Date: 08/03/2011

Netbook can turn into tablet offering a new formfactor in portable computer business

Tablet computer is not new in the market, but Apple's iPad in the first one to create success wave in the market, with its extremely good design and timely launch. Year 2011 is going to be another successful year for tablet computers. But the netbook and notebook computer makers finding it difficult to beat Apple's iPad both in cost and features. One of the ways out for them is to provide a netbook which can used as both as normal netbook and tablet. The solution here is to separate the display part and make it work as a tablet without main unit. And when the display unit, which is kind of self operated tablet is fixed back to main unit, it will operate as normal netbook or notebook with more processing abilities.

There are many questions to be answered before going for this model. First of all, whether customers will accept this kind of a model. The second important question is cost of such system. If customer accepts and this model can be offered in price range of $500, there is fair chance of success for this model.

OEMs with huge experience in this industry may find this model a better option compared to separate netbook and tablet computer. Hope to see such models in mid 2011.

Digi Times has reported Asustek and Acer are already in this process of developing a device with functionalities of both netbook and tablet.