| Mini notes are notebooks and laptops that are half | | | | much larger than a mobile phone or PDA, though |
| the size of traditional machines, but incredibly | | | | slightly smaller than a full sized laptop. |
| powerful and ultra-portable. They are exploding in | | | | The target price for 2010 many manufacturers have |
| popularity in four markets: | | | | for mini notes is below $100. They also hope to bring |
| - Rural areas around the globe that are cut off from | | | | their weight below a pound (they are currently only |
| new sources of information such as updated | | | | about a pound and a half). Whether a consumer |
| textbooks and up-to-the-minute news turn to these | | | | wants to access e-mail, watch video, listen to MP3s, |
| devices to solve these problems. | | | | browse the internet, take pictures and video, or learn |
| - Many poor areas have both the above problem and | | | | from a virtual textbook, mini notes are already |
| also the problem of families not being able to afford | | | | revolutionary even before they take these exciting |
| a full fledged computer. | | | | future steps. |
| - Consumers in the U.S., Japan, and elsewhere often | | | | For the more technologically minded, here is a brief |
| have computing needs that are much less than what | | | | synopsis of the features of the technology involved |
| a large and expensive computer delivers. Groups such | | | | with mini notebooks and mini laptops: |
| as children, stay at home parents, and senior citizens | | | | - Built-in Devices: Wireless LAN antenna, Bluetooth |
| may want something easy, cheap portable, and light. | | | | antenna |
| Mini notes are perfect. | | | | - Dimensions (average): Width 6-7 in, Depth 5- 6 in, |
| - Many families in wealthier countries are finding that | | | | Height 1-1.4 in, Weight 1.5-1.75 lbs |
| they need almost one computer to every family | | | | - Processor: Intel A110 / 800 MHz |
| member. However, to save space and money, and | | | | - Operating Systems: Varied, but include Windows |
| for maximum convenience, they buy one or two | | | | products such as Vista |
| large models and the rest are mini-laptops or | | | | - Software: Many possibilities including standard Office |
| mini-notebooks. | | | | products, photo and video editing, financial, etc. |
| What has happened over the past few years to | | | | - Cache Memory: Installed Size usually around 512 KB |
| truly make mini laptops and mini notebooks so | | | | - RAM: Installed Size .5-1 GB |
| popular is that manufacturers no longer have to strip | | | | - Hard Drive: 20-60 GB |
| down a lot of the functionality of a larger model to | | | | Mini notes, mini-laptops, and mini-notebooks will |
| get to a price and size that attracts the consumer. In | | | | continue to evolve, but don't wait. Very powerful, |
| fact, most of the current mini notes have the | | | | ultra-portable, and inexpensive models are already |
| functionality of the fully powerful notebooks and | | | | available from major manufacturers. |
| laptops of just a few years ago. They have a screen | | | | |