Al,
What you want is the Samsung SPH 9200. http://windowsonthego.wordpress.com/2007/10/11/samsung-sph-9200-best-umpc-design-ever/

Only sold in Korea for reasons unknown.

PS a touch type pocket netbook can also sell for a higher profit margin say $500 to $1500 depending on the internal specs.

HP could just take their old tooling for their old HP Jornada 728 and stuff full PC technology into it. If OQO can make a full PC smaller by 35% compared to the 728, then HP should be able to at least make it fit the old 728 form factor. If they could make it slimmer in height that would be great!

Here is the answer make a netbook that is jacket pocket in size with a touch type keyboard. That way it will solve the unfullfilled gap of mobile business people whom do not really want a laptop and the other mobile folks using muiltiple devices yet not directly infringe on laptop sales. Make it 6.9″ to 7.4″ max in length, 3.5″ to 4″ in width, and as thin in height as possible. Build it around keyboards like the Psion which at 6.9″ x 3.6″ had the best touch type keyboard for handhelds and was the smallest size.

I believe the sweet spot for netbooks is $200 and up.
$200 for a barebones system that can surf and email … then give options to add RAM, speed, functionality.

whether you like the Aspire One or not. nobody denies that is by far the best value on the market for everything you get at just $399. if a company like Acer can do that then you know HP or Dell could. but in their shortsightedness by trying to squeeze a few extra bucks form each machine they will lose considerable potential market share.

I have been thinking about this a bit since I purchased the Dell Mini 9, which in my opinion, is a bit of a let-down, and I wish I hadn’t waited this long for it.

In my opinion, none of the netbooks on the market is a clear winner to me, with the sole exception of the new Asus N10. What appears to make the N10 such an exceptional product is the same thing that I think the HPs and Dells of the world can make themselves stand out: it offers a solidly-built netbook with high-quality components that are not found in similar competitors’ offerings, at a price that is still less that the cost of a new Lenovo X200 (though not much less).

Up until now, every netbook that has been released since the original Eee 701 and the HP Mini Note are all ‘me-too’ devices. There is a reason people can’t tell them apart. Their components are usually lackluster and barely adequate for the simplest tasks; their design typically a Eee-knock-off; and none of the keyboards seem like something a user wants to use for more than 10 minutes (though the MSI and HP keyboard offers more usability than most). On top of all that, the build quality is usually laughable.

If HP and Dell are serious about coming out with a winner that is going to corner the netbook market, they only need to come out with a model that offers quality components, notebook-like features (eg. 6 cell battery, standard bluetooth, decent speaker, 1-2GB RAM), and a non-compromised keyboard, at a price point that is between $600-$750. If they can add an entry model at the $400 level as well, that’s even better.

I for one am still waiting for the killer netbook out there.

I think all students in K thru 12th grade should be required to have a netbook. However, the operating system must be Unix (Mac OSX preferred). It is time to start moving our youth away from Microsoft, for the betterment of mankind. Besides most college students these days already use Macs. If the MacIntosh is the dominant OS in college than it needs to trickle down to the next generation as quickly as possible. Netbooks are going to RULE THE WORLD someday. Keep your fingers crossed.

I’ll agree with James in that this segment needs to hit mainstream. Case in point – I’ve been wanting to get my hands on a mininote. None of the HP resellers in my area had any they could show me, and HP does not send out evaluation units. My only option was to purchase and risk no refund if I wanted to return it or not be able to return it at all. That’s a tough deal to swallow when you just want to touch/feel it, fire it up and potentially try software on it to see how it runs.

Fortunately, if you purchase the mininote through HP direct they offer a 30-day return with full refund minus a flat $15 return fee. At least I can get one and see if my software runs on it, and send it back if it doesn’t work for me or I get a better price elsewhere.

I believe HP already has a great product (mininote) thanks to the build quality, screen and keyboard. Put that top model on sale at Best Buy for $649 and I’m certain HP would see more sales.

I agree with you James. Simple and cheap is best. I would definitely buy an HP or Dell over an MSI or Acer it The keyboard were usable. I do want an 8.9 inch PC with a flip screen and touch. But I dm think that’s what a netbook should be.

I agree there should be options, that wasn’t the purpose of this. I do believe I am right though in pointing out to the OEMs that their branding is an important differentiator for the average consumer. Choice is good though and I agree with that opinion shared by many.