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Posts: 1,513 | Thanked: 2,248 times | Joined on Mar 2006 @ US
#511
Smartphones and netbooks both existed when MID was first discussed, so I don't think it's narrowed at all. The distinction between phones and MIDs? A phone is a device made for holding up to your ear and talking into. Admittedly, this one is a little fuzzy, with stuff like the tacophone and the N810 ostensibly on opposite sides of it, but both in the "marginal useful, and not really made for it" category. But the Pre is smaller than the iPhone, and AFAIK the G2 will be no larger the G1; they're not stretching into the MID space at all. The only recent development that seems to push it at all is the N97, and that only in styling; it's no larger than a G1. (Sizeasy)
With respect to smartphones, I meant the Internet experience on smartphones is getting better such that some people see less of a reason to get a separate MID.

MIDs vs. netbooks is an almost unambiguous distinction. If it's a clamshell, it's a netbook. If it's a touchscreen slate (possibly with slider), it's a MID. IMHO, there's more room for confusion between smartphones (Navigators and the like) and netbooks than between MIDs and netbooks. The only potentially confusing options are convertible touchscreen clamshells, of which there are hardly any, and they all seem more netbook than MID. And again, most of the recent growth in netbooks is in the upward direction, with 10 and even 12" displays instead of the original 7-9" size, not encroaching on MIDs at all.
The netbook phenomenon is only a year old. I meant the 7-9" size segment which didn't exist more than a year ago. (And i think the HP Mi, Dell 9" Mini, Sony P are relatively recent).