There have been pilot deployments of mini-notebooks in the education sector in a number of emerging markets, including parts of Africa, South America, the Indian subcontinent, the Far East and Eastern Europe. Early lessons learned from these deployments include the importance of financial provisions beyond hardware; planning and training for teachers and students alike; content development in line with the local school curriculum; the appropriate interface and experience suitable for schoolchildren; and permanent availability of technical support.

Beyond the education sector, mini-notebooks are expanding among consumers, but mini-notebooks business users are also some way off. Gartner believes that for mini-notebooks to be accepted and succeed in the consumer and business segments, they must be positioned not as a computing device but as a window into the internet and a way for people to work, play, learn, record, report and communicate in any way they choose. Gartner predicts that these devices will proliferate into both emerging and developed economies, among both consumer and business users.

“We expect to see increased product innovation in the PC market during the next few years,” said Ms Jump. “Mini-notebooks will create opportunities to reach many buyers across all regions, both in mature markets as additional devices, and in emerging markets as PCs.”

Additional information is available in the Gartner report "Will the $100 Notebook Succeed, and What Will It Mean?” The report is available on Gartner's website at http://www.gartner.com/DisplayDocument?ref=g_search&id=701110&subref=simplesearch.

About Gartner

Gartner, Inc. (NYSE: IT) is the world's leading information technology research and advisory company. Gartner delivers the technology-related insight necessary for its clients to make the right decisions, every day. From CIOs and senior IT leaders in corporations and government agencies, to business leaders in high-tech and telecom enterprises and professional services firms, to technology investors, Gartner is the indispensable partner to 60,000 clients in 10,000 distinct organizations. Through the resources of Gartner Research, Gartner Executive Programs, Gartner Consulting and Gartner Events, Gartner works with every client to research, analyze and interpret the business of IT within the context of their individual role. Founded in 1979, Gartner is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.A., and has 4,000 associates, including 1,200 research analysts and consultants in 80 countries. For more information, visit www.gartner.com.

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