by Jacob Lasilas

Created on: December 30, 2009

A straight to the point article on choosing a netbook:

Consider your needs first.  Your needs will dictate which are the most important features in a netbook.  Because everyone's needs are different this list of features to evaluate when buying a netbook are in the order that is most important to the author.

Battery Life-

If you've ever purchased a laptop or netbook because it claimed to have a battery life that would work for you only to discover once you're using it that the battery life is much shorter then it claimed to be, then you have felt many emotions including anger, frustration and buyer's remorse.  How will you know what the battery life really is?  You certainly can’t sit in a store in front of the netbook for hours on end waiting for the battery to run out.  The best way is to read a

review where the reviewer actually tested the battery life.

Processor –

Most netbooks have the same processor speed.  Some are just a little faster.  When it comes to the processor speed every little bit helps.

Memory-

Most netbooks seem to come with 1 GB of RAM. Can this be upgraded?  For some models the answer is no and others the answer is yes.  Even if you don’t plan on upgrading right away make sure that it is physically possible to upgrade the RAM.  If you can upgrade the RAM there will be a panel on the bottom that comes off to allow you access to the RAM.  1 GB of RAM may be adequate for most people but as with the processor speed, every little bit helps.

Keyboard Size-

Most netbooks have a keyboard that is 92% of a full size keyboard.  Some are smaller.  Even if you are planning on making your purchase online you can still go to a store to try out the keyboard.  If you will be doing a lot of typing you will want to make sure the keyboard is comfortable and does not cause you to make a bunch of typos.  Any good review will let you know the reviewer’s experience with the keyboard.

Hard Drive-

How much storage do you want and what type of drive is best for you?  If a regular hard drive (HDD) is adequate then you can get much more storage space for less money.  If you need something incredibly stable and reliable then you will want a solid state drive (SSD).  Solid state drives give far less storage space for lots more money because of the stability and reliability that a hard drive with no moving parts brings.  For the average user a regular

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