The answer just landed in my inbox courtesy of a representative of Hard Candy Cases who alerted me on the company’s cool cases for netbooks and select MacBooks.

They claim to be “The first company to design fashionable snap-on protective cases for the top-selling Asus and Acer netbook models” and whether that’s true or not (I don’t have the time nor inclination to  verify and legitimize the claim), the bubble shell netbook cases that they have for sale are kinda sexy and useful.

If you remember, in previous posts I once asked about the usefulness of netbook bags but I am more in favor of netbook cases because they accomplish two tasks beautifully: protect your baby and make it look hot!

About Hard Candy Cases:
Founded in 2009, Danville, CA-based Hard Candy Cases is a new company from computer accessory veteran, Tim Hickman, who started and ran Speck Products. The company merges fashion and function to distinguish and protect mobile computers from the wear and tear of daily use.  Additional information can be found at http://www.hardcandycases.com.

Two years ago no one knew what this netbook craze was all about. Today, they say that the trend towards netbook like laptops (laptops that are standard size aka 13-15″ but with netbook features) will ultimately demise these ultra portable computers that we love so much.

Truth of the matter is that netbooks are just getting started. Most computer users do two things with their laptops: check emails and surf the web. Most times all this is done from an Internet browser. Yes, they do listen to music and work on the odd document file but all those tasks can be handled by a netbook without out it going bezerk.

Add the small size and portability factor coupled with the low prices and you have a winning combination.

If you’re still sitting on the fence, go ahead and buy your netbook. It’s no fad. Happy shopping!

Another week, another Acer vs Asus netbook battle analysis… 

It really has nothing to do with quality, performance, price or raving reviews. The simple reason why the Acer Aspire One is the most popular netbook over Asus’, its’ chief contender, is because Acer has one netbook in the race for market dominance while Asus has three or more netbooks.

Of course, there are some variations of the Acer Aspire One netbook out there but the model is pretty much the same. Also, in recent time, a new Aspire One was announced and rumour had it that the previous model would be phased out which in my opinion is a brilliant decision.

What happens if you use all your resources to market one product while your competitor uses more or less equal resources to market three or four? Well, it goes without saying that the most popular netbook will be the one that comes in one model.

Notice however that in the Acer vs Asus battle, no one ever tells us who has the most popular netbook brand. I am sure that numbers on this one, would be completely different.

Packard Bell Dot s is a 10″ model and the Packard Bell Dot M is a 11″ model and a quasi-replica of the Acer Aspire One netbook.

Why is Acer muddying up its image and releasing exact copies of its best-selling netbooks through Pack Bell? Well, the reason is simple. It’s a business tactic. It turns out that the Packard Bell computer brand is very strong in Europe and Acer wants to leverage that. Although this may seem logical, it’s not really smart as Acer should be trying to push its leadership worldwide by using one brand.

See: Packard Bell Releases Dot S and M Netbooks

Oh happy morning for those in the US who have been impatiently waiting for the 10″ Acer Aspire One netbook. It has just been announced that as from today, you can get your hands on the upgraded most popular netbook for only $350. You can find your Aspire One AOD150 netbook at any authorized reseller and retailer.

See the press release: Next Generation Acer Aspire One Netbook Now Available for U.S. Customers

Acer has decided to drop the 8″ netbook version and only market the 10″. I really think that it’s a good idea because 8″ netbooks are really small compared to the 10″ and yet the 10″ are still portable, light and you can actually type on the keyboard without finding it awkward and browse the net like you would on a laptop.

I have written before that 10″ netbooks are the future. For Acer to drop the 8.9″ sometimes this year allows it to market one model only and retain it’s sales leadership over Asus. It would be hard to sell two different versions that do not seem to have any differences.

I hope that all netbook manufacturers are paying attention and will follow lead.

See more pics: 10-inch Acer Aspire One breaks cover: Photo Gallery

Acer is on a roll wanting to keep the pole position in netbook sales. The latest deal on the Acer Aspire One netbook is $299.99 for a few days. That’s an enticing sales promotion that will have people rush to Best Buy to grab their own mini laptop but like everything in life, it seems that there’s a catch.

See: Acer, Best Buy Slash XP Netbook Price to $299

Rumours of the Apple netbook just got crazier to the extent where everyone is expecting a MacBook Mini netbook in January at MacWorld but wondering why Steve Jobs will not be attending.

Acer may have eaten Asus’ lunch but Asus still had a top gong to its credit as Forbes Asia named the Asus Eee PC netbook, the product of the year. Acer had another trick up its sleeves though: it was announced that the Acer Aspire One would be selling at Walmart. If you’re aware of Walmart’s mammoth distribution channel, you know how big of a coup this is.

Some pundits bet that Linux would take over the whole world but the marketplace decided that after all, it was more comfortable with Windows powered netbooks. See also: Will Netbooks Destroy Microsoft in 2009?

And so, those were the highlights of the past week (14th-21st December 2008). Thanks for reading us, your number one netbook blog!

Happy holidays!

You hear that Sony and Apple? Your other computer products will not be cannibalized. 

See: Acer and Asustek gain more than they lose from netbooks, says Digitimes Research

Netbooks are positioned as cheap laptops so naturally Walmart and other discounters are going to start selling them. It’s a good deal for Acer as the more Aspire Ones are sold, the cheaper they will get and the more popular they will get in return and so on. Eventually, the Acer Aspire one netbook can be king with the mere fact that most people tend to buy a best selling/cheap item.

See more: Acer Aspire One Mini laptop at Wal-Mart for $419.00

Netbooks are no fad. I have said it many times (Are Netbooks a Fad?). This new category is just a niche that may one day overtake the full-fledged notebook category.

One of the proofs (another one being corporate adoption. See: Prediction: Why Netbooks Are Going Corporate in 2009) that the netbook movement is going to really explode in 2009 and beyond is the fact that there are now many offers that promise a netbook for a really low price in exchange for a subscription to a mobile broadband plan just like it’s done in the mobile phone industry.

While this concept is still new, it’s not very difficult to figure out if it’s worth it from a buyer’s perspective. It’s just a matter of looking at the mobile phone situation.

The first of such deals include a netbook for about $99 and a commitment to sign-up for a two year contract. In Australia, some offers actually give away the netbook for free! (See: At Last, One Way to Get a Free Dell Netbook. Yes, There’s a Catch)

Is it worth it?

Like most things in life, it depends.

People are saying that in the case of the Radio Schack deal (where you get a $99 Acer Aspire One netbook with integrated 3G wireless technology if you sign-up for a two-year plan AT&T mobile broadband plan that start at $60/month), ultimately the netbook will cost $1540. (See: How to Buy an Acer Aspire for only $100. But there’s a “But!”)

Such observers say that you will be spending $1540 while you could get the Acer Aspire One netbook for around $300. In their opinion, it’s a total rip-off.

While it may look so, it’s really not because at the end of the day, it’s not as if you’re not using your mobile broadband. In other words, you are getting an Internet service on top of a mini-laptop.

If you’re always on the move and want Internet access everywhere and are comfortable with owning a computer for two years without needing an upgrade or replacement, this deal is worth considering.

On the other hand, if you find yourself changing computers like you change, err, socks and you really don’t need mobile broadband because everywhere you go there’s a Wi-Fi signal that you can tap into, these types of deals are not worth your consideration.

In my case for instance, I know that 2009 will be the year of the netbook where new faster models will be introduced that feature longer battery life, better design, better prices (ie: cheaper than what’s found today) and with more hard drive space.

As a computer user, I replace my machines every year. I am also lucky to live in a city where there’s free Wi-Fi almost everywhere I find myself daily so while I am on the move, I can always stay connected.

So, the thought of being stuck in a contract with an Acer Aspire one netbook or other ultraportable notebook that I got for a “deal” in exchange of a two year marriage, does not appeal to me at all.

A) I want to be able to replace my netbook without being forced to pay for the older one B) I am not that much in a hurry to be needing mobile broadband (another consideration: the more popular data plans get, the cheaper they will get).

Should you seriously consider the Radio Shack type deals?

Yes if you’re comfy with using a netbook for two years and if you really need the mobile broadband and find the prices fair.

No if you don’t need mobile broadband after all and if you want the freedom to change netbooks whenever you want.

Is this a good or a bad deal btw? It depends really. If you plan on using and owning the netbook for more than two years then it makes sense. If you replace your netbook each six month, you may have a little situation in your hands.

Netbook Era will sure update you with some pics and reviews when they surface. In the meantime, I am just going to say that it’s another step that shows that netbooks are becoming more and more important for manufacturers to ignore.

Oh by the way just in case you did not know, Gateway got acquired by Acer last year so it’s no wonder that netbooks and notebooks released under these two brands are going to start looking the same and priced alike too.

For now, Acer has a powerful marketing weapon as the company can go out there yelling: “We’re the most popular netbook on the market”, a bragging right that consumers seem to seriously consider during the shopping process. 

See how everyone else such as Dell and HP fared: Acer beats arch-rival Asus in Q3 netbook match

"Netbooks" by Dell (from left), Asus, Acer, MSI and Lenovo. (By Rob Pegoraro -- The Washington Post)

This cool pic was taken from a Washing Post article on netbooks. It answers two questions: How little laptop is enough? And how few dollars will it cost you? 

To keep up with Asus, HP and all other mini-laptop brands, word is that Acer is planning a 10″ netbook that’s a bigger brother or sister to the best selling Acer Aspire One that’s 8.9″.

Why the larger screen? It’s not only because the competitors are offering them but surfing the net with a 10″ still allows the user to go browse a site without scrolling from left to right. That’s on bit that seems to annoy current owners of smaller netbooks.

No has any pics yet but the minute Netbook Era spots some, you will be among to check them out.

Source: Acer to deliver 10.2-inch model 

Previous coverage: 10″ Acer Aspire One to Be Available in Feb 2009, Acer Aspire One’s Bigger Bro Coming in 2009

Product Reviews alerts us on the Acer Aspire One A150-1672 pink netbook. I will admit that them saying that it makes a perfect gift for this holiday season is a pretty good idea that I will cheer on.

“the main features on this cute netbook include Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz, 1GB, 160 GB (5400 RPM) SATA Hard Drive, 8.9″ WSVGA display, 802.11b/g, Webcam, Multi-in-one card reader, Microsoft XP Home, 1024 MB DDR2 (PC2-4200) RAM, 3 x USB 2.0,...” Acer Aspire One A150-1672 Netbook in Pink

“Acer, the world’s third largest PC vendor, is planning to launch a netbook next year with a 10.2-inch screen, the largest netbook screen from Acer so far, a company representative confirmed” - Acer Plans Netbook With 10.2-inch Screen

“For the past week I’ve been working on an Acer Aspire One running Linux and I have to say that it hits most of the right notes.” - Acer’s impressive One

“Newegg has revealed a list of their Black Friday deals. Guess what, there is a discount on the 8.9″ Acer Aspire One Netbook from Newegg. The price has been dropped to $249.99 from the usual $299.00.” - Newegg: Black Friday netbook deals

“We have been reporting for most of this week the stores that are now showing their Black Friday deals, and Sams Club is the latest to show what they will have on offer. The one day deal which happens one day after Thanksgiving is for their members only.” - Unveiled: Sam’s Club Black Friday Sale

And then he goes on to do mini-reviews of the Acer Aspire One, Dell Mini 9, MSI Wind U100 and the Asus Eee 1000H (Mr Mossberg calls ASUS “the king of netbooks“) netbooks.

“Just a size comparison between a Dell Inspiron 700M 12.1 inch subnotebook and the (ASUS) Eee PC 1000H, Medion Akoya Mini E1210 [Jay's note: a rebadged MSI WInd really], HP 2133 Mini-Note, Acer Aspire One, [ASUS] Eee PC 900 and [ASUS] Eee PC 701 netbooks”

TheAgent06, a DJ, comments: “Just got mine in… it’s running my Dj sofware better than the Acer Aspire One and its not even upgraded to 2 Gig RAM yet. The video streaming load seems faster too even under poor WiFi connection.”

AnthonyGF, a viewer of the Acer Aspire One netbook review on YouTube writes in the comments section: “My squirrel friend just bought one for $600 and got a $100 rebate. It is cool because you can take it places easily. It has a camera, it’s pretty fast and has good power.

It came with a memory pen and can do all that she and I want to do, such as storing pictures, taking pics, holding songs, keeping some documents, etc. We mainly just get on line with it. I think it’s good and I’d like to have one of my own. So far so good, it has a warranty as well.“

To entice you, dear consumer, they’re running a few competitions with an Acer Aspire One netbook as one of  the ultimate prizes. You don’t even have to buy anything. You just have to be at the right mall at the right time and just text something to some number and wait to see if you go home with a brand new netbook. Good luck!

“According to Toshiba, the netbook is targeted at schoolchildren, senior citizens, and mobile workers who “do not require the processor power or range of functions of a full-sized laptop”.”

Are netbooks getting the attention of all computer makers or what?

Although I am pretty happy for the shopper about all these new netbooks surfacing, I fear that ultimately, too much choice will become confusing because these mini-laptops seem to have no difference except for the brand name. (What is the Best Netbook Brand? Acer, Asus, Dell, Lenovo, HP, MSI, Samsung?)

Oh well, the fact that the netbook retailers will end up waging a price war to sell them is only good for the consumer right?

Thanks for Trusted Reviews for the photo. You should check out more pics and their thorough review of of the Toshiba Satellite NB100.

Now that you know what you need in a netbook computer (Read: How to Pick and Shop for The Best Netbook), it’s time to figure out what brand and model to pick from. Even though netbooks are pretty new, there is already quite a selection and that can get a little bit confusing.

In this article, I will try to answer the tough question of which is the best netbook notebook computer. I have to add before I go on that this is my view and not a universal perspective. You may want to consult with other guides for their take on the topic and thus be a better informed smart shopper.

Moving on…

So far, the serious players in the netbook business seem to be Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, MSI, Samsung and Apple (if you we say that the MacBook Air is a netbook). There are a few more of course and new players do show up everyday but at this time of writing, the above mentioned are the ones that you should consider as serious contenders in your shopping spree. 

To make matters interesting, some of these netbook brands have one or more models that have their own distinct features. For instance, current market darling Asus offers, four models as I write this. How do they differ? They differ in CPUs, display sizes, storage types and sizes and of course prices. I will talk more about this in a bit but keep this in mind. (See: The Best Netbook Guides You Will Ever Read)

So what is the best netbook brand?

Are you familiar with the term OEM short for Original equipment manufacturer? In layman’s terms it means that basically there’s one major computer manufacturer located somewhere in Asia who makes the netbook and different brands will take that netbook and tweak the exterior to fit their existing brands.

Basically, it’s the same computer but it’s just that it looks different. It’s really like a policeman who wears a uniform when he’s at work but when he goes to the swimming pool to relax with his wife and children puts on a swimming costume. This man may be wearing different uniforms but he still is the same under the “hood”.

My point? Netbooks are more or less the same. I understand that techies and purists are going to be on my case about this but consider this: 

The MSI Wind PC which is considered to be one of the best netbook on the block. According to Wikipedia, It turns out that there are 18 known original equipment manufacturer versions of the Wind:

-Advent 4211 in the UK.

-Medion Akoya Mini in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, The Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, France, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Poland and Australia (as of 23rd October 2008) (the Medion Akoya Mini is a slightly different containing a different wireless card, no Bluetooth (Aust. model features mini Bluetooth dongle), and 0.3MP camera).

-MyBook M11 ‘Freedom’ in Denmark, however, unlike the other OEM versions, the MyBook M11 does not have a logo on its case.

-Mouse Computer LuvBook U100 in Japan.

-Mivvy M310 in the Czech Republic.[7] but with 2GB of RAM and a 120GB HDD.

-Tsunami Moover T10 in Portugal (XP version only)

-NTT Corrino 101I and Aristo Pico i300 in Poland

-RoverBook Neo U100 in Russia with 120GB or 160GB HDD

-Axioo Pico in Indonesia with 160GB HDD but not include Bluetooth

-Multirama HT Xpress Book in Greece with 160GB HDD

-Positivo Mobo White in Brazil, with 4 models: 1000, 1050, 1070 and 1090. All sport Intel Atom Processors and range from 512 MB RAM / 80 GB HDD (Mobo White 1000) to 1 GB RAM and 160 GB HDD (Mobo White 1090).

-The Proline U100 in South Africa. 

Wikipedia goes on to say that “all OEM versions are offered in different colors to the original MSI Wind, apart from the Tsunami Moover (white only) and the Mobo White”.

Pictured above are the Proline U100 and the Medion Akoya Mini. Can you spot any visual difference?

So now suppose that you went into a store that sold netbooks and by a weird coincidence sold all the above brands under one roof. Yes, they would be priced differently according to the different specifications such as hard drive storage size or the strength of the brand.

Essentially though, you would be buying the same netbook! How about that?

I am not saying that the same manufacturer makes ALL netbooks. But I will say that in a matter of quality, they’re pretty much the same which leads me to conclude that you should not really pay attention to the brands but more to the specifications and the price to make sure that you buy the netbook that is right for you.

As long as you stick to the brands mentioned earlier (Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, MSI, Samsung and Apple), you should be good.

Now the trick is to find the best netbook model. What makes each model different to its sibling under the same brand family is the different specifications. For instance, the major difference between the Asus Eee PC 701 and the Asus Eee PC 1000 is the display size (7” versus 10”). You could also add the processors (Celeron versus Atom) and so on.

That would mean that the best Asus netbook for you would be the Asus Eee PC 1000 if you would rather have a 10” large display than a rather small 7”. But you may also see that the difference in prices is something major and that you do not want to spend an extra $300 for a screen display difference because after all, you can live with the 7”.

So what is the best netbook notebook computer? It’s the one that suits all your needs and that has the price that you like. If you’re still undecided, you can just go with the best sellers. For that, you can head over to your fave retailer and ask her or him which model people seem to like the most and go with the choice of the majority. 

After all, if everyone is buying a certain unit, it must be the best netbook otherwise it would be gathering dust!