Netbook on the fly

Can You Use Your Netbook For Your Business?

2009-01-15T19:02:00.000-08:00

One of the main appeals of netbooks is that they are basically low-cost alternatives to desktop computers and regular-sized laptops. Priced within the $300 to $500, it is no wonder that everyone wants to have at least one netbook, but can you use it for business though?

The answer would definitely be a 'yes', especially if you don't have any issues using a computer with a smaller screen and an even smaller keyboard.

Most netbooks being sold are already pre-loaded with Windows XP Home or one version of Linux or another. What this means is that you can basically do basic office functions on your netbook because of pre-installed office software like MS Office on Windows XP and Open Office on Linux.

If you have an Asus Eee PC netbook, you can supplement your existing office suite by downloading useful office software like the photo editing software GIMP, page design software Scribus, double-entry accounting software KMyMoney, and the label maker Glabels.

If you are running a small office or a home-based business (and thus have three other computers in your possession), connect your computers with Windows XP using the Network Setup Wizard. Ideally, your computers should all be running on Windows XP.

Networking your computers can be summed up in these steps:

1. Take note of your computer's location and hardware.

2. If you are sharing the Internet connection, choose which computer will be your Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) host. This should be your most powerful computer (not necessarily your netbook).

3. Choose whether you want to network through Ethernet LAN or Wireless LAN. You will need to install a Network Interface Card (NIC) in each computer. If you opt for Ethernet LAN you need to run cabling between the computers.

4. Run the Network Setup Wizard on your ICS host computer.

5. Run the Network Setup Wizard on the other computers. There are many advantages to networking your netbook, along with other computers, if you are running a business. One main advantage is that you can share printers and drives between computers. You also eliminate the need for transferring files through CDs or flash disk, thus minimizing the risk of virus infection from computer to computer. You also get to save up on storage space since you can work on a shared file, yet store it only in one computer.

Visit the website http://www.compareminilaptops.com/ for more information netbooks.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Kessler

Notebook Vs Netbook - Performance Or Portability

2009-01-15T18:35:00.000-08:00

Notebook, or laptop, is a portable computer that normally have :

Screen size : 12 Inch and up
Processor : Intel Pentium Dual-Core,Core 2 Duo or AMD Turion X2
Graphics : Integrated or External Graphic Card, from Intel GMA x3100 to AMD Mobility HD 3870X2
Weight : 1.9kg and up

Netbook, a smaller variant of notebook, 1st poineered by Asus with their release of Asus Eee PC 700,and now laptop companies such as Acer and MSI released their own netbooks (Acer aspire one and MSI wind respectively), have :

Screen size : 12 Inch max
Processor : VIA C7 1.2GHz, Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz or AMD Geode 800MHz
Graphics : Integrated Graphic Card, mostly Intel GMA 900 or 950
Weight : 1.1kg and below

1st, let's compare the screen size. With notebook screen size normally hovers around 14.1 to 15.4 inch, you can have a good movie viewing pleasure and don't have to squint your eyes just to see some text. With screen size 12 inch and lower, you might have a hard time typing documents in your netbook.

2nd, the processor. It is a very important part or consideration because it process the website content. The faster the processor, the faster the page loads. If you normally surf around the YouTube (which is heavy in javascript and flash) then you will know that loading that website takes longer than sites such as wikipedia or forums. With a slow processor, you browser might suddenly hangs if you opened too much tabs. The netbook cpu can't even handle 1080p movie and it will shutter all the way till the end.

3rd, the graphic card. If your primary concern is playing games, you can skip the netbook altogether as their graphic are really really lame. Some claim that they install World of Warcraft inside their netbook, but with lame graphic card and small screen, how are you ever gonna enjoy playing that game. On the other hand, notebook have better graphic card than netbook even in the low-end section. They can handle World of Warcraft and other older games easily without breaking a sweat literally.

4th, the weight. This is where the netbook really shines. With their low weight (and small screen), they are truly fit the definition of portability. Thier weight are almost half of the notebook weight, which is a good thing if you're not into bodybuilding. Coupled with their power adapter, the max weight might be only 1.5kg.

In the end, it all boils down to you. Which one you prefer the most. If you like to play games or watch movies, notebook is the way to go. If you surf the web more often and type short documents, netbook is you choice. Be warned that netbook keyboard is really small and not suitable for long-term typing.

Rig Your Hardware
http://www.righardware.blogspot.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ray_Chee_Lim

Best Deal Netbook for last minutes shopping

2008-12-18T20:31:00.000-08:00

There is Still Time with onSale's Holiday Super Sale! PRICES SLASHED up to 63% on NetBooks, iPods, accessories, software and MORE

Get $29 OFF! Acer Aspire One 160GB Sapphire Blue Now Only $378.99 (was $407.99)

SPECIAL OFFER! Samsung 10.2" WXGA Intel Atom processor N270 1.6GHz Notebook - Blue only $478.99

SPECIAL OFFER! Samsung NC10-14GW 10.2" WXGA Intel Atom processor N270 1.6GHz Notebook - White only $478.99

Samsung enters netbook fray with the NC10

2008-12-17T01:09:00.000-08:00

Samsung Electronics entered the netbook market on Friday, announcing a lightweight mini-laptop with a 10.2-inch screen called the NC10.

The new netbook by the South Korean electronics giant shows how popular netbooks have become since their commercial introduction late last year. The devices have caught on because they offer people a low-cost, portable way to wirelessly access the Web.
The NC10 makes use of many of the best ideas found on netbooks today, including a larger screen for comfortable Web viewing.

Samsung said it researched the netbook market extensively before diving in, and found many people were frustrated with small keyboards and short battery life, so it included a larger keyboard and 6-cell battery for up to 8 hours of use.

The device is designed around Intel's Atom microprocessor and comes with Microsoft Windows XP. The company said it has no plans to offer a version with Linux.

The NC10 will be available from October this year in China, Hong Kong and South Korea as well as several countries in Europe, including the U.K., France, Germany, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and Russia.

The device will hit the U.S. in mid-November, a Samsung representative said.
Although the company did not provide a detailed spec sheet, it did say the NC10 will come with either an 80G byte or 160G byte hard disk drive, a 1.3-megapixel digital motion camera, and wireless connections to other devices through Bluetooth 2.0 as well as wireless Internet connectivity via Wi-Fi 802.11b/g.

The company also boasted the durable materials used in the design of the netbooks, which come in white, black or metallic blue, saying they are built tough for a mobile lifestyle.
Samsung also included its "silver nano" antibacterial coating on the netbook's keyboard.
Samsung will join a host of rivals in the netbook market when the NC10 launches, including Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Acer, Lenovo, Micro-Star International and the company that started the netbook trend, Asustek Computer.

As seen on PCWorld

More Choices in Mini-Notebooks

2008-12-15T23:16:00.000-08:00

Purchasing a netbook is becoming as complicated as ordering a Starbucks coffee. Since the Asus Eee PC 701 entered the market, consumers’ options have only increased.

Case in point: Lenovo’s IdeaPad S10. The 10.2-inch S10 is Lenovo’s first netbook product and features Wi-Fi and an Express Card slot so users can enable broadband connectivity. Built-in tools include a Web camera for video messaging, two U.S.B. ports, a 4-in-1 multicard reader and Microsoft Windows XP.

The 1-inch thick S10 offers 512 MB of memory and an 80-GB hard drive or 1 GB of memory and a 160-GB hard drive. The IdeaPad S10 will be available in November, with prices starting at $400. And because simplicity is overrated, the S10 also comes in five colors: white, black, pink, blue and ruby red.

By AZADEH ENSHA
Published: October 15, 2008

As seen on NYTimes

RadioShack to sell Acer netbook for $99 - with 2-year contract

2008-12-14T22:04:00.000-08:00

RadioShack will put an Acer Aspire One 3G Netbook on sale Sunday for $99. But there's a catch. You also have to buy a two-year AT&T DataConnect contract.

The Acer Aspire One grabbed 38.3 percent of Netbook market share in the third quarter, propelling it past industry pioneer Asus and its Eee PC 4G.
Acer's Aspire One normally sells for about $300.

The RadioShack-AT&T offer, as previously reported, is valid through December 20. The 2.44-pound, 9.8-inch by 6.7-inch Netbook includes:
• Built-in 3G capability
• 802.11b/g wireless (Wi-Fi)
• 8.9-inch LCD screen• Built-in Webcam• Intel Atom processor
• Windows XP Home
• 1GB memory
• 160GB hard drive
• Built-in memory card readers (dedicated SD and 5-in-1)

Other players in the Netbook market include Hewlett-Packard and Dell.

as seen on ZDNET

Netbook market heats up as HP jumps into the fray

2008-12-13T00:48:00.000-08:00

HP introduces three new ultra-portable systems.

Hewlett-Packard's jump into the mini-laptop market continues this week's bubble of activity in the so-called netbook business.

HP Wednesday introduced three new ultra-portable systems, including two that carry price tags of less than US$400. All three new Minis run Intel's Atom processor.

And HP is trying a trendy look, teaming up with fashion house Vivienne Tam to design the HP Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam Edition. Dubbed the first "digital clutch," the netbook was first shown on the runway of Tam's Fall 2009 Fashion Week show in Battery Park, N.Y. The model comes in vibrant red with a peony-flower inspired design.

All three new HP netbooks are less than 1-inch thick, have a starting weight of a little more than 2 pounds and a keyboard that is 92% the size of a standard laptop keyboard.

The netbook market continues to heat up with two other vendors releasing new ultra-portables this week.

On Tuesday, Lenovo Group, Ltd. announced a low-cost netbook for the education market. The IdeaPad S10e netbook is designed for students in K-12, as well as those in college. Weighing in at less than 3 pounds, the netbook runs Microsoft Windows XP Home or SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop from Novell.

And Dell unveiled its netbook earlier this week. The Inspiron Mini 12, a more powerful version of Dell's Inspiron Mini 9, is available in Japan and is slated to launch globally next month. With a starting price below $600, the Mini 12 supports the Windows Vista, Ubuntu Linux and Windows XP operating systems.

Gartner noted in a report released earlier this month that HP lags behind some rivals in the netbook market and will have to move quickly to make up for its slow entry into this ultra-portable arena with more and better offerings.

HP leads all other PC makers in terms of overall worldwide PC shipments and comes in second to rival Dell in the US market. But since Gartner reported that the mini-laptop market is the only reason the overall PC market didn't take a fall in this rocky economy, analysts are looking for HP to make more of a move with the netbooks.

"Staying connected to your world -- however you define it -- is increasingly important to people on the go," said Ted Clark, senior vice president and general manager at HP, in a statement. "That's why HP is excited to address this new high-growth market with a portfolio of head-turning mini companion PCs that are fun and easy to use."

The HP Mini 1000, available now, runs Microsoft's Windows XP operating system and has a starting price of US$399.

The HP Mini 1000 Vivienne Tam Edition, slated to ship in December, also runs on Windows XP and is priced at US$699.

The HP Mini 1000 with MIE (Mobile Internet Experience) uses the Linux operating system and is due to ship in the US this January. It has a starting price of US$379.

Sharon Gaudin 30/10/2008 08:30:00
As seen on ComputerWorld

RadioShack Offers $99 Acer Netbook

2008-12-12T21:59:00.000-08:00

Acer, AT&T and RadioShack have teamed up to offer a deal that brings the Acer Aspire netbook to market for only $99. Netbooks are mobile computing devices with a screen size of five to 10 inches that run a full version of a client operating system, such as Windows XP or Linux.
The Acer Aspire, with integrated 3G wireless technology, usually sells for $500. AT&T is subsidizing the cost of the device, but customers have to sign up for a two-year AT&T DataConnect mobile-broadband service agreement. Plans start at $60 a month.

Netbooks Emerge in the U.S.

"Many people internationally are already enjoying the portability, on-the-go connectivity and affordability of this emerging new technology," said Peter Whitsett, RadioShack's executive vice president of merchandising. "We are proud to introduce this concept in the U.S. by offering a netbook with integrated 3G functionality in addition to full Wi-Fi capability."

Roger Kay, principal analyst at Endpoint Technologies Associates, called the Acer-AT&T collaboration a good deal for consumers. Netbooks, he confirmed, have taken off more quickly in Europe than in the U.S., but the timing is ripe for U.S. adoption.

"I expect to see a rising demand for netbooks over time," Kay said. "It's a development that's despite the recession. This market is rapidly attracting attention, and it's one of the growth spots; the problem is it comes at the expense of some notebooks."

Driving Netbook Demand

Netbooks, also called mini-notebooks, are on pace to reach 5.2 million units in 2008 and eight million units in 2009, according to Gartner. The market is expected to experience strong growth. There could be as many as 50 million mini-notebooks shipped in 2012.

Several factors will drive the demand for netbooks, including a small form factor and small screen, light weight, price, ease of use, and basic but sufficient PC functionality, according to Annette Jump, research director at Gartner.

"Mini-notebooks are likely to attract a variety of users with different usage scenarios: content consumption, Internet browsing, e-mail, instant messaging, keeping in touch with friends and family, storing and sharing pictures, and so on," Jump said. "Potential users are likely to include both first-time buyers seeking a low-cost introductory PC as well as experienced users seeking a low-cost second or third PC for themselves or a relative."

Will Netbooks Cannibalize Notebooks?

Addressing Kay's point, Gartner does not expect any major cannibalization of mobile PC shipments by mini-notebooks in 2008 and 2009 because there is a significant functionality and performance gap between notebooks and mini-notebooks.

That said, by 2010 it may be a different story. That's when Gartner predicts netbooks may start to cannibalize some low-end mobile PC volumes, and from 2011 they could significantly boost business PC shipments if their performance should increase substantially and they prove attractive to general business users.

"For consumer mini-notebooks to succeed, they need to be positioned differently than standard notebooks, and PC vendors will need to decide if the existing channels to market are appropriate and possibly look for new channels, such as telecom, gadget shops, and so on," Jump said. "PC vendors will have to convince retailers to take on those products, as they are still emerging products and potentially present some risk from an inventory point of view."

as seen on Newsfactor

What is Netbook?

2008-12-08T21:41:00.000-08:00

A netbook is a very small, light-weight, low-cost, energy-efficient laptop, primarily used for internet based services such as web browsing, e-mailing and instant messaging. They are also suitable for light use running office and educational software although they lack the power of more expensive subnotebook PCs

wikipedia

Netbook Sales

2008-12-08T20:31:00.000-08:00

Netbooks have begun to take market share away from laptops and sales are expected to increase up to 50 million by the year 2012.
Netbooks were thought to be returned more frequently than ordinary laptops according to MSI's director of US Sales, Andy Tung who alleged that Linux-based netbooks are returned four times as often as Windows-based ones, suggesting the excess over laptops is attributable to the purchasers' unfamiliarity with Linux or lack of software support. However, this only reflects MSI's data because ASUS's CEO Jerry Chen believes the Linux and Windows versions have similar return rates while ASUS netbooks returns are low.
Overall, the Linux market share on netbooks has increased over notebooks, especially in Europe where the demand is higher for Linux.

wikipedia

Netbook Software

2008-12-08T20:28:00.000-08:00

Netbooks typically include a pre-installed operating system, either a custom version of a GNU/Linux or Windows XP Home Edition. Many advanced users can be found heavily active on Internet forums discussing the installation of their choice of operating system (such as Ubuntu Netbook Remix or Windows XP Professional). Various netbook manufacturers are said to be catching on, and now pre-installing Ubuntu Netbook Remix. Netbooks are capable of running full office applications; however, users often rely on applications and services available on the Internet (known as cloud computing) instead, as there are usually fewer hardware requirements.

While Windows XP should have been replaced on all new computers by 2008, the upcoming netbook series with limited capabilities did not fulfill the requirements for Vista. Thus Windows XP Home is still available, currently extended from June 30, 2008 until June 30, 2010.

Microsoft qualifies ultra-low cost personal computers (ULCPCs) as systems matching the following hardware classification requirements:
- Memory: Shipped with 1 GB RAM or less
- Screen: 10.2" or smaller
- Storage: 80 GB (although this limit seems to be increased up to 160 GB for HDD by now) or 16 GB SSD
- No tablet PC functionality
- DirectX version 9 graphics processing unit (GPU) or below
- Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) S4 sleep state is optional

wikipedia

Netbook Hardware

2008-12-08T20:26:00.000-08:00

The form factor of a netbook is smaller than that of a notebook and they are very light in weight. A typical model weighs 2 to 3 lb (about 1 Kg). Common features include a small screen (usually around 7-inches to 10-inches diagonal), wireless connectivity, but no optical disc drive, and a smaller sized keyboard (usually 80 percent to 95 percent of normal size). There is also a trend of using solid-state drives instead of traditional hard disk drives.

wikipedia

Nettop

2008-12-08T20:25:00.000-08:00

Nettop is a term introduced by Intel to describe "low-cost" desktop computers. Examples are the CherryPal, the Koolu, the Mac Mini, the ASUS Eee Box, the Linutop, the Zonbu, and the gPC and gPC mini by Everex. It has a mobile counterpart called netbook. The Asus Eee Box and the nettop version of the MSI Wind PC are nettops in development. Moblin project supports the device type.

wikipedia

Subnotebook

2008-12-08T20:22:00.000-08:00

A subnotebook is a small and lightweight laptop. Synonyms include "ultraportable" and "minilaptop"[citation needed]. This category of computers is often confused with the "ultra-mobile PC" category, which is the name of a platform of small form-factor tablet PCs. Unlike UMPCs, they generally are found to run full desktop operating systems such as Windows or Linux, rather than specialized software such as Windows CE, Palm OS or Internet Tablet OS. The category is also confused with the generally lower cost netbook category.

Subnotebooks are smaller than laptops but larger than handheld computers. They often have smaller-sized screens, less than 14 inches, and weigh less than typical laptops, usually being less than 2 kg (4.4 lbs)[citation needed]. The savings in size and weight are usually achieved partly by omitting ports or having removable media or optical disc drives. Many can be paired with docking stations to compensate.

wikipedia

History of Netbook

2008-12-08T17:56:00.000-08:00

The concept of the netbook stems from subnotebooks, while the term itself was introduced by Psion in 1999 and re-introduced by Intel in the first quarter of 2008 shortly after they withdrew from the OLPC Association.
In 2007, Asus unveiled the Intel Celeron-based ASUS Eee PC range running a customised version of Linux (or, user installed, Microsoft Windows XP) on a 7 inch color screen.[citation needed] These machines measure just 8.9 × 6.5in and have less-than-full-sized keyboards. The Eee PC has been a top seller on Amazon.com[4] and is often sold out in retail stores. The EEE's success is largely attributed to the relatively low price (around $350/£230/€300) compared with standard-sized laptops, which easily priced above $1000 at that time.

In mid February 2008, Everex launched its VIA chipset based CloudBook, running gOS. The CloudBook is based on the VIA nanobook reference design. Unlike its closest competitor, the Eee PC, the CloudBook uses a hard-disk. The design of the cloudbook is optimized so it can be held in one hand while typing, or in two hands when using the mouse-cursor control, with the left thumb controlling the two "mouse buttons", and the right thumb a small trackpad, both mousepad and keys are placed directly under the screen.

On April 3, 2008, Microsoft announced a program to extend the availability of Windows XP in "ultra low-cost PCs", past its original deadline for ending the support of this operating system, as long as hardware developers deploy it on systems with limited hardware specifications. Commentators have seen this announcement as a market movement both to prevent mobile PCs eating market share of full-featured desktop and laptop PCs, and to stop the advance of Linux installations on this format.

In June 2008, MSI launched the MSI Wind PC, with features such as Bluetooth and a 10" LED, backlit, 1024x600 screen. This new laptop is the first built with Intel Atom low power technology and competes with the HP 2133 Mini-Note PC which has a 8.9" screen and is capable of a higher resolution. Both laptops are offered with SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop (from Novell) and Microsoft Windows pre-installed; HP offers Windows Vista on their laptop while MSI ships with only XP Home edition

wikipedia