It seems like all the rage in personal computing lately is the mini laptops or netbook. These netbooks are tiny when compared to many current laptops. The trend for a number of years was to increase screen size and performance, with laptops ballooning out to as large as 22 inch screens and 9 to 10 pounds total weight. This trend has reversed and now small and light are catching consumer’s eyes.

Netbooks are small; most have screen sizes between 6 and 10 inches. Rarely does a netbook weigh more than 2 and a half pounds - they’re roughly the size of a paperback book. This makes netbooks far superior in portability. As a writer, I found that the difference between carrying a 10 pound laptop versus my 2.2 pound netbook saved me about $45 a week - on back massages! The size and portability of netbooks are definitely the biggest plus.

Several developments were needed to occur before netbooks could capture so much of the Market share of laptops. First netbooks without optical drives do, so CD-ROM. To back up files or new software, USB 2.0 ports are incredibly useful with a minimal amount of space devoted to them.

The emergence of reliable onboard wireless cards on the same period meant that the portability of netbooks were not endangered by the cumbersome cords Ethernet. This is consistent with the development of net-based applications andsoftware - meaning that netbooks don’t miss much when it comes to functionality.

A netbook also tends to be much more affordable than all but the cheapest laptops. Many companies offer their netbooks for as low as $300. Compare that to the most economical laptop which usually prices around $600. Additionally, HP and Sony have begun branding upscale netbooks in the 800-900 dollar range - these netbooks pack a little more punch - and a slightly larger screen. But whatever your price range, you can certainly find a netbook for you.

Finally, netbooks also employ solid-state drives instead of hard drives. To a layman, this simply means that the same storage capabilities are available with less space and power needed. Of course, it’s important to remember that netbooks aren’t perfect or problem-free. Many people find that the keyboards are too small. It used to be that these netbooks had tiny or incomplete keyboards. In fact, many netbooks offer full-sized keyboards, though some still come in at 85% of normal size. Personally, I have giant hands and have never had a problem on mine.

Another downside in usage is that the “mouse pad” is roughly half the size of a regular laptop and takes some getting used to. Finally, processor speed is greatly improved, but the netbook is not a powerhouse by any means. Forget intensive graphics - I’ve had trouble with streaming video. However, for me the trade-off (Computing power for portability) was a positive one. is what matters, are on netbooks, like any other computer: You will need to check the time and takes your order for the correct purchase decision.

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Tags: Buying, Netbook