Struggling to grow out of the slump, the personal computer makers have turned their focus to netbooks and net-tops, the new class of pigmy PCs. The netbooks and net-tops are increasing growing popular in enterprises and consumers because of their slim and stylish designs, functionality, and low prices. These small PCs have really pepped up the computer market of India.

Several PC manufacturers and sellers, such as HCL Infosystems, Acer, Samsung, Dell, Lenovo and Hewlett-Packard (HP), along with chip-manufacturers like Intel and AMD, are focusing on netbooks and net-tops nowadays.

Currently, the netbook circulation in the Indian computer market is about 25,000 units. It is expected to surge to 2-3 lakh units by the end of the year 2010. However, the market for the net-top is still unexplored and unexploited in India; it is expected to grow in the coming years.

The advent of netbooks and net-tops began with Intel’s much hyped ‘Atom’ processor – the low-cost internet oriented processor. Intel is now working with its Indian partner OEMs, such as Acer, Dell, HP, Zenith and HCL, to boost the presence of these devices in Indian market. The Intel South Asia director (marketing) Prakash Bagri reckons that netbooks and net-tops have a great potential in growing markets like India, irrespective of a slowdown.

The netbooks and net-tops are attracting several business sectors, such as insurance, pharma and financial services. According to PC makers, the low prices are the main draw of the netbooks and net-tops.   

Netbook is light-weight, easy-to-carry, small portable computer, which is even smaller, lighter, and cheaper than a notebook computer. Net-top is a low cost desktop PC. These computer devices are capable of heavy web browsing and day-to-day computing, but they don’t have heavy-duty graphics, multimedia or specialized business applications. The best thing about netbooks and net-tops is that they are cheaper and handier than notebooks and desktops respectively.