by Penne Cole

Created on: July 26, 2009

Small laptop computers, also known as Netbooks (from a combination of internet and notebook), are becoming increasingly popular, representing eight of the top ten bestsellers in Amazon's computers and PC hardware category. Netbooks are typically small, ranging from a tiny seven inch screen to a full-sized twelve inch screen, and have less processing power compared to standard laptops. However, they are also substantially cheaper, ranging from $300 - $400.

Being light and compact, netbooks are, as the name suggests, designed for on-the-go wireless access to the internet. They are ideal for road warriors who would like to be constantly connected, but do not care to be limited to an internet connection from a cell phone or Blackberry. Although netbooks are rapidly stealing market share from standard laptops, they are not strictly substitutes, particularly if you are a gamer, since most netbooks typically do not come with an optical drive, and may not have the best graphical cards.

Factors to consider when purchasing a netbook include:

1. Size and Weight

There is always a trade off between size and weight with the smallest netbook measuring in at seven inches and two pounds while the largest netbook has a 12 inch screen but weighs about three pounds. If the netbook is mainly to be used for checking emails and surfing the net, one should be able to get by with a seven inch screen. However, a 12 inch screen allows full functionality, where users can run applications like PowerPoint and even Excel spreadsheets with little difficulty. Screen size also affects keyboard size, with some users complaining that keyboards on the mini seven inch netbooks are too cramped for their liking, so be sure to try out the keyboard before making a purchase.

2. Processing power and operating system

When netbooks were first launched, they had puny processing speeds and mostly ran Linux operating systems. However, nowadays they are fast, with 1.6 GHz speeds and 1GB RAM being standard issue, and most of them run the Windows XP operating system.

3. Battery life

Small laptop computers have the advantage of having longer battery life, particularly if it is a six-cell battery. Most netbooks boast a battery life in the range of six to nine hours, allowing road warriors to have true mobility.

4. Memory

Netbooks come with either solid state memory or the conventional, usually 4,200rpm hard drive. Solid state memory is usually more expensive and has a smaller capacity, ranging from eight to 40 GB. However, it has the advantage of being faster and using less power. Netbooks with conventional hard drives usually have 160GB of memory, although cheaper options can be found with 60GB of memory, or, if you're a hoarder, some models even come with a massive 320GB of memory.

5. Connectivity

Designed for wireless internet connectivity, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi connections are standard issue on most netbooks. Newer models even boast an 802.11b/g/n connection. For wired connections, an Ethernet port is also standard issue. However, most models do not come with a phone line port, so keep this in mind if you may be connecting to the internet via a dial-up connection.

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