Are Netbooks a Net Gain?

Laptop chop! The mini laptop craze is catchy - and Jesse and I are starting to sneeze (yuck). Dick Tracy speak aside, netbooks seem to be a great buy for folks on a budget, in need of a portable internet device (larger and more powerful than a Blackberry). Wired.com offers a few interesting arguments:

The Netbook Effect: How Cheap Little Laptops Hit the Big Time
Netbooks May Offer Hackers Private Data Gateway
Turn a Netbook Into a Net Jukebox

Or are netbooks just following the 1980's Recession protocol along with India's new Tata Nano, small and cheap :


Is it worth spending little to no money for little to no product?