Dell on Thursday became the latest company to enter the “netbook” market with the launch of a small, stripped-down laptop designed to appeal to customers looking for a low-cost, Internet-ready computer.
The world’s second-biggest personal computer maker said its new Inspiron Mini 9 was geared towards mobile consumers and first-time PC buyers looking for a highly portable machine capable of performing tasks like internet surfing, shopping, and online chat.
The launch comes a few months after Hewlett-Packard, Dell’s biggest rival, entered the market with its own mini-laptop. Asustek Computer, a Taiwanese PC maker, kicked off the market last year with its mini-laptop, the Eee PC.
The move towards smaller, stripped down laptops presents a conundrum for computer makers that have already been struggling with a shift in customer preferences towards lower-cost PCs.
“There has been a big race to the bottom with some of these vendors to see who can sell cheaper,” said Michael Gartenberg, vice president of mobile strategy at Jupiter Media, a market research group.