Don’t laugh at this laptop photo. In 2005, this is what people thought a portable secondary computer was! Netbooks came to live because of the need for a secondary computer. Before netbooks there wasn’t such a thing as a secondary computer. Those clunky, heavy, battery hungry laptops were your only option.

Okay this is a subject that I’m very passionate about. Most people out there either don’t really like labels or they really don’t care about such a debate. I care about the debate because it’s easier for consumers and people searching online to find what they are looking for.  Without labels or categories, wouldn’t the internet become a big blog of information and endless searches for you when trying to find information for what you are seeking?

Recently, the Oxford dictionary added “netbook” to their dictionary. Their definition of what is a netbook?

“a small laptop computer designed primarily for accessing Internet-based applications”

That’s decent I would suggest. Unfortunately, the experts out there don’t have a clue about what is a netbook. Seriously, it’s that bad and these so called technology experts are stuck in their own muck. Here they are describing products and computers, yet they haven’t taken the time to really think about what is a netbook.

The issue is, netbook in 2011 is NOT what netbook was in 2009 when they first started showing up. The issue is, the netbook has continued to evolve. The “experts” haven’t followed with this evolution and have back assward thinking on the subject. I feel that the ONLY website out there that is evolving and working to define netbooks in 2011 in CNET.

So what is a netbook?

Let me first say, it’s very simple. What is a netbook? It’s a secondary computer. It’s actually nothing more complicated than that. You can’t put limitations on netbooks like price, power, speed, or battery life.

Here is my reasoning:

Price: You can have a feature packed secondary computer. It raises the price of course, but it still doesn’t change the fact that it’s not your main home computer. The more you put into that secondary computer, the more you will pay. It’s why I believe that “netbook” and “premium netbook” easily can describe these computers.

Power/Speed: If it’s gutless or not gutless shouldn’t dictate whether it’s a netbook or not. A 10.1″ with dual core processor, ION packing, and 2 GB ram on a netbook and it suddenly changes it from being a netbook. Silly isn’t it?

Battery Life: Face it, you can buy a 10.1″ netbook with a low capacity battery which will save you money. The Eee PC 1001PX will give you about 4 hours of battery. Now by everyone’s description of netbook, suddenly the 1001PX doesn’t qualify as a netbook because it has short battery life. Again, silly logic isn’t it? Of course the 1001PX is still a netbook regardless of battery life.

Screensize: You can however, put a limited on the screensize to describe a netbook which is a secondary computer. 12 inches and less makes a lot of sense. Partially because Asus names their Eee PC 12″ models as netbooks. The other aspect is that 12″ is not a screensize that anyone (sure there are always exceptions) would use at their home as their primary computer.

So in summary, what is a netbook?

A secondary computer. It’s the computer that sits at home collecting dust because you are using your primary computer. When you’re heading out, your netbook goes with you. It’s not much more complicated than this. People want to make it confusing. The reality is, there is a base model secondary computer named “netbook”, and there are more robust and expensive “premium netbooks”. They still won’t replace your home PC and that’s the point and the impetus of netbooks. They were born from the need to have a small and light computer that made more sense than laptops which were complete overkill for what a person needed in a secondary computer. Up until netbooks showed up, face it, there wasn’t an option for a secondary computer!!!

What I haven’t mentioned, is that in 2000, laptop meant secondary computer. The reality is, that in 2011, netbook is the new secondary/portable computer. Netbook is what describes that secondary computer. Nobody should associate laptops as being portable. Times changed, and thanks in part to the Atom, a new breed and a new standard for portable computer was born. Netbooks were an organic category of computer that simply won’t go away. It’s only the short sighted and ignorant technology experts who can’t grasp what a secondary computer (netbook) is in 2011.