The reason why you really should get a netbook computer
Just what exactly Makes Mini netbooks Very different?
It isn’t difficult enough to tell a netbook from other laptops, nevertheless the differences between one netbook and the next are getting fewer and fewer. They more often than not have 8-to-10-inch widescreens and lack built-in optical drives. None have full-size keyboards??”they usually range between 89 percent to 93 percent of full size??”so expect an increasingly cramped typing experience than with a mainstream laptop. (If at all possible, test the keyboard prior to buying.) You will find an abundance of USB ports, a webcam, a card reader, and built-in Wi-Fi. Some even have bonus features like ExpressCard slots, Bluetooth, and sources of cellular modems. Almost every netbook has adopted the Intel Atom platform, consists of the Atom processor, integrated graphics, and 512MB to 1GB of RAM.
What Can (and Can’t) Netbooks Do?
Don’t underrate the functionality of these machines. They’re not just tied to Web surfing, compiling spreadsheets, or word processing. It is possible to offload your photos from a camera and edit them with a program like Adobe Photoshop Elements 7. With some patience, you can transcode video to another format using Windows Media Encoder 9 or edit video clip using Adobe Premiere Elements 7, or run your entire music library off of a program like Apple iTunes. A mini netbook computer can play video from sites like YouTube or even a movie from an external USB drive, unmarred by distortions and lag. Businesses are considering these pint-size laptops when you can run various e-mail clients with them, put them on a network, install a VPN client, and secure them with antivirus and antispyware suites.
Setting up Your Netbook
To find a netbook that does all that you want it to complete, you are required to follow some basic configuration guidelines. Begin with the os. Linux is cheap and very user-friendly, but average users tend to be more familiar and comfortable with Windows. What it comes down to is the support, functionality, and compatibility that Windows offers with an enormous range of hardware and software applications??”whereas with Linux, users will possibly not would like to take the time to learn a new interface, install a program, or figure out how to get a device to work with a particular driver. And when Windows 7 rolls out, will probably be even tougher for Linux to get a foothold in the netbook market. You’ll find two types of harddisks: solid-state drives (SSDs) and spinning hardrives. While SSDs have faster transfer speeds, are more durable, and have longer life spans than their traditional counterparts, you pay a premium for these advantages. Most netbooks are available with spinning hardrives that can store up to 160GB worth of data. Shoot for a hard drive that has a capacity of at least 60GB and a rotational speed of 5,400 rpm.
The Intel Atom processor is the fastest and the majority energy-efficient netbook processor you can get. You may find an Intel Celeron M or a VIA processor in first-generation models like the ASUS EeePC 4G and the HP 2133 Mini-Note, but you’re better off skipping these. Many netbooks will run fine on 1GB of memory, and most can be upgraded to 2GB, provided you may earn this straightforward addition yourself. (Microsoft has limited manufacturers to including 1GB of memory on systems with Windows XP Home Edition, and a lot of today’s netbooks run XP Home.)
Standard netbook batteries usually are three-cell (a lot less than 30 Wh) units, although netbooks like the ASUS EeePC 1000HE, the Acer Aspire One (10-inch), and the Samsung NC10-14GB have upped their standard batteries to 6-cell units. Our testing has shown us that the smaller batteries will get you anywhere from 2 to 3 hours on a single charge, while the bigger ones vary from 6 to 8 hours. If your activities include trips abroad or all-day classes, you must get a netbook with a six-cell option.
Specialty features aren’t exclusive to larger laptops, either. Already, the HP Mini 1000 is bundling mobile broadband, a modem that incorporates cellular networks to acquire a broadband signal. One can accomplish (though not master) gaming??”once viewed as an absurd activity on a netbook??”on the ASUS N10Jc, owing to an Nvidia graphics chipset. (The N10Jc also includes Intel GMA 950 integrated graphics, so you can switch between two chipsets to enhance graphics power or even prolong battery live.) Several netbooks are actually spotted running Windows 7, Microsoft’s successor to Windows Vista, plus the Dell Inspiron Mini 12 is currently the only netbook shipping with a 12-inch screen. Plus some laptop makers have imbued their netbooks with sex appeal, even at the modest price points of such units. Both the HP Mini 2140 and the ASUS EeePC 1002HA have sleek-looking aluminum frames.To be sure that future, if manufacturers is able to keep netbook prices down, the sky’s the limit.
For more information on the latest netbook, be sure to visit http://www.mini-netbooks.net
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