The New Netbooks

The New Netbooks

Posted: May 7, 2009 9:43 AM
Updated: May 7, 2009 9:43 AM

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From the Editors of The Geek Weekly

Whoever said small is beautiful probably wasn’t talking about netbooks -- but he, or she, could have been.

Netbooks, the pint-sized computers designed primarily for email and Web browsing, really caught on in 2008, with 11.4 million sold worldwide. This year is shaping up to be even bigger as netbook makers roll out machines with better performance, bigger screens, and longer battery life while keeping prices under $500.

Initially created to provide children in developing countries with cheap computers, netbooks gained popularity along with cloud computing, or using software that lives on the Web instead of software that lives on the computer. “We’ve reached this point where you don’t need the latest-generation processor [in a computer you use to go online],” says Brad Linder, a Philadelphia netbook expert who tracks the market on his blog, Liliputing. “You’re not buying this to play ‘Call of Duty,’ you’re checking email.”

The specs of a typical netbook reflect these interests. Standard netbook systems come with a 7-inch or 8-inch screen, a shrunken keyboard, a small solid-state or no hard drive, a battery that lasts seven or eight hours, and an overall weight of around 2 to 3 pounds. These aren’t speed demons, and most don’t have CD/DVD drives, though you can purchase external drives for around $50, according to Clyde Lerner, owner of In the Moment Computing, a computer services and organization consultant in Sunnyvale, Calif.

Eighty and Counting
Today, you can choose from 80 different netbooks -- or more if you include all the devices being built in India and China. Major netbook producers such as Acer, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, and ASUS are adding scads of new bells and whistles to their second- and third-generation machines. Some are going upscale by rolling out devices with heftier Intel Atom processors, 10-inch screens, and hard drives that can handle client-based photo editing software, games, and other graphic-intensive programs.

Other netbook makers are moving in the opposite direction, making machines that resemble oversized cell phones with lower processor power, longer battery life, and price tags of $200 to $250. New developments to look for in 2009: netbooks with interactive touch screens and a version of Microsoft’s new Windows 7 operating system software specifically designed for the devices.

The netbook craze appeared in Asia and Europe first, but the United States is catching up. One reason: Wireless carriers like AT&T are selling the devices for as little as $99 with a two-year wireless broadband contract. Linder expects Sprint, T-Mobile, and other wireless carriers to offer their own netbook bundle deals sometime this year.

Potentially Riskier
Since the primary use of the netbook is to connect to the Internet, the potential exposure to Web-borne viruses and spyware is fairly high. That's why, despite their smaller size and weaker power, you still need the same antivirus and antispyware software you’d use on any other computer, according to Linder, the netbook blogger.

Netbooks that run Linux instead of Windows XP might not be as susceptible -- hackers prefer Linux and are likelier to write code that goes after Microsoft operating systems, Linder says. So install and keep updated proper security software and be careful about the Web sites you visit and the public Wi-Fi connections you use.

Michelle V. Rafter is a Portland, Ore., journalist who writes about business and technology for print and online publications.