Choose the right netbook

At first appearances, the average netbook looks like a mini-laptop and if you’re on a tight budget you may well be tempted to opt for one thinking it’ll fit the bill nicely. However, a netbook may look like a miniature laptop but the two shouldn’t be confused. Here we look at the best way to choose a netbook and be happy with your choice. So, check out our guide on how to choose the right netbook…

The netbook has changed mobile computing by bringing in a super-light, super-portable and bets of all, super-cheap computer. The best way to describe a netbook is to say that it offers everything you’d expect from a full-blown laptop, but it does it in a condensed fashion.

The screen and keyboard are smaller, so slightly trickier to use, and because they are intended to be cheap and cheerful, power-wise they tend to feel as though someone has taken their foot off the gas. There are plenty of laptops at the entry-level end of the market, such as the Packard Bell Easynote mh36 and Advent 5611 that offer a full-sized screen and more power than you’ll get from the typical netbook.

Netbooks, such as Acer AOD150 and Samsung N110 are perfect for using about the house, for checking email or browsing the internet. However, best of all they are great for carrying around on a daily basis, as their light weight and decent battery life make them an essential part of any commute.

Here is our guide to getting to grips with the netbook

Step 1: How much are you prepared to spend
Asus all but invented the netbook back in 2007 with the launch of the original Eee PC 701 with its equally small price-tag. This device was intended for school kids, hence the tiny keyboard and 7-inch screen but it didn’t stop it from becoming the best known netbook. Subsequent releases have seen prices creep up as companies try to squeeze more and more tech inside a tiny case.

You should decide how much you’re prepared to spend, as you can pick up a nifty Acer Aspire One for less than £200. However, you’ll find that if you add screen size and spec to the equation then you’ll quickly be able to spend twice that on the likes of the Asus Eee PC S101. Sat in the middle of these price ranges are devices like the Samsung NC10 – you can see a review here.

Step 2: HD or SSD
The thing about netbooks is that specification is rather limited, for instance most netbooks offer the Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz processor, or the slightly faster N280. This isn’t a drain on the battery, but it’s not up to too much either, so don’t even think of trying to edit video on one. It’s perfect for email, watching DivX movies and general tasks you’d do on a tiny screen, though.

The real spec decision you need to make is whether you want a mechanical hard drive, which is a standard spinning disc like you’ll find in any computer or even your Skybox. These tend to offer more in the way of capacity – 160GB on the likes of Dell Mini 10 or Compaq Mini 700EA – are cheaper, use more power.

The other option is a little more expensive, so offers less in the way of storage and that is SSD (Solid State Disc). This is solid state Flash memory, like in your USB memory stick, so uses less power and takes up less space. It can be found on the likes of the Asus Eee PC. 

Unless you need to store stacks and stacks of photographs, we’d recommend SSD, as most netbooks will let you upgrade storage space with any SD card.

Step 3: Internet access
If you need a netbook for leisure rather than work, you might cope with a cheaper netbook that will let you jump online at Wi-Fi hotspots only. But if you’re a business bod who needs to work on the move, the latest line of netbooks, including the Dell Mini 9 Connected, Samsung NC10 or Advent 4213 all have 3G internet built in, so you can carry them around, pull them out wherever you are and get full frame browsing with no wires, no plugs and no daftly named “dongles”.

Step 4: Laptop or tablet?
Netbooks aren’t just for suits of course – arty types will be able to make the most of them too as the latest tech headed to netbooks is a screen twist to turn them into tablets. Asus unveiled its first Eee PC Touch in January, the T91, which offers a rotating touchscreen that folds down to doodle on with a stylus. This is now on sale and proving a popular option.

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