Should you buy a netbook? What should you look for in a netbook? What should you not look for?
A netbook can be a smart alternative to buying a laptop. For those who want a small computer and use it most for e-mail and paper writing, you can save time and space. A netbook will also save you money as you will not be paying for computer programs that you do not use. So before you consider your next computer purchase, consider buying a netbook.
What is a netbook? It is a small, laptop computer that does not have all programs used in a laptop or desktop computer. Netbooks were originally sold with alternative operating systems (such as Linux) to keep costs down. They also may use alternative versions of popular applications such as spreadsheets or word processing (Note: this is no different than home packages offered by PC makers). You can get standard hard drive memory but many come with solid-state disks (think built-in USB). That is not to say they do not have other bells and whistles: Even some low end versions come with built in cameras. Should you by a netbook, you will cover your needs without breaking the bank.
Why should you want a netbook? There are a lot of reasons to consider a netbook:
• Netbooks are ideal for students because they are small and can be toted to classes and fit on desks (even half desks).
• Netbooks are inexpensive. You can purchase one for $300 to $400. I bought one after a laptop had a "minor" repair that would cost me upwards of $250 to fix. The math was easy.
• Netbooks can supplement your home PC System. When building your home network, you may have a couple of users who use the computer for the internet and paper writing. Netbooks are an inexpensive way to build out your home computer network.
• Netbooks are small. If space is an issue, netbooks take up less of space than even most laptops of a comparable price.
• Netbooks give you convenience without the unnecessary extras. It is simple economics.
The popularity of netbooks is increasing. This is good news for users because operating systems and applications will follow. Windows XP has now become the standard OS for netbooks. Anyone who has watched the evolution of the PC industry grow knows that mass adoption drives innovation.
Before you go out and buy your next notebook computer, establish your computer needs. You may find that a netbook fits those needs better than a laptop or a desktop. Buying a netbook will save you cash without sacrificing convenience.
1. HP Pavilion DV6-1354US 15.6-Inch Black Laptop - Up to 4 Hours of Battery Life (Windows 7 Home Premium)
2. Toshiba Satellite L505-S5993 TruBrite 15.6-Inch Grey/Black Laptop - 2 Hours 25 Minutes of Battery Life (Windows 7 Home Premium)
3. ASUS Eee PC Seashell 1005HA-PU17-BK 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 10.5 Hours of Battery Life (Windows 7 Starter)
4. ASUS Eee PC 1005HA-PU1X-BK 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 10.5 Hour Battery Life
5. ASUS K50IJ-X8 15.6-Inch Black Versatile Entertainment Laptop (Windows 7 Home Premium)
6. Toshiba Mini NB205-N230 (NB200 series) 10.1-Inch Black Onyx Netbook - 9 Hours of Battery Life (Windows 7 Starter)
7. Acer AOD250-1694 10.1-Inch White Netbook - Up to 8 Hours of Battery Life (Windows 7 Starter)
8. Apple MacBook MC207LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop
9. ASUS Eee PC Seashell 1005PE-PU17-BK 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - Up to 14 Hours of Battery Life
10. HP 2009M 20-Inch HD LCD Monitor
Need Help Deciding Which Computer to Buy?
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The next trend in computing is the introduction of the super compact netbook computer which sacrifices very little in terms of features and computing power while giving the user a portable alternative to trying to type on a smart phone and enjoying almost all features of a full sized computer.
I ended up buying Samsung N110-12PBK 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - 6 Cell Battery (9.5 Hours)
primarily because I need the long battery life between recharges and this model gives me about 10 hours of regular usage.
There are many ways to describe these new portable computers such as: tablet notebook computers, mini laptop computers, minibooks, mini notebooks and many other descriptive terms.
You will find excellent prices below on all the the top rated and best selling netbooks.
Adds more functionality to your mouse for interacting with windows.
* The moving.
You can move windows and controls which do not support this ability.
* The resizing.
You can resize windows and controls which do not support this ability.
* The hiding and restring.
You can hide any window from desktop (to tray bar or completely) and restore it.
* The opaque.
You can change opaque of window.
* The document work.
You can assign key-mouse combination to standart menu items of different programs.
* Start your programs.
Use mouse to run your programs and open documants from evevrywhere.
Download
Source: deskex.com
CCleaner is a freeware system optimization, privacy and cleaning tool. It removes unused files from your system - allowing Windows to run faster and freeing up valuable hard disk space. It also cleans traces of your online activities such as your Internet history. Additionally it contains a fully featured registry cleaner. But the best part is that it's fast (normally taking less than a second to run) and contains NO Spyware or Adware.
Features of CCleaner 2.0:
* Complete rebuild in C++
With the requirements for a portable version, 64-bit compatibility and Windows Vista increasing against the limitations of the old architecture. We decided to rebuild the entire CCleaner application in highly optimized C++.
* Faster analyzing and cleaning
Each scanning process was rewritten from scratch and fully optimized. The result being a noticeable speed increase in all areas.
* Portable
CCleaner can now run from a USB thumbdrive and be installed/run on a computer without a complicated setup process.
* Compact
The rewrite removed all external file dependencies, so the main EXE is now half the size of the original program and support files.
* Redesigned User Interface
The original CCleaner user interface was looking a little dated, so the GUI was redesigned with a modern look, but without sacrificing speed or usability. New icons were created for the interface and the main program icon was updated with a more modern style.
* Exclusions
It is now possible to specify files, folders and registry keys to ignore from the cleaning process.
* Loads of little tweaks
Too numerous to mention them all separately, we've tried to improve CCleaner in all areas.
Download
Are you using the Windows operating system older then Window Vista? If yes, then it means you have just dead icons for your drives, which does not provide you with any information about used space and free space available in the drives, and have an old fashion look. But here is an opportunity for you to get Window Vista style icons, which not only have modern stylish look but also provide you enough information about each drives consumed space and free space available. And it’s all in a graphical alive icon manner of each drive. Whenever you start using this tiny utility, I am sure you will be habitual and love it and can’t live without it. It is because whenever you require to check your drives space you does not require to open properties window of each drive. Simply look at the drives icon and you will get the idea of available free space and consumed space. But of course if you want to know the exact amount of consumed space and available free space then you have to go for drives property window. This utility launches with window and so you do not require to start it each time. And also not make your computer slower.
Vista Drive Icon, changes the drive icons shown in Windows "My Computer", to a nearly Vista drive icon, showing the drive's free space with a smooth colored horizontal bar.
File size: 133 Kb
Operating System: All 32-bit MS Windows (95/98/NT/2000/XP)
Download
Source: drvicon.sourceforge.net
The Acer Aspire One is a 8.9" netbook with a starting price that is aimed to undercut nearly all the current market competitors. The base Aspire One, which includes an 8GB SSD and Linux starts at $329, which is far under anything else that has the Intel Atom processor. The big question running through everyone's minds is if this model is built like a budget computer, or if it has what it takes to go up against some models that sell for nearly double the retail price. In this review we cover all aspects of the Acer Aspire One, and let you know if this is a netbook you should consider purchasing.
Our Acer Aspire One specifications:
* 1.6GHz N270 Intel Atom Processor
* 1GB DDR2 533MHz
* Windows XP Home SP3
* 8.9" 1024 x 600 WSVGA glossy LED backlit display
* 120GB 2.5" 5400RPM Hitachi Hard Drive (with SDHC storage expansion slot)
* 802.11b/g Atheros Wireless
* 3-Cell 23Wh battery
* Size: 9.75" x 6.625" x 1.28"
* Weight: 2lb 5.0oz
Build and Design
The design of the Acer Aspire One is very sleek with softly rounded edges and a smooth glossy surface that is comfortable to hold when closed. The look is fairly basic, but it does have a few chrome accents here and there which add a bit of spice into the look of the netbook. Glossy plastic is found on the top of the screen cover, as well as around the entire LCD. At times the reflective boarder does get on your nerves if you are in a brightly lit room with many sources of glare.
Build quality looks solid for a subnotebook and the construction feels strong enough to handle being tossed around inside a bookbag without much concern for its safety (well apart from the glossy surfaces). Holding it while it is folded in half is similar to holding a hard cover book, having a good amount of rigidity to resist flex and compression. The screen cover feels especially strong, which is important for protecting the relatively fragile LCD panel.
From an upgrading perspective, the Acer Aspire One is a very difficult netbook to make enhancements to. The case does not separate as easily as others to access vital components like RAM or the hard drive. While most users won't touch the insides, it is worth mentioning it for those thinking about upgrading to Vista which enjoys additional RAM, or something looking to install a faster drive. Another disappointing aspect about the Aspire One is the open Mini-PCIe slot which is lacking any connector. This area is prepped with a SIM-card port for obvious 3G features, but unless you can solder on your own connector you are out of luck.
Keyboard and Touchpad
The keyboard is spacious as far as netbooks go, since the Aspire One is a 9" netbook inside the body of a 10" model. You have the slight disadvantage of having huge screen borders, but you get some much needed keyboard real estate. The keyboard is cramped compared to a fullsize notebook, but is easy to get the hang of with enough practice. The typing surface feels strong with no keyboard flex and individual keys feel strong with no wobble. One aspect that I really enjoy about the keyboard layout is the dedicated page up and page down buttons. For scrolling through long webpages, especially with mini touchpads, page up and page down keys can provide a more accurate way of navigating a webpage or document at a fast pace.
The touchpad design is slightly unique compared to other netbooks and notebooks in general, with the buttons on each side of the touch surface. The only other notebook we have seen with this layout is the HP Mini-Note 2133. The layout is a bit tricky to get used to, as you click on the hard palmrest surface, and try to scroll on the touchpad button. The surface is easily to slide your finger on and the sensitivity easily tracks your finger with light pressure. If you are able to get used to the touchpad button layout ends up not being that bad at all.
Display
The LED backlit display on the Acer Aspire One is very bright and vibrant. The white levels are very clear, leaning towards the cooler or bluer side. Colors look excellent with the glossy screen, but at the cost of increasing screen reflections and glare. The screen might be bright enough to view outside, but with all the bright reflective surfaces outside, the screen is nearly impossible to view comfortably. Viewing angles are better than average, with a broad sweet spot. Horizontal viewing angles are excellent, to the point where you could be looking almost perpendicular to the screen and still see accurate color. Vertical viewing angles are good, but they do find their limit at +/- 15 degrees forward or back.
Performance
This Intel Atom based netbook won't be breaking any speed records, but it performed more than adequately for normal activities. Internet browsing, word processing, and even photo editing tasks were handed in a very snappy environment. The most surprising thing from a reviewing standpoint was this subnotebook giving benchmark results in every program we could throw at it. This is not par for the course though, as many other netbooks have limited resolutions or other odd quirks that prevent most of the standard benchmarking programs to give valid results.
Gaming performance is limited with the low-end Atom-based system, but some games can still be operated at decent framerates. The original Half-Life at 640x480 runs at 20-40FPS, which is more than playable, and a great alternative to just playing Solitaire on a boring day.
Using the latest Xvid codec and Media Player Classic we tested out multiple ripped video sources. The average load on the processor was 10-14 percent. With this type of load, battery life was decreased enough that watching a movie barely more than two hours might be pushing it.
HD video content was also out of the question, even with highly optimized video codecs such as CoreAVC. Dropped frames and slower framerates were noticed in some movie trailers that we tested, and high action scenes were out of the question completely.
One unique feature of the Acer Aspire One is the dual card readers, which one is aimed for storage expansion. While the extra SDHC-only reader doesn't show up as installable space for an operating system, it is handy if you have one card for storage and another that you just pulled out of a camera. You don't have to swap back and forth; you can just use the open slot.
Speakers and Audio
The speakers on the Acer Aspire One make lowend notebook speakers sound great. Peak volume levels are low, and there is no hint of anything but higher frequencies coming from the small speakers. Trying to pay attention to dialog in a game or video was difficult enough that I just brought out my headphones after a few minutes.
The headphone jack on the Aspire One worked very well, driving my Senneiser HD280 headphones to above comfortable listening levels. No static or other noise was noticed through the jack besides imperfections in the audio source itself.
Ports and Features
Port selection was better than average for a netbook, with two card readers, plus the standard three USB ports, LAN, VGA, and audio jacks. My only complaint was the removable of the additional Mini-PCIe slot which could have been used for future 3G upgrades without purchasing a completely new machine.
Heat and Noise
Nearly all of the Intel Atom-based netbooks fall into the reasonably warm while running category, and the Acer Aspire One is no different. Under normal conditions such as surfing the web, typing a document, or chatting on an instant messaging client, surface temperatures stay within reasonable levels. The keyboard maintains a temperature a bit above room temperature and the bottom is slightly warmer. The temperatures in the images below are listed in degrees Fahrenheit:
Noise is the one category where the Aspire One stands out, and not in a good way. Almost as soon as the netbook is turned on the cooling fans starts at a low droning speed. It barely moves any air out of the device, but it is louder than fans found in full-size notebooks. As the One warms up and needs more cooling the fan speed increases to a very annoying level. It stands out in a busy office setting and in a quiet classroom would get even the teachers attention.
Battery
With our official battery test with screen brightness at 60 percent, wireless enabled, and mild website browsing taking place, the Acer Aspire One managed 2 hours and 23 minutes before it had to shutdown. This is with the commonly available 3-cell model, which seems to be common for Intel Atom devices on the market right now. Acer does have plans to release a 6-cell model with a larger harddrive for an additional $50, and the additional battery life would be worth every penny.
Conclusion
For those looking for an even lower cost budget netbook, the Acer Aspire One is a worthy candidate to think about. This computer has solid build quality to handle being tossed around in a backpack or purse, and modest performance to handle common software applications with ease. Battery life isn't the best with the 3-cell model, so if you spot the 6-cell/160GB version in stock, it is highly recommended that you pick that. While it is not the easiest netbook to upgrade, it does offer a large storage drive to start with and an SDHC expansion slot. Starting as low as $349 it is no question that it blows the socks off the current competing models, which are priced at $499 and up.
Pros
* Very low price, undercutting nearly all Intel Atom-based netbooks
* Good performance
* Dual card readers
* Responsive Synaptics touchpad
Cons
* Hard to take apart for upgrades
* Noisy cooling fan
