There are several netbooks on the market and many more will arrive in the coming months. If you’ve been thinking about buying a netbook lately, you may have noticed that they come in many shapes and sizes and it’s not always easy to tell the difference.
Netbook manufacturers have fought their battles to achieve this kind of popularity for their product. These computers are as serious assets to a traveling businessman today as a subnotebook was three years ago. No more questioning looks from people who have never seen one before, so you might as well consider getting one. But which is the best model?
These computers aren’t built for peak computing performance, nor are they tuned for exceptional graphics capabilities, but they are thoroughbred laptops. If you’re a college student who can’t charge your laptop after every class, or if you’re traveling for several hours, you may appreciate the long battery life they provide.
The ideal netbook should have at least 5 hours of time between two charges to justify the humble performance. The best drives already include 14 hours of productivity, so you shouldn’t have a problem getting one with that long without the charger.
While laptops are not for performance-hungry applications, you can also choose one with a processor that runs basic applications as smoothly as possible. This requires a dual-core Intel Atom processor, which can be found in 12″ models. These computers often come with shorter battery life, but they still top the 5-hour bar.
If you’re interested in playing 1080p high-definition movies through the HDMI connector, you should choose an Nvidia ION-enabled netbook. These are a bit more expensive than other models, but come with the added feature of a digital jack and enough power to decode Full HD. Optionally, you can use them to relax after a long day by playing a simpler game.
The best netbook has 2 GB of memory. This is the majority of chipsets supported, so you won’t find too many with 4GB onboard. 1 GB of memory is enough for almost everything, but if you want to see smooth multitasking, go for more.
It’s entirely up to you whether you want a 3G modem and Bluetooth connectivity, but the best netbook should have both. If you need them to connect your phone to your computer or your computer to your network via mobile broadband, choose a model that has them.