New Cheaper Computers For Christmas

Amid all the doom and gloom of the recession some solace can be found in the arrival of the new “netbook” computers priced at well under €500. This month’s article should help you understand the pros and cons of these new machines.

Netbook Overview
Netbooks are designed primarily for Internet related functions and are aimed at the light duty computer user. Their primary role is to provide internet browsing, email and light duty office functions. They are not suitable for ITunes or music users, nor are they capable of storing or playing dvds/cds.

Advantages Of Netbooks
Netbooks have the following advantages over traditional computers.
Speed: Netbooks typically boot and are available for use in less than 1 minute. Netbooks do not use traditional hard disk drives and the operating system and data are stored on the build-in non-volatile memory which is quicker than traditional hard drives.
Size/Weight: The Netbooks are much smaller and lighter than your traditional laptop. Screen sizes are 9” and 12” inch and they easily fit in a standard briefcase.
Durability: With no moving parts the Netbook can take much more punishment than a traditional laptop. The Achilles heal is the screen which is exactly the same as a traditional laptop so don’t be mislead into thinking you can throw these units around.
Cost: With prices starting at as low as 250 euro you can get yourself online and browsing quite cheaply.
Maintenance: Netbooks come in two flavours Windows XP Home or Linux. The Linux models are virtually impervious to virus attack so if you purchase one you will save on anti-virus software and are much less likely to be hit by spyware infections. The caveat with Linux is that Windows based programs will not work under Linux. The Linux models are cheaper than the Widows versions and if you just want to browse the internet and send some email then opt for the Linux version.

Disadvantages Of Netbooks
Screen Size: The 9” and 12” screen sizes may be too small for those of you with poor eyesight. Even those with good eyesight will find using the 9” models tiring.
Expandability: Netbooks use non-volatile memory to store both the operating system and your data and as such you do not have much capacity for storage of your data. You can add an external hard drive if you desire but these cost around 90-120 euro.
Functionality: Netbooks have neither the storage capacity nor the processing power to handle large volumes of music or video. Because they are not equipped with either a cd or dvd drive you’ll need to purchase an external CD/DVD player if you want to play or use cd/dvds on your netbook.