|
What Are Netbooks?
Netbooks are a new class of laptops that first appeared in the fourth quarter of 2007 with the ASUS EEE™ PC. The outstanding characteristic of netbooks compared to other laptop computers is that they are small, light, and inexpensive. The term "netbook" is used to describe the primary function of these small laptops, which is to give a complete mobile browsing experience and accomplish some office tasks. Despite their diminutive size and processing power, netbooks are very capable of handling web-based applications, cloud computing, office applications, rich Internet applications, HD movies, and more.
Netbooks were first regarded as laptop computers with paltry processing power, which is a true statement compared to the regular sized laptops with the latest computer processors. However, many were delighted to find out that 90% of what they do in a desktop computer can also be done in a netbook such as browsing, watching movies, and creating documents. This realization strengthened the position of netbooks, as ultra portable and affordable computers.
Netbook computers are still a young and evolving class of laptops, but now can describe the range of specifications and size that makes a netbook. Netbooks range from 5 inches to 13 inches in size and weigh 2 to 3 pounds. The first netbook, the ASUS EEE™ 701, has a 7-inch LCD screen and weighs less than two pounds. The standard netbook has a screen size of 10 inches and weighs just a little more than two pounds.
Specifications Of A Netbook
The specification and computing power of netbooks may vary with each unit and brand, but they mostly gravitate toward a standard specification. The standard screen resolution is 1024x600, which is a widescreen resolution perfect for portable entertainment. The most popular processor used in netbooks is the Intel Atom, a class of computer processors known for its cheap price and low power consumption. All netbooks have Wi-Fi and ethernet as well as a slot for a flash RAM memory card. The most popular screen sizes for a netbook are 9 inches and 10 inches, and the largest screen size that is still considered a netbook is 12 inches. Netbook computers run with 512MB, 1GB, or 2GB of RAM depending on the model.
Another unique characteristic of a netbook is the operating system that it runs. The first generation of netbooks runs with different distributions of Linux such as Ubuntu and Xandros. Windows XP is the most popular OS for netbooks despite being in the end of its life. One big reason why netbooks run the older XP rather than the new Windows Vista is its spec limitations. However, the new Windows 7, which is faster and lighter compared to Windows Vista, can run in netbooks with ease.
The top manufacturers of netbooks as of the moment are ASUS, ACER, MSI, Hewlett-Packard, and Dell. The first ever model came from ASUS with the EEE™ PC 701. It was then followed by the EEE™ 900 and EEE™ 901. After which, a slew of netbooks from different manufacturers followed such as the Acer Aspire One™, HP Mini, Dell Mini Inspiron, and the MSI Wind. These brands, along with the new Sony Vaio™ P, figure to be the top brands for the netbook class in the next couple of years.
Let us look at the top 5 netbooks today:
ASUS 1000H
The ASUS 1000H is part of the second generation of netbooks after the EEE™ PC 701 and the EEE™ 900. The ASUS 1000H features a ten-inch screen, large keyboards, and glossy black finish. The specs include the Intel Atom processor, 1GB ram, and at least 160GB hard drive. This netbook is regarded as the best unit from ASUS as of the moment, although new models such as the 1000HE and the 1000HA can take the crown.
Acer Aspire One™
This netbook from Acer was released with an 8.9-inch screen, but the newer model has a 10-inch screen. This is also the best selling netbook in the world, taking the position from the Asus EEE™ last December 2008. Acer is popular for having a very competitive price model, which contributed to its success.
Lenovo S10
The makers of the legacy ThinkPad released its netbook last October. The white netbook has a 10-inch screen along with the standard specs of a netbook. It made buzz as the sexiest looking netbook with its thin frame and elegant cover. This model was followed by the Lenovo s10e, which is a similar netbook with an instant-on OS installed.
Samsung NC10
The Samsung NC10 was the first notebook that reported a 7-hour battery life, which is more than enough for many netbook users. The sleek and professional design edged out other competitors. Samsung NC10 also has the most spacious keyboard found in a netbook.
MSI Wind™
The MSI Wind is one of the most popular netbooks of 2008 partly because of its affordable price and elegant design. There is a growing community of MSI Wind users comparable to user communities of the ASUS EEE™. MSI Wind is very easy to modify, even allowing homebrew versions of Mac OSX to run in it.
Netbooks are fast evolving products, and there are always new models that come out every couple of months. Thus, it is hard to pin down the essential specifications that one might want in a netbook. If you are planning to buy a netbook, the first thing that you should consider is its size. Some people may find the screen too small to view, and the keyboard too tiny to type on. The newest netbooks have keyboards that are 92% of the regular size, so adjusting your typing style to a netbook keyboard is not difficult.
Another thing that potential users should consider is the battery life. Netbooks consume so little power that a typical unit can last for up to 6 hours. Anything below 3 hours means that you need to find a netbook with better batteries. Since they are designed to be portable, you should be able to bring your netbook around the city without bringing a power cord.
|
