Netbooks could boost productivity for remote workers - expert

Written by James Gardiner

Competition in the netbook market is hotting up, potentially creating better deals for businesses which could be attracted to the technology as it facilitates productivity in remote working, according to an expert.

Maggie Holland, editor at www.itpro.co.uk, says netbooks could help staff to become more efficient while out on the road and possibly increase revenue streams.

She suggests that businesses may decide to buy the device to complement other technologies such as laptops and mobile phones in the first instance, although with improvements in battery life, demand for netbooks could grow.

"What's more, most of the major manufacturers are now jumping on the netbook bandwagon, so I certainly expect to see competition in the market hotting up," Ms Holland asserts.

The small size of the devices is their key advantage as they are extremely portable, which makes them useful for remote working, she adds.

Recently, ABI Research predicted that netbook sales will not be adversely affected by the recession and may even be helped by the downturn, as they are relatively inexpensive and a "viable alternative" to a pricey laptop.