Netbook Comparison

Although netbooks are great, here are some reasons why they are not.

Netbooks have been around for a few years now and have gained a wide popularity with mobile users. They offer many advantages over a traditional laptop and are usually less expensive than a similarly configured traditional laptop. Also, because of their smaller size, they offer greater portability and longer battery life as well on a single charge. Even though they have several key advantages for most mobile users, there are a few things to consider before taking the leap into a new Netbook.

One of the reasons that the Netbooks have such amazing battery life is because they have a smaller screen. While this may add hours to the battery life of the average Netbook, some people have a hard time using a really small screen. The good news is that the Netbooks are usually offered in a 9-inch, 10-inch and 12-inch variety and if you go with the larger of the screens it’s much easier to read. This larger screen also gives you a longer battery life than a traditional laptop, but makes working on the Netbook easier on your eyes.

Another way the Netbooks achieve the longer battery charge is by using a processor that has been designed with a lower power requirement. Even though these processors work really well for most applications, some processor-heavy applications may be a little slower on a Netbook. Also you may have to limit your activities to one task at a time and avoid multitasking with larger applications. This is usually fine for most users and doesn’t create problems for them as long as they are aware of their needs.

The one thing missing from the Netbook is any type of CD or DVD drive. This means if you want to install programs or watch a movie on the plane, you’ll need an external USB drive. These are relatively inexpensive and are easy to connect if you need to install any programs. The other option is to install applications from a network drive, or download movies from one of the online retailers. The truth is that most CD/DVD players are very infrequently used on laptops and eliminating this in a Netbook really helps to keep the cost and weight down.

The last downside to a netbook might be the keyboard and mouse layout. Most of the manufacturers have done a good job keeping the keyboard as close to full sized as possible. The challenge for many is that to do this they have had to either rotate the track pad and mouse buttons into an unnatural position, or make the track pad shorter. While both of these issues are easy to overcome with a little use, they do represent another hurdle for many users.

Even with all of these minor wrinkles, the Netbook continues to grow in popularity with users, and is one of the hottest categories in portables today. Most major computer vendors offer several models in this category and even corporate clients have jumped onboard by offering Netbooks as an alternative for their mobile workforce. Most of the concerns discussed can easily be overcome with a little work and training and won’t stop you from enjoying all of the advantages that a Netbook provides for your mobile computing needs.