When netbooks burst onto the scene in 2007, they seemed to be ideal for people looking for a lightweight, on-the-go computer. As the name suggests, netbooks were designed for Web browsing and online content consumption, as well as for light office work. Performance was limited, however, partly because the machines used the first Intel Atom CPUs and partly because the starter versions of Windows imposed crippling requirements. Microsoft’s licensing limited initial Windows netbooks to a scant 1GB of RAM. In addition, most early netbooks shipped with cramped keyboards, plus tiny, 7- to 10-inch, low-resolution screens.

Despite their limitations, netbooks filled a valuable niche when released. Inexpensive, lightweight, and fairly rugged, netbooks arrived just as the fast and reliable 802.11n Wi-Fi standard began to take off, and most were equipped to support it. Netbooks became the hot new category, and companies rushed to fill a niche pioneered by Asus’s original Eee PC, the first publicly announced netbook.

Netbook Sales Plummet

Today, netbooks have faded from the scene. Dell has stopped selling netbooks altogether. HP seems to be positioning its sole remaining model, the Mini 1104, for the education market. Although netbooks remain available at retail and online outlets, new models are few and far between. Asus, the original netbook maker, is still selling several netbook models.

Starting in early 2010, sales of netbooks “took a nosedive,” IDC analyst David Daoud notes. Netbook sales in the United States in particular fell off a cliff.

The numbers in the chart above represent unit sales in the United States, in millions (source: IDC). The message: Netbook sales have rapidly declined, and continue to drop in one of the world’s biggest PC markets.

Other parts of the world trailed the US trend, however.

Netbook sales growth continued in most of the rest of the world through 2010, but began to tail off sharply in Western Europe by early 2011. Today, growth has all but halted in most areas, except for Latin America. Most of the growth has been in the developing world.

Put all of that data together, and you end up with worldwide netbook sales showing a gradual decline over the past two years, with the trend moving downward overall.

What is happening to netbooks is a classic case of technological innovation killing a product niche, particularly in the United States. When netbooks first launched, users noticed their sluggish performance, mediocre keyboards, and tiny screens. Some manufacturers built netbooks with larger screens, but the increased price and weight made higher-performing laptops seem a better deal.

Netbook Decline Due to Many Factors

The most important thing that happened over the past couple of years was the release of Apple’s original iPad in April 2010. By the launch of the iPad 2 in the first quarter of 2011, netbook sales had started falling more sharply.

It’s unlikely, however, that people who might have bought inexpensive netbooks ran out and bought pricier iPads instead. “The fast decline of the netbook has been the result of many factors, IDC’s Daoud suggests. First is mainstream consumers lack of interest in a product that features tiny screens and keyboards. This was at the same time Apple released its first generation of iPads, shifting consumer attention to the tablet. Meanwhile, the PC industry has been refocusing its efforts on higher-margin systems that produce better profits, such as the Ultrabook and upcoming releases of new classes of tablets. All these factors and many others are currently conspiring to bring the netbook into a tiny niche market.”

In other words, users became disenchanted with the sluggish performance and poor experience that netbooks offered, and Apple’s shiny new toy–with its emphasis on responsiveness and ease of use–exacerbated the flaws of the netbook in the eyes of potential buyers.

What’s more, netbook margins were very low, so manufacturers abandoned them. Brian Pitstick, who runs the marketing effort for Dell’s consumer, small, and medium business laptops, notes as much: “The netbook category has declined because netbooks did not deliver on the overall user experience, but rather addressed the category on a price basis.”

Even Asus, which still offers a broad netbook-product portfolio, acknowledges the reality of the market. “Clearly, demand for netbooks is declining and many think this product category is all but dead, Asuss Kevin S. Huang wrote in an email exchange. Asus created the netbook category, and I think netbooks today still provide the most cost-effective computing product solution servicing certain user segments–ie, the K-12 education market.”

Manufacturers Turn to Ultrabooks

Intel was one of the prime beneficiaries of netbook growth, with its first-generation Atom processors powering most of the netbooks sold. Intel’s Kathryn M. Gill told us that the company is aware of the decline of the netbook, but remains bullish about its prospects in other markets. “From Intel’s perspective, netbooks, tablets/hybrids, and Ultrabook devices each provide distinct and unique value propositions. The worldwide landscape for computing devices will continue to grow, not decrease. In other words, for the foreseeable future, we see devices coexisting and serving different market segments as well as different user needs, and spanning a wide range of system price points. We believe our 32nm Medfield, Clover Trail, and Cedar Trail products offer winning lineups for 2012.”

Apple is likely responsible for another factor in the decline of the netbook. In late 2010, Apple released a more affordable MacBook Air, replacing the original, pricey 13-inch model with lower-priced 11- and 13-inch models. The base 11.6-inch model costs $999. Taking note of the MacBook Air’s success, Intel developed the Ultrabook idea, a branded standard for very thin laptops. Manufacturers looking to build higher-margin products in the ultraportable-laptop segment, at least for the US market, have turned to Ultrabooks. The jury is still out on the long-term success of Ultrabooks, but early reviews have been favorable.

A Limited Future for Netbooks

The netbook seems to be returning to its roots in the education market. Originally launched as a response to the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) initiative, the netbook is once again targeting education, particularly in emerging markets outside the United States. But the rising tide of low-cost Android tablets may eventually swamp even that niche.

The netbook isn’t dead yet, but it’s clearly on its last legs–at least as a general-purpose, lightweight machine for Web computing. Tablets are filling that role for content consumers, low-cost but better-performing laptops are taking over for home users, and Ultrabooks (plus the MacBook Air) are taking the higher-end slots. The netbook may have a niche in certain markets, but its future is clearly limited and shrinking. Our advice: Don’t buy a netbook today, however attractive the price. You’ll just end up with a dead-end product.

Thats if you want to call it that.

A more appropriate description may be just Gronk being Gronk, as the Patriots tight end is in a new Modells Sporting Goods online commercial.

In the commercial, Gronkowski discusses the finer art of Gronking and destroys a remote control in the process. Notice, however, that he never leaves the chair hes sitting in.

Check it out below, with a hat tip to The Boston Globes Greg Bedard for tweeting it out.

]]> http://www.ciaoaustin.com/2012/02/20/rob-gronkowski-appears-in-modells-commercial-compares-gronking-to/feed/ 0 http://www.ciaoaustin.com/2012/02/20/motley-crue-to-star-in-kia-super-bowl-commercial-with-supermodel-mma-fighter/ http://www.ciaoaustin.com/2012/02/20/motley-crue-to-star-in-kia-super-bowl-commercial-with-supermodel-mma-fighter/#comments Mon, 20 Feb 2012 05:35:30 +0000 Admin http://www.ciaoaustin.com/?p=723 What do rock n rolls baddest boys (Motley Crue), a super hot Victorias Secret Model (Adriana Lima) and an MMA fighter (Chuck Liddell) have in common? They all star in an upcoming Kia Motors commercial.

The spot is set to air during the most watched TV event of the year: The Super Bowl. The commercial, which taps in the phenomena of dreams, will air during the fourth quarter of the big game between the New York Football Giants and the New England Patriots on Feb. 5.

The commercial, dubbed Drive the Dream, will feature a brand new, Snow Pearl White 2012 Optima Limited as it races through a Gen X couple’s wildest thoughts as they sleep. The couple is visited by Mr. Sandman, who sprinkles Sweet Dreams dust over them. He overdoes it and douses them with too much and things go haywire.

Thats where The Crue, Lima and Liddell come in. Lima will wave the checkered flag at a speedway, while Liddell will be in the ring. The Crue will be rocking out in concert to their song Kickstart My Heart. Theres flames, fireworks, sandwiches and a cameo of champion bull rider Judd Leffew, who gets busy taming a rhinoceros.

Guess what? Theres more!

You dont have to wait till the big game to see the spot. In a Super Bowl advertising first, the complete Drive the Dream ad will premiere Feb. 2 on more than 18,000 movie screens nationwide in National CineMedia’s FirstLook pre-show program. Kia also will run 15-second teaser ads featuring Adriana Lima on TV and in cinema beginning Jan. 27. Hubba hubba!

A special expanded version of the ad will be available here beginning on Feb. 2.

So you can enjoy the spot early and often!

Bassist Nikki Sixx said, Motley Crue had a blast doing the Kia commercial. A hot model, a fast car, a pro fighter, pyrotechnics and rock n rollWhats not to love?

Exactly.

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) January 28, 2012

Clopton Capital, a Chicago commercial mortgage provider is setting the aggressive goal of expanding by 100% in size and profit over the course of 2012. This goal is believed by the firm to be realistic based on current demand for SBA loans and commercial mortgages. It sounds like a lofty and unrealistic goal but everything seems to be pointing in a direction that makes me believe its totally possible, said Jake Clopton, the founder of Clopton Capital.

The commercial mortgage firm intends to expand itself rapidly by prolifically and consistently promoting its 3.5% interest commercial mortgage programs and its access to SBA loan options. This is largely what they have done for the last six months and they feel it has shown enough success to warrant continuing on this way perpetually into the future. There is a recession and we choose not to participate in this. We want to be bullish now while so many others arent lending or even providing access to commercial lending mechanisms., said Matt Reed, an associate of Clopton Capital.

The firms future plans involve releasing numerous short educational tutorials on how commercial credit ratings work and the inner workings of Clopton Capitals headquarters in Chicago, IL. Anyone commercial real estate owners our business owners who are interested in business loans, commercial mortgages, or commercial mortgage refinancing are urged by the firm to contact them at 866.647.1650 or via the contact form on their website, CloptonCapital.com.

Any businesses or commercial real estate owners who are seeking business loans are urged to contact Clopton Capital at 866.647.1650 or via their website CloptonCapital.com.

Clopton Capital can be contacted at their website CloptonCapital.com or at 866.647.1650 during regular business hours central time. Their website contains more specific information about their commercial loans. Their website dedicated to business loans is CloptonCapital.com. To join Clopton Capitals financial link exchange visit CloptonCapital.com/link.

###

For the original version on PRWeb visit: www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2012/1/prweb9144021.htm

Its still the middle of winter now, but its never too soon to start planning ahead for vacation time and with Universal Orlandos announcement of new and updated attractions to debut in 2012, the theme park is looking better than ever. After the jump, find details on such rides as Despicable Me Minion Mayhem and The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, as well as updates on the Blue Man Group show and more.

Universal Orlando posted a video this week revealing experiences set to debut in 2011, including a water show, a parade, a mini-golf course, new rides, and a water park. Watch the full video below, or skip ahead for some highlights.

]]> http://www.ciaoaustin.com/2012/02/18/universal-orlando-announces-despicable-me-and-spider-man-rides-new-blue/feed/ 0 http://www.ciaoaustin.com/2012/02/17/st-louis-rams-owner-stan-kroenke-still-in-the-running-for-the-los-angeles-dodgers/ http://www.ciaoaustin.com/2012/02/17/st-louis-rams-owner-stan-kroenke-still-in-the-running-for-the-los-angeles-dodgers/#comments Fri, 17 Feb 2012 09:22:47 +0000 Admin http://www.ciaoaustin.com/?p=717 The sale process for the Los Angeles Dodgers continues. On Friday night, the Los Angeles Times reported that two bidders had been eliminated from the process, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and former sports agent and estate planner Dennis Gilbert. St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke is still believed to be in the mix among the eight finalists for the team.

Kroenke would still have to be selected as a bidder. That might hinge on a couple factors, including the future of the land where Dodger Stadium sits and its ability to hold an NFL facility. The details after the jump.

The bids went through an initial vetting by Blackstone Advisory Partners. Kroenke is not the only high profile bidder left in the process. A group led by Stan Kasten and Magic Johnson made the cut, as did a group headlined by Joe Torre. Hedge fund manager Steve Cohen and the family of the late Roy Disney, Walts nephew, are also in the mix.

Patrick Soon-Shiong, LAs richest man, is also exploring the possibility of getting into the mix for the Dodgers, according to the LA Times, linking up with one another bidder.

From here, Major League Baseball conducts the next round of vetting, making sure potential bidders meet their standards. After that, Frank McCourt, the current owner, will select the winning bidder. He has pledged to announce the winner by April 1, with the sale being completed by April 30.

The team is expected to fetch a sale price of $1.5 billion. That price tag is relatively small compared to the potential for tens of billion of dollars in television rights, and the ability to develop and own a regional broadcasting network centered around the Dodgers. Similar to what the Yankees have with YES, with is technically owned by the Yankees owners and not the team, that could make the Dodgers new owner even more money than just selling the television rights.

Kroenke has a background with sports networks, owning one for his Denver sports enterprises, which include the Nuggets and the Avalanche. Ok, technically his son owns those teams now. That point certainly wont be lost on MLB in the process, as they look to find an owner who can restore the Dodgers to financial prominence and a lofty national sports brand. MLB has a long had a preference for insiders, people with connections to Bud Selig or the name brand to restore a franchise, a la the group led by Nolan Ryan that purchased the Texas Rangers.

Theres another issue complicating the sale of the Dodgers. The buyer will receive the team and Dodger Stadium, but the parking lots around the facility will still belong to McCourt, a parking lot baron of sorts. How a developer plans to handle that issue could go a long way in picking the next owner.

Selecting the winner is not as simple as handing the keys to Dodger Stadium to the highest bidder. McCourt will likely want someone capable of paying cash on the barrel head. A plan for the real estate question will be key too.

Two questions surround Kroenkes potential purchase as it relates to the future of the Rams.

First, theres the little matter of the leagues cross-ownership rules. Right now, owning the Dodgers would not present a problem for Kroenke since the NFL has no team in LA. If Kroenke owned the Dodgers and the NFL were to move a team there, it could throw a kink into those rules. Would he be grandfathered in if the league moved there after he bought a team? Some are citing that rule and Kroenkes potential purchase as a sure sign that the Rams would move to LA.

I asked Maury Brown of the Business of Sports about the ownership situation. Not surprisingly, he called it a gray area. The NFL made some generous exceptions for Kroenke to buy the Rams, so I cant imagine there wouldnt be some wiggle room in finding a solution again. You can read a copy of the leagues constitution on Browns site. Heres the rule as it pertains to cross-ownership:

That the controlling owner of an NFL club may acquire an interest in a major league baseball, basketball or hockey (other major sports league) franchise (subject to prior notice to the Commissioner and to such covenants and safeguards as the Commissioner and Finance Committee may determine are appropriate to address actual or perceived conflicts of interest that may arise in the particular situation), but only if such other franchise is located (1) within the home territory of the owners NFL club, or (2) within a neutral area, ie, any area that is not within the home territory of any NFL club;

Im not a lawyer, but you can see that the verbiage leaves room for creative solutions.

A second factor is that land around Dodger Stadium. Some believe McCourt wants to hang onto to it, using it to recoup some of the income he lost in the messy divorce.

The NFL has long had an eye on it as the potential site for a stadium, and thats where this could get really interesting with Kroenke. Neither of the current LA stadium proposals are much closer to shovel-ready than they were a year ago.

The city council and the state government have made some arrangements to ease the path to construction, notably clearing out some red tape hurdles for environmental impact suits in exchange for some green technology and the promise of jobs. The NFL has never really blessed either of those bids, preferring to find the best deal between the two or another location.

One appeal for Kroenke in purchasing the Rams was their lease on the Ed Jones Dome. It gave him an easy out and a ticket to get a stadium of his very own, stadiums being big cash cows that dont get thrown into the NFL revenue sharing pie.

The AEG stadium downtown would not offer Kroenke ownership. The Ed Roski stadium in the City of Industry might, and the Dome belongs to Missouri taxpayers. Another benefit of owning the Dodgers for Kroenke is the potential to build an NFL stadium there. That will depend on what Frank McCourt wants to do with his land, but he might be swayed by a bidder that wants to bring him into a lucrative stadium development deal. If Kroenke woos McCourt with that, the Rams will most likely be heading back to Southern California.

HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ –
With the signing of House Bill 1458, Governor Tom Corbett today made sure Pennsylvania is in compliance with new rules from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, or FMCSA, dealing with commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders.

FMCSA amended the federal regulations to require CDL holders to provide a current copy of their Medical Examiner’s Certificate to their state driver licensing agency, if their type of commercial driving requires a physical exam.

“The main issue is ensuring our highways are safe,” said PennDOT Safety Administration Deputy Secretary, Kurt J. Myers. “The Medical Examiner’s Certificate is being linked to the CDL to ensure that only medically qualified drivers are operating commercial vehicles.”

The federal agency recently amended regulations to require CDL-holders or applicants to self-certify the type of driving they do, or expect to do, with their state’s licensing agency.

Current CDL permit holders, out-of-state CDL transferees, and people seeking a CDL on or after Jan. 30 will be required to meet the provisions of the new law when testing, applying for a permit or transferring a CDL from another state. Their driving record will be updated to indicate that they have met the requirements.

PennDOT will begin notifying existing CDL holders of the new requirements by mail in March.

Information on the new law and certification forms can be found by clicking on the button titled “New CDL Law” at
www.dmv.state.pa.us .

Media contact: Jan McKnight, 717-787-0485

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

Copyright (C) 2012 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

Have you checked out how Google thinks of you? If you click on the Google Ads Preferences Manager, it lists Your Categories or things Google Ads thinks you are interested in and Your Demographics what age and gender Google thinks you are. Google has my gender right, and my categories of Arts and Entertainment, news and sports, seem OK, but I dont quite get the geographic zones of Iowa and Louisville. And Google thinks Im older than I am.

https://www.google.com/settings/ads/onweb

The central elections commission said Friday that about 25 percent of the signatures gathered to back Yavlinsky#039;s candidacy were invalid.

Yavlinsky, leader of the Yabloko party, said the decision was made to help those in power win the presidential elections in March.

(( OPTIONAL SOUNDBITE GRIGORY YAVLINSKY in Russin)

The essence of this decision is to create mostly comfortable conditions for the current team in power and mostly comfortable conditions to hold presidential elections. As result of it, the decisions made are significantly increasing the gap between society and the authorities, the decisions are significantly lowering the citizens#039; trust in those authorities which will be formed as a result of the elections.#039;#039;

On Monday, Yavlinsky said a ban on his candidacy would insult tens of thousands of protesters who have recently taken to the streets of major Russian cities to demand political reforms and fair elections.

Alexei Mitrofanov, a lawmaker from Just Russia party, expressed a similar sentiment.

Yavlinsky has electoral support, he should be allowed to participate, but they don#039;t want it because the election scenario is ready, that is the (Russian Prime Minster Vladimir Putin#039;s) victory in the first round, and a candidate such as Yavlinsky disturbs the balance of votes, which are probably well counted beforehand, and that#039;s why nobody needs his participation.#039;#039;

The 59-year-old economist needed to gather 2 million signatures to qualify to run against Mr. Putin, the overwhelming presidential favorite. The signatures were required because Yavlinsky#039;s Yabloko party failed to win any parliamentary seats in disputed December elections.

The head of the central election commission, Vladimir Churov, defended Russia#039;s voting system, saying it has been improved to ensure fairness and transparency.

We launched the modernization of the election system, which was offered by (Russian President) Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev four years ago. You know that more than 5,000 polling stations were equipped with electronic voting devices and, for the first time ever, with the system of constant Internet transmission of the vote counting procedure. For the first time, seven parties got a lot of (free) airtime for their TV campaigns as well as 17 full pages in newspapers each.#039;#039;

In Washington, a spokeswoman for the State department said the United States is disappointed with Russia#039;s decision to deny Yavlinsky the right to run in the presidential election.

Open political competition requires that electoral laws be applied fairly to all parties and candidates. Russians, like Americans and people everywhere, seek free, fair, transparent elections and a genuine choice when they go to the ballot box.

If Mr. Putin regains the presidency, the 59-year-old leader could serve two more six-year terms and remain in power until 2024. He was first elected president in 2000 and held that post until 2008, when he assumed the post of prime minister due to term limits.