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{{short description|Class of small and inexpensive laptops}}
{{for|the Psion device|Psion netBook}}
{{pp-move-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{use American English|date=March 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}
[[File:Samsung laptop nc10.jpg|thumb|A [[Samsung NC10]] netbook computer]]
A '''netbook''' is a class of small-sized and inexpensive [[laptop]]s; the term were used throughout the late 2000s and early 2010s, designed mostly as a [[Internet appliance|means of accessing the Internet]] and being significantly less expensive than full-sized laptops with lower or cut-down specifications.
[[File:Acer_Aspire_One_Netbook_first_impressions.jpg|thumb|An [[Acer Aspire One]] netbook sitting on a standard sized [[Toshiba Satellite]] laptop, demonstrating the size difference]]
At their inception in late 2007,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://blogs.computerworld.com/what_was_the_first_netbook |website=[[Computerworld]] |title=What was the first netbook? |date=May 11, 2009 |access-date=January 19, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110130085835/http://blogs.computerworld.com/what_was_the_first_netbook |archive-date=January 30, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> as smaller-than-typical laptop computers optimized for low weight and low cost,<ref name="btwsj">{{cite news |title=Cheap PCs Weigh on Microsoft |series=Business Technologies blog |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |date=December 8, 2008 |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/biztech/2008/12/08/cheap-pcs-weigh-on-microsoft/}}</ref> netbooks began appearing without certain then-standard laptop features (such as [[Optical disc drive|an optical drive]]), and with less computing power than in full-sized laptops. They ranged in size from about 5" screen diagonal to 12", with a typical weight of about {{nowrap|1 kg}} ({{nowrap|2.2 pounds}}), and were often significantly less expensive than other laptops.<ref name="pricegrabber">{{cite book |title= Netbook Trends and Solid-State Technology Forecast |publisher=pricegrabber.com |page=7 |url= https://mr.pricegrabber.com/Netbook_Trends_and_SolidState_Technology_January_2009_CBR.pdf |access-date=January 28, 2009 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090226214405/https://mr.pricegrabber.com/Netbook_Trends_and_SolidState_Technology_January_2009_CBR.pdf |archive-date=February 26, 2009 }}
</ref> Soon after their appearance, netbooks grew in size and features, and converged with smaller laptops and [[subnotebook]]s until the specifications were so similar that there was little distinction between the devices.<ref name="cnnogg">{{cite news |last=Ogg |first=Erica |title=Time to drop the Netbook label |publisher=[[Cable News Network|CNN]] |date=August 20, 2009 |url= http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/ptech/08/20/cnet.drop.netbook.label/index.html |access-date=May 20, 2010}}</ref> At their peak, the low cost gave them a significant portion of the laptop computer market.

When [[Windows 7]] released, netbook manufacturers had to increase specifications in order for their devices to run it. This pushed netbooks into a [[Niche market|market niche]] where they had few distinctive advantages over traditional laptops.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|author= Charles Arthur |url= https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/dec/31/netbooks-dead-2013 |title=Sayonara, netbooks: Asus (and the rest) won't make any more in 2013 |work=The Guardian |date=December 31, 2012|access-date=February 10, 2015}}</ref> With these constraints and the increasing popularity of [[tablet computer]]s in 2011, it led to declining sales of netbooks.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="forbes-2011">{{cite web|last= Caulfield|first=Brian|title=The NetBook Is Dead, The iPad Killed It, Don't Buy One |url= https://www.forbes.com/sites/briancaulfield/2011/11/28/the-netbook-is-dead-the-ipad-killed-it-dont-buy-one/|work=[[Forbes]]|access-date=June 20, 2012|date=November 28, 2011}}</ref> By the end of 2012, few new laptops were marketed as "netbooks", and the term disappeared from common usage.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/dec/31/netbooks-dead-2013 |title=Asus (and the rest) won't make any more in 2013 |website=[[The Guardian]]|date=December 31, 2012 |last1=Arthur |first1=Charles }}</ref>

== History ==

[[File:ASUS Eee White Alt.jpg|thumb|An [[Asus Eee PC]] 700, the first mass-produced netbook, which used a 7-inch screen, here running [[Linux]]|left]]
While [[Psion (computers)|Psion]] had an unrelated [[Psion netBook|netBook]] line of machines, the use of the broad marketing term "netbook", began in 2007 when [[Asus]] unveiled the [[Asus Eee PC]]. Originally designed for emerging markets, the {{convert|23|x|17|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} device weighed about {{convert|0.9|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} and featured a {{convert|7|in|cm|abbr=on}} display, a keyboard approximately 85% the size of a normal keyboard, a [[solid-state drive]] and a custom version of [[Linux]] with a simplified [[Graphical user interface|user interface]] geared towards consumer use.<ref name="PCMag2">{{cite web |last=Bajarin |first=Tim |title=Netbooks vs. Notebooks |work= PCMagazine |date=September 12, 2008 |url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2330274,00.asp}}</ref> Following the Eee PC, [[Everex]] launched its Linux-based [[CloudBook]]; [[Windows XP]] and [[Windows Vista]] models were also introduced and [[Micro-Star International|MSI]] released the [[MSI Wind Netbook|Wind]]&mdash;others soon followed suit.

The [[OLPC]] project followed the same market goals laid down by the [[eMate 300]] eight years earlier.<ref name="MacWorld">{{cite web |last=Edwards |first=Benj |title=The Forgotten eMate 300 -- 15 years later |work= MacWorld |date=December 21, 2012 |url=https://www.macworld.com/article/2020270/the-forgotten-emate-300-15-years-later.html}}</ref><ref name="eMate300documentation">{{cite web |title=Apple eMate 300 Quick Fact Sheet |work= Apple |date=1996 |url=https://msu.edu/~luckie/gallery/emate300.htm}}</ref> Known for its innovation in producing a durable, cost- and power-efficient netbook for [[developing countries]], it is regarded as one of the major factors that led more top computer hardware manufacturers to begin creating low-cost netbooks for the consumer market.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pcplus.techradar.com/node/3257 |title=OLPC: The History Of One Laptop Per Child |website=[[TechRadar]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111117185323/http://pcplus.techradar.com/node/3257 |archive-date=November 17, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>[[File:HP Mini 1000.jpg|thumb|An [[HP Mini 1000]] netbook]]

When the first Asus Eee PC sold over 300,000 units in four months, companies such as [[Dell]] and [[Acer Inc.|Acer]] took note and began producing their own inexpensive netbooks. And while the [[OLPC XO-1]] targets a different audience than do the other manufacturers' netbooks, it appears that [[OLPC]] is now facing competition. Developing countries now have a large choice of vendors, from which they can choose which low-cost netbook they prefer.<ref>Kraemer et al.: "One Laptop Per Child: Vision vs. Reality", ''Communications of the ACM'', June 2009.</ref>
[[File:Netbook popularity in 2008 (PriceGrabber).png|thumb|Netbook market popularity within laptops in second half of 2008 based on the number of product clicks in the Laptop Subcategory per month by [[PriceGrabber]]<ref name="pricegrabber" />]]
By late 2008, netbooks began to take [[market share]] away from [[Laptop|notebooks]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hardware.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/10/04/1827200 |title="Netbooks" Move Up In Notebook Rankings |access-date=October 23, 2008 |author=Ian Lamont |date=October 4, 2008 |work=Slashdot}}</ref> It was more successful than earlier "mini notebooks," most likely because of lower cost and greater compatibility with mainstream laptops.

Having peaked at about 20% of the portable computer market, netbooks started to slightly lose market share (within the category) in early 2010, coinciding with the appearance and success of the [[iPad]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnet.com/science/apples-ipad-nabs-netbook-market-share/ |title=Apple's iPad nabs Netbook market share}}</ref> Technology commentator Ross Rubin argued two and a half years later in [[Engadget]] that "Netbooks never got any respect.  While Steve Jobs rebuked the netbook at the iPad's introduction, the iPad owes a bit of debt to the little laptops. The netbook demonstrated the potential of an inexpensive, portable second computing device, with a screen size of about 10 inches, intended primarily for [[media consumption]] and light productivity."<ref name="rubin">{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2012/07/08/the-netbook-legacy/ |title=Switched On: The Netbook Legacy |author=Ross Rubin |date=July 8, 2012 |website=[[Engadget]]}}</ref> Although some manufacturers directly blamed competition from the iPad, some analysts pointed out that larger, fully fledged laptops had entered the price range of netbooks at about the same time.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2399496,00.asp |title=Are Netbooks Finally Dead? |author=Tim Bajarin |date=January 30, 2012 |website=[[PC Magazine]]}}</ref>

The 11.6-inch [[MacBook Air]], introduced in late 2010, compared favorably to many netbooks in terms of processing power but also ergonomics, at 2.3 pounds being lighter than some 10-inch netbooks, owing in part to the integration of the flash storage chips on the main logic board.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laptopmag.com/review/laptops/apple-macbook-pro-air-11-inch-2010.aspx |title=Apple 11-inch MacBook Air Review |author=Mark Spoonauer |date=October 21, 2010 |website=Laptopmag}}</ref> It was described as a superlative netbook (or at least as what a netbook should be) by several technology commentators,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.ft.com/tech-blog/2010/10/macbook-air-my-new-favourite-netbook/ |title=MacBook Air – my new favourite netbook |author=Chris Nuttall |website=[[Financial Times]]}}</ref><ref name="cn1">{{cite web |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/macbook-air-a-great-windows-netbook-for-a-price/ |title=MacBook Air a great Windows Netbook, for a price |website=[[CNET]]}}</ref><ref name="benz">{{cite web |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/macbook-air-11-inch-what-a-netbook-should-look-like/ |title=MacBook Air 11-inch: What a netbook should look like |website=[[ZDNet]]}}</ref> even though Apple has never referred to it as such, sometimes describing it—in the words of [[Steve Jobs]]—as "the third kind of notebook."<ref name="cn1" /> The entry-level model had an [[MSRP]] of $999,<ref name="cn1" /> costing as much as three or four times more than the average netbook.<ref name="rubin" />

In 2011 tablet sales overtook netbooks for the first time, and in 2012 netbook sales fell by 25 percent, year-on-year.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/blog/2012/feb/03/netbooks-pc-canalys-tablet |title=Netbooks plummet while tablets and smartphones soar, says Canalys |website=[[The Guardian]]|date=February 3, 2012 |last1=Arthur |first1=Charles }}</ref> The sustained decline since 2010 had been most pronounced in the United States and in Western Europe, while Latin America was still showing some modest growth.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/250055/are_netbooks_dead_the_prognosis_is_grim.html |title=Are Netbooks Dead? The Prognosis Is Grim Netbook sales are declining precipitously |author=Loyd Case |website=[[PC World]] |date=February 21, 2012}}</ref> In December 2011, [[Dell]] announced that it was exiting the netbook market.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/246369/dell_abandons_netbooks_in_favor_of_ultrabooks.html |title=Dell Abandons Netbooks in Favor of Ultrabooks |author=Melanie Pinola |website=[[PC World]] |date=December 16, 2011}}</ref> In May 2012, [[Toshiba]] announced it was doing the same, at least in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fingas|first=Jon|title=Toshiba bows out of netbooks in the US, sees Ultrabooks as the wave of the future|date=May 25, 2012 |url=https://www.engadget.com/2012/05/25/toshiba-bows-out-of-netbooks-in-the-us/|access-date=December 21, 2013|publisher=Engadget.com}}</ref> An August 2012 article by [[John C. Dvorak]] in ''[[PC Magazine]]'' claimed that the term "netbook" was "nearly gone from the lexicon already", having been superseded in the market place largely by the more powerful (and MacBook Air inspired) [[Ultrabook]]—described as "a netbook on steroids"—and to a lesser extent by tablets.<ref name="dvorak">{{cite web |author=John C. Dvorak |author-link=John C. Dvorak |date=August 23, 2012 |title=Where Did All the Netbooks Go? |url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2408861,00.asp |website=[[PC Magazine]]}}</ref> In September 2012 Asus, Acer and MSI announced that they will stop manufacturing 10-inch netbooks.<ref name="digiSep2012">{{cite web |url=http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20120903PD208.html |title=Intel may need to adjust roadmap for PC-use Atom processors |author1=Monica Chen |author2=Joseph Tsai |author2-link=Joseph Tsai |website=DIGITIMES |date=September 3, 2012}}</ref> Simultaneously Asus announced they would stop developing all Eee PC products, instead focusing on their mixed tablet-netbook [[Asus Transformer|Transformer]] line.<ref name="digiSep2012" />

With the introduction of [[Chromebook]]s, major manufacturers produced the new laptops for the same segment of the market that netbooks serviced. Chromebooks, a variation on the [[network computer]] concept, in the form of a netbook, require internet connections for full functionality. Chromebooks became top selling laptops in 2014. The threat of Google ChromeOS based Chromebooks prompted Microsoft to revive and revamp netbooks with ''Windows 8.1 with Bing''. HP re-entered the non-Chromebook netbook market with the ''Stream 11'' in 2014.<ref name="Ars-2014-12-06">{{cite web |author=Andrew Cunningham |date=December 6, 2014 |title=Don't call it a netbook (or a "Chromebook killer")—HP's $200 Stream 11 reviewed |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2014/12/chromebook-in-the-streets-windows-in-the-sheets-hps-200-stream-11-reviewed/ |publisher=Ars Technica}}</ref>.[[File:Samsung_N130_Netbook_running_Windows_XP,_11_December_2019.jpg|thumb|right|A [[Samsung N130]], manufactured in 2010. Although [[Windows XP]] was being supplanted by its successors, [[Windows Vista]] and [[Windows 7]], some netbook manufacturers offered the operating system alongside its successors.]]

=== Educational use ===
In Australia, the [[New South Wales]] [[Department of Education and Training (New South Wales)|Department of Education and Training]], in partnership with [[Lenovo]], provided Year 9 students in government high schools with Lenovo S10e netbooks in 2009, Lenovo Mini 10 netbooks in 2010, Lenovo Edge 11 netbooks in 2011 and a modified Lenovo X130e netbook in 2012, each preloaded with software including [[Microsoft Office]] and [[Adobe Systems]]' Creative Suite 4. These were provided under Prime Minister [[Kevin Rudd]]'s Digital Education Revolution, or DER. The netbooks ran [[Windows 7 Enterprise]]. These netbooks were secured with Computrace Lojack for laptops that the police can use to track the device if it is lost or stolen. The NSW DET retains ownership of these netbooks until the student graduates from Year 12, when the student can keep it. The Government of Trinidad and Tobago&mdash;Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bisseser&mdash;is also providing HP laptops to form 1 Students (11-year-olds) with the same police trackable software as above.

[[Greece]] provided all 13-year-old students (middle school, or ''[[Gymnasium (school)#Countries with gymnasium schools|gymnasium]]'', freshmen) and their teachers with netbooks in 2009<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalaid.gr/defaulteng.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090531183644/http://www.digitalaid.gr/defaulteng.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 31, 2009 |title=Digital Aid S.A |publisher=Digitalaid.gr |access-date=December 21, 2013}}</ref> through the "Digital Classroom Initiative". Students were given one unique coupon each, with which they redeemed the netbook of their choice, up to a €450 price ceiling, in participating shops throughout the country. These netbooks came bundled with localized versions of either [[Windows XP]] (or higher) or [[Open-source software|open source]] (e.g. [[Linux]]) operating systems, wired and wireless networking functionality, antivirus protection, preactivated parental controls, and an educational software package.

== Hardware ==
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[[File:Samsung NC10 - motherboard-1263.jpg|alt=|thumb|[[Samsung NC10]] motherboard featuring the [[Intel Atom]] processor]]
Netbooks typically have less powerful hardware than larger laptop computers and do not include an [[optical disc drive]] that contemporaneous laptop computers often had. Netbooks were some of the first machines to substitute [[Solid-state drive|solid-state]] storage devices, instead of the traditional [[hard disk drive]] commonly found on laptop and desktop computers at the time.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/privacy/what-is-a-netbook-computer/ |title=What is a Netbook computer?}}</ref> This was due to solid-state drives being smaller, more power efficient, and more shock resistant. Unlike modern solid-state drives, these early models often did ''not'' offer better performance.

Almost all netbooks supported [[Wi-Fi]] and some supported [[Mobile broadband]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/12/next-time-you-s.html |title=The Next Netbook Trend: Cellphone-Like Contract Deals |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]|first=Priya|last=Ganapati|date=December 15, 2008 |access-date=May 20, 2009}}</ref> Some also include [[Ethernet over twisted pair|Ethernet]] and/or [[modem|modems]].

Most netbooks used low-end, x86 processors focused on low power consumption. The majority of early netbooks typically used processors from the [[Intel Atom]] line, but some used competing processors from [[AMD]], including netbook [[AMD Accelerated Processing Unit|APU]]s,<ref>{{cite web|author=mehboob|date=March 12, 2010|title=AMD plans to launch Netbooks Processors next year|url=http://www.smartbooktalk.com/processor-discussions-f36/amd-plans-to-launch-netbooks-processors-next-year-t174.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609052416/http://www.smartbooktalk.com/processor-discussions-f36/amd-plans-to-launch-netbooks-processors-next-year-t174.html|archive-date=June 9, 2011|access-date=January 5, 2011|work=Processor Discussions|publisher=smartbooktalk.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Patrizio|first=Andy|date=March 10, 2010|title=AMD to Introduce Netbook Chip in 2011|work=Hardware Central|publisher=[[internet.com]]|url=http://www.hardwarecentral.com/news/article.php/3869796|url-status=dead|access-date=January 5, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101230061302/http://www.hardwarecentral.com/news/article.php/3869796|archive-date=December 30, 2010}}</ref> or [[VIA Technologies]], including the [[VIA C7|C7]] and [[VIA Nano|Nano]]. Some very low-cost netbooks use a [[system-on-a-chip]] [[Vortex86]] processor designed for [[embedded system]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cnet.com/laptops/gateway-lt3103u/4505-3121_7-33721171.html |title=Gateway LT3103u review |website=[[CNET]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laptopmag.com/review/laptops/gateway-lt3103u.aspx |title=Gateway LT3103u Review] |author=Michael A. Prospero |date=August 19, 2009 |website=Laptopmag}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2352492,00.asp |title=Gateway LT3103u review |author=Cisco Cheng |website=[[PC Magazine]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://computershopper.com/laptops/reviews/gateway-lt3103u |title=Gateway LT3103u Review |author=Catharine Smith |date=August 26, 2009 |website=[[Computer Shopper (US magazine)|Computer Shopper US]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091103022641/http://computershopper.com/laptops/reviews/gateway-lt3103u |archive-date=November 3, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> A few netbooks used non-x86 processors based on [[ARM architecture|ARM]] or [[MIPS architecture|MIPS]] architectures.<ref name="engadget_20081222">{{cite news|last=Rubin|first=Ross|date=December 22, 2008|title=Switched On: Alpha 400 pays a high price for low cost|work=[[Engadget]]|url=https://www.engadget.com/2008/12/22/switched-on-alpha-400-pays-a-high-price-for-low-cost/|access-date=January 5, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=h3rman|date=May 21, 2009|title=The Loongson-2 MIPS Lemote Yeeloong Netbook|work=[[OSNews]]|url=http://www.osnews.com/story/21530/The_Loongson-2_MIPS_Lemote_Yeeloong_Netbook|access-date=January 5, 2011}}</ref>

==Operating systems==

===Windows===

[[Microsoft]] announced on April 8, 2008, that, despite the impending end of retail availability for the operating system that June, it would continue to license low-cost copies of [[Windows XP]] Home Edition to OEMs through October 2010 (one year after the release of [[Windows 7]]) for what it defined as "ultra low-cost personal computers"—a definition carrying restrictions on screen size and processing power.<ref>{{cite news|title=Microsoft to keep Windows XP alive—but only for Eee PCs and wannabes|work=[[Computerworld]]|publisher=IDG|url=http://www.computerworld.com/article/2536465/microsoft-windows/microsoft-to-keep-windows-xp-alive----but-only-for-eee-pcs-and-wannabes.html|access-date=April 8, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,144135-page,1/article.html | title=Microsoft Extends XP Through 2010 for Ultra-Low-Cost Laptops | publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]] | work=[[PC World]] | access-date=April 4, 2008 | archive-date=April 6, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080406043229/http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,144135-page,1/article.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> The move served primarily to counter the use of low-cost Linux distributions on netbooks and create a new market segment for Windows devices, whilst ensuring that the devices did not cannibalize the sales of higher-end PCs running [[Windows Vista]].<ref name="itw-limitcapabilities">{{cite web|title=Microsoft to limit capabilities of cheap laptops|url=http://www.itworld.com/article/2786595/hardware/microsoft-to-limit-capabilities-of-cheap-laptops.html|website=ITWorld|date=May 11, 2008|publisher=IDG|access-date=December 15, 2014 |last1=Shah |first1=Agam }}</ref> In 2009, over 90% (96% claimed by Microsoft as of February 2009) of netbooks in the United States were estimated to ship with Windows XP.<ref name="pcw-linux">{{cite news |last=Gralla |first=Preston |title=Think Linux Rules on Netbooks? Think Again |work=[[PC World]] |date=March 3, 2009 |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/160567/think_linux_rules_on_netbooks_think_again.html |access-date=January 5, 2011 |archive-date=March 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305075848/http://www.pcworld.com/article/160567/think_linux_rules_on_netbooks_think_again.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=McDougall |first=Paul |title=Microsoft: 96% Of Netbooks Run Windows |work=[[InformationWeek]] |date=April 6, 2009 |url=http://www.informationweek.com/news/windows/operatingsystems/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=216402927 |access-date=January 5, 2011 |archive-date=September 13, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090913024854/http://www.informationweek.com/news/windows/operatingsystems/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=216402927 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

For [[Windows 7]], Microsoft introduced a new stripped-down edition intended for netbooks known as "Starter", exclusively for OEMs. In comparison to Home Premium, Starter has reduced multimedia functionality, does not allow users to change their desktop wallpaper or theme, disables the "[[Aero Glass]]" theme, and does not have support for multiple monitors.<ref name="ExtremeTechWindows7Editions">{{cite news |url=http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,2845,2340431,00.asp |title=All Windows 7 Versions—What You Need to Know |newspaper=ExtremeTech |date=February 5, 2009 |access-date=August 2, 2010 |last1=Hachman |first1=Mark |archive-date=February 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218221046/http://www.extremetech.com/computing/82542-all-windows-7-versionswhat-you-need-to-know |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="PCWorld">{{cite web |title=Windows 7: Which Edition is Right For You? |website=[[PC World]]|date=February 3, 2009 |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/533295/microsoft_announces_si.html |access-date=February 5, 2009}}</ref>

For [[Windows 8]], in a ploy to counter [[ChromeOS]]-based netbooks and low-end [[Android (operating system)|Android]] tablets, Microsoft began to offer no-cost Windows licenses to OEMs for devices with screens smaller than 9 inches in size. Additionally, Microsoft began to offer low-cost licenses for a variant of the operating system set up to use Microsoft's [[Bing (search engine)|Bing]] [[search engine]] by default.<ref name="Ars-2014-12-06" /><ref name="verge-free9inch">{{cite web|title=Microsoft making Windows free on devices with screens under 9 inches|url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/4/2/5574146/microsoft-making-windows-free-on-devices-with-screens-under-nine/in/5338899|work=The Verge|date=April 2, 2014|access-date=April 2, 2014}}</ref><ref name="verge-lowercost">{{cite web|title=Microsoft combats Chromebooks by cutting Windows licensing fees by 70 percent|url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/2/21/5435152/windows-8-1-license-fees-cut-by-70-percent-rumor|work=The Verge|date=February 21, 2014|access-date=February 23, 2014}}</ref><ref name="ms-windows8withbing">{{cite web|title=Helping our hardware partners build lower cost Windows devices|url=http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/windowsexperience/archive/2014/05/23/helping-our-hardware-partners-build-lower-cost-windows-devices.aspx|work=Windows Experience Blog|publisher=Microsoft Corporation|access-date=May 23, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140523225224/http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/windowsexperience/archive/2014/05/23/helping-our-hardware-partners-build-lower-cost-windows-devices.aspx|archive-date=May 23, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Windows CE]] has also been used in netbooks, due to its reduced feature set.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.windowsfordevices.com/news/NS6976598029.html|title=Windows CE takes on Linux in low-end netbooks|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130105093109/http://www.windowsfordevices.com/c/a/News/Windows-CE-takes-on-Linux-in-lowend-netbooks/|work=Windows for Devices|archive-date=January 5, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Android===
[[File:Craig Netbook.jpg|thumb|right|A low-cost [[Craig Electronics|Craig]] netbook with [[Android (operating system)|Android]]]]
Google's [[Android (operating system)|Android]] software platform, designed for mobile telephone handsets, has been demonstrated on an ASUS Eee PC and its version of the Linux operating system contains policies for [[mobile internet device]]s including the original Asus Eee PC 701.<ref>{{Citation |url=https://venturebeat.com/2009/01/01/android-netbooks-on-their-way-likely-by-2010/ |title=Android netbooks on their way, likely by 2010 |work=SocialBeat |date=January 1, 2009 |first1=Matthäus |last1=Krzykowski |name-list-style=amp |first2=Daniel |last2=Hartmann |access-date=September 6, 2017 |archive-date=October 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012151011/https://venturebeat.com/2009/01/01/android-netbooks-on-their-way-likely-by-2010/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> ASUS has allocated engineers to develop an Android-based netbook.<ref>{{Citation |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a4E9sAyqigOU |title=Google Android May Run Asus Netbook, Rival Microsoft (Update1) |work=Bloomberg |date=February 20, 2009 |first=Tim |last=Culpan }}</ref> In May 2009 a contractor of Dell announced it is porting [[Adobe Flash Lite]] to Android for Dell netbooks.<ref>{{Citation |url=http://www.fiercewireless.com/press-releases/bsquare-port-adobe-flash-lite-new-google-android-netbook-del |title=Bsquare to Port Adobe Flash Lite on New Google Android Netbook for Del |work=FierceWireless |date=May 6, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090513022550/http://www.fiercewireless.com/press-releases/bsquare-port-adobe-flash-lite-new-google-android-netbook-del |archive-date=May 13, 2009 }}</ref> [[Acer Inc.|Acer]] announced Android netbooks to be available in Q3/2009.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSTP18980620090602 |title=Acer to sell Android netbook PCs in Q3 |work=Reuters |date=June 2, 2009 }}</ref> In July 2009, a new project, Android-x86,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.android-x86.org/ |title=Android-x86 project}}</ref> was created to provide an open source solution for Android on the x86 platform, especially for netbooks.

===ChromeOS===
In 2011, [[Google]] introduced [[ChromeOS]], a Linux-based operating system designed particularly for netbook-like devices marketed as "[[Chromebook]]s". The platform is designed to leverage online services, [[cloud computing]], and its namesake [[Google Chrome|Chrome]] [[web browser]] as its [[Shell (computing)|shell]]—so much so that the operating system initially used a full screen web browser window as its interface, and contained limited offline functionality.<ref>{{cite news|last=Smith|first=William|title=8 Things You Need to Know About Chrome OS|newspaper=Pcgamer |url=http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/8_things_you_need_know_about_chrome_os|publisher=MaximumPC|access-date=May 14, 2011}}</ref><ref name="WSJ: Google to Launch">{{cite news|last=Sherr|first=Ian|title=Google to launch Chrome Laptops in June|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703730804576317361801753874|access-date=May 11, 2011|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=May 11, 2011}}</ref> Later versions of ChromeOS introduced a traditional [[desktop metaphor|desktop]] interface<ref name="TechCrunch: new UI">{{cite news|last=Lardinois|first=Frederic|title=Google's Chrome OS Will Soon Look More Like Windows Than A Browser|url=https://techcrunch.com/2012/04/09/googles-chrome-os-will-soon-look-more-like-windows-than-a-browser/|access-date=June 2, 2013|newspaper=Techcrunch|date=April 9, 2012}}</ref> and a platform allowing "native" packaged software written in [[HTML]], [[JavaScript]], and [[CSS]] to be developed for the platform.<ref name="InfoWorld packaged apps">{{cite news|last=Samson|first=Ted|title=Google entices Chrome OS developers with prospect of native-like apps|url=http://www.infoworld.com/t/application-development/google-entices-chrome-os-developers-prospect-of-native-apps-218773|access-date=June 5, 2013|newspaper=InfoWorld|date=May 16, 2013}}</ref>

===Other===
{{See also|Comparison of netbook-oriented Linux distributions}}

Netbooks have sparked the development of several Linux variants or completely new distributions, which are optimized for small screen use and the limited processing power of the Atom or ARM processors which typically power netbooks. Examples include [[Ubuntu Netbook Edition]], [[EasyPeasy]], [[Joli OS]] and [[MeeGo]]. Both Joli OS and MeeGo purport to be "social oriented" or social networking operating systems rather than traditional "office work production" operating systems. Netbook users can also install other UNIX-based operating systems such as [[FreeBSD]], [[NetBSD]], [[OpenBSD]], and [[Darwin (operating system)|Darwin]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.netbsd.org/gallery/in-Action/ | title = See NetBSD in Action | access-date = January 22, 2014 | author = NetBSD Foundation | date = July 7, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140826120601/http://www.netbsd.org/gallery/in-Action/ | archive-date = August 26, 2014 | url-status = dead}}</ref>

Since 2010, major netbook manufacturers no longer install or support Linux in the United States. The reason for this change of stance is unclear, although it coincides with the availability of a 'netbook' version of Windows XP, and a later Windows 7 Starter and a strong marketing push for the adoption of this OS in the netbook market. However, companies targeting niche markets, such as System76 and ZaReason, continue to pre-install Linux on the devices they sell.

The [[Cloud (operating system)|Cloud]] operating system attempted to capitalize on the minimalist aspect of netbooks.  The user interface was limited to a browser application only.

[[Mac OS X]] has been demonstrated running on various netbooks as a result of the [[OSx86]] project,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2008/12/17/osx-netbook-compatib.html |title=Mac OS X Netbook Compatibility Chart (Updated)}}</ref> although this is in violation of the operating system's [[end-user license agreement]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/09/it-lives-gadget.html |title=It Lives! Gadget Lab's Netbook Running OS X Leopard|magazine=Wired |last1=Sorrel |first1=Charlie }}</ref> Apple has complained to sites hosting information on how to install OS X onto non-Apple hardware (including ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]'' and [[YouTube]]) who have reacted and removed content in response.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2008/12/gadget-lab-vide-4/ |title=Gadget Lab Video: Running OS X on a Netbook|magazine=Wired |last1=Chen |first1=Brian X. }}</ref> One article nicknamed a netbook running OS X a "[[Hackintosh]]."

==Use==
A June 2009 [[NPD Group|NPD]] study found that 60% of netbook buyers never take their netbooks out of the house.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.npd.com/press/releases/press_090622b.html |title=NPD Finds Consumer Confusion about Netbooks Continues |date=June 22, 2009 |publisher=[[NPD Group]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090625050935/http://www.npd.com/press/releases/press_090622b.html |archive-date=June 25, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Special "children's" editions of netbooks have been released under Disney branding; their low cost (less at risk), lack of DVD player (less to break) and smaller keyboards (closer to children's hand sizes) are viewed as significant advantages for that target market. The principal objection to netbooks in this context is the lack of good video performance for streaming online video in current netbooks and a lack of speed with even simple games. Adults browsing for text content are less dependent on video content than small children who cannot read.

Netbooks offer several distinct advantages in educational settings. First, their compact size and weight make for an easy fit in student work areas. Similarly, their small size makes netbooks easier to transport than heavier, larger sized traditional laptops. In addition, prices ranging from $200–$600 mean the affordability of netbooks can be a relief to school budget makers. Despite the small size and price, netbooks are fully capable of accomplishing most school-related tasks, including word processing, presentations, access to the Internet, multimedia playback, and photo management.<ref>{{Citation |last=Descy |first=D. |year=2009 |title=Netbook: Small but Powerful Friends |journal=Tech Trends |volume=53 |issue=2 |pages=9–10 |doi=10.1007/s11528-009-0256-z |s2cid=60084224 }}</ref>

== Trademarks and Psion lawsuit ==
[[File:OLPC XO next to a Psion Netbook 2.jpg|thumb|The [[Psion netBook]] from 1999]]
In 1996 [[Psion (computers)|Psion]] started applying for trademarks for a line of ''netBook'' products that was later released in 1999.<ref name="psion-press-release">{{cite press release |title=Psion Continues To Extend The Reach Of E-Business Strategies Beyond The Enterprise...Announces Support For Oracle8i Lite On Its New Netbook Device |date=October 26, 1999 |url=http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/release?id=16302 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608191451/http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/release?id=16302 |archive-date=June 8, 2011}}</ref> International trademarks were issued (including {{US trademark|75215401}} and [https://euipo.europa.eu/eSearch/#details/trademarks/000428250 EUTM 000428250]) but the models failed to gain popularity<ref name="arstechnica.com">{{cite web |date=February 17, 2009 |title=Save the Netbooks: fighting a trademark on extinct hardware |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news/2009/02/save-the-netbooks-fighting-a-trademark-on-extinct-hardware.ars}}</ref> and were discontinued by the time modern netbooks came about (except for providing accessories, maintenance and support to existing users).<ref>{{cite web |title=Psion Teklogix Discontinued Products |url=http://www.psionteklogix.com/Public.aspx?s=us&p=EOLProducts |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070517090710/http://www.psionteklogix.com/public.aspx?s=us&p=EOLProducts |archive-date=May 17, 2007}}</ref> Similar marks were recently rejected by the [[USPTO]] citing a "likelihood of confusion" under section 2(d).<ref>{{US trademark|77527311}} for 'G NETBOOK' rejected October 31, 2008.</ref><ref>{{US trademark|77580272}} for [[Micro-Star International|MSI]]'s 'WIND NETBOOK'</ref><ref>{{US trademark|77590174}} for [[Coby Electronics Corporation|Coby Electronics]]' 'COBY NETBOOK' rejected January 13, 2009.</ref>

Despite expert analysis that the mark is "probably [[generic trademark|generic]]",<ref name="patenthands">{{cite web |title=How To Lose A Trademark: "Netbook" Is Probably Generic |url=http://patenthands.com/ph-blog/how-to-lose-a-trademark-netbook-is-probably-generic/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324055132/http://patenthands.com/ph-blog/how-to-lose-a-trademark-netbook-is-probably-generic/ |archive-date=March 24, 2012 |website=Patent Hands}}</ref> [[Psion Teklogix]] issued cease and desist letters on December 23, 2008.<ref>{{cite web |title=Netbook enthusiast web sites getting C & D using term "netbook" |url=http://jkontherun.com/2008/12/23/netbook-enthusiast-web-sites-getting-c-d-using-term-netbook/ |access-date=December 25, 2008 |archive-date=February 12, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212162902/http://jkontherun.com/2008/12/23/netbook-enthusiast-web-sites-getting-c-d-using-term-netbook/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="psion-press-release" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Schofield |first1=Jack |date=December 24, 2008 |title=Psion threatens netbook sites over trademarks |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/blog/2008/dec/24/psion-netbook-threats |newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> This was heavily criticized,<ref>{{cite web |title='Netbook' trademarked already, we're all doomed |url=http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/12/24/netbook-trademarked-already-were-all-doomed/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301180142/http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/12/24/netbook-trademarked-already-were-all-doomed/ |archive-date=March 1, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Chen |first1=Brian X. |title=Using the Word 'Netbook' Could Get You Sued |url=http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/12/using-the-word.html |magazine=Wired}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Cease and Desist: the netbook war of words |url=http://www.itwire.com/content/view/22488/53/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090311003644/http://www.itwire.com/content/view/22488/53 |archive-date=March 11, 2009}}</ref> prompting the formation of the "Save the Netbooks" [[grassroots]] campaign which worked to reverse the [[Google AdWords]] ban, cancel the trademark and encourage continued generic use of the term.<ref name="arstechnica.com" /> While preparing a "Petition for Cancellation" of {{US trademark|75215401}} they revealed<ref>{{cite web |title=Dell accuses Psion of "fraud" over netbook claims |url=http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/247933/dell-accuses-psion-of-fraud-over-netbook-claims.html}}</ref> that [[Dell]] had submitted one day before<ref>{{cite web |date=February 19, 2009 |title=Dell fights back against Psion netBook trademark rampage |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news/2009/02/dell-fights-back-against-psion-netbook-trademark-rampage.ars}}</ref> on the basis of abandonment, [[genericized trademark|genericness]] and fraud.<ref>{{cite web |date=February 20, 2009 |title=Dell Goes 'Nuclear' Over Netbook Trademark |url=http://www.crn.com/mobile/214502133 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090223171727/http://www.crn.com/mobile/214502133 |archive-date=February 23, 2009}}</ref> They later revealed Psion's counter-suit against [[Intel]], filed on February 27, 2009.<ref>{{cite web |title=Newsflash: Intel counter-sued by Psion in "netbook" trademark lawsuit; jury trial demanded |url=http://blog.savethenetbooks.com/2009/03/newsflash-intel-counter-sued-by-psion.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303165628/http://blog.savethenetbooks.com/2009/03/newsflash-intel-counter-sued-by-psion.html |archive-date=March 3, 2009 |website=[[Save the Netbooks]]}}</ref>

It was also revealed around the same time that Intel had also sued Psion Teklogix (US & Canada) and Psion (UK) in the Federal Court on similar grounds.<ref>{{cite web |title=Intel Wants 'Netbook' Trademark Canceled |url=https://www.courthousenews.com/intel-wants-netbook-trademark-canceled/}}</ref> In addition to seeking cancellation of the trademark, Intel sought an order enjoining Psion from asserting any trademark rights in the term "netbook", a declarative judgment regarding their use of the term, attorneys' fees, costs and disbursements and "such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper".<ref>{{cite web |title=Complaint for Injunctive Relief, Declaratory Judgment & Cancellation of Federal Trademark |url=http://www.courthousenews.com/2009/02/16/IntelvPsion.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304075553/http://www.courthousenews.com/2009/02/16/IntelvPsion.pdf |archive-date=March 4, 2009}}</ref>

On June 2, 2009, Psion announced that the suit had been settled out of court. Psion's statement said that the company was withdrawing all of its trademark registrations for the term "Netbook" and that Psion agreed to "waive all its rights against third parties in respect of past, current or future use" of the term.<ref>{{cite web |title=Psion, Intel settle 'Netbook' trademark dispute |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/psion-intel-settle-netbook-trademark-dispute/}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Columns-list|colwidth=22em|
* [[Comparison of netbooks]]
* [[Chromebook]]
* [[Mobile phone]]
* [[Mobile broadband]]
* [[Mobile Internet device]] (MID)
* [[Mobile modem]]
* [[Nettop]], a desktop equivalent of the netbook
* [[Pay As You Go (phone)]]
* [[Personal digital assistant|PDA]]
* [[Smartbook]]
* [[Smartphone]]
* [[SIM card]]
* [[Subnotebook]]
* [[Tablet computer]]
* [[Tethering]]
* [[Thin client|Thin PC]]
* [[Ultra-mobile PC]] (UMPC), a form factor smaller than the netbook
}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Netbooks}}
{{Wiktionary}}
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* [http://news.cnet.com/Year-in-review-The-rise-of-the-Netbook/2009-1042_3-6248307.html "The rise of the Netbook"] article at [[CNET]]
* [https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news/2009/02/state-of-the-netbook-1.ars "The State of the Netbook"] article at [[Ars Technica]]
* [https://www.wired.com/gadgets/wireless/magazine/17-03/mf_netbooks?currentPage=all "The Netbook Effect: How Cheap Little Laptops Hit the Big Time"] article at [[Wired (website)|Wired]]
* [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/02/technology/02netbooks.html?pagewanted=1&em "Light and Cheap, Netbooks Are Poised to Reshape PC Industry"] article at ''[[New York Times]]''
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* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090525092654/http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/09_22/b4133043584164.htm "Netbook Sales Keep Quanta Competitive"] article at ''[[BusinessWeek]]''
* [http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=13832588 Netbooks: Small but disruptive] ''The Economist''
* [http://www.economist.com/displayStory.cfm?story_id=12673233 Rational consumer: Small is beautiful] ''The Economist''
* [http://taiwanreview.nat.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=44916&CtNode=119 Taiwan Review/High-tech Success Made Simple]
* [http://english.cw.com.tw/article.do?action=show&id=10865 Acer Founder Stan Shih:The Netbook Is the Big Chance for Brand Taiwan]
* [http://english.cw.com.tw/article.do?action=show&id=10673&offset=0 World hardware: Small wonder/THE ECONOMIST INTELLIGENCE UNIT]
* [http://comparisonz.com/compare/100291_netbook-vs-notebook.aspx Comparison of Netbook and Notebook from comparisonz.com]
* [http://brainstormtech.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2009/11/20/the-man-behind-the-netbook-craze/ The man behind the netbook craze/Fortune Brainstorm Tech]

-->

{{Netbooks}}
{{Computer sizes}}
{{Cloud computing}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Netbooks| ]]
[[Category:Appropriate technology]]
[[Category:Cloud clients]]
[[Category:Information appliances]]
[[Category:Japanese inventions]]
[[Category:Laptops]]
[[Category:2007 neologisms]]