Netbooks will not replace laptops

Netbooks may be one of the hottest technology trends in 2008 but cannot replace laptops, according to research by ABI Research.

In November 2008, market research firm ABI Research asked 1,000 Americans about netbooks and mobile Internet devices and found that only 11% of those using netbooks were their main computers.

That's not bad news for netbooks, as 79% of respondents consider netbooks to be the second device behind laptops or desktops. According to analyst Philip Solis, low prices may cause consumers to consider netbooks as a replacement for laptops during tough economic times, but the general thinking of people considers them a second device.

The study also found that netbooks are 40% lower than laptops at a level that satisfies users, especially in terms of performance. ABI Research estimates that global netbook consumption will reach nearly 35 million units this year, up to 139 million in 2013.