A new computer craze has been hitting the IT world over the last year. It’s called Netbooks. These tiny, ultra-portable computers are attractive for those looking for inexpensive, ultra-portable computing power. The concept appears to have evolved from the One Laptop Per Child initiative that sought to make small, portable, cheap, kid-friendly computers. A promotion during the 2007 Christmas shopping season gave one computer to a child in need and one to the purchaser for $400 total. This promotion was met with strong enthusiasm from the media and had mobile workers excited about the possibility of small, cheap computers.
The excitement turned to frenzy when Asus announced their consumer-oriented Netbook–the Eee PC. This Linux-powered computer sold for around $250 and is the catalyst for the current Netbook boom. In a span of a little over a year, we have gone from one manufacturer making Netbooks to nearly every computer manufacturer offering some version of a Netbook. With the proliferation of the Netbook platform, a rough guide to help with the quest for that perfect Netbook is provided below.
These questions will help determine if a Netbook is right for you and identify the perfect Netbook to meet your needs.
- Do you need an integrated CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive? A Netbook may not be for you, as most do not include a built-in CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive.
- Do you need to do photo editing or video editing? If the answer is yes, then don’t purchase a Netbook for this purpose. Although capable of performing minor photo editing, these little computers have smaller and slower processors that make it very difficult to do heavy photo editing or video editing of any type.
- Do you want a Netbook for a primary computer? Think again. Netbooks are considerably slower than a full-sized laptop or desktop when performing routine tasks. Patience is a virtue with Netbooks. Think of a Netbook as a supplement to your other computer.
- Are you looking for a travel computer as a supplement to your day-to-day computer? If so, a Netbook is great for traveling, especially for the routine tasks such as e-mail and web surfing. Basic MS Office tasks are doable, but if you are heavy into databases, complex spreadsheets, extensive PowerPoints, or graphics-filled MS Word documents, a Netbook may be too slow.
- Are you into Internet videos, and would you like to view them on a Netbook? Netbooks have mixed performance. Basic YouTube videos are viewable at their normal resolution. However, when you go to full screen, things get a bit choppy. Hulu does not work well at all in full-screen mode on most Netbooks, and iTunes videos are hit-and-miss depending on format and bit-rate.
Some hardware specs to consider along with some basic recommendations include:
Processor. Most Netbooks have an Intel Atom 1.6GHz processor. You might find an odd one with an Intel Mobile Celeron or an AMD Geode processor. If you find one with the AMD Geode processor, just walk away (these are very slow and do not offer a lot of performance). As for the Intel Mobile Celeron, this is an OK processor but its slightly added heft causes added battery drain. The mainstay right now is the Intel Atom processor. Most Netbooks will have a 1.6GHz processor and a few will offer a 1.8GHz processor, although at a price-point that is close to a fully capable laptop.
Memory. Choose a Netbook with at minimum 1GB of RAM. Consider upgrading to 2GB (normally for around $30), if possible.
Storage. Netbooks range from 160GB hard drives down to 4GB of Flash memory. In most cases, it’s best to steer clear from the Flash-based storage. This is basically the same kind of memory that is in a digital camera. My personal experience has shown that this type of memory is slower when running the operating system and applications, compared to a hard drive-based Netbook. Therefore, look for a Netbook with an actual hard drive.
Battery time. How long do you want your ultra portable Netbook to last without needing a charge? Most Netbooks come with a three-cell battery that will typically net about two hours of life. Many of today’s portable laptops can easily beat this. Look for a six-cell 5200mAh battery, which has about six to seven hours of battery life. Six-cell 4800mAh batteries also are available, but have about four to five hours of battery life.
Cost. A basic rule of thumb is that if you spent more than $350 on a Netbook, you’ve spent too much. For example, a great $350 NetBook is the Acer Aspire One AOD150. It comes with a 160GB hard drive, 1.6GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, 10″ screen, and the six-cell 5200mAh battery.
Operating system. Netbooks tend to come with either Linux or Windows XP Home. If you’re a computer guru and have played around with Linux, you may find this route appealing because you can save some bucks. If you’re a typical user, then Windows XP Home is for you. The extra few bucks may be worth the saved frustrations encountered when learning a new operating system.
Parting thoughts. If you’re really interested in a Netbook, do some homework and also have a look at some low-cost full-sized laptops. In the end, you may find an inexpensive laptop that better fits your needs. For example, a local store is offering a $400 laptop that has a DVD burner, 160GB hard drive, 14″ screen, 2GB of RAM, and a Dual Core mobile processor. That’s just $50 more than a Netbook.
