[citation][nom]deltatux[/nom]agreed, I think netbooks are just overpriced for what they do. They do less than a notebook, but cost just the same as a higher performing but lower-end laptop.Netbooks to me are still a fad and I don't think AMD is really losing much out of this fad.[/citation]
I'm going to disagree. What is the origin of the netbook? One Laptop Per Child (OLPC). This small, inexpensive, and portable netbook was meant for "undeveloped" nations (sorry, I hate that term, but its what most people recognize), yet consumers from other regions were intrigued by the concept and wondered why they couldn't have one.
Considering UMPCs were the $1000+ range and underpowered compared to laptops of less price, the notion of an equal or lesser priced netbook was very appealing.
Personally, my 4G + tekkeon battery is a lot lighter to carry around all day than a full laptop. It is inexpensive enough that I will be able to buy a replacement if stolen. Vacationing to my wife's grandmother's house, the fact that it uses a 2-prong plug was a lifesaver (grandma's electrical is so old that there was only 1 available 3-prong outlet).
IF Microsoft would stop pulling a Tonya Harding on the netbook market, then I think you would see it is far more than a fad - it would be what they wanted the UMPC market to be.