Most consumers won't have to worry about power issues and will also have larger monitors to enjoy all that high-definition content - 2:13 AM, 6/4/2009

That's the kind pricing similarity that worries PC manufacturers, with PC shipments worldwide down 13 percent from the first quarter of 2008 compared to the first quarter of 2009. Netbooks have been a bright spot, but some question at what cost.

There are laptop battery-powered emergency options as well; powerchimp ($50), for example, uses two AA batteries to provide up to four hours' talk-time on a mobile or 24 hours of juice for aPDA.

Intel’s own research showed that almost ninety percent of laptop Sony VGP-BPS2A battery  owners used their computers at home, while just over ten percent used them on the go. On the other hand, twice as many people used Ultra Portable Devices away from the home when given the opportunity. Laptop owners cited weight as one of the main reasons they did not use their laptop away from the home and that is precisely why Intel is pushing a new ultra-thin form factor for laptops.

In other words, at prices below those of the $1,799 MacBook Air and $1,999 Dell Adamo. In contrast to those pricey offerings, Marty described ultrathins that will provide the "full PC experience" at prices ranging from $499 to $1,200.

Boston-Power currently makes laptop PC Sony VGP-BPS9 batteries, and it has plans to produce batteries for electric cars. The company had been planning to build a lithium-ion manufacturing plant in China, and but it put that plan on hold once Congress approved the stimulus package. In an interview earlier this year, Christina Lampe-Onnerud, Boston Power's CEO, said that with U.S. help, "in principle, we would be able to compete with leading Japanese manufacturers very, very quickly."

Many analysts contacted note that even though laptop Sony VGP-BPS5A battery  makers will be eager to add Blu-ray drives into their lineups, the desktop will likely remain the logical home for Blu-ray in the near term. On the desktop, most consumers won't have to worry about power issues and will also have larger monitors to enjoy all that high-definition content.

Macquarie Securities analyst Daniel Chang said first-quarter notebook Acer Aspire One battery supply was already constrained and that the fire had driven PC makers to other makers including Sony and Panasonic.