How to Choose a Netbook - Screen, Battery, Etc.
Secondary Technical Parameters Matter a Lot When Buying a Netbook
Jun 15, 2009
In addition to primary technical characteristics, such as CPU, RAM, storage, there are some other technical parameters to consider when buying a netbook. In many cases it is exactly these parameters that make a user choose one netbook model over the other.
Screen Size and Keyboard
For many users screen size and keyboard are the top two considerations when choosing a netbook. Small screen size is one of the major disadvantages of netbooks and no matter what people say, a 10”, not to mention a 7” screen is kind of uncomfortable. Currently, the largest netbook screen is 12”, which is still small. However, all equal, the larger the screen, the heavier the netbook (and more expensive).
Graphic cards for netbooks don't come in many varieties, so actually there is almost no difference which graphic card a netbook comes with.
Small keyboards are another downside of netbooks and here there isn't much of a choice. Users with thick fingers are certainly at a disadvantage!
Weight and Battery Life
Since it is supposed that a netbook will be carried around a lot, weight and battery life are very important. Most netbooks are 2-3 lbs but there are also a bit heavier and a bit lighter ones (at a higher price, of course).
Battery life is especially important when the netbook will be used out a lot. There are 3, 4, and 6 cell batteries, which generally means that the battery will do for 3-6 hours. However, battery life varies a lot depending on what applications are run, so for heavy processing even a 6 cell battery might not make it past 3 hours.
Other Features
In addition to the technical parameters mentioned in this article and in the other article in the series, there are some other features to consider when buying a netbook. Connectivity, web cam resolution, and appearance are also important.
As a rule many, if not all, netbooks come with (at least) wireless and Ethernet connectivity. Some also offer Bluebooth and dialup.
Web cams are also a standard part of most netbooks. Usually it is a 1.3 megapixel web cam but lower quality ones are also possible.
Finally, one more factor to consider (especially if you are a lady) when buying a netbook is its appearance. Many netbooks are black, some are white, some are silver, red, etc.
However, even a blonde will hardly get a netbook only because its pink color is so irresistible. Choosing a netbook is not exactly choosing an accessory and that is why a netbook's technical parameters should always come first. CPU, RAM, storage, screen size, keyboard, weight, battery life, and connectivity are the most important factors to consider when choosing a netbook.
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