Wow.
No, really, wow. You see, according to a study made by Semico, an independent research company, predicted that total shipments of netbooks will reach 59 million by 2013.
The key feature for a netbook is that it is designed primarily for web browsing and emailing. Thus, wireless connectivity to the Internet is necessary. Low-power consumption, compact design and light weight are essential.
The success of Atom based netbooks has spurred interest in competing designs. Via Technologies has been shipping its 80×86 compatible Nano. Several companies have ARM-based designs that hit the market or are expected to launch in 2009. The processor vendors for these netbooks include Nvidia, Texas Instruments, Freescale, and Qualcomm. There are two battles shaping up. One is among the chip vendors – x86 vs ARM. The other is the operating system – Microsoft vs Linux.
So, again, I say: wow.
