The PC industry has a nice little dilemma on its hands. In the one hand, the sales numbers for personal computers and premium laptops have dropped in the past few months. Less people are willing to spend thousands of dollars on a new machine, knowing that their jobs may not be stable. Let’s not forget that we are living in the mobile computing era. So those big old computers are not going to cut it with the younger generation. Netbooks have changed the dynamics a bit. These tiny notebooks have the best of both worlds. They are recession friendly so they appeal to people who are not willing to spend a whole lot of money on a new notebook. They are portable too and are small enough for most folks to take around without too much trouble. No wonder netbooks have helped the PC industry to bounce bank in the past couple of quarters.

When there is good, there is some bad as well. Netbooks have certainly changed expectations for consumers. When you can buy a $300 netbook, you are going to find it hard to justify paying $1500 for a top of the line laptop, especially if you don’t need the computing power. A lot of consumers don’t get the most out of their laptops, so by going with a netbook, they are not going to realize too much difference. With netbooks getting better in handling videos and HD graphics, consumers are going to find it even more difficult to resist their temptation.

Many experts believe that the PC industry will bounce back and have a future beyond netbooks and small mobile computing devices. CULV laptops will play a role in the future of the PC industry. They are more powerful than netbooks and are energy efficient too. The premium systems will have a place in the future of this industry as well, but a lot will depend on how soon we bounce back from the current recession.

Buyers need to be willing to pay a premium for more robust systems, which may be a challenge in tight economic times and in an era of ‘good enough’ computing. On the other hand, not everyone wants an entry-level system, and rising commercial spending should boost demand for traditional notebooks.

With prices dropping and laptops getting better, consumers are going to be better off in the future. Besides, the more options consumers have, the better value they can get for their money. The industry may be struggling now, but considering the circumstances, there is a lot to be optimistic about.