Netbook (Mini-laptop) Reviews

Buying Guide - Netbooks (Mini-laptops)

In response to consumer demands for increased portability and specialization in the laptop sector, the market for Netbooks has emerged virtually overnight. In comparison to their larger cousins, Netbooks are lightweight and low cost, have increased battery endurance, and are designed for users who are primarily interested in a device that is optimized for Internet applications: emailing, web-surfing, and communicating while on the go. If the majority of your computer activity is confined to the Internet, a Netbook will provide you with all the functionality you will need at a fraction of the price of a laptop or desktop computer. Inexpensive and portable netbooks appeal to wide consumers, from businessman who travel often, to kids and home users looking for a small laptop to carry from room to room, to book-laden students who spend long hours on campus.

Contents

• Netbook Advantages
• What to Look for in a Netbook
• Popular Netbook Brands

Netbook Advantages

Compact & Lightweight: Netbook portability is the most important consideration in luring consumers away from larger computers. As laptops have trended toward bigger and heavier, Netbooks have become the model of choice for business people with heavy travel schedules, students who walk or bike between classes, and even children who cannot lug around a heavy laptop. The smallest Netbooks are the size of a textbook, and even the larger models are still only a fraction of the size and weight of a laptop.

Affordable Price: Netbooks are a bargain compared to larger computers. By focusing on Internet applications, Netbooks eliminate the need for costly add-ons and support features, which brings their price down dramatically. Prices range from $200 to $800, but the majority of models retail for $300 to $450.

Extended Battery Endurance: The reduced amount of hardware means Netbooks are much more energy efficient than laptops and their batteries last much longer, an important convenience for many consumers. Battery life in excess of eight hours is common, and Netbooks are quick to recharge as well.

What to Look for in a Netbook

Screen Display: The reduced screen size is the most immediately notable difference for users new to Netbooks. Screens may range from 8" to 12.1", but most are in the 10-11" range. A 10" netbook usually has resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels (some do 1366 x 768 pixels) and weighs less than 3 pounds whereas 11" and 12" netbooks usually have resolutions of 1280 x 800 and 1366 x 768 respectively and slightly heavier.

CPU Speed: Netbook CPU speeds compare very favorably to laptops, although performance of 2.0GHz is rare. Bargain models typically operate at 1.33GHz, while pricier models offer greater speed, 1.66GHz and higher.

Hard Drive: You'll find two types of hard drives: solid-state drives (SSDs) and spinning hard drives. While SSDs have faster transfer speeds, are more durable, and have longer life spans than their traditional counterparts, But you should pay a premium for these advantages and also SSDs always come with less capacity. Most netbooks are available with spinning hard drives. At the low end are models that feature 160GB hard drives; 250GB is much more common with a rotational speed of 5,400 rpm (and may in fact be considered standard), while more robust platforms offer 320GB and more.

Expansion/Connectivity: Netbooks are increasingly expandable, to allow for more flexibility and adaptability in their uses. Additionally, netbooks usually come with Wi-Fi, card reader, built-in webcam, and USB ports. Some even have extra features such as Bluetooth, 3G, GPS, HDMI Port, etc.

Battery Life: Though the Intel Atom CPU is low power consumption, netbooks aren't known for long battery life. That is partly because vendors typically try to keep costs and weight down by providing a modest 3-cell battery. You have option of 3-cell, 4-cell or 6-cell battery embedded types. The basic battery on most netbooks is a 3-cell battery, and will typically perform for about two and a half hours of standard use when away from a power source. 6-cell upgrades are available that can elevate this to six, eight or 10 hours + at the cost of an extra half pound of weight.

Popular Netbook Brands

Acer has become synonymous with the Netbook market, and their models often lead the class in being small and lightweight with no compromise in speed and memory. The first netbook to market, ASUS has continued to lead this developing category with the longest battery life, exclusive features, innovative technology and world-class design. Sony, with their Vaio brand, has cornered the market on higher-end, more expensive models, while Toshiba has focused on mid-market, 'jack-of-all-trades' platforms.

As the market for Netbooks expands, and consumer demands evolve, newer models are breaking with tradition to offer increased flexibility with only a minor sacrifice in portability and battery life. Several medium-sized models that incorporate additional features (optical disk drive, larger screen, camera/microphone, robust sound & graphics cards, etc.) have recently been introduced. The selection of Netbooks to choose from will soon offer a model that appeals to everyone.