What are Netbooks?
Netbooks are laptops, with the major exception being that they are cheap, small and usually much less powerful than laptops. For most people, Netbooks are an affordable alternative to a computer. Netbooks can be used to browse the web or send emails and is a great alternative to a laptop when travelling.
Why are they so cheap?
Smaller laptops have always been at the higher end of the price range; however Netbooks are able to reverse this trend by using only the most basic of components and sacrificing power for portability at a lower cost.
An average Netbook like the Dell Inspiron Mini 9
(Average) Cost $550
Features:
- 9” Screen
- Intel Atom processor
- 1 Gigabyte of RAM
- 16GB hard drive.
In comparison the Studio XPS 13
(Average) Cost $1999+
Features:
- 4GB of RAM
- Graphics card
- Faster processor
- 320 gigabyte hard drive.
It’s easy to see that you are not getting the fastest machine out there, but it is convenient and lots of power squashed into a small package is still expensive.
Why are they so popular?
Netbooks won’t run the latest and greatest games or play high definition video when coupled with a mobile broadband connection; Netbooks are great for surfing the web or sending emails on the go. Young school children are also benefiting from Netbooks as they can be an affordable way for parents to purchase their kids that all-important first computer for school, without breaking the bank. Keep in mind, they will need something more powerful very quickly.
Written by The Original PC Doctor on 4/7/2009.
