERTY and of course since all Nokias have fully functional bluetooth you are more than welcome to use a bluetooth keyboard on it (if you really want to carry around a keyboard AND a phone).
 
I think we need to define what a netbook is. I have an MSI Wind that I love. As far as I am aware it is a competitor of the Acer Aspire One. Interesting enough on the Wind it says "MSI Wind Notebook". So not even the manufacturer believes that it is a netbook.

That said I had an Asus EEEPC 700 and I found out that you do get what you pay for. I hated it. I know it will be cool for some people but it didn't fit my needs.

If you count the Aspire One and MSI Wind as notebooks then their prices aren't too bad for the portability you get...
 
bwana said:
Blame South African retailers?

Looking at Amazon you can get the Acer Aspire One with the 8gb SSD for $299 (R3000) - pay the Windows tax and get the 160gb HDD and you're looking at R3900.

At Incredible corruption the same XP device goes for R6999.95!
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Economies of scale. Prices in the US are just cheaper. Singapore often also has even cheaper prices. A camera costing $6500 plus tax on B&H Photo Video costs $6000 at SG's Expandore.com.

Equipment in Europe is als not as cheap as in the US. However, yes, our
customs levy their own charges too and the guys here who sell small quantities need to make a larger markup per item. Shipping may also be
more expensive.
 
ZA.Schmidt said:
Smart phones have become pocket PCs, pocket PCs have become laptops, laptops have become desktops...
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To use the internet and email - you don't need a smartphone. You need a big screen with a high resolution. Until Western (includes Taiwan's HTC) smartphone makers wake up to that, their offerings will not be ideal for the WWW. Sharp non-smartphones for internet FTW.
 
PeterCH said:
Economies of scale. Prices in the US are just cheaper. Singapore often also has even cheaper prices. A camera costing $6500 plus tax on B&H Photo Video costs $6000 at SG's Expandore.com.

Equipment in Europe is als not as cheap as in the US. However, yes, our
customs levy their own charges too and the guys here who sell small quantities need to make a larger markup per item. Shipping may also be
more expensive.
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In this case it's pretty close with the UK retail price of the XP version of the AAO going for r4050 (15% VAT incl). The SA consumer gets ripped a new one left, right and centre - and apparently doesnt mind.
 
i don't see the point of netbooks, i was looking thru the paper yesterday and say for the same price as a netbook a standard notebook with a better guarantee too. wth is wrong with SA businesses, but then this is typical
 
Rather use a TYTn 2 or some device that is similar for basic web browsing. I think if the things cost 1K we would actually start seeing far more people entering the workplace with some skills as well.
 
krycor said:
i don't see the point of netbooks, i was looking thru the paper yesterday and say for the same price as a netbook a standard notebook with a better guarantee too. wth is wrong with SA businesses, but then this is typical
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Netbooks prices against entry level notebooks are the same no matter where in the world Waldo happens to be. (Just remember the Asus EeePC was originaly marketed for junior school kids and not adults).

There are gaps in the market that are being filled with the netbook - and the Kindle.

For me the netbook is better as I do not want to lug a large notebook around in a backpack while either cycling or on my bike. For my studies its nice and small so that if I want to do some work in the Helderberg Nature Reserve I can take it with.
 
cbrunsdonza said:
Netbooks prices against entry level notebooks are the same no matter where in the world Waldo happens to be. (Just remember the Asus EeePC was originaly marketed for junior school kids and not adults).

There are gaps in the market that are being filled with the netbook - and the Kindle.

For me the netbook is better as I do not want to lug a large notebook around in a backpack while either cycling or on my bike. For my studies its nice and small so that if I want to do some work in the Helderberg Nature Reserve I can take it with.
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Bring an extra battery if you're not getting the 6 cell one. Battery life isn't stellar.
 
all sh*t...no thank u....I'll advise save up and buy a decent laptop..U can come from any angle but all geeks are interested in the end of the day is processing grunge something these petty calculators (no wait my Casio has more processing power) I dont want this, I'll rather lug my 20" laptop around with me wherever I go...
 
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