The 5 Answers to Netbooks
Just because netbooks are inexpensive doesn't mean that you should go ahead and just buy any netbook that you see first. There is an art or skill to shopping for netbooks. Before you make a decision and buy any old netbook, there are a few things that you should consider first:
Consider your wants and your needs - There are two basic types of mini laptops considered netbooks on the market. There are netbooks with Hard Disc Drives (HDD) and there are netbooks with Solid State Drives (SSD). HDD netbooks can store up to 160GB of data on their hard drive, but the drive is not as tough as their SSD counterpart. SSD netbooks, on the other hand, boot very fast and are generally more reliable in terms of performance. They can also withstand impact quite a bit better. The down side of SSD drives in netbooks is that they are notorious for having smaller storage capacities in the affordable range. So what does this all have to do with you and your needs and wants? I guess you just need to ask yourself if you'd rather have a netbook with low storage but boots slower or a netbook with high capacity.
Consider the brand - There are many brands of netbooks out in the market today. ASUS definitely created the netbook market in 2007, but other manufacturers followed soon after, including Acer, Lenovo, HP, Dell, and MSI, among others. Different manufacturers have different signatures, e.g., Asus for small keyboards. Different brands of netbooks are known for different things, and it does pay if you research on what these are.
Linux or Windows XP? - Just like there is competition between Windows and Mac in desktop computers, for all of the models of netbooks there is a Linux version or a Windows XP version. The only main difference is which operating system the manufacture loads on the netbooks at time of order. There are advantages and disadvantages to each operating system loaded onto netbooks. Linux is known for its security and stability. Malware and other infections are rarely complained of by Linux users. On the other side, Windows XP has the advantage of popularity. Because most pc users are use to a Windows platform operating system, it is difficult for a Windows user to switch to a Linux platform.
Consider User Reviews - One way to put netbooks to the "test" without actually using it is to read reviews users write about specific netbooks. Manufactures are always going to portray their product as the "latest and greatest" product on the market. User reviews are an honest, first hand rundown on a particular netbook model. Another great way to get reviews of specific netbook brands or models is to search for forums on the different netbook models.
Consider Comparison Shopping - One rule that I follow for everything I shop for online is to never settle on the first price you see on a shopping website. You should compare prices on specific models of netbooks from at least three different vendors before ordering your netbook. Some shopping websites can offer their netbooks for less than others because they order a large wholesale purchase. If you buy online, also factor in the cost to ship your netbook in with the total price to determine the best value. No matter where you buy your netbooks from, online or in a retail store, make sure that you are dealing with a reputable website or company.
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