Taiwanese budget computer giant and the Walt Disney Company have teamed up to release their child-friendly laptop: the Netpal. Due to be on sale in the US by July, the move is in stark opposition to current trends in the American toy industry which is seeing manufacturers cutting back on high-priced toy production, and instead opting for cheaper goods.
However, the plans are not only brave, but they also signify an intriguing progression in the development of computer technology. Asus seem a prime candidate for production duties – laptop reviews of previous models frequently commend their value-for-money and simple products – and with the increasing popularity of best netbooks it seems that small, simple, web-surfing, word-processors may be set to make a big impact over the next year.
Whether it will appeal greatly amongst youngsters remains to be seen – and many will be following the popularity of the Netpal with a keen eye. According to Reuters, Mattel, Hasbro Inc and Toys “R” Us have all pushed for cheaper toy production as the recession causes credit-weary parents to cut back on spend this summer. The Netpal will retail at around $350.
In contrast to industry trends though, Chris Heatherly, vice president of global toys for Disney’s consumer products unit, argued: “What parents consistently told us is ‘I’m not looking for the lowest price point. I’m looking for something that is good value for money that my kid is going to get use out of’.”
In keeping with the positive market research, the Netpal will also be occupying a unique space in the market – giving children aged between six and 12 the chance to surf the web and send e-mails, but with better parent-implemented security options.
Yet, another intriguing aspect regarding the plans is the timing. Not only are fewer people spending money on leisure items currently, but I would anticipate that the Netbook will begin to sell better after the summer months and during the colder run-up to Christmas. However, I’m sure Heatherly will have done his research there and it seems that by December the Netpal will be a well-established product within the marketplace – and the first name among kids laptops.
Continue reading about Asus And Disney Team-up For New Laptop Aimed At Kids
“Back To School” is perhaps the most dreaded three word phrase in the English language for the majority of young people enjoying the last few days of summer. But for merchants and companies which cater to the student market, those three magic words are worth their weight in gold.
However, for many parents those words can produce mixed feelings, some look forward with guilty relief to having all that free time when they don’t have to worry about their children; while other parents are worried about outfitting and supplying their little geniuses with the necessary tools to make sure they’re not disadvantaged when it comes to learning.
In our computer obsessed world, one major part of that equation is making sure your school age child or even your college off-spring has a good quality laptop or best netbook. More and more students are using these handy gadgets to great advantage to further their education. So much so, that many students, regardless of age, would feel lost in the classroom without a portable laptop computer of some kind.
In recent years, we have seen the introduction of best netbooks into the student market. These small mini-laptops usually have displays of 10 inches or less, runs Windows or Linux and sells for well under $500. They were first introduced by Asustek in the fall of 2007 with the introduction of its Eee PC. Netbooks are now out-selling laptops in many markets.
Netbooks by their very design are very portable and mobile. These small compact lightweight computers are ideal for the student. Some very popular and highly rated best netbooks makers include Asus, MSI, Lenovo, Dell, HP, Acer… and the list goes on.
Student laptops or laptops for students have always been targeted by laptop designers and makers. For a good student laptop you should look for a laptop that is or has the following features:
1. Sturdy
2. Lightweight
3. Portable
4. Secure
5. High Performance
6. Long Battery Life
And of course, another major consideration for most parents is price. Fortunately, laptop prices have steadily fallen in the last few years and it is now possible to even get a quality machine for under $500. However, to get the best performance laptop buyers will usually have to cough up more of their hard earned dollars.
HP and Dell Coupons
More and more parents and students are looking and shopping online to find their “back to school” laptop or best netbook. Many laptop manufacturers offer special exclusive online deals to their affiliates and merchants. Especially online coupons from HP, Lenovo and Dell can save the cash-strapped parent or college student significant savings just by clicking a few links or placing in the appropriate coupon code.
In addition, many parents are turning to the web because they can find more variety both in the choice of laptops and in the choice of stores if you shop online for your laptop. Plus, by using the web, you can shop from the comfort of your home.
Perhaps, the only disadvantage is that you can’t actually handle or “tire-kick” the notebook computer you’re considering but now with countless online videos featuring your favorite laptop you can still get a pretty good idea of what your laptop will look like and how well it will perform by viewing these laptop review videos and virtual tours.
Fortunately, for any worried parent there is a wealth of student laptop information on the web which they can easily access to help them make the right choice when it comes to buying the best laptop or best netbook for their children who are heading back to school. Just do a little homework of your own and your child will be properly “laptop enabled” to meet any challenges that may come their way.
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Netbook computers, which are like miniature variations of laptops, have taken the marketplace by surprise recently because of their very handy size and capabilities. But before you rush away to acquire one, you first must find out if one of these new best netbook computers is correct for you.
The very first thing you must realize is that these cannot be planned to be an exact substitute for your desktop or laptop computer. They are designed to be handy, and that is the key word to concentrate on. If you open lots of distinct browser windows while you have a 10,000 column spreadsheet open and are also managing email at the same time, you are not going to be pleased with the operation of your best netbook. Virtually all of them today have the same processor, the Intel Atom 1.6 Ghz, which is not a dual-core, not high end, so you cannot anticipate to have two dozen windows and programs open at the same time. But for word processing, spreadsheets, email, and even watching a video on it, one thing at once, these best netbooks are super.
You likewise must be conscious that the keyboard is smaller. It will not have an integrated numeric keypad, but you can purchase an external numeric keypad that connects into the USB port if you desire. If you are a touch typist, this is going to take some getting used to, as the keyboard size is about 93% of a typical keyboard size. Not a super deal, but for a touch typist, it will take some experience to get as proficient as you used to be.
But on the bright side, these best netbook computers are extremely convenient, if you indeed apply it for what it was designed to do for you. Firstly, they are exceedingly portable and light, normally weighing under 3 pounds, with length and width approximately equal to a sheet of paper. In height, they are normally more or less an inch high. This makes them perfect for placing into a bigger purse or briefcase quite easily.
They also have much more battery life than their laptop counterparts. Experiencing battery life of more than 4 hours is common, with some models featuring twice that. A recommendation would be to find one with at least a 6 cell battery rather than the 3 cell battery that is average in many of them. A 6 cell battery does not contribute much to the weight and will give you much more battery usage.
Best of all is the price, where even the retail price is typically below $400, and some discount locations have them even less.
These are perfect for situations where you go for extended periods of time without the ability to plug into an electrical socket, like for instance on a coast to coast airline flight. And with some airlines such as AirTran, you can even get online during flight, and additional airlines are getting in-flight Internet access accessible all the time.
As long as you can stay practical about the capabilities of these best netbooks, they can be a valuable addition to your personal and business productivity while on the go.
Continue reading about Netbook Computers – Could One Right For You?
Netbooks are the new wave in mobile computing. First-time buyers are likely to be attracted to these small laptops because of their attractive price tags, while power users appreciate them because they are lighter than regular notebooks but still have full keyboards. Because best netbooks are fairly popular, a great many new models have been released in the past few years, making it more difficult to decide which one is right for you. On top of that, traditional laptops are still an option that shouldn’t be ignored. If you’re after a multimedia experience, for example, a 17 inch laptop is going to provide a hands-down better picture than a best netbook with a 7 inch screen.
Probably the most important factor you’ll be considering when looking for best netbook or laptop will be price. On the low end of the spectrum, you can find several models with modest memory, disk space, and power for around $300. More pricey sub notebooks can cost as much if not more than a full-sized laptop, but provide more power without sacrificing portability. The price you need to spend on your best netbook will depend on your needs. Web surfing, word-processing, and other simple tasks can be performed admirably by the less expensive machines, but for more hard-core gaming, running windows vista, and giving business presentations you will want a higher-end model. These distinctions aren’t always as simple as price, however, because some of the more expensive best netbooks don’t offer enough added value to justify their inflated prices. To get a good deal, you need to look at the whole package including size, weight, disk storage, onboard RAM, battery life, and extra features.
If you’re buying your sub-notebook online, it can be difficult to judge what size computer will arrive once you order. Keep in mind that a seven inch model likely has a seven inch screen, but may be more like 10 inches long. These models can easily fit into a small messenger bag or a handbag, while larger models approach the size of a full sized laptop and will not. Netbooks generally weigh very little, which makes carrying them around easy, but if you want an ultra-light model you should compare the different weights. Keep in mind that, if you later buy a larger battery or other accessories, the weight of your computer will increase. Machines with more features will likely be heavier, so you will need to consider this before making a purchase.
To be sure of what you are buying, you will want begin your search with a little bit of technical knowledge. First, you are faced with a choice of operating systems. The most popular system today is Microsoft Windows, which you are probably using to read this article. Most best netbooks can only run Windows XP, so if you are looking to use the new Vista operating system you will have a tougher time finding options, especially on the low end. Keep in mind that Windows costs money, even when it is bundled with your new computer, meaning that windows computers will cost about $40 more. The popular alternatives to Windows are various distributions of the free and user-friendly Linux operating system. Linux comes pre-installed on many best netbooks as an option, costs nothing, and allows you to surf the web and do everyday work in the same way that Windows does. Most Linux software is free and the system tends to run faster on most hardware. This is why, among other reasons, major corporations tend to use Linux to run websites and other large-scale projects. The main disadvantage is that, while it is possible to run Windows software in Linux, popular games will probably not work very well if they work at all. Netbooks tend not to be ideal gaming platforms in general, however, so Linux has found a good niche in this market.
One thing that may be mystifying to new buyers is the variety of disk storage options that are available. Many best netbooks use traditional hard drives (abbreviated HD), which offer greater storage capacity at reduced cost. If you need more than 10 gigabytes (gb) of space to store your everyday files, a hard drive will probably be the way to go. Unfortunately, hard drives tend to weigh a bit more and, because they have moving parts, can break more easily when dropped or bumped around. The lighter alternative is internal flash memory, referred to as a “solid-state drive” or SSD. SSDs tend to be between 4 and 8 gigabytes, with higher capacities costing significantly more. Four gigabytes tends to be enough for most users, even though conventional desktop computers offer more storage. You will reach the limit very quickly, however, if you want to store a lot of music and video content.The advantages of this SSD technology include somewhat increased access speed, and the reliability that comes with having no mechanical parts to break. Flash drives are limited by the number of read-write cycles the can undergo. After a few years of regular use, these drives will slow down and eventually fail predictably. Hard drives, on the other hand, can last for years or fail within the first month.
RAM, or random access memory, is used to store information in the computer about running programs. Running out of RAM can cause your computer to run at decreased performance. Very cheap best netbooks can have as little as 64mb (megabytes) of memory, which is too small to run almost any useful kind of program. Most, however, offer something between 512mb and 1 gigabyte of RAM. Again, what you will need depends on what you plan to use your best netbook for. For most tasks, 512mb is more than enough (you might even get by on 256mb), but if you tend to run a lot of programs at the same time, you should think about getting more memory. Most models will allow you to add memory later if you need it, which can extend the useful life of your computer.
Battery life is a sometimes forgotten, but very important consideration. Chances are, you will be carrying your best netbook around with you and won’t have opportunities to charge it throughout the day. Battery capacity is measured in milliamperes per hour (MaH), but it is much easier to simply search for reviews of your product and find an estimate of battery life in hours. You can almost always buy a larger battery later on if you need one, but it is still good to check. Two hours is the absolute bare minimum time a battery should provide, but more is an added bonus. If you’re not ready to spring for an expensive battery, you can also increase the runtime by turning down the volume and screen brightness once you get your new computer.
Most best netbooks offer extra features of one type or another. Asus, for example, sells models of their EEE PC computers with and without webcams. If you need a webcam from Asus, be prepared to pay a little bit more. Other special features include the ability to flip the screen and use the best netbook as a tablet, and included bluetooth or extra-fast wireless cards. If these terms don’t mean anything to you, don’t worry because you probably don’t need these features. Sometimes it is possible to add more to your laptop later for a little extra cost as well.
If you’ve used these criteria to narrow down your best netbook choices, your final task is to read a few reviews and make sure everything works well with your desired model before you buy it. There is nothing more disappointing than paying for something that is far below your expectations, so shop wisely. In today’s tech market, you can never be too careful with your money.
Continue reading about What To Consider When Buying A Netbook Computer
Netbooks are everywhere, on buses, on trains, on planes… and in the classroom. It seems the little best netbook has come out of nowhere to become extremely popular overnight.
But what is a best netbook?
Netbooks usually have screens of 10 inches or less, runs Windows or Linux and generally sell for well under $500. As its name indicates, the best netbook’s main purpose is to keep its owner conveniently connected to the net – anywhere, anytime.
First introduced by Asustek when it launched the first Eee PC in the fall of 2007. But it was only in the last year when we saw the explosive growth of these so-called mini-laptops. Now we have many computer companies such as HP, Dell, Lenovo… all jumping on this craze for a small portable laptop. So much so, that best netbooks now is the fastest growing segment of the laptop industry and is expected to reach 139 million units by 2013.
Why is there a sudden popularity for the small best netbook? Perhaps the answer lies mainly in our constant quest for mobility. We want a portable device that will keep us connected to the Internet and yet be small and light enough to be carried around all day. A truly ultra-portable device that keeps us connected with family, friends and the web.
The next question you have to ask: why do best netbooks make for great student laptops? If the above reasons aren’t enough, try the following:
Size
Netbooks are small with 10 inch displays or less, which make them ideal for students. Plus, they are usually very lightweight – around 2 or 3 pounds. They are compact enough to tuck into your school bag or backpack, and small enough to carry around all day without developing a hernia.
Portability
As mentioned above because the best netbook is so small and compact, it is very portable. A very mobile device that we can use to stay connected to the web and friends. Connectability is one of the main features – you are connected to the web at all times.
Sturdiness
Most best netbooks are designed to be sturdy and tough. They can take a few hard knocks and still keep on working. Students are not exactly the most gentle creatures on the planet, so a sturdy tough machine is needed to handle the demands put upon it.
Battery Life
Because of their small size, you will usually get better battery life than with a regular sized laptop. This is important to the student since you may have to go all day without a chance to re-charge the battery. Long lasting battery life makes the best netbook the perfect student laptop.
Performance
Although small, these mini-laptops still sports some very impressive specs. Many now come with at least 1 Gig of RAM and Intel Atom processors. There are even some with Solid State Hard Drives which make them more durable and less likely to be damaged. Most use Windows XP – newer models debuting this year with the Nvidia’s Ion platform may have Vista or Windows 7, but still don’t expect the kind of performance you would get from a regular laptop.
Storage
While storage on best netbooks is constantly increasing, it is still nowhere near the kind of storage you will find on a regular sized laptop. Usually, most devices have around 30 or 60 Gig hard drives which should be adequate for most student’s needs. Many newer best netbooks have 160 Gigs of storage.
Price
Perhaps, the main reason best netbooks make the perfect student laptops is the low price. Students are usually on a very limited budget and the low price-tag is a perfect fit. Many perfectly adequate machines are now priced in the $300 to $500 range – while many good ones go for well under $300. Plus, prices are steadily dropping so almost any student can now afford a best netbook.
As you can plainly see, the best netbook does have many features to make it a perfect student laptop: small size, very portable, excellent connections, very sturdy, long battery life, good performance, adequate storage and most of all, a very affordable price almost any student can take advantage of. Overall, best netbooks are well suited for the classroom and the student.
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In the last year the popularity of mini-sized computers, known as best netbooks, has skyrocketed. With screens as small as seven inches and weighing in at less than three pounds, this genre of computers has filled a niche with people who are tired of lugging around six pounds of hardware in their backpacks or side bags. I am one of those people who found normal laptops too much to carry and opted for a best netbook and I would like to share my experiences with you.
A few years ago standard laptop computers were thick and weighed around six and one half pounds. They were portable but if you carried around other equipment then the load was sometimes intolerable. I even injured my back by placing one of those monsters in my backpack and then traveling around as if it were nothing.
After that experience I was eagerly waiting to upgrade my computer to a newer model in hopes of gaining more portability. Well, I goofed when I got a standard 15 inch screen model which was only slightly lighter than my Toshiba Satellite of 2004 and again injured myself when trying to hustle through a busy terminal trying to catch a bus connection. I vowed to go small and looked around for a new best netbook.
I am a rapid touch typist and opted for an Acer Aspire One because it has a keyboard that is only slighter smaller than a standard size keyboard. This size keyboard enables me to do touch typing and once I got used to it, I did not lose any speed. So, my first bit of advice is to consider your typing style, and if you are a touch typist, then choose a best netbook with a keyboard that is large enough for you.
Closely related to keyboard size is screen size. Can you really work on a tiny screen? Of course a big screen is nice, but I find that even on an 8.9 inch screen there is enough space to work. When I browse the Internet I just opt for larger fonts, and in MS Word I view the documents at 150% size. It works. A seven inch screen might be too small and a ten inch screen would be heaven!
Another feature that you have to consider is the amount of storage space and indeed, the kind of storage media that your best netbook uses. Some best netbooks do not have hard disks. They use solid state drives. This gives them a weight advantage and perhaps a durability advantage, because solid state drives have no moving parts and may be less prone to breakage. However, the sold drives of some of the earlier best netbooks were only two to eight gigabytes. This seems like very little when compared to the standard hard drives of most laptops and desktops, but if supplemented by additional memory, such as SD storage cards or plug in USB memory, they could be adequate for some users.
I was wary about too little storage and when I saw best netbooks, such as Acer’s Aspire, with a 120 mb hard drive, I jumped for it, and indeed it is certainly large enough to contain all of my data.
Perhaps the biggest determinant of whether a best netbook is for you is whether it will be powerful enough to do your work. My best netbook has an Intel Atom chip and runs windows XP. With one gig of RAM it is powerful enough to run photo editing software, word processing software and even web editing tools. I found that I could get everything done with this kind of power. Perhaps if you have extra heavy needs then a best netbook wouldn’t work for you but it has been estimated that at least 50% of users do not need more than what a best netbook provides.
There is one last point to make: you don’t get a cd drive with most best netbooks. However, in this age of memory sticks and SD cards they are not really needed. You can install software through downloads or by hooking up to a portable CD drive at home or at a friend’s home. Most of the time you can cruise around lightly without a CD drive.
That’s the picture. Netbooks are for real. They look like cute little toys but they pack the punch of a full sized computer at half the price and half the weight.
Netbooks are little computers that are receiving big attention these days. Netbooks are actually mini-notebook computers with limited applications. They are designed to be extremely portable, allowing internet use while out and about (hence the “net” in best netbook).
A best netbook has a screen size of twelve inches or smaller and is very light-weight, generally less than three pounds. These energy-efficient mini-computers are perfect for email, chat, Web surfing or even movie watching. Most designs out now run Windows XP or Linux operating systems and are not intended for extensive data storage or complicated programs like Photoshop or 3D games. However, at less than $400 they may offer the perfect solution for consumers who want the newest gadget at a reasonable price.
It is the price that is posing a problem for manufacturers. It was likely that the best netbook was created to complement the notebook computer; a consumer would want both to serve different purposes. But as the economy has gotten tougher, people are buying the cheaper best netbooks at a faster rate. “… the low price tag that makes them such a hit these days means less revenue and profit for PC makers than what their full-size counterparts produce,” said tech columnist Dan Zehr.
Last fall, of the top-selling laptops on Amazonover half of them were best netbooks. An analysis on Barrons.com noted best netbooks “could dent Macbook sales.” This was particularly true during the back-to-school and holiday shopping periods. Of course, sales of iPhones and Blackberries are not being impacted in the same way as notebook computer sales, as they hold a different niche in the market.
So are best netbooks worth the hype? That depends. If a consumer is looking for a powerful machine to be able to perform typing-heavy applications on-the-go, he would be better served sticking with a laptop computer. John New, senior manager for global product marketing at Dell Inc., said the best netbooks work nicely for portable entertainment, but they are not intended for creating content or long periods of use.
That may be the best netbooks biggest problem. While they offer a longer, more in depth Web experience than a smart phone, it is considerably shorter than a laptop computer with a larger battery capacity. The best netbook allows use between 30 and 45 minutes, which is significantly less than most plane rides.
If the little computer with the little price tag does prove too irresistible to pass up, there are a few things to consider when purchasing a best netbook. First, the price is budget friendly, but the consumer should make sure the best netbook is user friendly for his individual computer needs. It’s not a great price if it sits unused. There are choices on operating systems, so the consumer should make sure they understand how to use what they are getting. Finally, try several out to make sure screen and keyboard size make for comfortable use.
Also, as PC manufactures and retailers are adjusting for the best netbooks popularity they are offering deals with notebooks and best netbooks packaged together. They are not exactly on par with two for one deals, but it may be the best deal in the long run.
Continue reading about Netbooks, Notebooks: What’s The Difference?
Last month, Acer Inc has surpassed Dell to become the world’s second-largest computer vendor during the third quarter of 2009. Now, it seems that Acer is now looking at the world’s number one PC maker, Hewlett Packard. In the September quarter, HP has retained its position with about 20.2 percent of the market, whereas Acer reported 14 percent share of the market as compared to Dell’s 12.7 percent.
Acer’s future plans
According to market sources, Acer has shipped in between 3.4-3.6 million notebooks (including best netbooks) in September month, beating both HP and Dell. Recently, Mr. J.T. Wang, Acer Chairman has indicated that it will ship over 40 million notebooks in 2010, a number that would challenge the top position of HP in the portable PC sales. Mr. Wang also added that the company expects a growth of revenue by more than 70 percent over the next three years.
Reasons for the Acer’s success
In the past few years, Acer has become one of the fastest growing PC makers, outshining Lenovo and then Dell to become number two PC maker. Many experts said that the take-over of Gateway Inc. and controlling power of Packard Bell have strengthen Acer’s multi-brand strategy, which targeted to create Acer’s brand awareness in countries like US.
The reason for the company’s high sales and market shares is the low-cost Netbook PCs. Acer expects about 50% gain in sales, but if world’s economy grows, the company anticipates growing even more in the near future. Mr. Wang, who leads the company since 2008, also said that the company’s revenue will touch about $18 billion in this fiscal year. Further, the company anticipates that the handheld market will reach about $200 billion in 2010 and Acer expects a smaller pie out of this with $30 billion revenue. In contrast, analysts expect Acer’s sales to reach $25 billion in 2012.
In its third-quarter results, Acer has reported sales of $5.2 billion, a new high and up 5.3% year on year basis. The company also reports $107.8 million earnings, which jumped 14 percent quarter on quarter basis. However, if there was no shortage of certain components in its manufacturing units, the company would have done even better.
Acer Aspire One series
Aspire One series is the Acer’s line of subcompact notebook computers released in July 2008 that are based on the Intel Atom platform. Aspire One notebooks are behind the high sales of the company in last two years. Recently, the company has introduced Aspire 1820PT, a 11.6” notebook with a swivel screen that transforms it into a tablet computer. Acer also announced that it will launch Android based best netbooks, which will be available by Q3 of 2009.
Entering into Smartphones array
Acer is not only working on PC market, but also entering into Smartphone business with the launch of its new Smartphone, the Acer Liquid A1. The new device is powered by Qualcomm’s 768 MHz Snapdragon processor and Android platform.
Continue reading about Can Acer Replace Hp As World’s Number One Pc Vendor?
Google launched much awaited operating system chrome os but it is a open source code.
Anyone can test and customize it. When Google launch complete version then it will be available on new best netbooks with hardware. Chrome os is a new approach to os world or you can say Chrome is an operating system that contains web browser or web browser work as a os.
Google Chrome os
Not Available yet:- on Wednesday Google launches chrome os but its open source development project. It means hardware manufactures and developers can download compile and install code
All Applications are web Application:- All application you use is web application means there are no desktop application but third party application also work if they provide web application. Your current applications CDs are useless with chrome os.
Chrome Browser is part of Chrome os:- Google browser chrome is a part of operating system.
Easy Access to Application: you can add shortcut to website on toolbar. Google tries to launch application as fast as possible. You can add tab and your application a click away.
panel are persistent:- Google chrome allow user to play music in bg (background mode), play video and interact with storage media.
Google Chrome os will be Up-to Date: windows recommended user to turn on their updates but not every user does it. Google chrome automatically updated to new version.
Repair Itself:- As we all know main aspect of Google chrome are speed ,security and simplicity. To achieve security Google use some new technologies like if it detect malware , infection or just a bit, chrome will get an updated version.
Data is Always Secure:- you don’t need to worry about your data. Your data is always stored on cloud.
No Hard-disk:- there is any need of hard drive Google works on OEMS to create reference design. Application launching time will be 3 second and boot-up time will be 7 second.
Not ordinary pc:- Google have concern about small affordable laptops , best netbooks and focus on 802.11n connectivity.
Chrome os will work offline:- Google tries to explorer offline capabilities and supporting some kind of offline storage. Games and media files can be run on offline mode that’s Google Promise.
Understanding best netbooks is very simple. They look as notebnooks, only smaller. They are super tiny and cute. However, that does not mean that best netbooks are like every other laptop out there, just smaller. Netbooks also are cheaper than most of the regular notebooks, otherwise known as laptops. And a lower price tag inevitably means poorer performance.
What exactly is the difference between the venerable notebooks and the nouveau-arrive best netbooks?
First, let’s consider the monitor. While a 15-inch has become a standard for regular notebooks, best netbooks are likely to have a screen measuring up to 10 inches from corner to corner.
Next on the list is the storage. Most best netbooks have very small storage space: as small as 8GB. In comparison, notebooks with 160GB of storage are not a rarity today. Some best netbooks come with Solid State Drives (SSDs) instead of Hard Disk Drives. SSD can not store much data, but, on the up side, they have no moving parts and are thus less prone to damage due to dropping or banging the device as it is being carried around.
Netbook batteries are usually smaller and often can not last longer than two hours. An extended battery will provide about four hours – but it will also add to the weight of the device, which is meant to be ultra-light. As for notebooks, seven to eight hours of battery life is becoming a standard.
As a rule, best netbooks are made without a built-in CD or DVD drive.
Netbooks also have relatively slow processors.
Netbooks typically run cheaper versions of Microsoft operating system or on one of the Linux distributions. Resource-demanding operating systems like Vista are not suitable for them.
And in the end – best netbooks have really small keyboards.
In short, best netbooks are designed for more basic tasks. If you are looking for a portable computer to take along with you on your travels, to check your e-mail, surf the Internet, listen to some music (but not too much), then a best netbook is for you.
If you are more into image editing, multimedia authoring or gaming, then a notebook is a better choice.
After all, best netbooks first appeared in 2007 and were originally aimed at emerging markets as the low-cost, small-form-factor machines. Asus started it with their EEE range, and soon many big-name brands followed suit by releasing some sort of budget mobile computing machine. Netbooks sales have skyrocketed in the second half of 2008, with consumers in the U.S.A., Europe, and Japan snapping them up.
Some say that, apart from a shortcoming or two, best netbooks are the wave of the future, being small, light and easy to carry. Of course, being cheap helps too, especially in these times of economic downturn.