The term netbook was re-introduced by Intel in February 2008^[1] to describe a category of small-sized, low-cost, light weight, lean function subnotebooks optimized for Internet access and core computing functions (e.g., word processing) — either directly from applications installed on the netbook itself or indirectly, via cloud computing.^[2] More than 50 million Netbooks are expected to be in widespread circulation by 2011.^[3]

Netbooks are "small laptops that are designed for wireless communication and access to the Internet. And they cost about $250, making Netbooks a potentially disruptive and high volume market segment. Even though Netbooks won’t be confused with full-featured laptops, my hunch is that tons of people around the world will be attracted to a low-cost machine that plugs them in. The Netbook will expand the global PC market. By how much is a matter of conjecture."

—Paul Bergevin, Thoughts on Netbooks

Similarly to netbook, the term nettop refers to similarly low-cost, lean-function, desktop devices.^[4][5] Both netbook and nettop platforms combine a lean operating system (e.g., Linux, BSD, etc) with a low voltage, power-optimized processor such as the Intel Atom, the VIA C7 or the AMD Geode.^[6]

Current examples

See also: Comparison of netbooks

Devices such as the ASUS Eee PC, Acer Aspire One, Dell Inspiron Mini 9, OLPC XO-1, One A110, HP 2133 Mini-Note PC, Skytone Alpha-400, CloudBook, Classmate PC, LG X110, MSI Wind PC, Lenovo IdeaPad S10, or VIA OpenBook may fall in the category of Netbooks. Moblin project supports the device type.^[8]

The Psion Netbook was a much earlier, but similar, concept that had the same name and possibly inspired Intel's use of the Netbook name.

The unreleased Palm Foleo may have been classified as a Netbook if it had made it to market.

Market

The emergence of new market segment of small, energy-efficient and low-cost devices (netbooks and nettops) could threaten established companies like Microsoft, Intel, HP or Dell, analysts said in July 2008. International Data Corporation predicted that the category could grow from fewer than 500,000 in 2007 to 9 million in 2012 as the market for second computers expands in developed economies. Also, after Microsoft ceased selling of Windows XP for ordinary machines, it made an exception and continued to offer the operating system for netbook and nettop makers.^[9]

^{看了這介紹 覺得挺好玩的}

^{也必須來想ㄧ下  這對傳統NB的影響}

^{由剛剛的報導   可以看到作者是想說}

^{notebook被netbook取代的狀況}

^{以及低毛利的netbook  會讓NB代工業者}

^{每下愈況的毛利率 更加險峻}

^{不過 這狀況不是不可能發生的}

^{首先 原本Netbook在廣達及Intel的設定是為了第三世界國家開發設計的}

^{所以 其實並不會有取代掉在開發中國家市場的可能}

^{但是 現在 從EeePC到MSI,HP等大廠推出的狀況來看}

^{似乎 這樣低價電腦主打的是入門精巧的部份}

^{會不會影響到原先市場上那群低階的notebook?  我想會 不過影響應該不大}

^{畢竟 低價電腦的螢幕真的太小了}

^{鍵盤等配置也不適合長時間使用}

^{但 這狀況應該會止於新購買者的心理}

^{也就是  本來沒有notebook或者是notebook壞掉的人   如果是要購買比電 應該還是會找12吋以上的機種}

^{不過 低價電腦的出現 我覺得會某種程度的拉長原NB使用者對於機器使用的生命週期}

^{在既有NB堪用的狀況下   搞不好可以藉由添購低價電腦來滿足某些特殊需求}

^{行動性 靈巧性 便利性等等}

^{所以 如此在雙機器的設定下  免不了 將拉長notebook的使用時間}

^{不過低價電腦的出現 的確會使些原本沒有打算那麼早買電腦的人 提早邁入筆記型電腦的行列}

^{但~~這也該取決netbook和桌機的價差}

^{如果以現在依台近乎依萬多元的低價電腦 似乎 還是高貴了些}

^{但可預期的 筆記型電腦}

^{也將走近兩極化的設定}

^{價格與性能   或許將成為 兩個主要的定位吧}