Koobten – Netbooks and moreNetbook reviews

The biggest novelty of netbooks is perhaps in both their small size and inexpensive price. Back in the day, when you wanted an ultraportable computer, you had to be ready to pay an arm and a leg just to get the portability you needed. And in many cases, you get crippled or difficult-to upgrade computers. Take for instance Fujitsu or Sony ultraportables. These used to be priced upwards of $2,500 for a decent ultraportable with a 10 to 11 inch screen.

Of course, these days you can get a decent netbook from Asus, HP and many other brands from $200 to $600. But it’s not always the price that’s important. It can be any of the following considerations.

• Screen size – These days, 10-inch screens are the norm. You strike a balance between portability and comfort. Keyboards of 10-inchers are usually more manageable than netbooks with 9-inch screens. I personally prefer the 9-inch form factor for its portability, or at least a thin and light 10-inch such as the HP Mini 1000.
• Battery life – Most decent netbooks should give you at least three hours of battery life. But with the efficient Intel Atom platform, many netbooks can already go upwards of six hours per charge. My EeePC 900 runs 3.5 hours on its stock battery, but I get 5.5 hours on an extended battery I got cheap from an online seller.
• Storage space – Most netbooks today are advertised as having hard drives of 80GB or so. This is good for folks who need to bring their data anywhere, or those who use their netbooks as their primary computers. My EeePC has 12 GB of solid state space, and I’ve extended it using an 8 GB SD card. Even the 12 GB is enough for me because this is not my primary computer, anyway.
• Accessories and peripherals – Some netbooks focus on barebones usability. Some give you all the bells and whistles. Most new netbooks today have bluetooth, a webcam, and a lot of USB ports. Some brands have better support for third-party accessories like batteries, cases and the like.
• Operating System – Netbooks were touted to be the killer app for Linux. Most netbook manufacturers today offer a Linux option, which is usually cheaper because licensing is foregone. But it’s with netbooks that Microsoft’s Windows XP rebounded in popularity. With Windows 7 just around the corner, will Microsoft also be able to grab the low-power/low-spec market like netbooks?
• Style – What’s a netbook if you don’t bring it out every once in a while to work, study or play while at a cafe or while in school? Some people prefer form over function (but that’s not to say function should be without style). I like something that looks decent, but should be able to deliver from under the hood.
• Price – Of course, price is a big consideration. Would you pay $800 for a netbook, when this can already afford you a decent 14-inch laptop (and $200 more can get you a Macbook)? Or would you rather pay $250 for a barebones model that can get you online, do Office documents and let you video-chat with friends?

For me, the most important are battery life and connectivity. Price is also a consideration. I won’t pay too much for features that I might not always use or need.

What do you think is the most important feature of a netbook for you?

ComputerWorld reviews four new carrying cases for netbooks here. While several netbook manufacturers include a sleeve or pouch in the sales package, some do not (like my HP mini note). Or if you’re tired of your drab old netbook sleeve, you can get yourself a new one from reputable brands this Christmas season.

While I usually just pack my netbook (in sleeve) into my backpack, it’s also useful to have those sleeves that have carrying handles and zippered accessory carrier. I just recently bought a 10″ case for my mini note.

It’s actually marketed as a DVD case, but it fits most netbooks 10″ and below comfortably. It’s a wise investment that would definitely prolong the life of your netbook!