Here's a Smartbook prototype from Freescale Semiconductor that unfolds to provide keyboard and mouse functionality.

A modular Smartbook concept that enables customization.

T&A: Nikkei Electronics Asia has released a report comparing the potential pricing differences among different portable computing devices hitting the market over the next few months.

One of the key predictions is that the low prices of smartbooks might cut into the netbook market.

Basically, as the small yet delicate functional gap between smartphones and netbooks entice more players into this segment, manufacturers of Smartbooks, mobile internet devices and more will gradually segment the market for portable computing devices even further.

Not only that, within the netbook space, the ultra-thin notebook, or consumer ultra low voltage (CULV) notebooks are also attracting a lot of attention.

The Smartbook is the brainchild of Freescale Semiconductor and Qualcomm Inc., first unveiled at Computex Taipei in June 2009. Here’s a promo video on what exactly a Smartbook entails:

(Editor opinions: 2)

Major specs that differentiate the Smartbook from netbooks include an ARM-based processor (as opposed to an Atom-based one), 4- to 10-inch screen size, NAND Flash memory storage (in lieu of a hard disk), Linux OS, or Android, and 3G telecommunication capabilities.

According to Freescale, the prices of Smartbooks should not go anywhere higher than US$200. Its positioning as an Internet-based terminal (and with Google’s announcement of Chrome OS support for such terminals being a boost), would also further differentiate itself from netbooks.

HWM Indonesia

HWM Indonesia: I don’t think Smartbooks are going to take off for the reason that its segment is too niche.

Both the segments for smartphones and notebooks/netbooks are overlapping now and don’t think people would want to carry another gadget for browsing/email purposes.

Vijay Anand, Editor, HardwareZone.com

Vijay (HardwareZone.com): More tech products don’t always mean more gadget fun. General consumers are going to have a hard time choosing what’s best.The new Smartbooks look poised to compete with the netbook market.

While ultraportable and ultrathin notebooks will pose a threat to netbooks from the opposite spectrum, they’re targeted at those who have more spending power and genuinely want to get more work done on a mobile platform.

Smartbooks and MID devices, on the other hand, are smaller in size and seem to be more browser-centric, thus they pose a bigger competition to netbooks.

The only way Smartbooks are going to make an impact is via extremely competitive pricing. A non-Microsoft OS and a non-Intel platform running within the system might lower the cost significantly.

This might also mean limited usability compared to running off an x86-based system for netbooks.

However, as the world moves on to more cloud services and thus convert into a more browser-based usage model, there’s less need to rely on traditional x86 software for day-to-day operations.

This is exactly why NVIDIA is confident that they can carve a market for themselves with their Tegra modules, which offer both MID-like devices as well as netbook-like form factors.

Their selling point is usage experience with extensive battery life and multimedia processing prowess. And from what we’ve seen so far with beta products, they look promising.

It is now up to vendors to take them and offer competitive products as well as tie up with telecom partners.

It’s an exciting time, but don’t forget that your smartphone would have evolved a fair bit as well in terms of usability, speed and functionality.

With consumers already familiar with smartphones and netbooks, the initial uptake for Smartbooks and MID devices could be limited.