Downturn boosts demand for notebooks?

The initiative is designed to offer consumers mobile access to a wider range of media and information and, according to Microsoft's OEM division chief, Steve Guggenheimer (pictured), the platform can be combined with traditional tools, allowing designers to work together to evolve devices for specific consumer requirements. He explained that the new class of 'consumer internet devices' (CIDs) will initially connect to files, pictures, music and video usually stored on pcs. The devices, he claimed, will become even more connected, working not only with pcs but also with cloud services. Guggenheimer cites the current economic downturn as the reason behind the growth in small notebook PC space. "Buyers are becoming increasingly cost conscious and mobile." He said, "and laptop sales are soon expected to outstrip desktop PC sales in developed economies." Guggenheimer believes that such devices will build new market segments and that this next generation of smart, connected devices will allow mobile access to increased data. He added: "Using Microsoft technologies like Windows Embedded CE, Visual Studio, Silverlight and Expression Blend, we can enable devices such as personal navigation devices, portable media players, set top boxes and networked TVs to provide a rich browsing experience and a dynamic, immersive user interface."