Choose to buy a netbook

Compact, inexpensive and quite powerful, current netbooks tend to become ultraportables. The article will cover the factors you need to consider before choosing to buy yourself a suitable netbook.

The term 'netbook' is proposed by Intel to describe the mini-latop, which is capable of connecting to the network, and can perform basic processing functions such as reading documents, surfing the Web . Netbooks nowadays The more compact, more features, more eye-catching design, while the price is only about 200USD, even 100USD (if committed to using the contract with mobile network operators).

Processor

Most netbooks now use Intel's Atom processor, but it can only handle basic tasks like editing documents, sending e-mail, and surfing the Web. Usually the standard netbook configuration will be: 1.6GHz CPU, 1GB RAM, Intel 945 processor, and Windows XP operating system. With this configuration, you can't dream of playing big games, fixing big photos, watching 1080p HD videos on netbooks. At the end of last year, nVidia has released an Ion graphics platform and AMD has also released Neo chips with the hope of enhancing netbook processing capabilities, especially graphics.

Screen

The first Asus Eee PC has a 7-inch screen, but with this screen size, users will have to 'eye strain' to work on the computer. New netbooks now have large screens (10-inches) and are better designed. In fact, with an 8-inch screen size, you can surf the Web comfortably; if you want to watch TV on a netbook, the screen must be about 10-inches (such as the HP Mini 2140). However, when choosing the monitor you need to try it out because sometimes the screen in the house looks very good but when outdoors, it is flattened and dimmed.

The next factor to consider when choosing a monitor is the original resolution. The default configuration level of netbooks is usually 1024 x 600 pixels. This resolution is suitable for most current software, but there are some software programs that require higher resolutions (to run more standard). Therefore, Lenovo has increased the resolution of the screen to 1024x768 pixels for the IdeaPad S10. If you plan to run enterprise applications that require a specific screen resolution, make sure the netbook you buy supports that resolution.

The battery

Although integrated with an Intel Atom power-saving chip, it doesn't mean that the netbook battery runs for long. The main problem here is because of the low cost, most netbooks have only a modest 3-cell battery. If you're lucky, your netbook will only run for about two and a half hours, if not only for about 2 hours or not yet.

Of course, if you have more money, you can invest in a 6-cell battery for a netbook to run longer. For example, the Acer Aspire one, if you use a 3-cell battery, the price is $ 300; if a 6-cell battery, add $ 100. Of course the weight of 3-cell and 6-cell batteries varies. The 6-cell battery is about 0.14kg heavier, and it's not much, in return you can use the netbook longer. There are now 8-cell batteries for netbooks made by Asus.

Keyboard

The keyboard of netbooks cannot of course be as convenient as a regular laptop keyboard. To familiarize yourself with this keyboard you will certainly have to spend some time practicing. Of course, those with big fingers are difficult to manipulate on this tiny keyboard system. If you want to use a larger keyboard, you should buy the HP Mini 1000 or Mini 2140. These two netbooks of HP have large enough keys for users to manipulate. In fact, HP has reduced the unnecessary distance between keys to increase the size of the key.

Software

Windows XP and Linux are the two most popular operating systems of netbooks. Why is Linux? The first is that the operating system runs lighter than Windows XP. Second, it is completely free, instead of paying hundreds of dollars like Windows.

Windows XP netbooks have very little built-in software, including the OpenOffice office software package, and CyberLink oneKey Recovery 6.0 data recovery software (included in IdeaPad S10). Most netbooks require people to download software from the internet if they want to use it.

Due to the limited processing power of netbooks, not all software can be installed. Of course, there are many small utilities and useful software that you can use. Such as: CCleaner, Digsby, Fresh UI, Paint.Net, Secunia PSI, Spybot Search & Destroy, and Spyware Blaster.

However, there are exceptions such as the netbookHP 2133 that can run both Vista Business versions. Or as the VAIO P using Atom chip can run Vista Basic. Of course, with the current technological advances, even small netbooks can run Windows 7 in the future.

Choose Linux

Due to limited processing power of Atom chips, low RAM, low SSDs, most current netbooks cannot run Vista. Although Windows XP is installed, the netbook is still running slowly. While there is another option and many people are targeting it, the Linux operating system - both light and free. Linux runs extremely fast with netbooks and doesn't consume a lot of resources. Of course, not all Linux versions can be installed on netbooks, and not all netbooks that install Linux are attractive to users.

Each distributor releases a separate Linux version on the netbook they sell to the market. Most of them change the menu interface to bring more interesting experiences to users. The best of these is Dell Mini 9 installed Ubuntu (a Linux version). Ubuntu's interface system allows users to have full access to Linux features.