A 10-inch netbook may not work as a laptop replacement, but a slightly larger system might. If a Mini 10v is too small, how about a $399 Dell Inspiron 11z (11.6-inch screen), or a $449 Inspiron 14 (14-inch)? Besides, is there really a distinction between netbook and notebook? They're both laptop computers, only one is smaller.

The netbook's biggest offense is that it's proven to be . It seems that Dell and other tech execs in the Windows biosphere are kicking themselves for creating a category of portable computers that, well, . Their goal is to steer shoppers toward higher-margin laptops, but the lure of the low-cost netbook is simply too strong.

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