"Net-Top" Computer May Be Reality Very Soon

A recent report by the New York Times states that PC makers are shaking in their boots because other manufacturers (like Asus) have proven that yes, you can deliver a usable low-cost low-power notebook to the market that people will actually buy (like the EeePC).

Right now is not a good time for PC makers because it seems that no matter how much they drop their prices, people don’t seem to be buying these days.

I can totally understand why. When you see an EeePC for $300 and fast realize it can do just about everything you need, why would anyone want a $500+ desktop?

The answer to this is for the industry to offer a low-cost "net-top" PC. It would cost roughly the same as the notebook version (around $300). This computer would have no optical drive, a solid state disk and a few USB ports to plug in whatever you need to.

Some would say "Isn’t that what a Mac mini is?" Not exactly; it doesn’t use SSD and has an optical drive. And it’s $600. We’re talking about next-gen low-power/low-cost units here.

We could finally see the advent of the "silent brick" PC, which is what the net-top would be. A small out-of-the-way box about the size of a novel and at a price point that would have most people say "Yeah, I could use one of those."

Watch for it.

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http://www.nerdstalker.tv Adolfo
Uh isn’t what this is http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/21/the-cherrypal-cloud-pc-249-ready-for-the-new-world-order/ ?

http://www.menga.net Rich Menga
That’s one example but certainly not the defining box. Some believe there should be no OS whatsoever and have everything load from the cloud (like the CherryPal) while others think there should still be a local-OS present (what we use now).

Shadowpr
The eeebox should come close (minus the ssd): http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/05/23/asus_e_dt_is_ebox/
http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/05/24/asus-takes-wii-nintendo
chris
If it doesn’t have a optical drive, to me it is not worth it.. What it yo wanted to watch a video or install other programs? this to me sounds like nothing more that a laptop or internet access only..
Nick
uhm.. what you just described is a thin client with disk access protection turned off. go to hp and you can get a thin client running xp-embedded or linux and you can add a thumb drive for storage, and an external cd/dvd drive via usb. its also only $179+ — so why reinvent the wheel?
Alex Hing
The NYT article did not mention the best one, OLPC.
http://www.NetbookComputers.com Netbook Computers Guru
Whether it ends up being called a net-top, nettop, or netbook, this new wave of Netbook Computers offer more performance and a lower price than PC’s and laptops.
http://yahoo ronak patel
If it doesn’t have a optical drive, to me it is not worth it.. What it yo wanted to watch a video or install other programs? this to me sounds like nothing more that a laptop or internet access only..
http://www.89netbook.com Dewitt R. Eaton
I’ve had experience with 3 netbooks prior to this and this one made my 4th and by far the best. Battery Life depends on how it’s being used (like do you leave it on when you go do something else) but it’s much better than it’s little brother the Eee PC 900. And does come close to the 10 hours estimated. I did install extra RAM right away so it’s maxed out and it’s processor is better than the 900′s. In one situation my husband who uses a Cricket Broadband adapter could not make a connection on the Eee 900, and I brought this one up to where he was, used his adapter and connected instantly! The ordering through one of Amanzon’s sellers (Beach Camera) was as advertised and shipped as promised, well packed and I wouldn’t hesitate to do business with them again.
I must remind buyer’s these are not meant to be a replacement for a full size PC, they don’t have CD/DVD drives in them although you can get an external, which I have. They are great for kids learning and some schools allow the students to