Managing expectations a must when buying a netbook There's no question that sales of netbooks are booming! One study says nearly 11.4 million units were sold in 2008, up from 400,000 in 2007. In 2009, the number is expected to increase by almost 3,000 percent! Overall, the PC industry, and particularly Intel (who coined the name "netbook"), was caught off-guard by the demand for mini-laptop computers. The products of early entrants, such as ASUS, HP, ACER and MSI, were dismissed by Sony, Toshiba and other major players, who now find themselves scrambling for a piece of the action. Netbook computers are cute, portable and lightweight (most weigh less than 3 lbs.) They are usually cheaper than standard notebook computers but still manage to provide both wired and wireless networking, premium sound, ports for USB, audio and SVGA, a built-in webcam and a variety of storage options, including solid-state drives. Nevertheless, there are drawbacks. Most netbooks have screens measuring between 7 and 10 inches. Notebook PC screens usually start at 13 inches. More expensive models usually have 15- or 17-inch screens with native pixel resolution of 1680 x 1050 or better. Screen resolution for most netbooks tops out at 1024 x 768 pixels, which isn't a lot of real estate, so be prepared to scroll. The 12-inch Lenovo IdeaPad S12, which features Nvidia's new Ion graphics chipset, is a notable exception. The unit is due out later this month and supports 1080p high-definition video. Like most netbooks, however, the S12's small form factor does not provide enough room for a built-in optical drive. Battery life for most netbooks isn't exceptional, either. A 3-cell battery that lasts three hours is the norm, but some manufacturers offer a 6-cell battery (6 hours) as an option. The emphasis, however, is always on saving weight, not providing all-day operation on a single charge. Prices were cheap when netbooks first appeared, usually in the $200 - $300 range, but now they're climbing. In part, this is because many earlier models ran Linux, which kept operating system licensing costs to a minimum. Models that run Windows XP are now the rage, but some entry-level, full-size laptops are actually cheaper than netbooks. Why would anyone want a netbook? It depends on your needs and how many computers (if any) you already own. Netbooks are fine for editing Microsoft Office documents (PowerPoint, Word, Excel, etc.) or accessing the Web. Forget about editing video, manipulating large digital images, or playing resource-intensive computer games. The horsepower isn't there. If you spend a lot of time checking email or revising presentations in airports, hotels or Internet cafes, congratulations! You're the netbook type. Ditto, if you're looking for a way to stay connected wirelessly when you roam around your house or apartment. The Intel Atom processor, which powers most models, is anemic compared to the dual core processors available in standard-size notebooks. Most netbooks now come with a gigabye of RAM, so the package is adequate for casual computing. The low-end desktop PCs you see selling in discount stores for under $300, however, will run circles around the average netbook. Managing expectations is the key. You'll look cool using a netbook in a coffee shop, but don't kid yourself. A 10-inch screen is cramped, and an 88% - 92% normal size keyboard might suffice for replying to email or taking notes, but not for typing a term paper. Also, be wary of wireless carriers offering netbooks with built-in 3G wireless at bargain prices. It might sound like a giveaway, but it's designed to lure you to sign a two-year, 3G wireless data plan. Do the math. Your total cost over the lifetime of the agreement could be almost $2,000. If you want 3G wireless connectivity, opt for an external USB Wireless WAN card, or what is sometimes called an "aircard." You can transfer a USB aircard from computer to computer, providing Internet access for a desktop, a netbook, or a laptop at any given time. Furthermore, don't assume a netbook comes with Windows. Most models now come with Windows XP Home Edition, but cheaper models usually run Linux, which can be confusing if you're used to Windows. If a netbook has a low, low price, make sure Windows is included, if that's what you want. Reports now say that new kind of netbook is on the way. The industry has dubbed these "smartbooks," and they might not run Windows. Android will be one alternative. Android is an open-source operating system backed by Google, currently powering the T-Mobile G1 and other smart phones. Smartbooks, however, won't be in stores for a while. I know people who own netbooks and love them. They're cute, but if you're only going to own one portable PC for school or business, a bona fide laptop is usually a better choice. To me, a netbook is like a motor scooter. It's great for zipping around the French Quarter or across campus, but if you have a boat to tow or a soccer team to shuttle, you need something larger and more powerful. Jerry Seregni
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