Netbooks Equal Anytime and Anywhere Computing

Specially designed for accessing the internet and wireless communication on the go, Netbooks are considerably smaller and lighter than the average laptop. Ranging in size from 5 - 10 inches Netbooks typically weigh around a kilo. (Average laptops have a screen size of around 15 inches and weigh around 3 kilos).

They are lighter on the pocket too with the average Netbook costing £270 compared to £910 for the average laptop.

Netbooks do not have the same capabilities or memory available as a laptop, the focus is not in built-in applications but online based ones like Google Docs - taking advantage of the current trend towards “Cloud Computing” in which data is managed and stored on servers and not on the machine itself.

An example of “Cloud Computing” is the website Picnik; an online photo editing service that offers a similar functionality to Photoshop. It is easy to use, there is no need to register, nothing to download, install or save on the machine and you can edit and enhance your photos directly through your web browser for free.

Two things to be aware of when looking to purchase a Netbook is the screen size and resolution;

· You may be required to sideways scroll on some sites especially when reading large amounts of text

· Ensure an adequate battery life, due to the Netbooks being primarily designed for computing on the go

The ASUS EEEPC 701 Netbook retails for around £170 and is ultra portable weighing in at a mere 0.905 kg and measuring 225 mm x 160 mm (half the size of A4!). It also features 512 MB memory and 8 GB storage, a 7 inch display screen and a pretty standard 3 hours battery life. This model offers a Linux operating system which means that an optical drive for installing software is not required.

Alternatively the Toshiba NB100-12A Netbook retails for around £262 and offers a Windows XP operating System. It includes an Intel Atom processor, 1GB RAM, 120GB storage, an 8.9 inch display screen. With only 3.5 hours of battery life it may not be as convenient for use on the move as other makes and models but it is light enough weighing in at just over 1 kilo.

At the top of the price scale the ACER AOD150-1BW 6C Netbook costs £329, weighs only 1.2 kilos and offers a whopping 7 hours of battery life making it a super portable computer for a professional on the move. The display screen is slightly larger at 10cm, and should omit the need for excessive sideways scrolling. This model also has a higher processor cache than the Toshiba and Asus so it should run smoother and quicker. It also includes Intel 945GM shared graphics - an economical solution that borrows your computers main memory to use for graphics.

In the world of technology smaller is considered better, but ensure that you don't choose a machine that is so small that it is too difficult and fiddly to use. As with most things there will have to be a compromise between size, functionality and usability.

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