Tech-no-media: How to choose the best netbook computer?

 

Choosing the best netbook computer based on your intended usage is very different from choosing the best notebook computer. In the notebook world there are many screen sizes, price points and processor speeds. If judged by notebook standards all netbooks look the same: same 9 to 10 inch screen, same 1.6 GHz Atom processors, same $300 to $500 price point.
How do you choose best netbook computer when at first glance all products look the same?
Well, they look the same from a notebook buyer's point of view, but from the netbook buyer's perspective they are very different! To find the best netbook computer for your intended usage you need to take several new factors into account. Forget screen size or processor speed, here is what you need to pay attention to:

HDD or SSD?
Unlike notebooks, netbooks are not supposed to store huge amount of data locally but are expected to be more resistant and shock proof than their bigger brothers. As a result some netbook computers use an SSD instead of a mechanical HDD. Ask yourself: How do I intend to use my netbook? do I plan on storing a lot of data on it or just to use it to access the web? If for you mobility is more important than local storage then the best netbook computer for you is one fitted with an SSD. If local storage is more important for you then a mechanical HDD is better.

Linux, Windows XP or Windows 7?
Notebooks usually come installed with some flavor of Windows because they are full multi purpose machines that are expected to run most available commercial software, and they have enough processing power to accommodate Windows demands anyway. On a netbook computer that will perform a limited number of tasks however I think that Linux is the best solution: it does not requires an antivirus and requires less resources to run than Windows, which is great on netbooks with low power processors like the Atom. Some Linux distributions like Ubuntu netbook remix also offer interfaces optimized for a netbook's small screen and a good selection of internet and media related software. Windows XP on the other hand is compatible with most commercial software but requires an antivirus and uses more resources. Windows 7 is only recommended for netbooks with a mechanical HDD and more than 1 GB of memory (this post explains why you shouldn't use Windows 7 on SSD netbooks). On the flip side Windows 7 manages the computer energy consumption better than Linux, which may improve battery life.
Conclusion: if you want a netbook mainly to access the internet or want a netbook with an SSD, the best netbook computer for you uses Linux as it's OS. If you want a true multi purpose machine to replace a notebook you may want to choose Windows as your netbook's OS.

Keyboad size?
unlike a notebook, a netbook usually has a reduced size keyboard. Not all netbooks are created equal in this respect however. The first EEE PC netbooks had very small, poor quality keys that were very unpleasant to use. Later models like the MSI Wind U100 that I currently use have keyboards similar to most notebooks, only the keys are slightly smaller. Some newer netbook prototypes have keys that seems to be raised from the surface of the computer, like on some mac notebooks, and these are supposed to be even better. If you intend to use the computer to type a lot the best netbook computer for you must have a decent mac-like or notebook-like keyboard! The following article should help you choose a good keyboard if you don't know what to look for.

Extras?
Some netbook computers have special features that may make them more interesting to some peoples. For example the Dell Inspiron mini 9 has a fanless cooling system, which means that the computer is completely silent if fitted with an SSD. The disadvantage is that the computer keyboard can get warm, something that you may consider unpleasant. The MSI Wind U100 has a BIOS feature that allows the Atom processor to be overclocked to 2GHz when running on mains power. This makes this netbook the best netbook computer for those who need a fast machine. These extras can have a big impact on your choice if they fulfill a specific requirement that you have.

Conclusion?
As you can see there are many factors that can influence your choice of what is the best netbook computer. These factors depend a lot on the usage you intend to make of the computer, so that point should be clear from the start. If you mainly intend to surf a netbook with an SSD and running Linux like the dell Inspiron Mini, the Acer Aspire One 110 or the EEE PC 901 are good contenders for the title of best netbook computer. If you want more of a notebook replacement machine with lots of storage the Acer Aspire One 250, the MSI Wind or the Samsung NC10 are good choices.