2.5 Inch Hard Driive

Hard drives are mechanical devices. The platters spin thousands of times per minute. The read/write heads float over the top and bottom of each platter. The heads are attached by arms to a spindle motor which positions them over the proper tracks of the platter.

Solid-State Drive

A solid-state drive is an electronic component. SSDs have no moving parts.

Solid-state drives have a number of advantages over hard drives:

• More reliable due to not having any moving parts
• Less likely to sustain damage if netbook is dropped
• Require less power, meaning batteries last longer
• Generate less heat
• Silent
• Can outperform hard drives, especially in read access times.

Please note that these are generalities. There are several different types of SSDs - each with their own strengths and weaknesses. If you are interested in the details, Wikipedia explores this in great depth.

There is a common perception that the performance of SSDs is poorer than hard drives. This certainly was true in the early models of SSDs. However, recent technology improvements now yield SSDs that outperform hard drives. Notebook Review published an article that compares a SanDisk 32GB SSD to a hard drive. The SSD blows away the hard drive’s performance across the board.

With features this good, why are we still using hard drives?

Hard drives do have a couple of strengths over SSDs:

• On a cost per gigabyte basis, hard drives are a *lot* less expensive.
• Hard drives outperform the low-cost type of SSDs
• Microsoft Windows handles SSDs ineffectively

The last bullet point is the reason why you see almost all Windows-based netbooks configured with hard drives. On the other hand, Linux-based netbooks may be packaged with either type of storage device.

However, the primary reason why hard drives have not been overwhelmingly replaced by SSDs is cost.

SSDs are becoming less and less expensive. At the same time, performance and reliability continue to improve.

This ultimately makes hard drives dinosaurs. It’s just a matter of time.

Related posts:

1. Should I Buy Linux-Based Netbook?
2. 2008 Trend: Netbook OS Linux to XP
3. Aspire One: Wake Up Wireless Connections

This should be rather simple, given that the current Aspire Ones essentially house an 8.9″ screen in a 10-inch case. 

jkkmobile reports:

Looks like the keyboard is same as on earlier model.. Mouse buttons moved from the sides to bottom of the mouse pad.

macles, a website dedicated to the Aspire One tells us:

A few changes were made to the design as well. The area around the keyboard has a brushed metal finish and the seamlessly integrated touchpad resembles a more traditional touchpad, compared to the current one, with what appears to be a single button at the bottom. The new AA1 will be available in three colors: white, black and red.

macles also provides a picture.

10-Inch Aspire Ones in Black, Red and White

I find it hard to get excited about a 10-inch screen.  After all, the resolution on the 10-inch displays are the same as the 8.9-inch versions.  So, to me, the larger screen size is a yawner.

On the other hand, when Acer (or any other netbook manufacturer) announces 10-inch displays with 1024×768 resolution 0r better, that will be exciting.

It would also be a big differentiator in a market where all the netbooks are beginning to look alike.

Related posts:

1. Aspire One Prices Slashed By Acer
2. How Acer Became The Top Netbook Maker
3. Aspire One Model Number Cheat Sheet

The Eee PC 2G Surf Was Introduced in January 2008

Back in January of this year, the netbooks available were almost exclusively Asus Eee PCs.   In the beginning, they all ran Linux.

This trend worried Microsoft immensely.  This little niche was gaining a lot of popularity.  What would happen if customers found out that Linux could actually be used by normal people?  With Vista already unpopular in many circles, there could be serious consequences if people learned that Linux actually provided the functionality that they needed.

In fact, back in March, The Guardian posted an article titled “Why falling Flash prices threaten Microsoft” that touched on this issue.    This paragraph hits the issues confronting Microsoft at that time.

Looking through the thousands of postings in eeeuser.com’s user forums, the same comments keep coming up: it’s so small, the build quality is high, it boots up quickly, it just works. In fact, it’s hard to find many negative points. Most are about the placing of the right-hand shift key, the small size of the keyboard, the limited battery life and the slightly awkward mousepad. One thing that is almost never mentioned as a problem is the fact that the Eee PC is running not Windows, but a variant of GNU/Linux.

So what is a monopolist to do?

Microsoft could not press netbook manufacturers to pre-install Vista.  Netbooks lack the hardware to run Vista, which requires a fast processor and lots of memory.  Incorporating this additional hardware, plus the cost of a Vista license could easily double the cost to manufacture a netbook.

The problem confronting Microsoft was, not only did Linux perform very nicely on netbook hardware, but the cost to netbook manufacturers was zero.

Microsoft actually had an OS that ran well on netbook hardware: Windows XP.  The problem was that Microsoft had already announced the retirement of Windows XP.  This was a critical step for Microsoft, because to meet their revenue targets, they needed people to pay to upgrade from XP to Vista.  Unlike previous versions of Windows, customers were not flocking to Vista.  Microsoft was hoping to force upgrades by ending support for XP.  Ending support meant that Microsoft would no longer provide security and bug fixes.

But customers were not happy about Microsoft’s plans to kill XP.  In fact, InfoWorld created an online petition begging Microsoft to continue selling and supporting XP that was “signed” by over 200,000 people.

Microsoft solved their problem by announcing a special extension for Windows XP Home Edition to be installed on Ultra Low-cost PCs (ULPCs).  This program limited the hardware on which XP Home could be sold.  It also significantly lowered the cost the netbook makers paid for the OS.

As a result, Windows XP was introduced as an option on nearly every notebook.  By year end, many netbook had eliminated Linux as an option.

Here is an example that demonstrates the current situation.  For Christmas, I wanted to buy a netbook as a gift for my wife.  As many of you know from my earlier articles, we haven’t had a computer with a Microsoft OS in our home for 5 years or more.  So I was looking for Linux-based netbook.  The only other major requirement was that it had to be pink.

Pink Aspire One

Guess what?  All of the pre-configured netbooks that are available in pink were packaged with Windows XP.  I could not find a single pink netbook that had a Linux OS.

If I had not waited until the last minute, I could have custom ordered a Dell Inspiron Mini 9 in pink.  But, in the end, I ordered a pink Acer Aspire One with Windows XP.  Of course, the first thing I did when it arrived was to load Linux.

So, in summary,  in less than a year, the netbook market segment has gone from exclusively belonging to Linux to being dominated by Microsoft.  And, once again, I am buying computers and paying Microsoft for an operating system I don’t want or need.

Related posts:

1. Fortune Calls Netbook Explosion Top 2009 Trend
2. Should I Buy Linux-Based Netbook?
3. How Acer Became The Top Netbook Maker

Black

Galaxy Black
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		$319.95	Free!	In Stock

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1. Holiday Netbook Bargains - Number 5
2. Holiday Netbook Bargains - Number 3
3. Aspire One Cheatsheet Updated

Acer Aspire One

Back around the middle of this past year, the netbook marketplace really began to buzz as the launch dates of the second-generation netbooks were nearing.  MSI was garnering a major chunk of the mind share, with the Wind Netbook receiving rave reviews.  Meanwhile, Asus was busy announcing new Eee PC models at a dizzying pace.  Acer was preparing to introduce the Aspire One; however, while the reviews were favorable, it was getting a lot less buzz.

Fast forward to now (year-end) where the Acer Aspire One is king of the netbooks.  How did they do it?

The simple answer has two parts:

1. Acer did a great job designing  a product that met customer’s wants and needs.
2. They made a few “right” moves in marketing the Aspire One.
3. They didn’t make any mistakes and watched while their competitors floundered.

The Right Design

Aspire One's Display Has Wide Viewing Angle

Acer simply made the right choices when they designed the product.  Here are my perceptions of what they did right:

• 9-inch Display:

  MSI got a lot of favorable press for the 10-inch display on the Wind U100 netbook - as did Asus for the Eee PC 1000-series.  But the resolution on the 9 and 10-inch screens are the same (1024x600), so the only advantage is bigger.  But that also means more expensive.  As a result of lower manufacturing cost, Acer has been able to price their product significantly lower than the comparable 10-inch models.

• 10-Inch Keyboard

  The keyboard (and case) of the Aspire One is about the same size as the MSI Wind and the Eee PC 1000-series netbooks.  It is larger and much more usable than the Eee PC 900-series (which have similar 9-inch screens).  The keyboard provides great tactile feedback.  Most importantly (at least to me), the shift keys are full size and in the right place - which makes touch typing on the Aspire One a breeze.

• 3-Cell Battery (at launch)

  Acer introduced the Aspire One with a 3-cell battery.  When a global battery shortage severely restricted the availability of the 6-cell batteries that Asus and MSI were using, the 3-cell design allowed Acer to fill the pipeline when their competitors (particularly MSI) struggled.

• Both Linux and Windows Versions at Launch

  At launch time, Acer offered a choice of  either Linux or Microsoft Windows.  In addition, they packaged the Linux version with solid-state drive storage and the Windows version with a traditional hard drive.  These combinations proved to be what customers wanted.  MSI promised a Linux-version of the Wind, but delayed its arrival repeatedly.  I don’t believe I have ever seen a Linux-based Wind for sale in the USA.

The Right Marketing Moves

Acer has also made several great marketing moves with the Aspire One.  Here are my views:

• Product Launched At The Right Time

  Acer introduced the Aspire One in mid-July, and was one the first of the second-generation netbooks.  Asus and MSI were launching their new Intel Atom-base netbooks around the same time.  Dell, Lenovo and HP were very late to offer Atom-based netbooks.

• Product Available At Launch

  While Acer did not generate a huge buzz in advance of the Aspire One.  They delivered product when they said they would.  While MSI was missing promised launch dates and then down-grading their product, Acer was busy filling orders.  Personally, I was waiting for an MSI Wind to replace my Eee PC 4G Surf.  I finally gave up waiting and settled for an Aspire One.  I have been delighted ever since.

• A Simple Consistent Product Image

  Acer offers the Aspire One in a number of different configurations, however, Acer’s marketing has created a single image of the Aspire One.  When someone talks about the Aspire One, you know exactly which netbook they are speaking.  This proved to be a competitive advantage against the Asus Eee PC.

• Agressive Pricing

  Acer priced the Aspire One very competitively to start, introducing the Linux version in mid-July at $379 in the USA.  Then they got aggressive.  At the end of August, only 5-6 weeks after the launch,  Acer cut prices on the Aspire One dramatically.   For example, the list price on the Linux version was cut from $379 to $329.  This caught everyone else flat-footed.   It also killed the 7-inch netbook niche.  Spending $299 for a 7-inch model no longer made sense.

Flawless Execution While Competitors Floundered

Acer has executed all of the above flawlessly.  There have been no serious mistakes to note.  That is not true for their competitors.

• Asus Misses With 901-Series

  

  Aspire One's Larger Case Compared to Eee PC 901

  Asus introduced the Eee PC 901-series as their first Intel Atom-based netbook.  Like the Aspire One, the Eee PC 901-series features a 9-inch screen.  However, the case is significantly smaller than the Aspire One.  As a result, the keyboard is tiny and most adults have difficulty using it.  Most buyers passed on the 901-series, opting for netbooks with bigger keyboards.

• MSI Can’t Deliver

  MSI planned to launch the Wind with a 6-cell battery; but could not procure enough.  After delaying the Wind’s introduction, the product was temporarily packaged with a 3-cell battery. This last-minute change  created chaos, forcing customers to wait months for a 6-cell version or accept a lesser-product.

• MSI Price-Gouges Customers

  Being unable to produce enough Wind Netbooks to meet demand, MSI took advantage of their lack of supply by raising the price of the Wind U100.  Buy.com had accepted pre-orders at the original price - the price increase forced them to cancel all of these pre-orders.  As you would expect, this did not please customers.

• Asus Introduces A Million Products Named Eee PC

  OK.  It just seemed like a million.  During the summer of 2008, Asus announced a new Eee PC models at a dizzying pace, confounding even the experts.  For example, here is a partial list of Eee PC models: Eee PC 2G Surf, 4G Surf, 4G, 8G, 701SD, 900, 901, 904HA, 1000, 1000H, 1000HA, 1002HA, S101, Eee Top and the Eee PC Box.  Customers were (and still are) totally confused by the plethora of different products called Eee PC.

• Late to Market with  Me-Too Products

  Dell, Lenovo, HP and Samsung all introduced Intel Atom-based netbooks late in 2008, missing the primary window of opportunity.  HP gained some early traction with its Mini-Note product line, but these became most well-known for their dog-slow VIA C7 processors.  All of these products have features very similar to the Aspire One, MSI Wind and Eee PC 1000-series.  All of these late netbooks are solid products, but they have failed to differentiate themselves.

• Toshiba and Fujitsu Miss the Train

  Both Toshiba and Fujitsu dismissed netbooks as a fad and decided not to market any netbooks  (at least in the USA).  I expect that both ultimately will  join the party (both now sell netbooks outside the USA).   But these will also be me-too products that, like Dell, Lenovo and HP, will be primarily be  sold to customers who are loyal to their brand.

• AMD Implies Netbook Buyers Are Stupid.

  As long as we are counting missed opportunities, we might as well include AMD’s netbook debacle.  It was bad enough that the success of the Intel Atom processor took AMD by complete surprise.  But instead of recognizing their error and taking action to address their shortcoming, AMD’s executives repeated bashed and ridiculed netbooks.   I’ve long been a loyal AMD proponent, but their comments really upset me.  It seemed that they were calling me stupid.  I won’t forget that any time soon.

Summary

In summary, in just a few months, Acer took the netbook marketplace by storm.  They used a combination of great product design, shrewd marketing savvy and crisp execution to leapfrog Asus’ early netbook success.  They also benefited from a wide variety of mis-steps by competitors.

Today, Acer is the #1 manufacturer of netbooks.  Great job!  Congratulations to Acer!

Related posts:

1. Acer’s Bombshell Shakes Up the Netbook Market
2. Acer Readies 10-inch Aspire Ones
3. Aspire One Prices Slashed By Acer

We had a lot of fun in doing this.  Sometimes it is hard to tell whether our work is beneficial, but the big jump in page views tells us that you appreciated our work.

Acer Aspire One Netbooks

Based on  page views at our site, here are the top five netbooks:

1. Acer Aspire One 160G 6 Cell XP
2. Asus Eee PC 1000HA 160G XP
3. Acer Aspire One 120G 3 Cell XP
4. Aspire One 16G 3 Cell Linux
5. Asus Eee PC 1000H 160G XP

While I’m not pretending that this is representative of the entire marketplace, it does reinforce recent reports that Acer has transplanted Asus as the top manufacturer of netbooks.   Based on our activity, Acer and Asus dominate mindshare.   We have to go down our rankings a good bit before we get to rhe HP Mini-Note, then MSI Wind and later Dell.

Now that it is Christmas Eve, we are shutting things down for a few days.  But before we do, we want to wish a Blessed and Merry Christmas to all of you.

Related posts:

1. How Acer Became The Top Netbook Maker
2. Netbook Price Comparison Guide Enhanced
3. Acer’s Bombshell Shakes Up the Netbook Market

BuyDig.com is offering a great deal on the Acer Aspire One 8G Linux 8.9-inch Netbook - (AOA110-1295) for only $279.

If you are seeking an Asus Eee PC 900 netbook, J&R Electronics is offering the ASUS EPC900HA-BLK006X Eee PC 900HA 8.9″ Netbook - Black for $319.99 with FREE Shipping.

Of course, you have to pay for expedited shipping if you want it delivered before Christmas.

I’ll post these two now - and I’ll follow up with more later.

Related posts:

1. Holiday Netbook Bargains - Number 3
2. Holiday Netbook Bargains - Number 5
3. Holiday Netbook Bargains - Number 1

	Samsung NC10 160G XP
	10.2" Display (1024x600), 1.6 GHz Intel Atom N270 Processor, 1.0 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, 6 Cell Battery, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

White

White
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		$479.00	Free!	In Stock
Amazon Merchant B		$482.83	See Site	In Stock
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Amazon Merchant F		$547.50	See Site	In Stock

Blue

Blue
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		$479.00	Free!	No Stock
Amazon Merchant B		$482.83	See Site	In Stock
Amazon Merchant C		$485.00	See Site	In Stock
Amazon Merchant D		$488.00	See Site	In Stock
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		$499.99	$11.00	In Stock
Amazon Merchant E		$502.41	See Site	In Stock
Amazon Merchant F		$547.50	See Site	In Stock

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1. Holiday Netbook Bargains - Number 5
2. Netbook Price Comparison Guide Enhanced
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2. Aspire One Model Number Cheat Sheet
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	Sylvania G Netbook Meso 80G XP
	8.9-inch Display (1024x600), Intel Atom 1.6 GHz Processor, 512 MB or 1 GB DDR2-533 RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

White

Merchant	Rating	Price	Shipping	Stock	Action
		$397.99	Free!	In Stock

Yellow

Solar Yellow
Merchant	Rating	Price	Shipping	Stock	Action
		$397.99	Free!	In Stock

Pink

Blossom Pink
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		$399.99	Free!	In Stock

Black

Onyx Black
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Related posts:

1. Aspire One Cheatsheet Updated
2. Aspire One Model Number Cheat Sheet
3. 2008 Trend: Netbook OS Linux to XP