Netbook Review
You may or may not have heard of the term “Netbooks”. They seem to be all the rage in personal computing these days. So what are they? Netbooks are the new class of mobile computers that offer an alternative to laptops. Basically, they are a smaller version of the laptop, both in form factor and computing ability to execute resource intensive computing applications. They may very well be the next revolution in mobile computing. Computer manufacturers are now offering a scaled down version of the ubiquitous laptop. The alternative they are offering is one that is smaller, thinner and inexpensive. Inexpensive as compared to the price of a regular laptop and in some cases even less expensive than a mobile phone. So is this scaled down version of a computing platform for you? Are you willing to give up your laptop for a netbook?
Before you decide on purchasing a netbook, it would be good idea to identify and understand your requirements for a mobile computing platform. What do you do with that current laptop of yours? Chances are that you use it more often to surf the web, run office applications for document processing, spreadsheets, presentations, email, etc. If you are a savvy web user, you probably could do all of this on the web. Is there any local application on your laptop that could utilize the entire computing resources of your laptop? This probably is a rarity for most laptop users. Games, photo, video, music editing applications, etc., could be part of the mix but even some of these have online alternatives.
Most netbooks run windows software. The operating system that comes installed is mostly Windows XP. So there is nothing new on the OS front that users would require to learn. Specifications in general include the Intel Atom N series chip with a clock speed rating of 1.6 GHz and installed RAM at 1 GB with the ability to expand to 2 GB. A screen size of 10.1″ TFT may be a limiting factor for some users, but given the clarity of screens today and the primary motivation being a smaller form factor, this could be easily overlooked.
Netbooks are available from most major computer manufacturers most notably from Acer and Asustek. Both Acer and Asustek have a wide product variety and attractive price points, especially suitable for students and business users. Netbooks could serve as the standard computing platform for students in schools, colleges and universities. Small and medium business owners and corporate executives who are out and about, could also benefit from netbooks. Sales force personnel who are constantly on the move visiting customers, could use netbooks to connect with back office applications over the web from a customer location.
Today, more work is being done on bringing netbooks capable of working with different operating systems (e.g. Linux), chip sets etc., to make low cost computing feasible for all user groups. Looking forward into the future, you can expect to see faster, thinner and less expensive computing platforms. Click on Netbook Review to see a list of the latest netbooks available. Compare features and specs to find one that would suit your needs the most.
By: Gregory S
About the Author:
Greg S
Stylish Netbooks – Samsung N110 10.1-inch Netbook Review
Although Samsung is relatively a newcomer compared to other major laptop bands, the recent range of Samsung laptops and netbooks have been nothing short being very impressive. The Samsung netbook series for instance, has been one of the best selling netbooks for more than a year now. Among that, one of my all time favorite netbooks would have to be the Samsung N110 10.1-inch netbook.
Like most netbooks, the Samsung N110 comes with a 1.6Ghz Intel Atom N270 processor, a 160GB hard drive and 1GB of RAM. It has a 10.1-inch LCD screen (LED back-lit screen, 1024 x 600 resolution) and a set of stereo speakers. The integrated audio chip is capable of processing HD audio. The keyboard is 93% the size of a full-sized keyboard and was very comfortable to use. Other features include 3 USB 2.0 ports, audio jacks, an Ethernet port, VGA video output and a memory card reader.
My favorite features of the Samsung N110 would have to be in its design and performance. The black model for instance has a black and glossy external casing. The black is then nicely contrasted by a strip of red that runs around the edges of the netbook. It is simply one of the most well designed netbook. It is good to look at and fells really sturdy. It also has a very impressive battery life. Its six-cell battery can last 9.5 hours on one charge. All in all, the Samsung N110 overall is one of the best netbook models in the market and best of all, is also very affordable. It currently retails for just around $329 each.
By: Troy Richards
About the Author:
For more reviews and product info on netbooks from Samsung, visit Samsung Netbooks. For reviews and info on other laptop models, visit http://laptops.treeso.com/reviews.html
Stylish White Netbooks – Samsung N120-12GW 10.1 Inch Netbook Review
Personally, I think any personal tech gadgets are fashion accessory so it won’t hurt to pick a stylish one that best matches your personality. White laptops and netbooks have the rage for the past couple of years, more than any other colors due to the fact that they look modern, clean and just pure chic.
The Samsung N120-12GW netbook is currently one of the most stylish white netbooks in the market. Unlike many other 10.1-inch netbook models, this is an all-white model. The keyboard, mouse track pad, palm rest, sides, front, back and rear of this netbook is all white in color. It is very slim, measuring at 10.7 x 7.4 x 1.2 inches and weighing just 2.8 pounds.
The Samsung N120-12GW netbook also comes in black, but it doesn’t look nearly as good as white one. It has almost all the latest specs a netbook can have, like a 1.6Ghz processor, 1GB RAM, a 160GB hard drive, 3 USB Ports, Bluetooth and wi-fi capabilities. When it was first launched, this model was little more expensive than usual but now, it costs around $350 each. That’s about the average price of netbooks.
One of the highlights of the Samsung N120-12GW netbook would have to be its amazing keyboard. Samsung has managed to design the keyboard to feel very much like a full sized keyboard. It was very comfortable to type on. This model also comes with 2.1 speakers that is a major selling point for this model. The two main speakers are located on the sides. The sub-woofer is located on the left edge of the netbook. All in all, the Samsung N120-12GW netbook scores very well whether it is in the looks department or performance. It will make one of the best buys if you are looking for a stylish white netbook.
By: Troy Richards
About the Author:
For more reviews and product info, visit Samsung N120 Netbook. For reviews on other stylish laptops and netbooks, visit http://laptops.treeso.com/reviews.html
HP Mini 1137NR 10.1 Inch Netbook Review – Ultra Portability
The HP Mini 1137NR 10.1 Inch Netbook can be a good ultra portable solution. It only weighs in at 2.45 pounds! Very lightweight. And with a thickness of less than an inch, it really is easy to carry around.
It has a lot of pros. One, it comes equipped with an HP
ASUS Eee PC 1008HA Seashell Netbook Review
Specifications: The specifications of the ASUS Eee PC 1008HA Seashell netbook are actually pretty run-of-the-mill. This particular rejuvenation of the Eee PC comes with an Intel Atom N280 processor processing at 1.66Ghz, 1 GB RAM and a 160GB hard drive. It also comes with an Intel 945GME/ICH7 chipset with Intel GMA 950 graphics, a built-in webcam and integrated 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1.
Design: Design wise, the ASUS Eee PC 1008HA Seashell Netbook sports a glossy 10-inch LED-backlit display (1,024 x 600 native resolution) with an equally glossy elegant design measuring 262 x 178 x 26mm. The netbook weighs approximately 1.13kg. As with most other netbooks, interface connections include an integrated media card reader (SD/SDHC/MMC), two USB 2.0 ports, and two 3.5mm audio jacks (headphone and microphone).
Features & Performance: ASUS Eee PC 1008HA Seashell Netbook basically operates pretty similarly to other netbooks in its category, simply because netbook configurations are pretty similar across the board. To compete with the pack, long battery life is a must, and this model does not leave one wanting with a battery life of up to 5 plus hours (depending on usage). It also has a near full size keyboard and a crisp bright LED backlit display, which allow for perfectly acceptable computing in terms of netbook usage. Movies run smoothly with little lag, web surfing is snappy and pictures are bright and clear.
Overall: The ASUS Eee PC 1008HA Seashell Netbook is slimmer and more beautiful in almost every way when compared to other netbooks. However in terms of performance there is little that sets this netbook apart from the pack. Furthermore, the lithium-ion battery used in this model is built-in and cannot be removed, making upgrades difficult and tedious.
By: Troy Richards
About the Author:
For more reviews and product info, visit Asus 1008HA Netbook. For reviews on other laptops and netbooks, visit http://laptops.treeso.com/reviews.html
ASUS Eee PC 1000HE 10.1-Inch Netbook Review
Design: With a new 10.1 inch screen, the ASUS Eee PC 1000HE is the one of the latest update to its netbook lineup. Measuring 10.5 inches in width and 7.5 inches in length with 1.1 to 1.5 inches in height the netbook is more or less the same size as most netbooks but at 3.2 pounds weighs a bit more. In addition to the extra heft, the netbook is a bit thicker, perhaps to match up with the thicker 6-cell battery. ASUS have improved the keyboard with widely spaced keys, shifting the shortcut keys and other important keys to better positions. The wider touch pad with bigger metal buttons makes navigation all the easier.
Specifications: The ASUS Eee PC 1000HE’s 10.1 inch screen offers a native resolution of 1024×600 along with 1024×768 and 800×600 resolutions. Powered by an Intel Atom N280 running at 1.66GHz and 1GB worth of 667MHz DDR2 memory, the netbook has a 160GB hard disk drive. Based on the Mobile Intel 945GM Express with the integrated Mobile Intel GMA 950 GPU for graphics, the system runs on Windows XP with built-in webcam and stereo speakers. In terms of connection, the netbook has one VGA port, a headphone jack, microphone jack, 3 USB 2.0 ports, a SD card reader and an Ethernet port. The netbook connects via Wireless 802.11 b/g/n wi-fi and Bluetooth.
Features & Performance: While the 1.66GHz processor is faster, the increase in performance is minimal at best. This means that you can still do most office applications, surf the Internet, write an email and watch some movies. What sets the netbook apart is that while playing a movie continuously, the system managed 6 hours and 21 minutes on a single charge. Running less intensive tasks should increase battery life even further. All in all the ASUS Eee PC 1000HE is an impressive update to the ASUS Eee PC lineup with its awesome battery life and improved performance. The ASUS Eee PC 1000HE is a bit heavier than most, no doubt thanks to the 6-cell battery, but the better battery life and great specs is well worth it.
By: Tim Pecunia
About the Author:
For more product info and customer reviews, visit ASUS 1000HE Netbook. For reviews on other laptop and netbook models, visit http://laptops.treeso.com/reviews.html
Netbook-Mini Laptop Reviews – Asus Vs Acer Vs Samsung
The netbook/mini laptop market is currently dominated by three brands; Asus, Acer and Samsung. Many of the netbooks from these three brands have almost identical specs yet some models have proven to be more popular than others. Here is a quick review of the devices from each of the brands.
Asus Eee PC: Asus netbooks are currently leading the market for many reasons. For one, it was the one of the first companies to come up with a range of affordable mini-laptops. Secondly, its devices currently have some of the best specs in the market. The Asus Eee PC 1000HE and the 1008HA are currently the only models in the market that uses the 1.66GHZ Intel Atom N280 processor. The 1000HE also currently have the best battery lifespan in the market, lasting up to 9.5 hours on one charge.
Acer Aspire One:With almost identical specs, Acer has manage to differentiate itself in terms of design and pricing. It is currently one of the cheapest netbook series in the market. In term of designs, I must say that it is a little better looking the Asus devices and it also comes in a variety of colors (black, white, blue, red and pink).
Samsung Netbooks:Samsung netbooks are not the cheapest in the market and neither are they the most powerful. Despite that, they are currently some of the most expensive netbooks in the market. Samsung has managed to carve a niche for itself by making some of the best-looking netbooks in the market. The glossy blue NC10 has been on the best-seller’s list for a long time now, mainly for its good looks (in my opinion). Other models such as the NC110 and the NC120 also sport very streamlined and sleek good looks.
By: Troy Richards
About the Author:
For more reviews and product info, visit Asus Eee 1000HE For reviews on other mini laptops and netbooks, visit http://laptops.treeso.com/reviews.html
Gateway Netbook Review
The Gateway Netbook is a compact and light weight personal computer built to run on Windows Vista or higher. The Netbook comes standard with 1 Gigabyte of dual-drive RAM, which might not seem like a lot, but do remember that just a few short years ago when we ran windows XP 1 gigabyte of RAM was a luxury.
Although with Vista in the driver’s seat 1 Gb of Dual drvie RAM does not always seem to be enough. I would recommend running system config wizards and also optimizing the speed of your Windows Vista installation before gettting into heavy using of the device.
The netbook is obviously more catered towards doing on line tasks rather than running memory expensive software such as Photoshop or any PC games. The graphics card is ATI Radeon and carries’ its own dedicaded memory which is good because it wont lock up from playing videos or gaming. I like to play Diablo 2 online in the multiplayer version and it runs nice and smooth with my netbook.
I would definitely recommend this computer to any one who is looking for a nice light device that only has what they need. Netbooks carry no extra hardware. The only media is the USB port and SD card reader. No DVD player or Disk drives of any kind. If you have a larger device for multi-purpose use and you just need something basic for checking your email or blogging on the go, this is the device for you.
By: Ryan Edmunds
About the Author:
For more gadget and technology reviews visit
http://www.crunchplay.com/
http://www.crunchplay.com/
You are also welcome to follow me on twitter @ryanedmunds
Computer Review of the Toshiba Satellite A355-S6935 Laptop
Price: $899.00
Here are some of the Satellites specs:
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo
RAM: 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM
Hard Drive: 400 GB
Built-in 5-1 Memory Card Reader
CD/DVD Writers
16″ Widescreen
Dimensions: 14.3 ” W, 10.5″ deep, 1.5″ H
Weight: 6.4 lbs.
Wi-Fi
Built-in Camera and FM tuner
ExpressCard 54 Slot
6-Cell Lithium Ion Battery
1-Year Manufacturers Warranty
The Toshiba Satellite is relatively cheap compared to other laptops in its class. Its 16″ wide-screen has a better resolution than most comparable laptops, at 1366 x 768. In fact, this laptop has a few features that give it a grade above other laptops similarly priced. It has an HDMI port, which makes it easy to hook-up to your high-def television and swap audio and video. The satellite received a 5.9 Greenpeace ‘Guide to Greener Electronics’ manufacturer’s rating, which is quite a few points higher than comparable laptops.
One more thing that puts this laptop ahead of the rest is its 400 GB hard drive. I don’t think the average computer could use up 400 GB if they tried. I love this feature because even if you put 100 movies on its hard drive, it will still have plenty of room to breathe. It also has an External Serial ATA port, which is considerably faster than a USB 2.0 port. This will make the hassle of transferring information onto external hard drives much less agitating.
Some things about this computer could be a little bit better, such as the 2 GHz processing speed. Don’t get me wrong, 2 GHz is very fast, but I would have like to see Toshiba upgrade this to 2.4 GHz like you see in some other comparable models. One other downside to this laptop is its weight. It’s 6.4 lbs, which technically is not very heavy at all, but relatively speaking, you can find some laptops in the same price range with the same dimensions for a good 2 pounds lighter. The only time this would really become a hassle is if you are traveling or holding your laptop for extended periods of time.
Overall, this is a great computer for the average computer user. It’s great for sitting at home relaxing, playing a couple games and surfing the web with its Wi-Fi capabilities. Its built-in camera makes it a great multi-media tool, along with its massive hard drive space and 512 MB of RAM dedicated to video. Toshiba is a great name in the computer industry, and this laptop will last a long time with little computer maintenance.
By: Ethan Ribb
About the Author:
Read great tips on computer maintenance, and also, read about other ways to keep your computer healthy.
Netbook Review – ASUS EEE PC 901
The Asus EEE PC 901 appeared on the Top 5 Notebooks for 2009 list that we came up with recently. With an 8.9-inch screen, the Asus EEE PC 901 is certainly one of the tiniest netbooks out there but it makes up for it in various ways. It has a 1024 x 600 resolution and for its processing requirements, it is equipped with a 1.6 GHz Intel Atom processor. Furthermore, it is supported by 1 GB of RAM (DDR2). It has 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth features, three USB ports, an integrated Ethernet, a webcam and stereo speakers.
The netbook is able to keep up with several tasks running simultaneously and its battery life is claimed to be 8 hours. It may be a budget netbook but it shares many features with pricier ones. It has 802.11n Wi-Fi and it has gesture-compatible mouse controls.
Created to be a better version of the Eee PC 900, the Asus Eee PC 901 has a charming design. Instead of a matte coated lid, it is now glossy and we appreciate the small detail of its hinge being given a circular, silver touch.
The Asus Eee PC 901 retains the keyboard of the Eee PC 900 but many are gushing over its trackpad. The user also would not want to type on it for long periods as the keyboard is tiny as well. We recommend that before impulsively purchasing a netbook, the user has to test the keyboard to see if it’s acceptable. The trackpad however is better than most. It even has left and right click buttons.
We observed that with the XP version, applications were launched quickly and we could comfortably open several windows without experiencing any hitches. The Asus Eee PC 901 didn’t buckle under having Skype open along with Microsoft applications and a media player simultaneously.
SPECS – AVAILABLE OPTIONS (from Asus’website)
CPU – Intel Atom N270
RAM – 1GB (DDR2)
Screen Size – 8.9 inch
Operating System – Genuine Windows XP Home or GNU Linux
Battery Life – 8 hours (manufacturer’s claim)
Graphics – Integrated GMA 950
The longer battery life and its novel design are definite pluses. We particularly like how the trackpad is responsive to the user’s touch.
What we dislike about it is the keyboard size, in which only someone with tiny hands could grow accustomed to. We won’t recommend it for people who would be typing for more than an hour at a time. We also don’t like the noise coming from the fan. We believe there must have been a way for the manufacturer to keep the noise level to a minimum.
This netbook would be ideal if it’s mostly used for activities that don’t require much hands-on such as watching videos, checking finances, or paying bills online. If your tasks are limited to these types, it should be a good match for you.
By: J Guelas
About the Author:
If you find this netbook review about ASUS EEE PC 901 interesting and you want to read more reviews about laptops and netbooks, please visit Laptops Reviewed – your top resource for all things related to personal and business mobile computing.
