Netbook Scoop

In his excellent article posted on May 30 titled “Subnotebook vs. UMPC vs. Netbook: WTF Is the Difference?”, Matt Buchanan explores the wide variety of terms being used to describe the Eee PC and its competitors. I’d like to comment on his article and on what has transpired since he posted it.

Let’s start by reviewing the terms Matt covers and his judgement on each:

Subnotebook: Like a pair of loafers, “subnotebook” is unsexy, but it gets the job done.
Ultraportable: I don’t mind it, but without a firm identity it’ll never be useful. Plus I feel like it’s trying too hard.
Mini-Notebook: I think this one should be junked, though determining a class on price is probably a good idea.
ULPC: Garbage heap.
Netbook: A keeper, even if it was coined by the Man.
UMPC: Works, we just have to disabuse people of using it in reference to stuff like the Eee.

In summary, Matt liked the netbook term best of all.

A review of Google Trends shows that web searchers agree.  The traffic related to the term “netbook” has since skyrocketed.

Matt, you nailed it!

So, why do I continue to use the term ULPC?

That because I want to address both netbooks and nettops.  I don’t believe there is another term that adequately describes both.

I believe that together netbooks and nettops are starting a groundswell of mindshare that will impact the entire computer industry.  It’s the low-cost aspect that I believe is the primary driver.  I’ll cover this in more depth in an upcoming article.

At this point, I will adopt the terms netbook and nettop in my posts.  I think that the market has spoken.