Small Laptop Computers

Anyone shopping for a new mini notebook computer Netbook knows that the Windows 7 Starter Edition is being offered on almost all new netbooks.  Windows Xp has been the recent Microsoft OS being offered on Netbooks and potential new owners of netbooks have been looking forward to the new Windows 7 becoming the OS on netbooks.  Most do not know that the Windows 7 starter edition is "dumbed down" feature wise, and doesn't have some of the bells and whistles that the Windows 7 Home Premium Edition comes with as standard.  As an example the starter edition lacks the following:

No DVD Playback
Netbooks do not come with DVD drives and everone knows that.  The solution is to purchase an external drive and connect to the netbook via the USB connection.  What many do not realize is that Windows 7 Starter edition won't allow you to play back the DVD even on the external drive.

No Aero
The neat Aero interface introduced with windows Vista and Windows 7 isn't available  with the Starter Edition.  It's not that the hardware isn't capable, it's that the software doesn't support it in the costed down version of Windows 7.

Multi Monitor Playback
If you want to connect a second monotor, you can, but it will be a duplicate of the image on the other monitor it won't be a different display image.

No Desktop Personalization
If you want a screensaver of your family or favoite person as a screensaver, forget it. The standard Microsoft desktop background is all that is available on the standard edition.

No XP Mode
Don't expect to be able to run XP software in the XP mode with the starter edition.

There are other limitations with the Windows 7 Starter Edition, but the preceding are the features that most will probably expect to be available in "state of the art" portable mini notebook computers.  All of the missing features can be added back by an $80 dollar upgrade.  Most potential buyers would be well advised to include the upgrade in the initial netbook purchase since the netbook's lack of a DVD drive makes the upgrade a little more of a hassle than in the past.  Consider the limitations before you decide to take the standard new netbook and Windows 7 offering.

It's perfectly normal to be a little apprehensive about purchasing a refurbished netbook. The thought of purchasing a product that is refurbished conjures up thoughts of a product that has been repainted, fixed up, and made to look new, but doesn't perform like new.  This is not the case when it comes to purchasing a refurbished netbook computer.  Netbooks that are refurbished are typically products that have been returned for repair, may have a minor defect that is repaired, or in some
cases are actually new product that for marketing reasons are termed refurbished, to justify a lower price.  Excess manufacturer inventory is sometime sold into a distribution network that re-markets products and in some case labels them refurbished.

What about the reliability of refurbished netbooks?  Today's modern electronic devices are very reliable, and in reality there are relatively few suppliers of the basic components of a netbook computer. Under the covers there is a great deal of commonality between brands, of the basic components.i.e keyboards, memory, hard drives. The testing method's used to test a refurbished netbook device and failure modes of the components inside a netbook are such that netbooks that are sold as
refurbished are as reliable as new product right off the assembly line. In fact an argument can be made that a refurbished netbook may be more reliable than the new products since it has passed through the 'infant mortality" portion of it's life where early failures often occur.  A refurbished product has been "burned in" and the early failures eliminated.  What about price?  Do some shopping and you will find that refurbished netbooks can be found for 30% to 40% of new product price. This can amount to significant savings. In many cases the refurbished netbook may have larger memory and hard drive capacity to boot. In almost all cases the refurbished netbook will come with a warranty.  Check this out before buying to make sure you are covered in case something goes wrong.  I wouldn't hesitate a nanosecond on buying a rubbished netbook.  I have been around the computer scene for many years, and I can tell you there is nothing to fear in buying a used or refurbished netbook computers.  In most case the documentation, packaging, and everything else that goes with the new product will be included with the refurbished model.  Check the details of what is included before you buy.

Good luck as you search for that bargain refurbished netbook and enjoy many years of reliable mobile computing.

Mini notebook computers that are ultra slim and lightweight have become the rage since netbook laptops have hit the portability scene.  Larger display screen size and very light weight notebooks are starting the push the portability of netbooks.  The Apple MacBook Air and the DELL Adamo are the two headliners when it comes to ultra portability, and recently they have been joined by an interesting product from MSI.  The new MSI X340 weighs in at just under the MacBook Air's 3 pounds and is barely more than three-quarters of an inch thick.  It has a 13.4- inch screen with HiDef 1366X768 resolution, with LCD and HDMI video input.  It comes loaded with Bluetooth and WiFi, and you can add mobile broadband if you like.  The X340 is also one of the first to use Intel's Ultra-Low Voltage CPU, which cuts the power draw to as low as one-sixth of a similar' netbook laptops power draw. The power feature plus the light weight portability of this product are reasons to get excited about a competitor to the more costly MacBook Air. If you are looking for a Small Laptop Computer that is ultra easy to handle the new model from MSI is the ticket and it will probably cost half the price of a loaded MacBook Air.

Refurbished netbooks are becoming available in significant numbers online. Refurbished laptops have become accepted as great values by knowledgeable users, and now refurbished netbooks make an excellent choice for an easy to use mini notebook, for email and wireless laptop Internet access.  It isn't necessary to lug around a heavy 17 inch screen laptop to do basic online tasks.  Recent ebay auctions highlight a number of wireless laptop computers of the refurbished netbook variety for under $300, that are less than a year old since manufacture.  One of the many uses for these refurbished netbooks is playing Dungeon and Dragons Online.  As an example an Acer Aspire One refurbished netbook with an Atom processor reportedly plays DDO in 800X600 screen resolution with good results.  If you are looking for an additional Small Laptop Computer for easy to use mobile performance at a good price,  a refurbished netbook is a good choice.

Many people have been used to large technological devices for a long time. But as time goes by, those devices that we use on a regular basis are becoming smaller.  This is especially true when it comes to computer systems.  While there are desktop computers, laptops and even personal digital assistants, more people want a well-functioning computer system that is portable and advanced at the same time.

The latest option that many individuals are considering these days are Small Notebook Computers of the Netbook variety.  Netbooks can be thought of as miniature laptops that function the same as a regular computer.  However, they are lighter in weight and more budget-friendly.  The compelling feature of netbooks are smaller size and this means that the keyboard is smaller as well.  For most people, keyboard size and layout is not an issue but for others, it is a determining factor when choosing a small notebook computer.

For the most part, someone who is considering a netbook is already aware of the size of the keyboard.  Most netbooks have 7 inch screens, which are the narrowest and they can go up to 10 inch screens for bigger keyboards.  It is important to know your personal comfort level that you expect from a small netbook.

Chances are, the netbook is going to be used while moving around and the keyboard size will not be a major issue.  Regardless of the size, the keyboard on a netbook is actually a full one with all the keys but it is 80% to 90% the size of a regular keyboard.

The layout of the keyboard is another factor to consider when buying a netbook.  Many netbooks in the market are manufactured outside of the United States, and have different key placements.  They are not all the standard-keyboard layout although they are full keyboards.  This is something to consider when you are comparing netbooks.  Faster typists are used to the placement of the keys and may have a harder time adapting to the new layout.

Regardless of the size and layout of keyboards on a netbook, consumers are generally looking for a powerful and compact device to take care of their computing needs.  This includes web surfing, emailing and using word processing applications for work or school.  Netbook computers are an affordable way of accomplishing these tasks and are the perfect companion for travelers.

Small laptop computers, commonly called “netbooks,” are rising in popularity. After all, they are ultra portable, ideal for mobile users, and inexpensive. But can a netbook replace a larger 17-inch laptop? Before you ditch your larger laptop in favor of a netbook, make sure you fully understand the pros and cons of these small laptop computers.

Pros of Small Laptop Computers
If you’re tired of lugging your heavy laptop to and from school, work, and travel destinations, a netbook computer is much more portable. These small laptop computers weigh about two pounds and measure anywhere from five to thirteen inches. With one of the smaller netbooks, you can easily tuck it into a purse or small backpack and it won’t weigh you down.

Netbooks are designed with the Internet and cloud computing in mind. Thus, these small laptop computers do not need a great deal of power or huge hard drives. In fact, many small laptop computers lack a traditional hard drive, relying instead on SD cards or solid state storage devices.

Checking e-mail, browsing the Internet, and accessing Web-based applications are the primary purposes of netbooks and netbooks perform these tasks with ease. If you travel a lot and want a small portable computer for staying in touch and accessing the Internet, netbooks fill the bill.

You can’t beat the price, either. Small laptop computers are an inexpensive alternative to pricier laptops. They are perfect for students and computer users on a budget. Netbooks also tend to rely on free open source and Web-based software which also keeps expenses in check.

Cons of Small Laptop Computers
While Small Laptops have many advantages, they also have a few cons that you should be aware of before retiring your desktop or laptop computer. While the smaller size of netbooks is an advantage as far as portability goes, it is also a disadvantage for regular computer use. Keyboards are cramped and screens are tiny. If you spend more than an hour or two each day with computers, netbooks may not be the best choice.

Many netbooks use open source operating systems such as Linux rather than the more familiar Microsoft Windows. Fans of Linux see this as a plus. However, if you are unfamiliar with these alternative operating systems, you will have a learning curve to overcome.

Small laptop computers do a fine job at what they are designed to do: provide access to e-mail and the Internet. But they fall short for users who want more out of their computers. If you want to edit videos, write a book, analyze spreadsheets, and other more complex tasks, netbooks will disappoint. If you want to install large programs such as Microsoft Office on your netbook, you may not be able to due to limited storage capacity or operating system compatibility.

While Web-based applications are available, if your Internet access is unreliable, you won’t be able to access these applications as needed. In addition, file extensions used by open source or Web-based software may not be fully compatible with the applications that you normally use.

Should You Buy a Small Laptop Computer?
Small laptop computers have their place and are ideal for certain types of computer users or as secondary computers for those who want to stay connected while on the road. Carefully evaluate your needs as well as how you use your computer. If you simply want a basic mobile pc and don’t want to spend a lot of money, then small laptop computers may be the perfect choice.