| In the early years the PC was primarily a | | | | connection. And this is where laptops help to |
| plaything for science enthusiasts and technology | | | | bridge the gap between home and office-based |
| geeks. To bring computers to the masses, | | | | desktop machines and pocket-sized mobile |
| something was needed that would engage the | | | | devices. However, many laptops aren't as portable |
| user and be of genuine use to them, something | | | | as they otherwise could be and may still be too |
| that we now know has revolutionised the way | | | | big to carry around for long periods of time. This |
| people live their everyday lives. And that, of | | | | is where netbooks come in, as they are gradually |
| course, was the internet. Enabling people to tap | | | | starting to fulfil their potential as being the next |
| into the global community 24-hours a day, the | | | | logical step towards enabling genuine portable |
| internet has changed the way people | | | | internet. |
| communicate; helping to bridge time and distance | | | | Netbooks were originally designed for emerging |
| barriers. | | | | markets as an affordable, small, network-enabled |
| But there has been a tremendous change in the | | | | computer. But over the past few years, they |
| way people use and access the wealth of | | | | have gradually begun to win over a sizeable |
| information that's available in cyberspace. What | | | | market share from laptops. Given that the main |
| was once a handful of networked computers | | | | advantage of buying a netbook over a laptop is |
| found in libraries and shared amongst many users, | | | | that it offers wireless internet access for web |
| is now affordable and technologically advanced | | | | browsing and emailing on a device with a screen |
| enough to be in the majority of homes across | | | | size as little as five inches, it's hardly surprising |
| the UK. | | | | that they are starting to gain popularity with |
| Moreover, one of the main changes is that the | | | | business professionals too. |
| internet has been transported out of universities, | | | | Acer netbooks have proven to be a particularly |
| libraries and homes and is now ubiquitous almost | | | | popular choice on the market. However, with a |
| everywhere we go - airports, trains, coffee shops | | | | growing demand for fast internet access on the |
| and even in our pockets. In fact, mobile phone | | | | move, it's likely that many more of the computing |
| technology and PDAs have advanced to the point | | | | industry's leading brands will be fighting for a |
| where we can surf the internet at any time and | | | | market share in the months and years ahead. |
| at any place. | | | | And this will be another chapter in the remarkable |
| But whilst internet access on pocket devices does | | | | transformation of the humble PC of only a few |
| have its uses, much of the true value of the web | | | | decades ago to the slick portable models that are |
| is having large screens with a broadband network | | | | available today. |