Your next portable computer – netbook or laptop?
Netbooks are a popular, cheaper alternative to full size notebook and desktop computers. While some netbooks ship with Linux, most consumers are opting for Windows XP-based netbooks. What makes a netbook different from a notebook or desktop computer? The primary difference is size - netbooks fall somewhere between the smallest notebook computers and a large smartphone. Netbooks are also less powerful PCs - to reduce the cost. As a result most netbooks can't run Windows Vista and ship with Windows XP (and in a few cases Linux). To save even more money some consumers install OpenOffice instead of Microsoft Office. Netbooks are available from many manufacturers including Acer, Asus, HP, MSI, Dell, OLPC (One Laptop Per Child), Medion, Kohjinsha, Lenovo, Toshiba and others.
Netbooks have even caught the attention of Google - the search engine company - who are working with computer manufacturers on a next generation netbook based on Google's Android platform. And Microsoft is looking for Windows 7 as its sequel to Windows XP for netbooks.
So where does that leave consumers? Should you race out and buy a netbook today with Windows XP or wait until later this year or 2010 for the Android / Windows 7 based netbooks? Or should I instead pay a bit more (likely $100 - $150) and get a full-size notebook?
Here are some things to think about:
- Speed - if you are planning to run anything beyond email, basic Internet browsing and basic text document creation you should get a laptop; for the basics a netbook is good enough. And pretty much forget about gaming on a netbook - and likely most high quality Internet video.
- Power Typer- if you are power typer take some time to type on a netbook in a store - are you really going to put up with the smaller keyboard? If you are just tapping out Twitter updates or email messages you'll be fine - but if you are writing your next novel the netbook's smaller keyboard might be frustrating.
- Vista Experience: if you like or are used to the Windows Vista experience, look and feel and features then you only have two choices - get a full-size notebook now or wait until Windows 7 enabled netbooks come out later... and heres a catch - Windows 7 may be limited to basics for netbook use (details from Microsoft still pending).
- Compatibility: Linux-based netbooks have pretty much disappeared from the shelves of retailers because Linux doesn't allow you to run popular applications like Microsoft Office. Google's Android-based netbooks will likely have the same restriction. So if you use Microsoft Office at all stay clear of netbooks that aren't running a Windows-based operating system (for now that means XP, later this year Windows 7).
One thing that isn't different are problems. At support.com we deal with thousands of computer problems every day including netbook and laptop problems.
Netbook computers can be affected by the same problems as a full-size notebook or desktop computer. Because netbooks aren't as powerful, anything impacting computer performance (like a virus or spyware, or too many installed programs) will be even more noticeable.
Common problems include:
- Slow startup and/or shutdown time
- Frequent crashes or lockups
- Help getting printers and other devices / peripherals to work
- Problems upgrading netbook BIOS to the latest version
- USB devices are not accessible after being plugged in
- Problems transferring data to my used computer
- Unable to synchronize an iPod, iPhone, Treo, Centro, Windows Mobile or other portable device
- Problems accessing media content (pictures, videos, music) in Windows Media Player
- Windows Update errors preventing the latest security updates from being applied
- Errors with Flash, Java / Javascript, ActiveX
- Help connecting a used computer to a home network
- Frequent pop-ups and/or warnings that my PC is infected with a virus
- No audio or choppy audio / sound problems
- Problems installing and configuring anti-virus / anti-spyware software
- CD-ROM drive unavailable error
My advice is don't jump out and buy a netbook just because it is $100 - $150 cheaper - it may be a great deal if you are the right kind of user. Take the time to really use a netbook in a store, understand how you will use it at home and make sure you can live with the limitations.If you can, netbooks are a great deal - if you can't, you'll just be returning the netbook and, at some stores, paying a restocking fee.
Netbooks: Genuine Portable Web Access
In the early years the PC was primarily a plaything for science enthusiasts and technology geeks. To bring computers to the masses, something was needed that would engage the user and be of genuine use to them, something that we now know has revolutionised the way people live their everyday lives. And that, of course, was the internet. Enabling people to tap into the global community 24-hours a day, the internet has changed the way people communicate; helping to bridge time and distance barriers.
But there has been a tremendous change in the way people use and access the wealth of information that?s available in cyberspace. What was once a handful of networked computers found in libraries and shared amongst many users, is now affordable and technologically advanced enough to be in the majority of homes across the UK.
Moreover, one of the main changes is that the internet has been transported out of universities, libraries and homes and is now ubiquitous almost everywhere we go - airports, trains, coffee shops and even in our pockets. In fact, mobile phone technology and PDAs have advanced to the point where we can surf the internet at any time and at any place.
But whilst internet access on pocket devices does have its uses, much of the true value of the web is having large screens with a broadband network connection. And this is where laptops help to bridge the gap between home and office-based desktop machines and pocket-sized mobile devices. However, many laptops aren?t as portable as they otherwise could be and may still be too big to carry around for long periods of time. This is where netbooks come in, as they are gradually starting to fulfil their potential as being the next logical step towards enabling genuine portable internet.
Netbooks were originally designed for emerging markets as an affordable, small, network-enabled computer. But over the past few years, they have gradually begun to win over a sizeable market share from laptops. Given that the main advantage of buying a netbook over a laptop is that it offers wireless internet access for web browsing and emailing on a device with a screen size as little as five inches, it?s hardly surprising that they are starting to gain popularity with business professionals too.
Acer netbooks have proven to be a particularly popular choice on the market. However, with a growing demand for fast internet access on the move, it?s likely that many more of the computing industry?s leading brands will be fighting for a market share in the months and years ahead.
And this will be another chapter in the remarkable transformation of the humble PC of only a few decades ago to the slick portable models that are available today.