Netbook computing

If you are like most of us, you haven't yet noticed that there's a quite new phenomen going on out there that is changing the way we can get information. It is called a Netbook (even the spell checker can't find the word).

A Netbook is a laptop computer designed for wireless communication to the Internet. Primarily designed for web-browsing and emailing. Netbooks rely heavily on the Internet for remote access to web-based applications and are targeted increasingly at cloud computing. It is much smaller than a normal lap with some devices below 5 inches in width and typically weigh just a couple of 3 pounds. They cost around $300.

I've had something similar for about 3 years now before it was called a Netbook. Sony and later Acer can out with full-functional mini-laptops but they cost around $2,000 then and they are the size of a book.

Starting from essentially zero market penetration in late 2007, roughly 10 million netbooks have shipped, according to IDC. Netbooks now account for seven per cent of all portable PCs. That is extraordinary growth rate in a short time.

So what we have a new computing structure. I think it goes something like this from handheld to Servers:

iPhone - Netbooks - Laptop - Desktop - Server

Cool Beans

It's early evening July 4th, and we're driving to our favorite fireworks spot when my stomach informs me I haven't eaten since our cookout hours ago. I got this urge for a pizza - a Papa Johns pizza. But I don't know where one is and I don't want to wait for one.

For as much as I have a ploblem witht how much time it takes to keep up with technology and information, I found a techinical solution to my hunger problem.

Using my iPhone I bring up the Papa John's website. They're on top of things as they already have a moble web site designed just for me (so it seems). Using my GPS it finds the nearest store. Then I order my pizza online using the online special.

By the time I get to the store my pizza is ready and waiting for me. How cool is that?

For tonight I just love technology!