Wednesday, July 22, 2009

The Ultimate Guide to Netbooks: 100+ Resources, Tools, and Deal Sites

If you like to do lots of computing on the go, chances are you’ve considered buying a netbook. These little devices pack a lot of functionality into a portable format, offering travelers, students, and others in need of productivity on the go lots of options for getting things done. Read on, and you’ll find more than 100 excellent resources for learning about, buying, and scooping up one of these tiny wonders.

Introductory Guides

Get a good overview of what netbooks are all about from these resources.

  1. Netbook on Wikipedia: Wikipedia’s entry on netbooks explains what these devices are all about.
  2. What is a Netbook Computer?: Michael Horowitz explains exactly what netbooks are.
  3. What is a Netbook?: This article offers a simple explanation about netbooks.

Articles & Advice

In these articles, you’ll learn about the rise in netbook popularity, buying trends, hacks, and more.

  1. Five reasons to seriously consider buying a netbook: Ars Technica takes a look at why netbooks are an appealing option to many buyers.
  2. 10 Ways to Trick Out Your Netbook for Free: These tools will help make your netbook just a little more awesome.
  3. The rise of the Netbook: In this article, you’ll learn why netbooks have experienced a rise in popularity.
  4. Tiny Notes Net Big Gains: This article explains the wide appeal of netbooks.
  5. Mini-Notebook Mania: PC World attempts to explain the mania behind mini notebook computers.
  6. 5 Resources for Netbook Helps, Hacks, and How-tos: Here you’ll find sites that can offer lots of information about netbooks.
  7. The State of the Netbook: This series looks at the history of the netbook.
  8. 4 Essential Utilities for Windows Netbooks: Here you’ll learn about a few important tools for Windows netbooks.
  9. The Netbook Effect: How Cheap Little Laptops Hit the Big Time: This article explains how netbooks became so popular.
  10. Six Ways to Make Your Netbook More Like a Notebook: Juice up your netbook a bit with these tips and resources.
  11. How do you use your Netbook: Read this article to find out about some of the possibilities for netbook use.

Buying Guides

Check out these guides to get great advice for purchasing a netbook.

  1. Netbooks showdown: The top 10 mini laptops rated: CNET’s coverage takes a look at 10 of the hottest mini laptops on the market.
  2. Category: Netbooks: Learn about some of the most popular netbooks in the market in Wikipedia’s category listing.
  3. 5 Things to Consider Before Buying a Netbook: Read this article to get a good perspective on your netbook needs before making a purchase.
  4. How to Choose: Netbook vs. Ultraportable Laptop: Find out how to make the decision between a netbook and ultraportable.
  5. OCZ Neutrino "DIY" Netbook Reviewed: Learn about the details of a DIY netbook here.
  6. Ask Engadget: What’s the best netbook out there (redux)?: Check out the comments on this article to get honest opinions on netbooks.
  7. Netbook Reviews: Find full reviews of small, low cost laptops here.
  8. How to Buy a Netbook: This article explains what you need to know when buying a netbook.
  9. Nothing but Netbooks: Six Low-Priced, Fast-Selling Laptops: You’ll be able to learn about six popular netbooks in this article.
  10. How to choose a netbook: You’ll learn how to choose the right netbook for your needs from this article.
  11. How to find a cheap laptop, netbook, or computer: Follow this guide to learn how to make a good netbook purchase.
  12. A Quick Guide to Netbooks: In this guide, you’ll get an overview of netbooks and learn how to choose one.
  13. Comparison of netbooks: Here you can learn about the specifications of various netbooks.
  14. How to Find the Best Netbook Computer at the Best Price: Using this guide, you can find lots of bang for your netbook buck.
  15. How to Find Netbook Reviews: In this guide, you’ll learn how to locate the best reviews on netbooks.
  16. Netbook Buyer’s Guide: This guide offers information on buying the perfect netbook.
  17. How to choose a netbook: Read this guide to find out the details of choosing a netbook.
  18. How to choose your netbook?: Read this forum post to find helpful tips and information for selecting a netbook.
  19. Liliputing Netbook Product Database: Liliputing’s database offers great information about various small computers and netbooks.
  20. How to: Notebook vs Netbook: Tiger Direct’s video offers a guide to determining whether a netbook or notebook is right for you.
  21. Comparison of subnotebooks: Take a look at this comparison chart to learn about subnotebooks on the market.
  22. Netbook Prices Are Now Falling: Find out why netbook prices are falling from this informative article.

Information Centers

These forums, blogs, and other information centers offer a wealth of knowledge about netbooks.

  1. EeeUser: EeeUser is an Eee PC community with forums, links, and more.
  2. NetbookBoards.com: Check out this website to find a blog, reviews, forums, and more, all devoted strictly to netbooks. AspireOneUser: On this site, you’ll find news and forums for the Acer Aspire One netbook.
  3. Netbook User: Check out this blog to stay updated on netbook news worldwide.
  4. Sammy Netbook: Get the latest news about Samsung netbooks in this blog and community.
  5. EEE Journal: The EEE Journal covers netbooks and mini laptops.
  6. Liliputing: Brad Linder’s site offers news, hacks, reviews, and much more for small computers and netbooks.
  7. MSIWind: Learn the basics and beyond for the MSI Wind on these forums.
  8. Amazon Netbook Community: Users post reviews, useful information, and more for netbooks in this buyer’s community.
  9. Netbook Reviews: This blog offers news, deals, and reviews of netbooks.
  10. jkOnTheRun: This blog offers lots of great news coverage and reviews on small notebooks in the market.

Deal Sites

If you’re in the market for a netbook, be sure to check out these sites to score a good deal.

  1. Tiger Direct: Tiger Direct is one of the most popular sites for online electronics deals, including netbooks.
  2. Slickdeals: On Slickdeals, you’ll find all kinds of deals, including netbooks-and you can even set up alerts for exactly what you’re looking for.
  3. .Netbooks: You’ll find a good comparison of the netbooks on the market today from .Netbooks.
  4. FatWallet: Use the FatWallet forums to learn about great deals available on netbooks.
  5. Great Netbook Gear and Deals: This blog offers deals, gear, and more for netbooks.
  6. Newegg: Check out Newegg to find deals, reviews, and more.
  7. DealCatcher: With DealCatcher, you’ll be able to catch the best deals online.
  8. Deals.com: Find the best coupons, discounts, and more on netbooks from this site.
  9. DealsPlus: This deals site will help you avoid paying retail for your netbook.
  10. Netbook Deal: Follow this blog to see some of the most current deals available on netbooks.
  11. dealnews: Learn about the latest in tech deals from dealnews.

How Tos

Find out how to hack, modify, and generally improve your netbook once you’ve got one.

  1. Four Cool Ways to ‘Mod’ an Acer Aspire Netbook: Get to hacking on your Acer Aspire with these tips and resources.
  2. How to turn an MSI Wind netbook into a tablet: Read this guide, and you’ll find out how your MSI Wind can become a tablet.
  3. How to Hackintosh a Dell Mini 9 Into the Ultimate OS X Netbook: This guide offers great information for getting OS X on your netbook.
  4. How to upgrade an Acer Aspire One netbook’s memory: Using this guide, you’ll be able to upgrade the memory on your Acer Aspire One netbook.
  5. How to Install Windows 7 on a Netbook: Get your netbook equipped with the latest version of Windows.
  6. Turn Your Netbook Into a Kindle: Follow this hack to make your netbook work as a Kindle.
  7. How to: Acer Aspire One External Monitor Setup: Watch this video to learn how to use your netbook like a desktop computer tower.
  8. Image editing on your mini-notebook: Find out how to create beautiful images on your netbook.
  9. How to install Ubuntu Netbook Remix in Ubuntu 8.10/8.04: Get Ubuntu Netbook Remix by following this guide.
  10. 1080P Video on ASUS N10J Netbook: This resource will show you how to get high quality video on an ASUS.
  11. How to Make Your Linux Netbook Actually Kick Arse: Check out this video to make your Linux netbook awesome.
  12. How to best maximize netbook resolution with Windows XP?: Read this guide to find out how to makeover your netbook.
  13. How to Turn a Netbook into a Net Jukebox: Check out this guide to learn how to make your netbook a valuable audio tool.
  14. Installing OSX on Windows Netbook: Find out how you can put OSX on your Dell netbook.
  15. The Friendly Netbook Desktop: Make Windows XP look better on your netbook’s tiny display using this guide.
  16. How to Upgrade the Memory in Your Netbook: Use this guide to find out how to upgrade your netbook’s memory.
  17. How to: Become a Linux Netbook Power User: Follow this guide, and you’ll learn how to make the most out of your Linux netbook.
  18. How to Multi Task With Your Netbook: This article explains the fine art of multitasking on a netbook.
  19. How to Add Memory to MSI Wind Netbook: Give your MSI Wind a little bit more power with better memory.

Tools

These tools are excellent pieces of software that work well with, or are specificially designed for, netbooks.

  1. Mesh: With Mesh, you’ll be able to keep your netbook synced up with the rest of your life.
  2. BatteryBar: Use BatteryBar to get a useful and accurate battery meter for your Windows netbook.
  3. TinyResMeter: Make use of this application to track your system resources.
  4. GNOME: GNOME is a popular Linux desktop that is lightweight enough for a netbook.
  5. Firefox: Firefox offers a safe, reliable web browser that’s handy for netbooks.
  6. Abiword: This small and easy word processor is fully featured and great for netbooks.
  7. VLC Media Player: The VLC Media Player is a lightweight, free, and open source media player that makes good use of netbook resources.
  8. SyncToy: Using SyncToy, you can keep folders between your netbook and notebook or PC automatically synced.
  9. Zoho: Zoho’s suite of online productivity apps is entirely online, saving you precious system resources.
  10. Gnumeric: Download this free application to get powerful spreadsheets on your netbook.
  11. KDE: Use the K Desktop Environment to get a slick desktop environment with useful applications.
  12. FFdshow: With FFdshow, you’ll get all of the codecs you need for just about any audio and video codecs.
  13. SharpKeys: Remap the keys on your netbook to exactly where you’d like them to be by using SharpKeys.
  14. RocketDock: RocketDock is an animated and easy to use application launcher that’s ideal for netbooks.
  15. Photoscape: Photoshop is generally out of the question on netbooks for its large footprint, but the Photoscape image editor offers minimal editing for netbooks.
  16. Ubuntu Netbook Remix: Ubuntu Netbook Remix offers an optimized version of Ubuntu, specifically made to work well on netbooks.
  17. Eeebuntu: Eeenuntu offers a custom launcher for quick application access in Netbook Remix.
  18. OpenOffice: Download this free suite of lightweight but useful office applications.
  19. TweakUI: Use TweakUI to customize Windows XP to fit on your small netbook screen.
  20. GMABooster: GMABooster offers a bit of a boost for your netbook’s graphics chip without sacrificing too much battery life.
  21. PortableApps: Find free and open source apps that are perfect for netbooks with PortableApps.
  22. Foxit Reader: Foxit Reader offers a more lightweight PDF reader for netbooks.
  23. Virtual Desktop Manager: With the Virtual Desktop Manager, you can create up to four virtual desktops in order to keep things manageable on your small screen.
  24. Google Chrome: Download Google’s lightweight browser to get speed and versatility.
  25. Meshwrite: Meshwrite is great for netbooks because it uses as much of your screen as possible.
  26. LXDE: The Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment will give you a fast, energy saving Linux desktop.
  27. Xplorer2: Use this highly configurable file manager to take advantage of your netbook’s small screen and trackpad.