To put that number in perspective, Apple sold 4.7 million iPhones during that period.

Netbook sales are rising for several reasons. One is price. Netbooks are cheap yet meet the web surfing, email and word processing needs of many users. And with web-based software and storage becoming more common, many users simply don't need higher end notebook PCs.

Their small form factor also makes netbooks attractive for mobile computing. All have WiFi and support cellular modems. AT&T even offers a netbook for $99 to customers who purchase a data plan.

The growth of netbooks is part of the broader trend towards mobile computing.

Wireless networks are widespread and becoming cheaper. Smart phones, netbooks, navigation systems and other mobile computing devices are gaining capabilities and changing how customers find and interact with businesses of all sizes.

Small businesses need to recognize the growing use of netbooks, smart phones and digital navigation systems. The use of mobile search and local review and information sites continues to increase. The growth of mobile users also means websites need to be mobile device friendly and allow easy mobile device access to key information.

Mobile computing is a trend that will continue to grow during the recession. The productivity gains and ROI associated with mobile computing are simply too strong.

And for you last minute shoppers, a netbook makes a very nice holiday gift.

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About the Author: Steve King is a partner at Emergent Research, a research affiliate at the Institute for the Future, and senior fellow at the Society for New Communications Research. He is a co-author of the Intuit Future of Small Business report series, and he blogs at Small Biz Labs.

Steve is a member of the Small Business Trends Expert Network