Hasta La Gadget!

NPD today released a report stating that some 60-percent of consumers who have purchased a netbook assumed that the smaller, cheaper devices would have the same functionality as standard notebooks. In their defense, the category as it’s defined now is a relatively new one–and a fairly nebulous one. Also, netbook and notebook do sound kind of similar.

Naturally the confusion has led to some unhappy customers. Fifty-eight percent of those who picked up a netbook in the place of a notebook claim to be happy with the choice. NPD VP Stephen Baker had this to say about the confusion,

There is a serious risk of cannibalization in the notebook market that could cause a real threat to netbooks’ success. Retailers and manufacturers can’t put too much emphasis on PC-like capabilities and general features that could convince consumers that a netbook is a replacement for a notebook. Instead, they should be marketing mobility, portability, and the need for a companion PC to ensure consumers know what they are buying and are more satisfied with their purchases