Convertible Netbooks to Hit Shelves in Greater Numbers Next Year
Sources in Asia are reporting that HP and MSI intend to launch convertible netbooks next year. Convertible netbooks are standard netbooks that add a swivel screen, potentially making them usable as slate tablets. We’ve made it clear we’re not sure what benefits convertible netbooks really bring, but OEMs are betting you will buy them anyway. Both the MSI and HP convertibles are to be 10-inch devices and based on Intel’s upcoming Pine Trail platform, which is the next generation Atom processor.
The ASUS EEE PC T91 convertible is a 9-inch model that is now shipping and ASUS is expected to release a 10-inch model later this year.
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A convertible netbook will have no value to me unless I can use it extensively for ink…which means a more expensive screen…which busts the price point/value proposition…nevermind. Maybe digital ink really is dead.
I think the usefulness comes if the screen is a touch screen.
For me one of the pluses of netbooks is being able to use them on trains, buses or in the car (as a passenger), along with 3G connectivity. In cramped conditions like those, navigating on a slate by touch would be much easier than using a conventional methods.
Aren’t those venues more suitable to a good smartphone?
@James
Using phones for serious work for prolonged periods of time wouldnt be as good as having a tablet netbook (netblet?). Personally my #1 use for a tablet would be for zinio digital magazines. Theyre coming out with an iphone aspp (they say) but something like this would be much better to get a real reading experience. also ebooks and similar things, digital newspapers etc would be awesome on a netblet.
When is Apple going to bring out a convertible netbook? That’s what I’d like to know….
As others have said it would have the most value for me if it has an active digitizer. I don’t see the advantage of touch to activate an application and/or to type on a virtual keyboard. I see that as a better function on an iPhone or iPodTouch, but not a netbook.
I’d need to be able to write on the screen and have my handwriting recognized in mindmanager, onenote, word, etc. an eReader application.
Flip around the screen and read eBook files lke a book?
I think that a convertible netbook would be a awesome formfactor, and I can’t wait ’till I’am reading on the net with a 9-10 inch slated device.
I don’t really care about inking, I must admit. So no drawback for me there.
But seriously, we need to start a campaign for the term Neblet. That word actually put a smile on my face :)
Oops, that should be Netblet, of course :)
I prefer Neblet!
I do agree that a Tablet should mean a screen that can be inked on. I get annoyed when I see a tablet PC mentioned only to find out that it isn’t a Tablet at all but a convertable touch screen device, which is completely different. Think iphone to smartphone – one is for play, the other for serious stuff. At least that’s how I see it. Mind you, I haven’t had my first glass of wine today so I may see things differently later on.
I don’t get why you all are so down on Tablet-style netbooks. Seems like your perspective has changed a lot since you’ve turned to blogging full time. Those of us who are still taking notes in meetings all day need them!
I still love the Tablet PC. But as I’ve written about (a lot), these resistive digitizers in these cheaper convertible netbooks do not do inking well at all. That’s what I keep harping about, to make sure that folks understand that just because it’s a convertible netbook, it doesn’t mean it’s a GOOD Tablet PC.