The VAR Guy talks about sub-notebooks today, having predicted that the devices, also called netbooks, would become "hot" during the fourth quarter. the sub-notebooks, which are usually less expensive than a standard notebook, are more portable and useful for traveling, as a "second" notebook.

The need for a notebook just for traveling has become more evident, especially since Homeland Security's current policy was enacted, basically allowing border guards to take your notebook, search it both physically and virtually, and keep it for as long as they like without a warrant--or without any reason whatsoever, for that matter. If you travel with a lot of data on your notebook, it's just a safe precaution to have a second notebook just for traveling, with all information duplicated back home; to protect yourself not only from the usual thieves, but to protect yourself from Homeland Security as well, which certainly does not have your best interests at heart. The Netbook would serve this purpose well.

Having said that, I'll add another prediction to the VAR Guy's crystal ball, and that is to first observe that as notebooks get smaller, smartphones are getting bigger and more full-featured. The prospect of a smartphone with full computer capabilities--or a small notebook with telephone capabilities--is inevitable.

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