Get Your CEO A NetBook For ChristmasGet Your CEO A NetBook For Christmas

Or else. It's no surprise that organizations are now looking at adding netbooks into their device mix. A recent information Analytics survey found that 72% of enterprises surveyed planned to expand their use of the devices over the next 48 months.That's understandable. Fast, cheap, and easy to procure, they're a nice fit for a lot of situations. However, simply using netbooks to replace more expensive laptops may cause you more angst than you think. Smaller keyboards, smaller screens, and less multi-tasking power means they're not just a cheaper swap-out.

Where does your enterprise stand as it relates to netbooks? Secret toy of IT? Quick way to get around accounting? Or part of a bigger plan to get a handle on the growing ways you can put computing power into the hands of your workforce?

Your CEO may have a role in this decision, whether you like it or not. Remember the iPhones wave? There are dozens of organizations that suddenly had to support iPhones because a non-IT exec got one and wanted it connected to the enterprise network. You can expect one or two of these folks to get nifty little netbooks under their stockings, or as part of a new wireless plan from AT&T and others.

There's no question that netbooks have some great potential and have even introduced some potential options to Intel and Microsoft in the form of ARM, Ubuntu Remix, Moblin, and Chrome. However, their future is a work in progress that will probably be dictated more by economics and less by technology.

There are multiple questions larger enterprises need to consider prior to rolling out netbooks. The list includes everything from their role in your virtualization plan and the core OS (or OSes) you'll support to the ever-exciting topic of accounting for these low-cost throwaways.

We've created a list of 10 questions every CIO should consider as they're evaluating netbooks. The Analytics report is available for a limited time at: http://netbooks.information.com

And while you're there, please consider clicking over to our latest survey and weighing in on whether e-mail is on its way out. The poll will be live through Friday, Dec. 4, and your responses will help us craft an upcoming Analytics report. You could even win an iPod... http://information.enterprisemessaging.sgizmo.comOr else. It's no surprise that organizations are now looking at adding netbooks into their device mix. A recent information Analytics survey found that 72% of enterprises surveyed planned to expand their use of the devices over the next 48 months.