The biggest problem with netbooks and computers in general these days is how tethered we are to our home wireless Internet connections. Being able to get online whenever we want has become a big part of daily living, and at least for me, I feel lost when I’m away from the Internet for more than a few hours or days. Since getting an Internet connection for my phone, getting email on the go has been a breeze and a lifesaver in some situations. But what are computers supposed to do? Having a phone connected to the Internet is great, but it isn’t as nice as being able to open up a laptop on the go and browse the web with ease.
3G enables netbook users to utilize the same connectivity that cell phones use to get online while they’re on the move. If you’re looking for a netbook that not only allows you the freedom to use your computer without having to lug around a large carrying case as well as get online anywhere you have a 3G cell phone network connection, I suggest you keep on reading. I’ve done some research and dug up all of the information you need to get started in the 3G netbook world, as well as which computers are best suited to the task. Without wasting anymore time, let’s dive right in.
We all know that it’s difficult to not only lose weight, but also find the time and motivation to do so as well. What you’ll find below is my best attempt to compile all of the information I can about where you can start getting fit, how much it’ll cost you, and how you can fit it all into your busy schedule.
As a working adult myself, I know that it can be tough to try and cram everything into your day that you’d like to. Hopefully armed with information you’ll be able to start getting fit without completely interrupting your regular routine.
“Which netbooks are the tiniest and are the best pick for me?” Not only do I get this question landing in my inbox on a regular basis, I also come across it on forums and sales sites at least once a day. It’s really the million dollar question that all of the netbooks in the market are trying to answer to. Which one can truly be the smallest ones available for consumers to pick up?
Netbooks, by definition, are meant to be small. Their form factor is what is supposed to make them appealing to customers. Because many computer users don’t have the strength to carry around a full sized laptop wherever they go, the netbook was meant to fill in the awkward gap between not having a computer handy that you could do work on and doing without a computer altogether (clearly not an option in the day and age we live in).
When I first took a look at the Acer D255, I wasn’t blown away. I scrolled through the “Specs” page and didn’t really find anything that jumped out or screamed unique. I’ve spent quite a bit of time looking the machine over and have discovered the truth behind “don’t judge a book by its cover.” In this case though, I shouldn’t judge a netbook by the quality of its outer cover.
I recently went through an outlined by favorite netbook out of Samsung’s lineup, the NF310. While it may be the most powerful of the bunch, the extra kick of a dual core processor and accelerated graphics card isn’t for everyone. And if you’re one of those people who just needs a computer to do “computer” things, as opposed to game and watch high definition content, then you may be interested in the Samsung N150.
The computer doesn’t stand out among the lineup of other netbooks in the same class as it, and that’s kind of the point. Samsung obviously build a flagship computer with the NF310, but built the N150 to continue their reputable product lines with a more affordable and (I hate to use the word) “average” model. Below you will find out what’s under the hood of the N150, as well as why I still think it’s a great contender for your next netbook even if it doesn’t blow any of the other options out of the water.
Whether you want to call it a home run or a hook, line and sinker, Samsung netbooks are really amazing. Not only have they received glowing reviews across the board from high end consumer review sites such as CNET and Gizmodo, they’ve also been well received by consumers as well, the best sign that a product is actually worth your time. I’m going to dive in depth into Samsung netbooks below, so if you’re in the market to buy a new netbook, I recommend finding out what these little guys can do. It’s quite amazing for the price.
Unfortunately, at the time of writing it is impossible to get a new netbook for under $100. All of the netbooks being released these days fall in the $200+ range, meaning you’ll have to fork over some extra cash if you’re really dying to have a netbook.
Due to their popularity and relatively high cost to manufacture, netbooks have nestled themselves in a comfortable price point of between $200 and $300. For around $250 you can grab yourself a nice netbook that will compete with all of the other brands with relative ease. Below you’ll find my recommendations for the best netbooks in the price range mentioned if you’re willing to spend a little extra cash and get something worthwhile.
Computers are heavy little buggers to have to carry around all day. I used to have an over the shoulder bag with my laptop in it. I’d get home at the end of the day with an aching shoulder from carrying it all the way home from work. Luckily, not only have netbooks made a dent in the market by providing a snappier alternative to fully fledged laptops, they’re also much smaller and lighter in the weight department. My shoulder thanks them.
Many netbooks these days come in at under the 5 pound mark, which is a huge step forward compared to just a few years ago when portable computers weighed as much as ten pounds. And if you’re looking for something smaller in terms of screen size, there are some netbooks that offer screen sizes of as little as 7”. It may be cramped for some, but others just need the smallest netbook out there to get by. Below you’ll find some of the smallest netbook screens around, as well as some of the lightest computers you can get. In many cases the screen size and total weight don’t have much to do with performance, so we’re going to break down each computer as well as its specifications so that you can get a better idea of how the computer does.
I’ll admit, I’ve been out of the gaming world for a while, so when I was asked by a friend to review the Acer 5742G, I was a little hesitant to take on the job. Plus, we review only netbooks here, and so this had to be an exception. After a few hours of research and a few hundred product reviews from around the web, I’ve got a pretty good grasp on what this particular Acer can and can’t do. In short, for the price, it’s a damn good laptop that would be worthy to sit on any computer user’s desk. However, there are a few small considerations to take into account before you immediately take the plunge to buy one for yourself, for gaming or otherwise.
The Basics
For those not looking for a technical mumbo-jumbo spiel about what this Acer can and can’t do, this is your section. For those interested in the technical side of things, I suggest you skip to the next section to find out what’s ticking on the inside.
The outside of this computer is nice and sleek, with a mesh black finish that not only keeps finger prints off, it looks good sitting on the desk. The processor inside, Intel’s newest “i3” line, is more than enough to handle all of your daily computing requirements. The graphics card within is also nice and powerful and can play HD video back on a 15.6” high definition display with easy. The 640-gigabyte hard drive has plenty of space for storing movies and music, meaning you won’t have to choose between family photos and your DVD collection. There’s an HDMI port to help connect the laptop to bigger displays so that you can turn your laptop into a business or entertainment center with ease. And while it isn’t super light (5.7 pounds), it’s not too clunky that you would ever consider leaving it at home while you go into the office for the day.
It was only a matter of time before manufacturers started catching onto the netbook trend and responding to users’ complaints about speed and efficiency. While I was pretty happy with the netbooks I’d tried over the years in terms of what they could accomplish while on the go, some people wanted more. They wanted a netbook that could replace their laptop or desktop computer as their main computing device. A dual core netbook is simply a netbook that incorporates a dual core processor instead of a single core, theoretically meaning more speed than the predecessors. Although, the upgrade and price difference may be more than meets the eye.
In General
Before we waste your time reading the whole review to tell you what we think, we’ll just give you the basics here. A dual core netbook sounds like a good idea on paper, but doesn’t always pan out so well in reality. Most netbook users don’t crave the multitasking ability that a dual core processor provides because of the small screen size and inability to play high quality multimedia content with ease. Multi core processors are a great jump forward for netbooks, for sure, but only if you’re willing to still go without that extra screen real estate to have many of your favorite programs running at once.
The Contenders
Asus EEEPC 1015PEM
The only netbooks currently available with dual core processors are the Asus EEEPC 1015PEM and the Dell Inspiron M101z. Each of these dual core netbooks features the newest Atom processor, the N550. In benchmark tests compared to their single core cousins, both of these dual core netbooks performed almost identically to their older siblings. The only difference? As said before, the only difference any user will notice is an upgrade in terms of multitasking performance, which I cannot deny is a plus.
Positives
You may be wondering why we’re not breaking the reviews for each of these dual core netbooks into separate sections. The reason is that because most netbooks are built on almost exactly the same platform, the only difference you’ll see between products like the Dell Inspiron M101z and the Asus EEEPC 1015PEM is a change of faceplate and maybe a slightly different screen size.
That being said, the advantages of dual core netbooks still remain. Netbooks are renowned for their for their long battery life, meaning more time out and about and less time spent near a plug trying to charge it. The small change in price from a single core version of the same computer to a dual core version(less than $50 in most cases) is well worth it for some users. Multitasking capabilities do indeed increase, which is nice for those that like to work while on the go.
The Dell Inspiron M101z
Negatives
We could get nitpicky with the downsides here, but we’ll try and keep it light. Our complaints aren’t just for the computers listed here, they’re for almost all netbooks out at the moment. The fact is they’re not meant to replace a home computer that has full computing capabilities. Working on the go is fine, but expecting to watch a high-def movie on the plane while you’re chatting to your girlfriend on Skype via in-flight Wi-Fi is just unrealistic.
The dual core netbooks have a marginally better time playing back high definition content, but not enough to warrant selling your current computer to rush out and buy one of these. And since the screens are small and the keyboard is a little tight to maneuver about, I know that I won’t be grabbing a dual core netbook just because it’s the newest installment in the netbook lineup. Call me when HD video is standard and I don’t have to worry about upgrading the RAM to get things working smoothly.
The Verdict
To recap what has been said before, unless you’re looking to buy your first netbook and the dual core option is available on checkout, we’re not sure that we would recommend selling your current computer in exchange for what sounds like a nice upgrade. The small price increase is worth it in our opinion if you’re the type of person that likes to get work done while on the go and doesn’t mind the smaller keyboard and screen. It’s tough for me to work on the go, but then again, I don’t travel often enough to warrant having to “work on the go.” Any users that have experience with a netbook and full time working with it, please share your thoughts below.
For the general consumer, it seems as though big netbook names are simply trying to take advantage of a small feature increase in exchange for some extra cash. While it isn’t a ripoff considering the price of an extra processor isn’t cheap, dual cores just aren’t necessary yet. You’d be better off looking at a higher priced “premium” netbook if you’re looking to take advantage of the extra dual core speed boost.
away from the Internet for more than a few hours or days. Since getting an Internet connection for my phone, getting email on the go has been a breeze and a lifesaver in some situations. But what are computers supposed to do? Having a phone connected to the Internet is great, but it isn’t as nice as being able to open up a laptop on the go and browse the web with ease.
