Buyer's guide - Netbooks

Overview......

By Alexandra Aussenac Your guide to netbooks

Netbooks - your mobile internet solution
Small but perfectly formed
Rivalling the laptop?
Focus on…
The netbook for you
Conclusion

Netbooks - your mobile internet solution

Despite their ultra-small size, netbooks don't skimp on quality. It's therefore no surprise that they've taken the market by storm, proving to be a real hit among consumers. Who can resist their small size, stylish looks, and above all, their ease of use? Netbooks are both practical and user-friendly, and come with all kinds of different features and functions, depending on the operating system, processor and design. So among the ever-growing range of netbooks on the market, we're here to help you find just what you're looking for!

Small but perfectly formed

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Despite their compact size, netbooks are packed with technology. We're here to help you find out more about these small but highly efficient little computers!

How it all started

The main advantage of a netbook is its lightweight and compact design. They generally weigh around 1kg and are no bigger than a piece of A4 paper! Plus, their battery life of 2 to 5 hours makes them ideal for use on the move, whether you're surfing the web on a café terrace or finishing some work on the train. Underneath their sleek and ultra-compact exterior, they have plenty of performance to offer. They are ideal for emailing, browsing the internet and using general office applications, and can do pretty much everything a regular laptop can do, but in a device half the size! The first netbook was the Asus eeePC 701, which burst onto the market towards the end of 2007. Although different to a regular laptop, it was known as a "mini-PC" and was set to revolutionise internet use for everyone. With a 7-inch screen and built-in webcam, as well as Wifi connectivity and a flash memory ranging from 4 to 8 GB, the eeePC 701 packed this surprising amount of technology into a computer half the size of a sheet of A4 paper. It's no surprise that this revolutionary PC was so popular!

See all netbooks

A little fine-tuning…

User-friendly, stylish, practical, portable, pleasant to use… there was certainly no shortage adjectives used to promote the first netbook, although it wasn't without its faults. In fact, the Asus eeePC 701 was criticised for having a resolution ill-suited to surfing the web, an uncomfortable keyboard not designed for actual work, and for not having enough flash memory. Asus corrected all of these problems in its revamped eeePC 900, offering a 9-inch screen with a resolution of 1,024 x 600 pixels and boosted storage thanks to an SSD hard drive with 12 to 20 GB of flash memory. Off the back of the improvements Asus made to its classic eeePC, Acer, MSI, Advent and many other brands launched their own netbooks. With larger screen sizes (9 to 10 inches), bigger and more user-friendly keyboards, and even sometimes a hard drive of 80 to 160 GB, manufacturers haven't stopped improving their models to optimise their use.

Rivalling the laptop?

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The price of netbooks can vary greatly, and some top-of-the-range models can be just as expensive as an entry-level laptop. So what's the difference between them?

Netbooks vs. Mini laptops

There is a distinct difference between netbooks and mini laptops. Even though netbooks are sometimes referred to as "mini PCs", they cannot rival a genuine mini laptop, as these fully functional 12 to 13 inch computers offer much more when it comes to performance. That's why you'll notice a marked difference in price — a mini-laptop can cost up to three times more than a netbook, and they are certainly not aimed at the same type of user. For the internet generation, netbooks are appealing for their originality and ease of use, whereas mini laptops are tailored for professionals who need to keep working on the move. With their excellent battery life and advanced range of functions and performance, mini-laptops are equipped with all the latest technology when it comes to processors, graphics cards and connectivity.

Entry-level laptop or netbook? How to choose…

: Although they feature relatively similar processors and storage capacities (from 120 to 160 GB for the cheapest models), netbooks and laptops are intended for different types of use, and therefore have different advantages. Netbooks may be portable and easy to use, but laptops offer a wider range of functions and are generally more comfortable to use. So although the average 2.5 kg entry-level laptop can't rival a netbook on weight, its extra kilos can be justified by the larger and more user-friendly keyboard and screen. And for 5 extra inches of screen size, sometimes the compromise is worth making! Even if you're not that computer savvy, a laptop offers several advantages over a netbook, mainly due to the increased range of possibilities it offers. With a laptop, you can play all the latest video games or relax watching a DVD, as even entry-level laptops are equipped with an optical disc drive, which is not yet the case with netbooks. Although netbooks offer fewer functions and possibilities, when it comes to technology, some models can be better kitted-out than the average budget PC. In fact, with wifi and Bluetooth connectivity, a webcam with microphone and memory card reader, netbooks are literally packed with technology! So although a netbook is no real rival for an entry-level laptop, they do make a great mobile accessory. Why not keep the laptop at home and use your netbook out and about? See all laptops

Top Ventes

Sony VAIO VGN-FW41E/H: ~~3 967 LTL~~; 3 490 LTL -12%; IN STOCK

Acer Aspire 5536-744G: 1 729 LTL; IN STOCK

DELL Inspiron 1545 - red: 1 918 LTL; IN STOCK

Samsung N130 - black: ~~1 204 LTL~~; 1 045 LTL -13%; IN STOCK

Focus on…

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Bluetooth

As with all the latest high-tech devices, netbooks haven't escaped the Bluetooth revolution. This wireless connection allows your netbook to connect to and communicate with any compatible device, such as a mobile phone, multimedia player or even a laptop PC. This means you can transfer files quickly and easily wherever you go! To get the best out of all the latest technology, look for a netbook with stereo Bluetooth (or A2DP), and you'll also be able to transfer perfect-quality sound! In fact, Bluetooth is a great solution for anyone who wants the freedom of totally wireless, totally mobile computing!

The right netbook for you

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With so many different models on the market, you should base your choice of netbook on how you plan on using it.

Choosing a robust netbook

If portability is your priority, then here are a few things to look out for. Your netbook should first of all be light, have a decent battery life, and offer WiFi or even Bluetooth connectivity. It will also need to be as hard-wearing as possible. You should therefore forget about getting a netbook with a Celeron processor, as these use more power than the Atom processor found in most other netbooks.

The best budget choice

If you want all the performance and user-friendly design of a laptop PC but without the hefty price tag, you should look for a netbook with a built-in hard drive. Most models offer around 80 GB of storage, which is just enough to store your essential videos, files and photos. Plus, if you're planning to work on your netbook for long periods of time, you should look for one with a 10-inch screen and a larger keyboard, as it will be more comfortable to use.

Linux or Windows?

The netbook of everyone's dreams is an easy-to-use PC that's user-friendly, affordable and ready for use right away, for surfing the web, looking at photos and more. To make sure you can find your way around your new purchase, you should pick the right operating system for you. Read on to find out more! The super-simple Linux Xandros (for Asus) or Linpus (for Acer) operating systems offer lightning-fast response rates, even in netbooks with small amounts of flash memory. Compared with Windows, they only take up a tiny amount of memory. Although Linux is great for basic computing, it can be more complicated than Windows XP when it comes to carrying out advanced tasks such as installing programs or setting up network connections. The more widely-known but more expensive Windows XP offers beginners plenty of installation wizards and a familiar working environment. It is ideal for less experienced users, but does use more of your netbook's memory to run.

Conclusion

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The netbook revolution has only just begun, but these super-small computers have already started gaining ground on regular laptops. It's easy to see why when they're so easy to use, practical and light - they're ideal for users on the move! With so much technology in such a small package, netbooks are great for surfing the web, sharing files with Bluetooth, working, watching films and more, no matter where you are. Although they cannot rival the performances of the average mini-laptop, netbooks are not aimed at the same kind of users. They do, however, offer a quick and easy way of getting started in computing, and make affordable wireless internet access available to everyone.