Netbooks

If your thinking about buying read up:

Netbooks are small, very light, and very cheap computers that run all the same software you'd find on a high powered desktop. What you lose in a netbook is performance and flexibility; netbooks are slower and less upgradeable than their bigger counterparts. However, netbooks are plenty fast enough to do almost everything that people use computers for these days: web browsing, instant messaging, email, enjoying movies and music, and basic productivity tasks (writing papers, using spreadsheets, making presentations). The gains are enormous, though -- ultra long battery life, near weightlessness, and a price point so low that you could seriously consider replacing it annually!


Asus was one of the very first players in the netbook market, and their EEE PC line has remained one of the most popular. Their entry level option is the EEE PC 1001p. The 1001P uses Intel's latest low-power Atom processor, letting it deliver absurdly long battery life, weighs less than three pounds, and should satisfy almost any student who isn't into hardcore gaming, video production, or other CPU or graphics intensive tasks that aren't suitable for netbooks anyway. At the magic $299 pricepoint, The EEE PC 1001P makes a good choice for anyone on a very tight budget, although as CNET noted in their review, it's missing a few nice features (e.g. bluetooth for portable mice), which isn't uncommon in the no-frills entry-level netbook category. If you have a little more to spend, you might consider the EEE PC 1005PR, which looks identical to the 1001E, but for $100 more you get a higher resolution screen capable of HD video playback, a bigger hard drive, and bluetooth support. CNET gave the 1005PR four stars in their review, tying it for the highest rated netbook around.

An interesting contender in the ultra-light portable computer space is Lenovo with their ThinkPad x100e ultraportable. The x100e is pricier than most netbooks (the base configuration starts around $449), but you do get something for the extra money: a larger screen (11 inches is 10% bigger than ten inches!), and a slightly faster processor. Nothing is free, though; in addition to the extra bucks, the battery life on the x100e isn't as breathtaking as its slower cousins (although it's still very good), and the performance isn't so good that you'll forget you're using a budget computer optimized for weight and batteries. By far the best feature of the Lenovo is its keyboard; it's truly a joy to write on, and you should seriously consider it for that reason alone if you anticipate doing a lot of word processing on your computer. Engaget loved the design, and the fire-engine red case will definitely turn heads.



What discussion of ultralight computing devices would be complete without the Apple iPad? After I got mine, I found myself using my laptop less and less. In fact, I'm writing this article on my iPad right now! Okay, for the price of an iPad you can probably get two (three?) basic netbooks, but the iPad designers understood that if a device is small, light, and battery-efficient enough so that you're likely to take it everywhere you go, it's possible to do something totally new instead of just making our existing computing metaphors smaller and lighter. If I didn't have to do software development in my day job, I don't think I'd ever buy another "real" computer again. If you're toying with the idea of replacing your primary computing device with an iPad, you'll probably want to invest in the keyboard dock, because while the on-screen keyboard is pretty nice (once you get used to it), trying to write a 20 page report on it would probably result in a smashed iPad. With the iWork suite of productivity apps (word processing, page layout, presentations, and spreadsheets), you'll have no trouble completing most school assignments right on your iPad (make sure to get a VGA connector if you want to hook your iPad up to a projector to give presentations). And please, make the small investment in a case so you don't scratch the screen! CNET has a great list of the top ten iPad cases.


Having a portable computer is really ideal for students, but sometimes it's really nice to expand to a bigger screen and more full sized input devices. While it's not necessary, it's certainly worth thinking about whether you want some sort of docking solution. Note that most netbooks don't have a true docking station per se, so unless you like connecting and disconnecting lots of cables, you're going to want a stand with a built-in USB hub (my favorite is definitely the Logitech Alto Connect). A slightly pricier but much more full featured option is a one-connection external docking solution like the Toshiba Dynadock series. The Dynadock U takes up almost no desk space; connects to an external monitor, wired ethernet, up to 3 USB devices, and a sound system; and can be connected to any Windows computer with just a single USB cord. It even has its own video hardware to drive high resolution monitors that no netbook could possibly keep busy. One connector cable too much for you? Then of course you want the Dynadoc U Wireless, which is a little over 200 dollars but connects to your laptop wirelessly.

If you are planning to dock your computer, you'll want a monitor. There is a dizzying array of choices out there, but fortunately LCD technology has matured to the point where you're unlikely to buy a monitor, turn it on, and be surprised by what you see. Don't go too cheap on a monitor; you're going to spend a lot of time looking at it and if it doesn't offer considerable advantages over your small netbook screen, it will just gather dust. On the low end, the 19" Acer V193 is a good starter monitor that looks great and won't cripple your wallet. At 50000:1, it does have a higher contrast ratio than many of its peers, which will make your images look more vibrant and rich. For only 200 bucks, you can get a 22" widescreen monitor like the ViewSonic VC2227WM. This particular model is too new to have lots of reviews yet, but ViewSonic has historically made excellent monitors; I've used their monitors since the early 90's and have never been unhappy. Widescreen monitors make a good choice if you're either going to be looking at wide spreadsheets or (more likely) watching widescreen movies on your computer.