Choosing the Right Netbook

A laptop computer has become a virtual requirement for business people, college students, bloggers, and writers, among others. With the Internet playing an ever-increasing role in so many aspects of our daily lives, the convenience and utility of a portable computer is tremendously appealing. Laptops have become so powerful, feature-rich and, at least in comparison to years past, affordable that forgoing a desktop PC entirely in favor of a portable is becoming more and more popular.

For some, though, a fast, full-featured, “desktop replacement” laptop is not necessary. If you primarily use your PC for web browsing, checking your email, and working with office documents, an expensive, powerful laptop really isn’t necessary. Netbooks do a fine job at these basic tasks and they are more portable, often have longer battery life, and are considerably more affordable then standard laptops.

The earliest netbooks usually came in 8 and 9 inch screen sizes. Today, the most common size is 10 inches. 10 inch models typically have a screen resolution of 1,024 x 600, which is adequate but not exactly spacious. Slightly larger, 11.6 inch netbooks are becoming more popular. Featuring a screen resolution of 1366x768-pixels, these models offer dimensions that are closer to desktop and full-size laptops standards. Predictably, prices are somewhat higher (around an additional $50) for these larger screen netbooks but, if you can afford it, the extra screen real estate is a worthwhile upgrade.

Another desirable, and increasingly available, addition to basic netbooks is cellular wireless Internet service. Capitalizing on the go-anywhere portability of the machines, 3G (and, soon, 4G) service gives you the ability to get online nearly anywhere, too. While it isn’t cheap (around $100 for the hardware and service charges in the $60 per month range,) frequent travelers and business people may find that easy internet access on a real computer (instead of just a phone) while on the road is something worth paying a bit extra for.

One thing every potential netbook owner should keep in mind is that it is important to have realistic expectations of these machines. Netbooks achieve their small size, high efficiency, and low prices by eliminating or modifying many of the features of traditional laptops.

To begin with, their small screens make them easy to travel with but they also mean that you won’t be able to have as many windows open at a time as you’re likely used to. Eyestrain can also be an issue with extended use.

Similarly, netbooks have considerably smaller keyboards than other PCs. While they have improved quite a bit in this respect from the earliest models, netbook keyboards still take some getting used to. Particularly if you have larger than average hands, quick, error-free typing can prove to be a challenge.

Finally, netbooks have slower processors and less memory than laptop and desktop computers. This means that running resource-intensive applications such as photo and video editors and 3D games is a decidedly slow proposition and one best kept to a minimum. If you use your netbook as it was intended, though, (mostly for web browsing, email, and light media playback) its performance should be more than adequate.