A survey of more than 1000 mobile computing users aimed
at identifying attitudes to netbooks and Mobile Internet Devices
(MIDs) has revealed that
netbooks are regarded as secondary mobile computing
platforms and MIDs as essentially mobile phone
replacements.
Such platforms are increasingly popular and have been packaged
by mobile operators keen to boost their
mobile broadband portfolios but these findings add to received
wisdom that such technology is not yet business ready.
ABI found that only 11% of mobile computing users in the US
would
use a netbook as aprimary computer, whilst 79% view such
devices as a secondary device to be used in addition to a laptop or
desktop computer.
For MIDs, almost half of the survey regarded them as mobile
phone replacements even though 34% said they would continue to use
a mobile handset even if they had a MID. Yet the research firm
expects some people to value a separate device with a bigger screen
for the web browsing, that they can choose when to carry
Commented ABI principal analyst Philip Solis, “[Even though]
their low price does cause some consumers to view netbooks as a
replacement for a laptop given the current economic conditions, the
majority view a netbook as being a secondary device. When
considering another laptop as an additional device mostly for
browsing the web and using other Internet-based communications
applications, consumers will find netbooks to be an appropriate
alternative.”