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Netbook Buyers Guide
What is a "NetBook" and how to choose one ... read on for the lowdown on the latest "must have" gadget!
Sales of portable computers/laptops have been on the increase over the years and compared to desktop PCs, prices have dropped significantly whilst speeds and functionality have kept pace with traditional desktops. But now there's a new breed of laptops in town - the "mini laptop" or "NetBook", as they've become known.
These new style laptops hit the market early in 2008, and whilst most traditional laptop PCs have always been small and portable, this new generation of NetBook computers is even smaller - and usually very affordable too. So despite the reduction in size you don't end up paying through the nose. Typically NetBook screen sizes start as small as 7 inches, and go up to around 10 inches. And, whilst the screen sizes are relatively small, there's no noticeable reduction in display quality. In fact they've quickly become the latest "must have" gadget.
Weight is also a key feature of many of these mini marvels with some of them weighing in at less than 1Kg. Whilst there's always been a range of light, portable PC's available on the market, the NetBook offering takes it to new levels whilst not compromising on performance. With their small screen size, and impressive low weight, NetBooks are the perfect companion whilst out and about or even whilst at home for surfing the web or catching up on email.
Many manufacturers have listened to consumer demand for cheap laptops and have kept prices as low as possible by supplying machines loaded with variants of the free "open source" operating system - Linux [Ubuntu is probably the most popular]. These NetBooks loaded with Linux compliment their range which may also include Microsoft Windows Vista or Windows XP which are also available but at a slight premium. Although Windows applications won't run on Linux, there are equivalent applications available for the open source operating system on NetBooks. Again, being open source, these applications are free for you to download and are equally as user friendly. OpenOffice is one such application which is a formidable competitor to Microsoft Office. In fact, many of the NetBooks on the market which have Linux installed are usually pre-loaded with a host of useful applications and tools such as e-mail and web browsing software.
If there's one thing that all NetBooks have in common, it's being used to access the internet to surf the web and read emails! All models available today have either a "wired" network port and/or Wifi built in as standard, so they can connect to your home router or a wireless hotspot whilst you're out and about. Hence another phrase used to describe this new generation of portable PC's - the "Web book".
These machines are perfect for browsing the internet, and with many of them having built-in webcams, they can be used to easily keep in touch with friends, family or colleagues whilst both at home or on your travels. Many users are seeing these mini notebooks as supplementary to their existing laptop and they are ideal for quickly checking the internet or your email. Indeed one of the latest crazes we've heard about is having a netbook in the kitchen to catch up on emails whilst waiting for the kettle to boil or checking the weather report before heading out for the day!. Their cost and portability also make them ideal for children and would make an ideal Christmas present for your young ones.
Interested? Check out our new Netbook store or read on for our buyers guide.
What to consider when buying a netbook ...
Processor - NetBooks usually don't contain the same CPUs which are used in regular "desktop" PCs. Processors developed for NetBooks are ultra power efficient, so that you can squeeze every last second out of the battery! The most popular processor for NetBooks is the Intel Atom N270 processor. Using groundbreaking technology, these processors were specifically developed to conserve as much power as possible to give longer battery life. Other processors used are the Intel Celeron M chip and the Via C7®-M chip. Some NetBook manufacturers let you choose the SPEED at which the CPU runs at, so you can save even more power - but the "downside" is the DECREASE in performance.
Screen Size - If you want the ultimate in portability, go for a NetBook with a screen size of 7-inches, or if you want something a little larger, you can go to 10-inches. Even at the smaller size of 7-inches the image quality will be bright, crisp and easy to read. Many are capable of displaying at a resolution of 1024 x 600. Wide screen displays are standard on virtually all NetBooks too. One of the advantages of this is that you can stream wide screen films on the device, Perfect for travelling and commuting.
Solid State/Flash Storage - In order to preserve power and make the battery last longer, many NetBook manufacturers have dispensed with traditional hard drive storage, and gone for Solid State Disk storage which has no moving parts, unlike a hard drive which continually spins and takes precious power. As pricing of this type of storage is more affordable than ever, AND the sizes available are perfectly fine for the amount of data you'd use on a laptop, using a NetBook with no hard drive but SSD storage us perfectly acceptable. SSD machines usually start at 8Gb and go up to 20Gb or more. Take a look here at some of the models available.
Hard Drive - Despite the disadvantages of reducing battery life, some NetBooks do come with hard disk drives as standard. The advantages are a larger storage area than solid state drives - so you can keep all of your music and photos on the machine and generally enable faster access too. And with NetBooks with Microsoft Windows installed, there's plenty of space for applications.
Optical Drive - Although most standard laptops come with a built in DVDROM or DVR Recorder, NetBooks tend not to come with optical drives as standard. The main reason for this is to preserve that all important battery life. Having a spinning DVD ROM will definitely drain a standard battery. The good news is that if you need on optical drive to connect to the USB port of the NetNook, you can get one fairly cheaply. Prices start at around £40 you can see our range here.
WebCam - Many NetBooks come with a discreet webcam built into the screen so you hardly notice it's there, and it's well worth seeking out a model which does have one so you can chat live to friends and family. Look for a model with a 1.3 Megapixel webcam if possible.
Battery life - This is usually the burning question on everyone's lips - "how long is the battery life?" Well, just like laptops, there's always a "play off" on battery life against weight as batteries are heavy! So the bigger the battery/the longer the battery life, the heavier the NetBook! This having been said, thanks to recent developments in battery technology, you can probably expect about 3-4 hours of computing from the average NetBook. And you can usually pick up a spare battery fairly cheaply if you need longer.
Ports - NetBooks usually come with at least a couple of USB ports so you'll be able to connect peripherals like a printer or digital camera. You'll probably also get a "card reader" slot of some description - or maybe a "multi" card reader, so you can slip in an SD or Compact flash card from your digicam and copy your photos across. For connecting to a wired network, you'll probably also get an Ethernet network port, though the chances are you'll use the built in wireless to connect to your home, office or public network without the hassle of wires!
Check out our NETBOOK STORE for the full range.
Popular Brands:
Asus [also known as Asustek] were first to get notoriety in this new category of notebooks with the infamous Asus EeePC. When it was launched it took the market by storm due to its amazing low price and incredible versatility. Click to see Asus NetBooks. Take a look at the full Asus range here.
HP - launched in the past few weeks, HP's offering in the NetBook range is the HP Mini-Note - also known as the Mini-Note 2144. Click here to find out more about HP's Mini 2140 Notebok PC range.
Samsung - their NC10 NetBook offers an impressive specification for the price. These are 3 different coloured models in the range, and the device features the Intel Atom N270 processor, popular with other manufacturers. The Atom 270 is ideal for a NetBook PC due to the superb low power consumption and hyper threading technology resulting in blistering performance. The NC10 includes a bright 10.2-inch display and 160Gb Hard Drive. Click here to learn more about the Samsung NC10. Other Netbooks avaible from Samsung include the N120 and NC20. Click here to visit our Samsung NetBook store.
Acer - the Aspire One range of NetBooks offers options to suit every pocket, in a range of cool colours. The range features both Linux and Microsoft Windows Operating Systems, and a choice of storage capacities from 8Gb SSD to 120Gb hard drive. All models incorporate an 8.9-inch wide screen.
Toshiba - they were late to the party in terms of producing a NetBook but by all accounts it's been worth the wait! Toshiba's offering is powered by the Intel Atom N270 CPU and comes with a 8.9-inch display showing a maximum resolution of 1024 x 600 wide screen. It has a respectable 120Gb internal Hard Drive, which should be plenty for all your music and digital photos with room to spare! The NB100 is available in a choice of three colours, and you can choose between Ubuntu Linux or Microsoft Windows XP. A webcam and microphone are also included too.
More to come?? The chances are that other notable portable PC manufacturers will come to the table with their own unique offerings over the coming months ... so, "watch this space"!
Accessories and add-ons for your netbook PC
Although there are plenty of laptop cases around at the moment, we have listed a range of accessories designed specifically with the NetBook in mind to accommodate a smaller screen size.
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