Netbooks have been the latest craze over the past year. If you are thinking about buying a new mobile computer, make sure you consider the differences carefully. Each have their own advantages and disadvantages.

The form-factor, the shape and size, is the first thing you need to consider. Notebooks and Laptops tend to be heavy and somewhat large, with plenty of portable power and options. Netbooks tend to be light and handbag worthy, with less power and fewer options.

How do you typically use your mobile computer? Does it sit at home or in the office most of the time? Does it travel with you during the day? How long do you use the computer in one sitting? These questions will likely tell you which type of mobile computer you should buy.

Netbooks are built for portability and ease of access. Weighing in at around 1 – 3 pounds they can easily fit in a hand-held case or purse. Many netbooks are based on Intel's latest line of Atom processors. These processors are specifically built to function on much less power than traditional notebook processors and therefore result to longer battery life. It is not uncommon for a netbook to run 6 – 9 hours or more on a single battery charge. Recently, Microsoft's latest operating system, Windows 7, has been a popular choice of netbook manufacturers.

However, there are a few things to watch for when shopping for a netbook. The most important is the keyboard size. Some netbooks are equipped with a “full-sized” keyboard, and others with a cramped key layout. Always try out the keyboard in the store before you buy a netbook. Picture yourself using it for a few hours a time.

Netbooks are less comfortable than the traditional notebook or laptop. So, long stints of work or daily use can be a little frustrating on a netbook. The typical screen side is 1024 pixels wide by 768 pixels high – roughly half of a sheet of paper. This can be confining if you are using a large number of applications.

Netbooks do not have CD / DVD drives. You usually purchase them separately and plug them into a USB port. These will run an extra $40 - $90 depending on the model. You will need the drive if you ever need to reload your netbook from scratch.

So, why do netbooks exist?

The average user uses very little of a computer's resources during normal use. This is where the advantage of a netbook is appreciated: A smaller, lighter, low-cost computer with longer battery life.

Netbooks can be cheap! Usually between $299 - $499 compared to the much higher priced notebooks and laptops, it can be a great deal.

Netbook Pros:

Small and light
Low cost
Low power consumption
Long battery life

Netbook Cons:

Lower quality parts
Small screen
Cramped keyboard

Notebook / Laptop Pros:

Powerful
Large screens
Full-sized Keyboard
Built-in CD / DVD drive

Notebook / Laptop Cons:

Heavy
Expensive

Next Week

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