Netbooks were once uncharitably described as ‘low-cost computers’. No one’s complaining. They’ve become the fastest growing segment among personal computers (PCs) in India. PCs include netbooks, notebooks, laptops, desktops and tablets.
Between June 2008 and July 2009, 97,480 netbooks were sold. A year on, it had shot up to 335,018, according to research firm IDC. That’s a 243% increase. Compare this with other PC categories. Desktop sales in the same period slowed, from 5.1 million to 5.7 million, a mere 11% increase. However, shipments of notebook PCs marked a 43% increase, from 2.1 m to 3 m.
“The netbook segment has grown as more Indian consumers seek affordable mobile computing. Intense competition has also forced a drop in prices,” says Sumanta Mukherjee, lead PC analyst in IDC. Vendors, he says, are launching more featurerich models, allowing users to experience better applications on a relatively low-cost platform.
Netbooks are smaller and lighter than laptops. Their screen is roughly 10 inches compared to the 15-inch laptop. They don’t have a CD/DVD drive. This may seem a disadvantage but connectivity ports can link to devices like a DVD player or external hard disk. Anup Gulati, an army officer in Bangalore, for instance, transfers content to a pen drive when he wants to view CD content on his netbook.
At Rs 15,000, netbooks are roughly half the price of regular laptops. They are not as powerful and cannot run heavy applications. But a netbook is ideal if you need a PC for no more than browsing the internet, using simple applications and watching a video.
Sometimes, netbooks are the preferred second computer in homes that already boast a desktop. “We have a desktop that’s used by my wife and children,” says Gulati. “I disposed of my laptop and got a netbook six months ago. It’s good enough for emails and surfing websites. As I don’t get into highend applications nor need a heavy laptop, a netbook is ideal.”
Mahesh Bhalla, executive director of Dell India, says netbooks are perfect for those looking for companion PCs while travelling or holidaying. Vinay Awasthi, director of HP India, says netbook sales are highest in metros.
S Rajendran, chief marketing officer of Acer India, adds that netbooks are attractive because their “six-cell battery has a much longer life, facilitating full day computing”.
Netbooks are also increasingly coming onto the market with additional functions. Lenovo’s IdeaPad S10-3 t provides one-touch controls for logging on and off, reading, editing, listening to music, watching a movie and even cataloguing and editing pictures. “It even has a quick-start option and location-based services,” says Alex Li, Lenovo India vice-president. Some netbooks have 250 GB hard disk drives that allow a lot of data to be stored.
How do netbooks compare with tablets? Tablets are lighter, more portable and just as useful. However, they can be hard to type on and are at least twice the price of a netbook. Lenovo’s Li insists tablets will not affect netbook sales.
It could be a different story as tablet prices fall. Carolina Milanesi, vice-president at Gartner, a research firm, says, “As the average prices of tablets drop below $300 (Rs 15,000) over the next two years, mini notebooks (netbooks) will suffer the most.”
NETBOOKS VS LAPTOPS
SCREEN SIZE
Netbook: Roughly 10 inches, smaller keyboard. Good for simple tasks such as emailing , browsing the internet, light entertainment
Laptop: Larger screen, can do complex and graphics-intensive tasks
BATTERY LIFE
Netbook: 7 to 8 hours on average
Laptop: 3 to 4 hours on average
AVERAGE WEIGHT
Netbook: 1.2 kg, can be carried in a regular bag
Laptop: 2.72 kg, needs a specialized case
PRICE
Netbook: Between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000
Laptop: Double the netbook
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