Some analysts say Samsung has a good chance of toppling Nokia

For many years, Nokia has been the top mobile phone maker in the world. Nokia was able to maintain that hold on the top spot with sales of its low-end and mid-range devices while its high-end smartphones were largely ignored in many markets. Samsung now has its sights set on Nokia.

Samsung is boasting that it is confident in 2012 it will be able to topple Nokia as the world's largest cell phone maker. If Samsung were able to pull that off, it would end the 14-year hold of Nokia on the top spot. Samsung's CEO Choi Gee-sung made the proclamation at CES in Las Vegas. Nokia is having a hard time of it recently with sales falling and it hopes that a tie up with Microsoft for smartphones will help bring it back to former glory. Few think that will happen.

Samsung isn't alone in predicting it will overtake Nokia. Reuters reports that analysts from the Royal Bank of Scotland and others think Samsung has the momentum to overtake Nokia this year. However, analysts are split with others expecting Nokia to hang onto its lead. Undoubtedly, Samsung's wide range of Android smartphones is helping push it ahead.

"Considering how strong Nokia still is in the emerging markets, Samsung's expectation seems to imply that Nokia will miserably fail in mature markets," said Gartner analyst Carolina Milanesi.

Analysts are predicting weaker demand in established markets like Europe, but strong growth in emerging markets where Nokia is very strong. This will make it hard for Samsung to overtake. Samsung is also on a path to reach its revenue prediction early say analysts.

Samsung is predicted to have a blow out quarter with huge sales.

Source: Reuters


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Focus will be on thin and powerful machines

For a few years, the netbook world was jumping with the small (and relatively inexpensive) machines were selling very well. That netbook heyday is over now with sales of the small machines dropping as the tablet becomes the portable computing device of choice for many people. One of the more popular Dell netbooks to launch was the Mini 10 back in 2009.

That netbook was reasonably popular, but the sales waned during its production run. Dell has now announced that it is no longer going to sell netbooks. The company will instead focus on its more recent successes with thin and powerful machines that compete against the Apple MacBook Air and other models such as the new Dell 15z.

"We sold through the Dell Mini some time ago. We're committed to the highly portable space and have focused on delivering thin + powerful solutions, for which we've seen strong success, particularly in our XPS line," Matthew Hutchison, director of Dell Global Consumer PR told CNET in an email.

The fall from grace for the netbook began when Apple rolled out the iPad during the second half of 2010 and many consumers flocked to the tablets rather than netbooks and notebooks. Even Intel has moved on now with the company focusing on Ultrabooks rather than netbooks.

Intel is working hard to promote the Ultrabook, which was originally promised at a price of under $1,000. Some of the machines were offered at that low price, but many of the Ultrabooks on the market sell for much more than $1,000.

Some companies like Acer see the Ultrabook as a way to become more profitable like Apple. Apple is able to sell premium notebooks at very high prices (compared to its PC competition), and its customers still keep coming back for more.

Source: CNET


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Some desktop and notebook barebones drives will have their warranties slashed from 5 years to 1 year.

Last week, Western Digital revealed that it was cutting the warranty on its Caviar Blue/Green and Scorpio Blue drives from three years to two years. Now, it looks like Seagate just couldn't stand by and let Western Digital have all fun when it comes to cutting hard drive warranties.

The Register is reporting that Seagate is upping the ante by slashing some warranties from five years down to one year. Here are some of the "highlights" of the warranty cuts:

Constellation 2 and ES.2 drives: 5 years reduced to 3 years
Barracuda and Barracuda Green drives: 5 years reduced to 1 year
Barracuda XT: 5 years reduced to 3 years
Momentus 2.5-inch (5400 and 7200rpm): 5 years reduced to 1 year
Momentus XT: 5 years reduced to 3 years

The new warranty policy will go into effect on December 31, 2011. According to The Register, Seagate made this "to be more consistent with those commonly applied throughout the consumer electronics and technology industries."

By aligning to current industry standards Seagate can continue to focus its investments on technology innovation and unique product features that drive value for our customers rather than holding long-term reserves for warranty returns."

If manufacturers and consumers ever had any doubts before about embracing solid state drive (SSD) technology, maybe now is the time to start making the shift to rid us all of spinning media.

Sources: The Register, PC World


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