The naughty and nice of netbooks [ARTICLE]

The holidays are upon us, and netbooks are one of this year’s gift-giving rages. Brick-and-mortar retailers and online stores are advertising steep discounts on the already-affordable devices, prompting many noobies to wonder what to expect from these featherweight laptops. Should you add one to your shopping or wish list?

What are netbooks?

Although they look a lot like laptops and have some of the same functionality, netbooks are lightweights when it comes to computing power. Designed for portability at 7-10 inches in size and about 1-3 pounds, netbooks have scaled-down screens and keyboards, less storage and memory, and they usually lack an optical drive to read CDs or DVDs.

Netbooks are primarily designed for surfing the Internet, using web-based applications and checking e-mail via built-in Ethernet, Wi-Fi or sometimes 3G networks. They should also have enough capacity for running simple software applications like a word processor and a basic photo editor.

For a little extra, netbook may come with extra bells and whistles like Bluetooth, a Webcam and the latest Windows software. Prices still will top out at less than $500.

Who should buy a netbook?

If you already have a laptop computer and/or a smart phone, you may be wondering how a netbook fits into your portable-device arsenal. For most people, a netbook will be another mobile accessory to their larger laptop or desktop computer. For others, a netbook may be the only computer they need. Before you finish your holiday shopping, let’s take a look at who might like finding one under the tree.

• Road Warriors: Netbooks make great travel companion for people who need access to the Internet and want to manage their email on something that provides more screen space and a better keyboard than a smart phone.
• Grandparents: For family members who need a simple way to exchange emails, view each other’s pictures and enjoy social media sites like Facebook, a netbook may be the only computer you need.
• Students: The portability of netbooks is unbeatable for in-class note taking. Pair it with a more comprehensive computing platform back in the dorm room to accommodate gaming, video editing and other more demanding software.
• Stay-at-home Moms: Moms need easy ways to stay connected with friends and family while keeping up with their darling daughters (DDs) and dear sons (DSs). A netbook will keep social networking sites and blogging software at their fingertips so they can make quick posts or check on the statuses of other moms.
• Bloggers: Anyone who maintains a blog will appreciate having an easy way to share deep thoughts from just about anywhere without having to lug around a heavy laptop or type on a miniscule smart phone keypad.
• Mobile junkies: Do you know someone who loves their smart phone but tries to write novels with their thumbs? They may benefit from a netbook. On the other hand, if you know someone who won’t give up their 1990s era flip phone but would like mobile computing capabilities, a netbook will make a nice complement. This catch-all category also includes people who simply love gadgets!

How do I choose a netbook?

To get the most out of a netbook’s small screen size, make sure you get the highest available resolution. Look for at least 1024 x 600 to avoid having to scroll right and left to view the content on a standard web page.

Many netbooks also have started using solid-state drives (SSDs) instead of hard drives. SSDs store data in solid state memory, so there are no moving parts and your netbook will be less prone to damage if it gets knocked about.

As with most electronics, you get what you pay for in a netbook. Keep this in mind before taking advantage of holiday deals. Also, watch as offers for free netbooks pop up. Some retailers are adding them as incentives for purchasing a desktop computer or signing a contract for mobile Internet service.