May 29, 2010
Posted by admin in Articles
At first there was a desktop computer, then there came the laptop, then notebook and now we have the netbook computer. Everyone who uses the laptop may at one time need to have a laptop that is simple to carry anywhere but still accomplish his tasks thatâs why the netbook is put forward as the best computer for the next generation.Netbooks are bedfellows to Notebook computers the only difference is that they are very small compared to most notebook computers. They are made specifically for browsing and emailing the internet. One of the reasons why they are liked much is that they are energy efficient and lightweight.
Netbooks came into existence in 2007 when Asus Company made the Asus Eee PC. Netbooks have a small screen which ranges in the size of 7 to 10 Inches. They also have a manageable small keyboard although it doesnât have a CD ROM or disk drive and that makes it the lightest notebook on planet earth. But although it is small, it has a RAM OF 1 GB, 80 GB HDD, advanced configuration and power interface (ACPI) compared to other laptops .That means you can use it for very long time without getting worried about the size of information you are using on this computer called netbook.With our world of internet and the global village, these netbooks are made to pick internet from any location as long as one is in easy reach of internet connectivity.
The materials made to manufacture them are specifically to make them extra portable. And for that matter they are the best laptops to carry with you anywhere and that is the reason why they are taking the market of computer by storm.They come preloaded with Ubuntu Linux but that doesnât mean that you canât change it to Microsoft windows XP. I know there are some people who are not conversant with Linux but they shouldnât get scared because one can change it to use Microsoft Windows as soon you get one who can do it for you.The best of all is that the price of these netbooks is less compared to the usual suspect of laptops .While the normal laptop with minimum features can be got at $1000, the netbook is cheaper some starting at as low as $300 .The reason given being that these netbook computers donât have many features found in the other set of laptops.
With the current trend in business, education, travel and office work, netbook computers seem to take the world of computing by surprise. There are many places in this world where you can get them at a cheaper price, but the only place I recommend to purchase them is at TigerDirect.com because they have been in computer business for very long time and they have the best guarantee for their entire items. So next time you plan to buy a laptop, donât forget to ask for the netbook computer if what you want is to browse the internet and send mails through the net.
Twinomugisha Charles is a Retired Tour and Travel Guide in Millennium Tours and Travel Company in Uganda and now works with E-Office Management a company that deals in Computers and Computer Accessories. More of his articles about Netbook computer can be found at The Evolution of Notebook Computers and at The Smallest Notebook Computer
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Apr 9, 2010
Posted by admin in Articles
What is a Netbook
A Netbook (InterNET and noteBOOK) is a class of Laptop computer designed for wireless communication and access to the Internet. Netbook is primarily designed for web-browsing and emailing. Netbooks are gaining grounds on their compact design, slimmer looks and sleeker appeal.
Netbook is a Notebook computer with a low-powered x86-compatible processor (compatible with PC standard software), small screen (no larger than 10 inches), small keyboard, equipped with wireless connectivity, lightweight (under three pounds) and generally with no optical disk drive. They sometimes have Solid State Drives (SSDs) instead of Hard Disk Drives, which are lower capacity but have no moving parts and should, in theory, increase battery life and speed. Netbooks can run either Linux or Windows XP.
Why a Netbook
The obvious question is why should anyone buy a device with a smaller screen, slower processor, no optical drive when you can get a full-featured notebook?
When it comes to a portable computer, the things that matter to most are speed and convenience.A Netbook is more convenient because it is lighter, and it usually has a lightweight operating system. The processor itself isn’t as powerful, but there’s much less processing that needs to be done with Windows XP or Linux in order to be usable.
If we are just looking for a portable computer to take along with us while traveling, to check e-mail, chat on Skype, watch some Youtube videos, take some notes, then a Netbook is what we want. Where as if we’re going to do intensive image editing, multimedia authoring, gaming etc then a Notebook/Laptopi is more suited for our needs.
Don’t confuse these low cost Netbooks with some of the sub-compact full featured Notebooks that are also out there. Sony, Dell and others also offer small lightweight Notebooks that have all the features of a full size computer in a tiny package but at a hefty price of $1400 and up. Some of these have plenty of power and features and up to 9 hours of battery life. These are real computers that are just packed into really small cases.
How does it compares to a regular Notebook
Let’s see the differences between a typical Netbook and a regular Notebook. Features of Dell Mini 9 Netbook are compared with a regular sized Dell Inspiron Notebook below:
Inspiron Mini 9
Proecessor: Intel Atom Processor N270
Screen: 8.9”
Weight: 5.9lbs.
Battery: 32WHr Battery (4 cell)
Processor speed: 1.6 GHz
Memory: 1GB DDR2, 8GB SSD Memory
OS: Windows XP Home
Options: Camera, Bluetooth
Cost: $299
Inspiron 1525
Processor: Intel Pentium Dual Core T4200
Screen: 15.6” Wide Screen, Optional Hi-Res
Weight: 2.28 lbs.
Battery: 6-cell battery
Processor speed: 2 GHz
Memory: 4GB, Disk 320GB
OS: Windows Vista
Options: Camera, Bluetooth, ext Bat, More mem
Cost: $699
Pros compared to a regular Laptop:
- Excellent portability due to small size and light weight
- Good enough for basic computer tasks
- Relatively low cost
Cons compared to a regular Laptop:
- Small screen/lower resolution, small keyboard due to small size
- Limited processing power
- Hardware upgrades can be more challenging
- Due to lower processing capabilities, size and cost, advanced features are less adopted (FireWire, HDMI, etc…)
Which Netbook to buy?
It seems that Initially Netbook category was lead by Asus, Acer, but today computer giants Dell and HP jumped into the race.
According to the PcWorld.com the TOP 10 Netbooks are:
1. Asus EEE PC 1000HE
2. Acer Aspire ONE AOD150
3. Lenovo IdeaPad S10
4. Acer Aspire One (XP-Based)
5. Asus Eee PC 1000 XP
6. HP Mini 2140
7. Asus N10Jc
8. HP Mini 1000
9. Dell Inspiron Mini 9
10. MSI Wind U100
As with any purchase, you have to decide for yourself on what suits you best.
So go ahead explore the world of Netbooks and see if it’s a better choice compared to a Laptop. While the Laptop market is declining in this economy, interestingly the Netbook sales are predicted to be on the rise.
A couple of useful resources:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/154358/top_10_netbooks.html
http://tech.msn.com/products/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=18573429&imageindex=1
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Author is a blogger and adviser of consumer electronics and posts information on best online deals everyday
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