LAS VEGAS — Several manufacturers are scooping out the guts of netbooks and implanting them in inexpensive, all-in-one desktop computers. And even though they’re cheap, it’s unlikely these desktops will break into the mainstream.
Micro-Star International (MSI), Asus, Viewsonic and Shuttle showcased various budget all-in-one desktops at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. And hardly any convention attendees even appeared to care about the devices; most of their attention remained fixated on mini notebooks.
MSI is proving to take this new category most seriously with four all-in-ones on display at CES. Dubbed the NetOn series, the computers included the same processor and chipset as the MSI Wind netbook. They range from $500 to $800, depending on screen size (from 16 to 22 inches) and other configurations such as optional touchscreens.
Of course, these companies are embracing this new marketing direction with two trends in mind: 1.) Budget devices, such as netbooks, are flourishing largely because consumers are spending less in a failing economy; and 2.) All-in-one compartmentalization is also highly desirable, as proven by the phenomenally popular iPhone.
But they’re missing one key ingredient that’s making netbooks (and the iPhone) so successful: They’re mobile. They’re light and small enough to carry around with you everywhere, which is what’s making them loved among both casual users and now even the business world.
The companies are trying to spruce up the all-in-one desktops by offering additional options such as touchscreens. Shuttle’s X50 All-in-One (right), for example, is a $500 desktop with an Atom processor and a touchscreen. But this isn’t going to cut it either. Consumers definitely are enjoying touchscreens, but is there much of
a point in a touchscreen computer if it’s stationary? What would you do
with it besides tap around for recipes while in a kitchen?
Companies producing budget all-in-ones and netbooks face a problem: The two products are competing with each other. And there just isn’t enough of an incentive to buy an all-in-one desktop as opposed to a netbook. Want to add to your netbook’s screen size? Attach it to a monitor. Need a keyboard and mouse? Plug them in via USB, just like you would with a desktop system.
Of course you’re going to ask — what about the iMac? What makes that system so popular? A few things: Apple’s cultlike status, superior aesthetic and higher quality parts. If I were considering an all-in-one desktop, I would want it to be capable of handling everything I would wish to do with a computer — play games, watch movies, edit movies, do work, etc. — and I wouldn’t want a low-powered system to do all that. The iMac can handle all of that, and that’s why it’s not a budget system.
Budget all-in-ones are a truly nascent product — and we won’t know how well they’re performing in sales until we see some earnings reports. But we’re going to make an early call by saying this product category is going to fail very fast, very soon.
See Also:
Photos: Brian X. Chen/Wired.com
