Netbook ACE

Thinking of buying a netbook?  There’s a lot to consider before making your purchase.  Before we dive into the guide, let’s begin with outlining the critical dichotomy that almost every decision will come down to when selecting your new netbook: a trade-off between convenience and performance.

Convenience decisions will favor:

• Small and lightweight
• Faster boot-up times
• Fewer bells & whistles

Performance decisions will favor:

• Larger keyboard and screen
• More memory and drive space
• More bells & whistles

The Budget

First, consider your budget — how much do you want to spend on your new netbook?  Remember that netbooks are meant to be inexpensive and there’s a psychological advantage to keeping the cost of your new system low: you’re less likely to worry about it breaking or getting damaged, making your more likely to carry and use your new investment.  Sure, you can build systems that cost in excess of $500, but why would you?  If you’re like most users, the greater the cost, the more protective you’ll be and the less likely you are to use it.  In addition, most netbooks have puny warranties — so enter into this purchase assuming you’ll replace your netbook every 2 to 3 years (about as often as you replace a cell phone).  That said, here’s the general budget ranges:

• Very low budget devices: Under $250
• Good device, reasonable price: $250-$350
• More power, higher price: $350-$500
• Ritzy: Over $500

Bulk: Dimensions & Weight

This is a big (or tiny) decision: How portable do you want your netbook to be?  Don’t be vague!  Answer in specifics — do you want it to fit neatly in your purse or do you plan on lugging it in your briefcase?  Netbooks come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so be sure to pick one that you’ll feel comfortable with.  The general ranges are:

• Lightweights: Under 2.2 lbs - Generally 8.9″ to 9.8″ wide
• Average: Between 2.2 - 2.5 lbs - Generally 9.1″ to 10.1″ wide
• Bulkier: Between 2.5 - 3.0 lbs - Generally 10+” wide
• Bulkiest: Over 3.0 lbs - Mostly 10.5″x7.5″

The Operating System

What operating system do you need?  Most people will assume they need Windows because that’s what they use at work, at home, at Aunt Clara’s, etc.  However, your netbook isn’t met to be your primary computer — it’s a simple vessel for getting online, checking email, playing games, and doing minor productivity work (documents, spreadsheets, etc.).  Consider branching out here.  Many netbooks run various versions of Linux — these Linux flavors have been stripped down, making them incredibly efficient on boot-up and improving the overall speed of your system.  With that said, here’s the options:

• Windows XP - Generally Home edition - For high-performance users who must have a Windows environment or who are on complicated Windows networks might prefer to stick with Windows.
• Linux - Generally Ubuntu - Light-weight operating system that has all the basics: internet browser, email, instant messaging, media software, and OpenOffice.

The Keyboard

Keyboards on most netbooks are generally scaled to 90% the size of a normal keyboard — a proportion that seems to suit touch-typists just fine.  However, smaller  keyboards come with the territory on smaller netbooks and can make touch typing difficult.  In addition, many manufacturers have to manipulate the keyboard layout in order to ensure all the keys fit, so there’s likely going to be a learning curve.  Before you make your purchase, scour the internet for a full-size image of the keyboard of the netbook you’re considering.  Print it out and give it a reality check.

The Screen

Screens for netbooks come in one of four general sizes and two general resolutions.  To make this part easy, I’ve created a  screen size printout and resolution handout for your perusal.  First, the sizes:

• Very tiny - 7.0″ Diagonal
• Small - 8.9″ Diagonal
• Midrange - 10.2″ Diagonal
• Large - 12.1″ Diagonal (almost a laptop)

And now, the resolutions:

• Low - 800×480 - You’ll barely fit a Youtube video on the screen
• High - 1024×600 - Most stuff fits nicely above the fold

Other Features

There’s a host of other factors to consider before making your investment.  Among them:

• Do you need a built-in video camera?  If so, what resolution? (Generally either 0.3MP or 1.3MP)
• Do you need built-in networking adapters aside from standard wireless?   Bluetooth?  G3?
• What types of removable media do you want to be able to use?  Netbooks don’t have optical drives, but many have a variety of card readers (SD, SSD, etc.).  What types of cards would you like your netbook to handle natively?
• How about asthetics?  There’s a variety of colors, finishes, and, in some cases, artwork that can dress up your new netbook.  Narrow down your options and make your netbook your own.

So, what do you think?  How can I improve this guide?  What more would you like to see on this site?  Please comment and let me know!