Mini Notebook Computers Are A Popular Choice

Mini Notebook 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 Mini Notebook 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.

Mini Notebooks 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. Mini Notebook 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 Mini Notebook 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.

Mini Notebook 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 Mini Notebook Computer?

Mini notebook 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.