Am stealing the honour of starting this from sniper who clearly has a job now...

So, who else thinks that netbooks pwn every other thing on the planet?

^I think they will be a force to be reckoned with. I expect iPads and similar tablets to sell a lot in the future. However, I don't think they will necessarily cannibalize the PC space. I think it would be incremental to the PC and smartphone space.

For me the smartphone (I have a Motorola Droid X) has been the most amazing and life changing device I've had in the last 5 years.

edit - Though Samsung and some others are releasing tablets with the Android mobile OS, Google is working on a tablet specific version of Android. Saw a demo from Andy Rubin yesterday. Looks pretty damn sweet. The iPad has some competition.

What I am certain of is that laptops fucking suck. I am waiting for my warranty to die on my Dell. As soon as that happens, I am moving to a desktop+netbook combo.
Never saw the point of tablets. Especially if one already owns a decent smartphone. I don't want to carry a barrage of mobile devices. Beats the entire purpose of going mobile.
Did anyone follow the Chrome OS thing? Google's been putting all their money and effort into the cloud for over half a decade now. I don't see it eating a lot into the personal computer market. However, the entire citrix receiver angle, makes it an awesome product for most corporations. I don't see the reason why most knowledge workers should have a full fledged computer, and not be on a chrome netbook.

Netbooks are bloody incredible. But I somehow love desktops. When I have a home from where I don't see myself moving for a while, it would ideally have both a desktop and a netbook. Power plus convenience. And I love how cheap they are. Veri nais. I laik.

I love desktops as well, but not having a permanent address means I have to lug around my Dell laptop for a little while more.

But I fucking love smartphones. Android FTW! The iPhone's obviously killing it, and even BB seems to be making some moves, so I see a lot of exciting stuff coming out in this field for a while now.

More on Chrome OS...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xjb5kFLO ... re=channel

Till the time our internet speeds dont get higher than the now lame 2-4mbps range, I really don't think the Chrome OS or anything of the sort would have any future in India. I fucking hate to see people post there speednet images and have speeds of 128mbps!

Anyhow, like I said earlier, I love the concept of netbooks. Sure you won't be able to do everything on it, but what the heck. Kabir just bought an Asus netbook with the normal netbook config for 13k! 13k man! Also, I think the iPad may be "cool" to have but doesn't really serve any real purpose. I think the tablets with atom that are springing up here and there would be pretty cool to have. For example, the E.Go by Wipro. Just wish I had an indefinite supply of....money.

^An iPad is not cool at all. It sounds like a sanitary napkin and you look like a douche using it. But for anyone who spends a significant amount of time on public transport or flights or just chilling at home, this is a game changing device. Shit tons of battery backup, extremely portable and compact. Unlike a netbook, you can comfortably use it standing up.

I don't own one, but I would love one. I'd pretty much stop using my laptop. I'm willing to bet that iPads and the like are not fads. One day they will be as ubiquitous as iPhones and smartphones.

Google is giving away free laptops with Chrome OS installed for Beta testing and feedback

Don't be a dumbass. Apply for it. It takes like 5 minutes. I'm pretty sure they'd especially be interested in people who're in India.

http://www.google.com/chromenotebook

APPLY!

@vidurm: The internet speeds here suck. However, as I said, chrome seems more apt for corporates. Also, 2-4 mbps should be fine for regular usage.
@133T: tablets have certain advantages. But as I said earlier, I don't see the point if one already owns a good smartphone.

^You can't watch video or read newspapers or even do message boards comfortably on a smartphone. Somethings just need a larger screen. Netbooks vs. Tablets argument is very much like the smartphone with and without tactile keyboards argument. Looks like tactile keyboard is losing market share among new users. RIM isn't doing too well in developed countries among new users. Everybody said the iPad was pointless when it came out. All those people are not very vocal any more.