This article in the NY Times highlights how there is a wave of new smaller, lighter, and most importantly, cheaper, laptop computers coming onto the market. Appropriately called ‘netbooks’.

There a lot of change indicators on the Internet’s horizon. Mobile is certainly a big one, as is higher broadband rates. But I think the laptop trend could change things quickest of all.

Accessibility can’t be overestimated when it comes to the Web. Time and again, we’ve seen as computers and technologies get cheaper, simpler to use, and easier to transport, there’s a resulting surge in usage.

I remember my first home WiFi network in 2001. Spectacularly liberating. Suddenly, instead of being sequestered in an upstairs office, the computer could now move down to where the people were, and quite literally join the conversation. Simple online tasks improved noticeably. Receipes were researched online in the kitchen, where you could quickly check the ingredients needed with what was in stock. Looking up TV schedules could be done while actually watching TV! And simple things like planning a vacation happened on the couch instead of the office, an environment far more fitting for the task.

With the netbooks slated to practically be given away with an accompanying data plan, suddenly the computer isn’t precious anymore. It’s more like how we currently view our phones. Take it to the beach. Use it at the ball park. Homes could be stocked with several of them, one for each person watching TV.

And because these are already shipping, the impact will likely be felt soon. Certainly sooner than they’ll roll out the needed leap in broadband speeds. Unfortunately.