Finding the Perfect Netbook

Even in these money-tight times a new style of laptops have been taking off and catching on with consumers. These are the netbooks.

Asus introduced their Eee PC 701 4G in October of 2007 and it quickly became a success. Since then, a variety of companies including Acer, Dell, Everex, Lenovo, and HP have jumped in and started producing their own Netbooks.

What exactly makes a Notebook a "Netbook"?

The idea is a small but cheap notebook that's easy to carry around with you. While Netbooks aren't intended to replace a person's main computer, they are full computers in themselves and not simply PocketPCs, PDAs, or Cell-Phone companions.

So What are the features that land a Netbook into these qualifications?

Typically Netbooks have 10-inch screens or smaller. The original Eee PC had a 7" Screen, and most today have either 9 or 10 inch displays. Netbook's cases are small. Cases of Netbooks are usually around 255(mm) x 190(mm) x 38(mm) give-or-take a little space depending on the screen size. Because of this size, the onboard components are minimal and don't include an optical (CD) drive. SD card readers tend to be common however.
Netbooks usually run lightweight operating systems such as Linux or Slimmed-down Windows XP Home rather than Vista or XP Professional. Most importantly, Netbooks have to be cheap. They range in cost from $200 to $600

Now that you have an idea of what a Netbook is, it's time to figure out what's the perfect one for you!

Before looking at what is out there, you need to determine what your needs are. Is surfing the internet and typing papers all you need? Do you want to add other software to your Netbook? Are you a computer power-user or do you want something simple? Do you want to put your music collection on your Netbook? Is it important that it runs Windows?

These are all questions to consider when shopping for Netbooks. It may be possible that a $250 Netbook will do everything you want, but depending on your needs or expectations you may want something powerful or has a larger hard drive or Solid State Flash Drive.

Go through each of these steps of different types of Netbooks to better determine what will work best for you.

Operating System:

Windows XP:

What's great about XP?

Windows XP is the most common Operating System on Netbooks right now. XP is light-weight enough to run smooth and has a large selection of software. It is also the operating system that most people are familiar with. Most Netbooks that come with XP also come with bundled software such as Microsoft Work or Office.

Why pick something else?

XP is on its way out. It is being succeeded by Vista and Windows 7. If you're going to run XP you better also buy or download a Virus Scanner. When you start stocking up on anti-malware software, be sure to try and find programs that are lightweight and won't slow down your Netbook. Nothing's worse than a slow Netbook.

Bundled Linux:

What's great about Linux?

Many Netbooks have the option of coming with Linux. Don't be afraid of Linux if you haven't used it before though. The Linux that is supplied by manufactures such as Asus and HP have a simple interface that's easy to use. These optimized versions of Linux also usually boot faster than Windows. Free open-source software such as OpenOffice and Firefox are also included for all your basic needs at no extra charge. You also don't need to worry about viruses and spyware!

Why pick something else?

Linux is different than Windows. While that's not a problem for many people, for some people who are used to Windows may be frustrated with some of the slight differences. There is also less software avalible and some of the software that people are used to is not avalible to them. If you have to use iTunes or Microsoft Office 2007, then Linux may not work for you if programs such as Amorak or OpenOffice can't work in their place.

Other Operating Systems:

There are other operating systems you can install on your Netbook. Netbooks are PCs like any other machine, so if you buy an external CD or DVD drive or put the installation files on a flash drive you can add almost anything you want as long as you can find drivers! Microsoft is planning on releasing a Netbook-exclusive version of Windows 7 this fall, and there are also a variety of customized Linux distros for Netbooks. If you do install your own OS keep in mind that you may need to configure the OS and install drivers yourself.

Hard Drive vs Solid State Flash (Storage):

Why Solid State Flash?

A technology that is commonly used in place of Hard Drives are Solid State Flash drives. Until recently, SSDs were very expensive and impractical for cheap laptops. That has changed however and offer a few advantages over hard drives. One advantage is they use much less power and can help provide longer battery life. Another is that it's virtually quiet. Another feature of the SSD is that unlike a Hard Drive it does not have any moving parts. Because of this, the laptop can withstand more trauma and shaking without damage to the SSD.

Why pick a Hard Drive?

While SSDs are getting cheaper, they are still more expensive to make. For the price of a 160gb hard drive, you would only get a 20gb SSD. Therefore, if you planned on installing a lot of applications, music, or store large amounts of files then a Hard Drive may be a better choise.

No matter what you pick, most Netbooks can use high-capacity flash cards, usually SD Cards. This allows you to add much more storage space to your Netbook.

Screen Size:

If you are going to use your Netbook a lot, the size of the screen is important to consider. A Netbook on a 7 or 9 inch screen may make for a smaller Netbook, but the smaller screens may strain your eyes when used for long periods of times. A Netbook with a 10" screen may be slightly larger, but may be easier on the eyes.

Personal Note: I've once written a six-page paper for a university class on my Eee PC's 7-inch Screen. It became a little uncomfortable for a while.

When picking screen size you may have to compromise between size of the screen and size of the Netbook and cost. Some Netbooks will be around the same size however. The Eee PC 701 and 901 are very close in size and the 901 is 8.9 inches. Netbooks with larger screens are more expensive however.

If you plan on installing your own Operating System keep in mind that smaller screens use lower resolutions. While a lower resolution screen may help with the speed and performance of the Netbook some applications and operating systems may not display properly on lower resolution screens. There are ways around this, but is something to keep in mind. This is especially true of Netbooks with 7" screens like the Eee PC 701.

Processor:

While most Netbooks have Atom Processors now, some still use Celeron Processors. When picking Netbooks try and get the Atom Processor since it is faster overall than the Celerons it replaced unless you need to save on cash.

RAM (Memory):

Netbooks will usually come with 512mb or 1gb of RAM. RAM helps overall performance and it's good to have at least 1gb of RAM these days. If possible, get 2gb of RAM especially if you plan on running Windows 7, Vista, or any intense applications. RAM is cheap these day and a 2GB chip can be found for around $30.

Battery:

Most Netbooks come with 3-Cell batteries that will last you around 2.5 to 3.5 hours. Some manufactures, such as Dell, offer 6 or 9-cell batteries for charges up to 6 or more hours long. These batteries often weigh more and even stick out a little from the case however.

Now that you have a general idea what kind of Netbook you may want it's time to find the one that's right for you! Just keep in mind what you have learned here, and you'll know what to look for when shopping.

Finding Netbooks:

You should be able to find Netbooks at online shops such as Amazon, TigerDirect, and NewEgg. You can find used or reconditioned Netbooks at Amazon and Ebay. Stores such as Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and Meijer also will often sell Netbooks.

Here are a few recommendations to start you off:

A Cheaper Netbook:

Asus Eee PC 901 20G
Operating System: Linux
Processor: Intel Atom
Storage: 20gb SSD
RAM: 1gb
Screen: 8.9"
COST: ~$280 USD

A Step Up with XP and a Hard Drive:

Acer Aspire One
Operating System: Windows XP
Processor: Intel Atom
Storage: 160gb HD
RAM: 1gb
Screen: 10.1"
COST: ~$345 USD

Good Luck!