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Should You Buy a Netbook?

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By Lissie


Is a Netbook right for you

In the past year or so Netbooks - the new back to the future, feature deficient. low powered and light weight laptops, appear to have really sparked the consumer's interest. Current model netbooks include the Acer Inspire One, Asus Eee range and the MSI wind all use an Intel Atom processor which is small and low powered and is good for what a netbook is - a cheap and most importantly, small laptop.

A netbook typically has an 8-10" screen on the diagonal, a slightly under-sized keyboard, wireless networking, a network connection and several USB ports.

A netbook is designed to be small light and cheap - all are under US$500, the entry level Asus eeepc 4g currently retails for around $250. At this price, and with a size which is smaller than your average guide book they have obvious appeal to anyone who is on the road. For a fraction of the cost of a an iPhone or a Blackberry and no requirement to sign up to an on the road data plan these netbooks are really starting to take off as a usable alternative to someone who really wants to type on an almost standard sized keyboard.


Size Comparison - Netbook -Notebook
Size Comparison - Netbook -Notebook

What to look for in Netbook

Run Linux Operating Systems Not Windows!

Less is more. Manufacturers are trying to persuade consumers to buy the upgrades to run a "familiar operatng system" i.e. Windows. Don't. One of the most annoying features of laptops is the time they take to boot up and down or even got into sleep mode. Windows may have one the marketing war but it doesn't mean that it is a good operatings system especailly if you want speed a light foot print.

Basic netbooks run Linux - an alternative operatng system which will take a Windows user about 30sec to get used to using and is a lot easier to teach a total beginner or a child to use.

Connections You Will Need

Most netbooks are bought as an alternative to a larger desktop computer or laptop not as a replacement as such keep them as cheap as possible to do the job that they can do well.

Make sure you have 3 or more USB ports to connect external hard drives, USB drives, external mouse or keyboard.


Netbooks for Web Surfing

Netbooks are great for connecting to the Internet on the go they come compete with wireless and a LAN connection, though not usually a phone line connection.

Netbooks for WordProcessing, Spreadsheets, and Presentations

Netbooks come with OpenOffice already installed. This is a free alternative to Micosoft Word etc which still allows everyone but the power user to do all the spreadsheeting, wordprocessing and presentations that they need. Openoffice runs on both Windows and Linux and most users wouldn't be able to tell the difference!

Updating a business presentation at the last minute on the plane would be much easier with a netbook than with either a phone without a decent keyboard or a large laptop which won't fit on an economy class seat tray on the plane.

Making Calls and SMS

Netbooks come complete with Skype installed. You have to have access to broadband, but then you can make calls for no extra cost to other Skype computer users or for a few cents to landlines.

Managing Photos and Videos

Backup your holiday snaps on the go before you loose the camera or accidentally reformat the camera's data card

Netbooks Have a Great Future

While companies such as Apple would have us believe that, according to Steve Jobs, they couldn't build a quality laptop for less than $500, companies such as Asus and Acer seem to have proven them wrong. In many cases the cheapest netbooks also have flash memory rather than a traditional hard drive, making them more robust and better suited to anyone who want to travel extensively with them. The internal memory is usually small : 4GB in the entry level Asus eee, but this can be supplemented by using either a SD card which are nowS available in up to 16GB but also any external harddrive with a USB connection can also be plugged in as well as the common USB stick.

Would You Consider Buying a Netbook

  • Never - bigger is always better surely?
  • Maybe - but I thought they were just for kids
  • Its next on my shopping list
  • I still not sure - leave a comment below with your question
See results without voting

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Comments

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Julie-Ann Amos profile image

Julie-Ann Amos  says:
10 months ago

and the best thing is they fit in a handbag!

Lissie profile image

Lissie  says:
10 months ago

That is so very true Julie-Ann - in fact I wrote most of this on a train with a very small table - notebooks rule!

Clara Ghomes profile image

Clara Ghomes  says:
10 months ago

I'm tempted to get one for sure.. and probably will have one soon. It is so handy.. Thanks for this detailed hub :)

Lissie profile image

Lissie  says:
10 months ago

I am seriously in love with mine - especially if you travel - the weight think can't be beaten - my other laptop is only a 14" but it weights a ton compared to the little netbook!

anitak profile image

anitak  says:
10 months ago

I almost bought one at Chrstmas for my business but I wasn't sure it would be powerful enough. This hub really helped. Great information and lots of helpful hints. I never thought of just using a flash drive - that is a great idea. I hate the weight of the dell laptops - you can't put them on your laps (the top is too heavy and they get too hot - so why call them laptops?) Anyone here use them for business? Do they do well with videos?

Eddie Perkins  says:
10 months ago

Lissie,

Very interesting.  I’ve never heard of them.  Guess that lets you know how far I am in the dark ages.  Sounds great though.

Thanks ~ eddie

christine almaraz profile image

christine almaraz  says:
10 months ago

I got the Asus and love it. It's easy to use on the run and simple. Good hub.

MrMarmalade profile image

MrMarmalade  says:
10 months ago

Lizzie,

I get the impresasion you do not sleep.

We are buying that lap top in the next couple of weeks.

anitak,

Your question re dell do not buy.

Good price horror service and far too slow.

Great Hub and thanks for your information

Lissie profile image

Lissie  says:
10 months ago

@anitak - I wouldn't be sure about video processing - or in fact anything like photoship either. I acutally find it a little small for my lap - my 14" HP is OK. They all run a bit hot in Australia - but its manageable! Mine certainly will be a business expense :-) and it is perfectly fine for connecting to the internet, wordprocessing sending invoices out from a spreadsheet etc. I actually wrote the text for this hub on it while on a train LOL

@Eddy - I thought it was a marketing gimmic at first but its not - been around for about 14 months

@Christine - if I had to buy something for someone who knew nothing about computers it would be an Asus!

@MrM - they are well worth checking out a few in store to see what you like - though buying online is usually (not always) cheaper

Hovalis profile image

Hovalis  says:
10 months ago

I already have a small laptop, but not as small as a netbook! What I'm waiting for is for the netbooks to have more memory. I'm sure that technology is just around the corner, and until then I'm willing to wait. Small computers are good IMO. I was hooked once I got my tiny, folding keyboard for my iPAQ a few years back. :-)

Thanks for the clear explanation of how the netbooks work.

hot dorkage profile image

hot dorkage  says:
10 months ago

Yeh my dell with windoze XP is a brick.

agvulpes profile image

agvulpes  says:
10 months ago

G'day Lissie, how I hate to admit this but I think you have answered my problem with the heat. One thing though I'm running wireless at home will I have any trouble in hooking into my own system?

Lissie profile image

Lissie  says:
10 months ago

Well agvulpes I had to find my wireless modem's password that was tricky LOL The rest of it was easy - the Asus eeepc (linux) versin you just click connect to the interent - make sure you have the wireless on (I turn it off to save battery power when not using it - it eats batteries) - in fact it was a lot less painful than trying to get my windows machine conencted if my partner's vista machine has got there first. If you buy a windows machine you will have the regular windows propblems - works the same - but I was really impressed with the linux deal.

I have used it on the road a bit too for hotel hotspots etc and its quick and easy - remember to take a cable with u if travelling because sometimes you have to physically connect to LAN

Mary K Weinhagen profile image

Mary K Weinhagen  says:
10 months ago

Great Hub... THANKS! I've been dreaming of buying a netbook... now I KNOW I'm going to get one ;-)

Bruce Elkin profile image

Bruce Elkin  says:
10 months ago

Thanks, Lissie. i'm just finishing a 3 yr lease on a Mac Powerbook, and thinking about going up to a 17" Macbook. I also have an iMac. Maybe I should just get one of these little guys. But I probably couldn't interface them with my Mac. Hmm… Great hub!

Lissie profile image

Lissie  says:
10 months ago

Hi Bruce - can a Mac read a USB or other card which has written by a PC - if yes it would probably OK as far as transferring files go

Bruce Elkin profile image

Bruce Elkin  says:
10 months ago

I think so. The new macs have what they call "dual core processors" that can run OS10 and Windows. Sometimes you have to add some software, but they're supposed to be able to handle just about any files.

So far, I've only had trouble opening wmv sent to me by one guy. I can open them online, and from other folks, but just can't open this guys. Probably a good thing, because he's into conspiracy theories, and the stuff he sends is often scary and depresssing. ;-)

jmichaels59 profile image

jmichaels59  says:
10 months ago

Great hub! I have looked at the ASUS in walmart @ $298.00 thats not bad. I traveled a couple months ago, wish I'd had one then. Took my Acer laptop and it was great having it, but kind of a pain in the az...

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_

here is what i am getting

Good hub anyway

Lissie profile image

Lissie  says:
10 months ago

its very,very pink jmichael LOL - you're paying more for the windows operating system - it should be about $50 less for the linux version

belief713 profile image

belief713  says:
9 months ago

Hi Lissie,

I've been looking at these for a couple of months now and was trying to decide between this or a pda/smartphone because I want all in one. I figured a smart phone with a qwerty keyboard will be good - I want it to write articles, etc while out and about as ideas come to me. But I really think this may be a great fit for me as well with a portable external hard drive. I really don't need a fancy laptop, have been using OpenOffice for a year or two... one of these just makes sense.

Have you been able to do any type of editing to your blogs? You use Wordpress, correct? Are you able to acces your cpanel and run other small apps?

Faith

Lissie profile image

Lissie  says:
8 months ago

Absolutely - obviously you have to scroll a bit with the small screen but I had no problem accessing and updating blogs, cpanels (yuck!), google analytics, adsense all the usual suspects! If you are already familiar with openoffice and firefox you know all that is required!

Singular Investor profile image

Singular Investor  says:
7 months ago

Cool - I hope everybody buys one - I registered the site usanetbooks.com !

Mars  says:
5 months ago

With the new 12 inch versions coming out, with 6+ hours of battery life, I think they have hit the sweet spot in netbook design. Check out Samsung and Lenovo versions.

tommygillespie profile image

tommygillespie  says:
5 months ago

This is a great resource that persuaded my indecisiveness. I am looking for the right one for me now. Thanks for the awesome post

Tesa Adams profile image

Tesa Adams  says:
4 months ago

You pretty much sold me on it. I was on the fence about buying one but my other laptop is just so heavy and I was tired of carrying it around when I traveled. Thank you.

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