You can buy a very capable, new laptop for 4-6 hundred. That's just slightly over the price of an average netbook, which seems to hover in the 300 range, from what I've seen. For a hundred bucks you get better performance, but more importantly, a much better user experience. A 14.1 inch screen is (to my eyes) exponentially better than an 8.9, or whatever. A full sized keyboard makes a fantastic difference, too. Furthermore, you typically get quite a few more ports on the laptop, which minimizes the adapters you have to own.

So yeah, from a value standpoint, I think cheaper (but full-sized) laptops get you a lot more. They also win from a convenience standpoint, though. The way I see it, a laptop requires a bag to carry conveniently. So does a netbook. It's not like one goes in a pocket, and one requires a suitcase. A cheap, small-ish laptop (like my 14.1 inch Lenovo) also weighs literally just a pound or two more than a netbook. People argue about weight, but I can't imagine two pounds matters for anyone but the most emaciated senior citizen.

Anyway. Some people like them (netbooks, not senior citizens. No one likes them), and that's great. To me, though, a full-sized laptop gets you 400% the usability of a network, for 90% of the convenience. I'm a gadget guy, but I've never wanted a netbook. /shrug