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Follow UsAstripped down version of laptops, netbooks were designed for specific on the go working. Browsing, e-mails, social networking etc are some of the more prominent “always required “applications where netbooks help. A smaller screen, lightweight design and most importantly longer battery backup all at a lesser price are key features which made netbooks famous amongst mobile professionals. However, lack of dedicated graphics, DVD drive, and a weak, single core atom processor is what one has to be content with while buying a netbook. These devices can therefore act as a good supplement to notebooks, or be considered when you need to hand-out a low cost mobile computing device to lots of people in your team, e.g. the sales team.
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The Chromebook One major argument in favor of tablets against netbooks is the wide variety of apps available through the Apple or the Android app stores, which let users do much more than what can be done on the netbook. Till almost recently, there was no answer to this question. But now, the world has one. Answer is the Chromebook, which is essentially based on the fact that the user is now almost not concerned about the OS which he is working on. The Chromebook utilizes this advantage and gives users the option of using the apps all through the browser-like version of the OS. All activity on the Chromebook is through the browser and has essentially eliminated the need of an OS. This has opened the world of apps to a person who is much more comfortable working on a full keyboard layout. One can now enjoy apps from the appstore as well as iron out the constraint on these apps. Good battery life and a keyboard, and ease of usage which are the advantages of a netbook can now be used along with the apps from the famed appstore. This should serve as another point to think hard and long before buying a tablet only for the app store. |
Which Netbook?
There are actually limited options to choose from in a netbook in terms of its specs. Here's what to look for:
Screen size: Available from 8 to 11 inches, one might be tempted to buy a smaller screen to support the theory of netbooks not being laptops and their smaller screen supporting portability and basic usage. However, too small a screen size can be a hindrance to basic productivity, so we'd recommend a 10 or 11 inch screen size.
RAM: The options available these days are from 1-2 GB, and the price difference isn't very high, so it's obviously recommended to go with one with higher RAM.
Storage: Storage capacity as high as 320 GB is also available in netbooks, but one could also go with 160 GB, since you're not likely to work with heavy files on it anyways. You could also use SSDs if you want a slight performance edge, but that would shoot up the price.
Keyboard size and layout: Considering that these are compact devices, do consider the keyboard layout and how comfortable it is to use before deciding to buy.
Ports and connectivity: USB ports are a must in every device today, so do check how many ports are supported. Look for at least two ports in your netbook, one for your Internet data card, and the other to plug-in USB flash drives. Speaking of storage, many netbooks also come with built-in memory card readers. Other connectivity options like WiFi and Ethernet are standard across netbooks.
Extended battery: Netbooks with 3-cell batteries won't last more than 2.5-3 hours, so look for extended battery support and how much is it going to cost you extra.
OS: A lot of netbooks come with Windows 7 these days, which runs fine on them. You also have the option of installing Linux if you don't want to pay for additional Windows licenses, but you have to ensure that your IT department can support the OS and all apps you'll be running on it.