The Netbook Diaries 2009 (Part 3): Buying Advice
If you're like most business users I know, you're giving serious thought to making your next PC a netbook. And why not? They're compact, lightweight, inexpensive, and, let's face it, crazy-cute.
Okay, so maybe cute isn't a deciding factor, but you probably do have questions about what to look for in a netbook.
Having traveled quite a bit with an early-generation Acer Aspire One and a newer MSI Wind U115 Hybrid, I can tell you exactly what features are important -- and what you should avoid at all costs.
For starters, I've yet to see a netbook you could customize at the time of purchase -- most vendors sell specific configurations. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it could prevent you from getting exactly the setup you want. Here's what to consider:
- Processor Virtually all netbooks rely on an Intel Atom processor. They're notoriously pokey, even the newer Z520 and Z530 (which are starting to replace the ubiquitous N270). But they're fast enough for basic computing, so don't sweat the processor decision. Not much you can do about it anyway.
- Screen The sweet spot for netbook screens seems to be 10 inches, and that's the size you'll see on many of this year's models. However, more and more newcomers are sporting 11.6-inch screens, which obviously makes for a larger, heavier, and less battery-friendly netbook. It also gives you a higher resolution for running Windows, and that can help boost your productivity. If you don't mind the a little more heft, a bigger screen is almost always better.
- Hard drive My MSI Wind U115 Hybrid sports an 8GB solid-state drive (SSD), which accommodates Windows XP, and a 120GB standard hard drive for apps and data. Interesting idea, bad execution: XP needs more than 8GB, so the system is constantly telling me I'm low on space. I recommend avoiding SSDs altogether, as they're a lot pricier than regular drives and offer few performance or power-saving benefits.
- Battery My old Aspire One has a three-cell battery, and I'm lucky to get two hours of runtime from it. The U115 rolls with a nine-cell, which adds weight, bulk, and cost -- but the system runs all day. My advice: Opt for at least a six-cell battery, and get it at the time of purchase (as it'll cost you even more if purchased separately). This is not the place to cut corners.
- Operating System Windows XP has long been the netbook OS of choice, but Windows 7 is finally available. Should you choose the latter? Based on what I've seen, absolutely. It's significantly more secure than XP, and my test-runs proved it to be a decent enough performer. Of course, Linux is always an option (check out 3 free Linux alternatives for your netbook), but I suspect most business users will want some form of Windows.
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