Analyst: Ultrathin laptops are junky

Netbooks, however convenient, have the unfortunate reputation of being subpar in terms of design and construction. So as netbook manufacturers expand into larger and slightly more powerful machines, it’s not surprising that these “affordable ultrathins” may suffer from the same problems.

A wave of these ultrathin laptops are hitting the market, but one analyst says they are of inferior quality.

Doug Freedman, an analyst for Broadpoint AmTech, told CNet that early production units are be made of plastic, and they’re prone to cracking. He gets this information from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and original design manufacturers (ODMs), who in turn sell their products to larger brands.

Intel responded by reiterating that these flaws have nothing to do with the computer processors themselves. The ultrathins will, for the most part, run on Intel’s consumer ultra-low voltage technology, which is more powerful but more expensive than the Atom chips powering most netbooks.

The question is whether makers of ultrathin PCs will switch to metal cases instead of plastic. Obviously, that increases the cost, so if Freedman’s report is correct, companies like Asus and Acer will to make some tough decisions once product reviews get out.