Bye bye netbooks?

Techie.com.ph reported that according to Acer Taiwan sales manager Lu Bing-hsian "tablet launches will begin a gradual replacement of Acer's small laptop-style netbook computers, in line with market demands." Looking for further info on this news, I found a NetworkWorld report which further quoted Lu Bing-hsian "They are aimed at phasing out netbooks," he said. "That’s the direction of the market."

Acer New Tablet... Wow

"The Taiwan-based computer giant will keep making netbooks, adding to its millions sold to date, but it will stick to simple models and manufacture fewer than in years past as tablets gain popularity, he said."

So it is not bye bye... but what everyone has been expecting. Lower netbooks sales. I myself after having purchased a netbooks in 2008 and 2009, move to a ultraportable in 2010. Ultraportable prices have gone down enough for me not to resort to a netbook as an alternative to an ultraportable laptop.

January 20, 2011 update: PCMagazine reported that Acer on Wednesday denied that it is phasing out netbooks in favor of tablets, claiming that tablets are "just another piece of the mosaic." According to the PCMag report:


"Acer recognizes that the computer market is changing. As PCs are no longer only used to create content but are more and more becoming consumption tools, new devices and new form factors are appearing," the company said. "This means the range of devices available to users is getting wider and tablets are just another piece of the mosaic. Therefore, they will find their space next to netbooks and notebooks."