Best Mini Laptop Computer Reviews | Netbook Notebook Titan

Ever since Asus kicked off the netbook craze in the U.S. by releasing the Eee PC 701, netbooks have been selling like hot cakes. They have been screaming for us to buy them from the store displays. They tempt us with their ultra lightweight and low prices. Netbooks have become virtually irresistible for consumers and business users alike.

Due to the fact that Netbooks are so limited, especially when it comes to their screen size and keyboard size, they are not intended to become your primary computer. Rather, they give you just enough storage space to do the basic activities you would need to do on a computer.

Netbooks come in a few different varieties. You can choose from an 8.9-inch screen or a 10-inch screen. You can decide if you would rather have a solid-state hard disk or a traditional one. Though most likely the most important decision you will have to make when look into buying into the Netbook craze, is which of the two main operating systems (OS) will you choose from? Your choices: Windows XP or Linux.

Let us first take a quick glance at Linux. For day-to-day use, Linux-based computers are very reliable. They boot quickly and don’t have the tendency to crash. Also a plus is that they are compatible with a lot of free software.

As most know, Linux is an open-source nature OS, which basically means it is in the general developer community. This makes it possible for Linux to come in many different varieties, most of which are bundled with a good number of applications right from the start. Some good choices for you to consider would be the 8.9-inch Eee PC 900, which comes with a Xandros Linux build. It is also capable of streaming YouTube videos right out of the box, as well as uploading pictures to Flickr and checking Microsoft Outlook Web Access.

The various kinds of Linux interfaces remain a challenge for many people. Why? This is because most people have spent the last 10 years using a Windows PC, and Linux is completely different. Something as simple as installing a program is by no means difficult, but it is very different then what Windows users and accustomed to. Also it is important to note that many Linux netbooks cannot read office 2007 documents, such as word files that have the extension. docx.

In the end, if you are looking for a low prices netbook, Linux is an excellent choice for you. There are many models for you to choose from. Such as the 8.9-inch Acer Aspire One ($399), the 10-inch HP Mini 1000 ($379), and the 8.9-inch Dell Inspiron Mini 9 ($349).

Now it is Windows XP’s turn. The main benefit that Windows XP based computer have, is the benefit of familiarity. Almost everyone has used a Windows XP machine at some point in his or her lives.

With Windows XP you can install copies of Microsoft Office applications, and install very easily your media applications such as iTunes or Windows Media Player. You are able to plug in other portable devices, such as printers, external hard disks, and other common peripherals with the assurance that they will work the same as they would on a regular Windows XP laptop or desktop.

Keep in mind though that even though Windows XP isn’t as bad as Windows Vista, it still takes up a lot of CPU power as well as memory in day-to-day operation, much more so that Linux. This can make video chatting over Skype a frustrating experience.

Also, Windows XP laptops do not come packed with the same bundle of free software that is available on Linux machines. There are free options available to you; though you will still need to buy Microsoft Office is you do not already have licenses.

Also, just as with a regular Windows computer, you will need to buy a security suit subscription to protect you from all the nasty viruses and spyware.

If you are leaning towards getting a Windows XP based Netbook, you are going to have to bump up your budget to the $450-$500 dollar range. This is so that you will have a netbook powerful enough to run Windows XP itself. Look for an Intel Atom-basted Netbook. That will be your best choice.

Some models you may want to look into are the Asus Eee Pc 1000H ($449), the Samsung NC10 ($499) or the MSI Wind ($549).

Hopefully you will be able to make the right choice for you when choosing the OS for your netbook, whether it be Linux or Microsoft XP. Both have their good sides and bad sides, so be sure to take in all the pros and cons in order to choose an OS that will fit your needs.

Everyone might think that the smaller, the better, but in this day and age, everyone’s wising up whether they should be shelling out their money for netbooks or notebooks. There’s a subtle difference that many might not notice between the two. Knowing what you need might save you a lot of time and, better yet, some money so you won’t have to replace what you’ve already got.

The difference between the netbook and the notebook might seem minute to most people. A few years back, the netbook is primarily the small mini-laptop that runs on mobile processors. It had a few glitches back then, which is likely the reason why nobody caught on—not to mention that getting one of those babies can make your credit account cry. However, they were convenient, and they mostly cater to people who primarily use the Internet for their business, maybe use some spreadsheets. These netbooks generally don’t use up a lot of battery life, therefore saving power so you can use them during a long travel.

Meanwhile, notebooks are mostly called the simpler PC. They’re smaller than the PC, but they use the computers’ processors, which uses up a lot of power. This also means that you can use the notebook for some of the things that you can do in the desktop; that is, to edit some graphics or put together a video. The notebooks were really designed to be a mini version of the desktop computers.

Now, when getting one or the other, you have to assess your needs. Some of the newer versions of netbooks like the Asus EEE PC, which commonly comes with a Linux OS, or the MSI Wind that has pre-installed Windows Vista, are convenient for you to use as a secondary laptop. Dell has released its own small netbook as well, also powered by the Atom processor. Recently, other brands have been dipping into the netbook experience. HP, one of the leading brands in computers, has released the Mini Note that not only looks at the internal specs of the netbook, but also conveniently arranges its keyboard and touchpad to be comfortable, making the transition from PC to laptop to netbook as easy as possible.

If your habit of opening at least 5 windows in one time is proving hard to break, there are now a lot of lightweight notebooks that might meet your demands. Nowadays, though, the lines are blurring between the netbooks and notebooks, with notebooks now using the technology used to power netbooks, and smaller processors being made to meet heavier demands to run. When choosing between them, ultimately you’ll be looking at your own lifestyle and habits before getting the mini computer you need. Do you need this laptop for simple emailing and Internet viewing? Or is Photoshop a program you can’t give up?

Protect Your Beloved Netbook: The Search for Netbook Cases
Since the development of the netbook industry in the past year, consumers are now looking for the perfect case that would shield their beloved netbooks from external harm. Manufacturers are also catering to smaller mini laptops, and producing more netbook cases.

From messenger bags to sleeves to backpacks to metal cases to briefcases to leather cases, there are a number of quite useful and stylish netbook cases that will surely appeal to you.

For netbook owners with stylish colors, you might want to consider a case that also matches the color of your netbook. Targus and Belkin offers great cases from sleeves, backpacks, messenger bags and even ladies’ handbags that come in various colors such as pink, red, yellow, white, black, brown and many others, all of which have padded insides to protect your netbook from transport bumps and shocks.

If you want something classier, then why not get a leather netbook case or a leather briefcase? Kroo produces high-class and stylish leather cases for Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo and MSI.  For around $20, you can get a case that would snugly fit your beloved netbook – and it definitely looks classic and elegant while giving your netbook enough protection.

For those who are always on the go, then there is the Graffiti Neoprene Sleeves. The material is soft, and water-resistant. You can carry your netbook alone in this sleeve, or put it in side a bag, briefcase or your shoulder bag. Since the material is soft and durable, it provides as a shock absorber and a cushion for your small netbook. Or if you want a different look, then there are Kroo netbook sleeves, as well. It is also made of neoprene so it’s waterproof and soft, plus it has an added pocket to put your power adapter and other accessories.

Or if you want something more than a sleeve, then Targus and Crumpler provides great backpacks and sport or rugged netbook cases. These bags have extra storage for your netbook’s power adapter and other peripherals such as external USB optical drives and external hard drives. They come with padded shoulder straps, and lots of other pockets for other things.

Of course, buying your netbook might be hard, but choosing a netbook case is all up to you. Consider getting something which you like, not just for the sake of your netbook’s safety, but also its utility. Review your budget, feel the case, try it, and surely, one of them would make you say that it’s the one for your netbook.

Laptop computer sales are now at an all-time high, mostly because many brands have been releasing some budget alternatives to their expensive laptops, making these computers accessible to the traveling worker or the spreadsheet-user student. If you’re looking for the best netbook computers, then the first thing that you have to think about is the way that you’re going to be using this computer. Are you constantly traveling? Do you usually work on word processing or spreadsheets, or do you do some other complicated stuff like editing videos or pictures? Do you need your computer to work fast? Are you heavily reliant on email and Internet-based work?

If you have this list already, then it might be useful for you. If you’re mostly focused on simply doing word-based work, many people have come to rely on the Asus EEE PC. This is one of the cheaper brands, and they’re also one of the first to release a bunch of cheap mini notebooks over the years, which means they more or less already changed their design to meet the market demands, making them toted as one of the best netbook computers. The Asus EEE PC usually comes with a free Linux OS, which may seem intimidating if you don’t usually venture outside Windows Vista, but this OS is actually easy to use ad easier to figure out. However, many EEE PC’s also come with the choice of putting in Windows Vista, as long as you have enough funds.

If you’re more into graphic-based work, then you might want to check out the HP Mini or the Apple MacBook Pro. While you might be tempted by the simplicity and thoroughness of the HP Mini, you might want to turn your sights into the Apple MacBook Pro as well, despite being 14 inches. For one thing, if you’re looking at the monitor a lot, chances are you’d rather not end up squinting while doing so. Most of all, graphic-based works may need bigger monitor for their quality to show, and Apple is no stranger to those needs. However, the HP Mini certainly gives it a run for its money, and with an Intel processor, it’s faster than the other mini PC’s, and conveniently less bulkier too.

Whatever you decide, you have to look at the specs of the laptop you’re buying. Whether you decide on the cheaper one or the graphic-intensive laptop, remember that the best netbook computers are actually based on your requirements. You’ll find yourself comfortable with your choice if you’ll know how you’re going to use your computer. You need to already know what to expect from what you will get.