5 Reasons Why I Love My Netbook

Several months ago, I made the decision to buy a netbook, despite the comments from friends and family.

"Save your money and get a laptop", they told me. "They are way better than a netbook".

This may be the case when you look at the functionality of them both, but they all failed to realize I had a purpose in mind for this new toy.

I wanted something small to take with me wherever I went, yet not so small I couldn't type easily. Smartphones were too tiny, and laptops were too big. Keep in mind I own a desktop and work from home, so I needed something for when inspiration struck and I was away from my desk.

Here are the top reasons I love my netbook more than a smartphone or laptop:

1. Low Cost
A decent laptop costs at least $900 or more. Top-line smartphones will run anywhere between $200 and $500. If you sign up for a cell phone plan for a free or reduced phone, you still have to pay to use the service (internet, email, etc). On average, a data plan will cost you $500 over a two-year contract. My Toshiba netbook, though, cost $300. I don't have any additional bills for it, either.

2. Free to Use
As stated before, I don't pay a monthly fee to use my netbook's wireless internet. I may not be able to use internet when I'm away from Wi-Fi hotspots, but I can still use programs which don't require a connection. Plus, more often than not, there is Wi-Fi when I'm in a place I can sit down to use the netbook.

3. Perfect Screen Size
Smartphone screens are less than 5 inches. My netbook is 10.1 inches. Granted it's not small enough to fit in my pocket, but it is small enough to fit in a medium-sized purse. A laptop may be bigger, but once you get over so many inches, it becomes hard to drag around.

4. Perfect Keyboard
The netbook has a real, fullsized keyboard (minus the number keypad). Smartphones have a variety of different keyboards, but none of them near the size and usability of a netbook's keyboard. While it's not as large as a laptop (a netbook does not have the number keypad), but it still has all the important keys.

5. Decent Battery Life
The average smartphone may have the better battery life than a netbook, but you'll go a lot further than your average laptop. Running average programs, off and on all day, gives me five or six hours of battery life.

Is a netbook better than a laptop, smart phone, or an iPad? Nope. For my needs and preferences, though, it is. And it may meet your needs, too.