Those Small Netbook Computers Aren't Little Laptops for Children

Netbook computers are small tiny little laptop looking devices that seem like a perfect computer for your small sized child, but netbooks weren't made small for kids. Following are reasons parents should think twice before buying their child a netbook.

With the advancement of technology and computers, it's necessary that all homes have a computer nowadays and most schools require children to use email, type papers, and find things on the internet for homework assignments. With this advancement in computers, parents find themselves needing to buy their child a computer (preferably a laptop).

When parents visit their local electronics store and see the netbooks on display, it only makes sense that this "small laptop" would be the perfect fit for their kids needs. The netbooks are small, just little enough for your child to carry around, and the cute factor on these little computers are through the roof.

These small netbooks are cute; unfortunately, they weren't made small for kids sake. The netbook computer (though it looks like a laptop) was designed to be an additional computer for people that already own a laptop or desktop computer and just want a small limited laptop-like computer to do basic things on the go. The netbook was designed with battery life and portability in mind and the functionality your children will need doesn't exist in a netbook computer.

Netbooks usually come preinstalled with an Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, 160GB hard drive, and runs on Windows XP or Windows 7 Starter (limited version of Home Premium). These settings will give busy adults the features they need to check their email, write a few business documents, browse the net a little, and that's about it. Today's children will need a laptop with at least 3GB of RAM, 250GB hard drive, and a Dual Core processor to get the things children need done.

The limited functionality of those little netbooks will not allow your children to visit their favorite websites (without lag), play their favorite games, or even install important software because of the netbooks lack of a CD and DVD drive. For what your child needs, a cheap laptop would be a better fit. For the same price range of today's netbooks, parents can find equally priced (but better suited) laptops. Laptops aren't as little as netbooks, but they are also not as easy for your children to drop and break. Laptops will be able to handle lots more than a netbook, comes with a DVD and CD drive, and will allow your child to do the important homework (and gaming while you're not looking) your child needs to do.

I'd recommend a cheap laptop over a netbook for kids any day. Those little laptop impersonators known as netbooks look fun to have, but are really more fitting for adults than children.

- To learn more about netbooks check out 5 Reasons a Netbook is Not a Laptop or Notebook, 5 Assumptions Parents Make when Buying a Laptop for Their Child, and 5 Reasons to Keep Your Children Off of Your New Laptop.