One Morgan Stanley analyst panicked netbook markets by drawing conclusions from slowing netbook growth (See Exhibit One.)

Most analysts disagree and argue the 4-year netbook trend was due to peak anyways. Just coincidence that iPAD came aong at same time.

Another analyst, Jeff Orr with ABI Research, says "With an estimated ship volume of 58 million, netbooks have made the consumer mass market grade."

"But the iPad won't be mass market...that takes sales in the 40 million to 50 million unit range. For a CE device to make it mass market, and that's what the iPad is, a CE device, it has be under $200."

ABI estimate 8 million media tablets -- including iPad-- will ship during 2010.

"Just 1% of potential netbook buyers will be impacted by media tablets," Orr predicts.

Go ABI on Netbooks

At Computex, Dell showed its Streak, a 5" Android device using Qualcomm's Snapdragon solution with integrated 1GHz processor to combine basic functionality, performance, and benefits of a laptop in a pocket-friendly size. Streak comes out first in UK and later this year in USA.

"The Dell Streak hits the sweet spot between traditional smartphones and larger-screen tablets," says Ron Garriques, president, Dell Communication Solutions Group.

The Dell Streak (unlike some others) will support Adobe Flash 10.1 on Android 2.2 later this year, video chat applications and other software innovations.

It features a 5 megapixel camera, VGA front-facing camera, removable battery, built-in Wi-Fi, 3G and Bluetooth connectivity options. It comes with 2GB internal dedicated storage and Micro SD available up to 32 GB.

Go Dell's Streak

Linux Foundation Exec. Director, Jim Zemlin calls this new embedded Linux "the open-source uber-platform for the next gen computing devices: tablets, pocketable computers, netbooks, automotive IVI (In-Vehicle Infotainment)and more."

Imad Sousou, director of Intel's Open Source Technology Center, says, "The MeeGo Netbook user experience is the first to appear, with the development of the MeeGo Handset user experience moving to the open in June."

MeeGo, says the Foundation, gives Linux desktop developers a system they will be able to pick up and use more quickly than they can Android.

Go Meego

You can't help but wonder what they all would have done if the iPAD flopped? At least 20 new tablets could be found at Computex.
ARM Holdings, the maker of processing cores popular in Android devices, estimates there will be about 40 tablet devices just using Arm-based processors this year. Android tablets were on display at Arm's private showroom: Foxconn's 10" N928-1, the 7"Lifepad by Prowave, and Malata with a 10" touchscreen.

WonderMedia Technologies showed off a range of new tablets based on its PRIZM SoC and Android. Tzumu Lin, President and CEO, is already predicting segmentation in tablets: "There's clearly a large and growing interest in the tablet form factor, but what we're seeing now is a rising consumer demand for some diversity in size, shape, style and price."

Go Products based on WonderMedia SmartTouch