Netbooks are small versions of the laptops or notebooks we have used for a long time. They are lightweight and inexpensive. They are usually less powerful than regular Notebooks or Laptop computers. Netbooks most always have Wi-Fi built in. So you are ready to connect with your home wireless internet, or the local coffee shop or library Wi-Fi system.
The 7 Things You Need To Know About NETbooks Before You Buy
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There are several important differences that separate NETbooks from NOTEbooks or laptops. If you are considering purchasing a NETbook, you need to understand the differences so you can make a smart buying decision. Netbooks are NOT designed to be fast and robust. They are designed to be lightweight, inexpensive computers for internet and email use.
They are good for travelers who don't need a full featured portable computer with them. Netbooks are not designed to do the same kind of work as your desktop (tower) computer or your laptop computer. Here are the 7 things you need to consider before buying a NETbook.
1. Netbooks are small
Netbooks are very small. They may even seem tiny compared to a full sized, wide screen laptop computer. They typically have a small screen that measures no more than 12.1" diagonally. A lot of laptops being sold today have screens that are 21" or more. The 12.1" or less of screen space on a Netbook, really looks small.
And because the Netbook is small, the keyboards are smaller, which can make them more difficult to use. Some vendors have found ways to arrange their keyboards to allow for larger keys that make the keyboard a bit easier to use.
2. Netbooks don't have a lot of RAM Memory
Netbooks usually only have 1 GB Ram memory installed. While that is enough for surfing the net or checking email, if you tried to run multiple programs or business applications at the same time you would see a quick decrease in speed and performance. For comparison, most standard laptops today are equipped with 3 GB or 4 GB of Ram memory.
3. Netbooks have slower CPU (processor) speed
Since Netbooks are not designed for use as a laptop replacement, they have lower speed processors (CPU's). The CPU chips used for Netbooks not only have slower CPU speeds, the internal CPU bus speeds are slower also. And they are single core processors, instead of the 2 or 4 core processors typically found on new laptops today. All of these differences add up to a slower computing experience.
On the positive side, a slower CPU speed means less drain on the battery. Since the Netbook itself is smaller, it will have a smaller battery, which means less battery run time. So a slower CPU, while it can be annoying, means the battery will run the Netbook a bit longer.
4. Netbooks do not have built-in CD/DVD drives
Since Netbooks are so small and battery power needs to be saved where possible, there are no CD/DVD Rom drives installed. CD/DVD drives can not be added internally. If you need to use a CD/DVD drive with your Netbook, you can connect a portable external USB CD/DVD drive to it.
5. Netbooks run a minimal version of Windows
Most Netbooks now run Windows 7 Starter Edition, which has a lot of the common features removed from it. Windows 7 Starter Edition is a starkly stripped down version of Windows 7 Home Premium, which has the features most home and small business computer users want and need.
For awhile, a lot of Netbooks were running Windows XP Home Edition. XP Home Edition has a feature set comparable to Windows 7 Home Premium. So a Netbook running Windows XP Home Edition has more features than a Netbook running Windows 7 Starter Edition. Since Windows XP doesn't require as much CPU speed or Ram memory as Windows 7, a Netbook with Windows XP Home will run better than the same Netbook running Windows 7 Starter Edition. Windows 7 was released in October 2009 and since that time, more new Netbooks are set up for Windows 7 Starter Edition instead of Windows XP Home Edition.
If you have a choice, consider a Netbook with Windows XP Home Edition. It will run better and have more features than the same Netbook running Windows 7 Starter Edition.
6. Netbooks often have a reduced battery life
Since Netbooks are smaller, everything is smaller. This includes the battery. A Netbook typically has less battery run time available than most laptops or notebooks.
7. A Netbook may not run some of your favorite programs Computer programs keep getting more advanced and adding more features. As a result, the computer hardware requirements for running computer programs keep increasing. Most programs today specify the minimum and recommended hardware requirements for CPU speed, Ram memory, and video or graphics memory.
If you have plans for using a Netbook for more than the internet and email, be sure you check the requirements of the programs you want to run on the Netbook, to be sure the programs you want are compatible and will run on the Netbook. So there you have it. Netbooks are slower, have less memory, smaller screens, smaller keyboards, no CD or DVD drive, less battery life, and far less features than standard laptops or notebooks.
As was said earlier, Netbooks are really designed for extreme portability and for use with email and the internet. If this is what you are looking for, you can get a small, very portable Netbook computer for email and internet for less than you would spend on a regular laptop or notebook.
Netbook vs Laptop Price Differences
While we are talking about price, the price difference between a Netbook and some of the less expensive laptops is not that much. It may be worth taking some time to shop around and compare prices on some laptops and some Netbooks to see which is the better deal for you.
If you shop around, make a note of the features of the laptops and Netbooks, including; price, CPU speed, Ram memory installed, version of Windows, screen size, keyboard size, and typical battery run time. If you can try a demo laptop and a demo Netbook, it will give you a better feel for the overall differences.
If you decide a NETbook is the right portable computer for you, you will have a lightweight, ultra portable computer that does exactly what you need. And at a good price.