If you really want to make your netbook portable, I recommend getting a Solid State Drive or SSD: Kingston 40 GB SSDNow V-Series Solid State Drive (SSD) SNV125-S2/40GB
Solid State Drive are built for speed and efficiency. They are also better for traveling because they have no moving parts. This is a great. Pick up your 40GB SSD here: Kingston 40 GB SSDNow V-Series Solid State Drive (SSD) SNV125-S2/40GB
Price: $83.96 + Free Shipping
Since launch of Apple iPad
the internet has been buzzing with speculation about its capability. Some say that it is a marvel of technology while some others call it a mashup of the iPhone and an Apple computer, whittled down to the basics. The truth may lie somewhere else altogether. Comparison between the Netbook and Apple iPad has also consumed plenty of bandwidth. To understand the similarities and differences between the two, it is necessary to delve into their origin.
Netbooks evolved from a necessity for people to carry a lighter, slimmer and more manageable Notebook PC or laptop, while travelling. In the process some of the features like a recording device were done away with. In technology circles a Laptop with less than one kilogram weight and a display of about ten inches would be classified as a Netbook. The Apple iPad has 9.7 inch LED display and a weight of around 0.7 kg.
Apple Apple iPad has gone a bit further and pared down a Netbook to its essentials. Does it mean that an Apple iPad is essentially a smaller version of a Netbook? This may be true to an extent though Apple iPad is a proprietary hardware while Netbook is a generic term. A Netbooks can run multiple software developed by different vendors, while with an Apple iPad you have to buy software from an Apple store.
Apple iPad has been welcomed by customers who travel extensively and use the device for reading online news, download books & periodicals and for browsing the net . The lightweight and handy Apple iPad can do all this and more. Most users never utilize the power of a Netbook and consider many advanced features a waste.
Critics bemoan the absence of some features in an Apple iPad which are now deemed essential. There is no camera which means video chats are out. This is cited as a major drawback. Technology observers feel that providing only a WIFI access is a limitation. There is no wired data port like an USB. iPod dock connecter is too clumsy and limited in its use. Another problem with an Apple iPad is the absence of Flash support, which means much of the internet is beyond its grasp. On the other hand some online companies assert that Flash is no longer a necessity and one can enjoy a rich internet experience without it. The small aspect ratio of the Apple iPad screen has also come in for criticism from some quarters.
One of the features of an Apple iPad is the long battery life of ten hours. This for many is a great boon. The battery of an Apple iPad tends to deteriorate and Apple has made provisions to replace the same at nominal cost.
Netbook is for those who want almost full featured capability of a PC with multitasking ability. On the other hand, Apple iPad is for those who want to conduct their daily business without the hassle of dragging a weighty bit of hardware around. It is light weight, easy to handle and does all the chores which a normal person would want in course of day.
Comparison between a Netbook and e-reader is like comparing apples with oranges. Not because of the color but the taste, flavor and fruitiness. Netbook users are those who want to keep in touch with others while traveling. In fact, a Netbook is a Laptop computer stripped of the heavy parts like a recording device. Usually a sub one kilogram laptop with a screen of 10 inches or less can be classified as a Netbook. This means you can do almost as much with it as with a PC. It is a multitasking device sans the bulky peripherals. With a fast Wi-Fi connection, it is easy for communication, provides excellent browsing experience, with the ability to play music and video in several formats.
Amazon Kindle and Sony Readers are simply e-readers and nothing else. If that’s so, why do people buy Amazon Kindle? Going by the high sales figures, there must be something in this stripped down device which appeals to buyers who are ready to spend for this exclusive experience. One the reason why Amazon Kindle is popular is because of its extremely light weight and form factor. The same goes for Sony Reader. Those reading long novels on a Netbook are sure to catch a sprain in their neck even if they manage to read one while lying down. With Amazon Kindle and Sony Reader, you can be as comfortable as with reading a paperback . Their design is also such that the screen resembles an actual physical page . The feel of paper mat admittedly be missing but that’s a sensual pleasure one has to sacrifice here. The reading experience with Amazon Kindle is great also because of the technology called eink. This makes reading a pleasure. Netbooks have a LED screen which can be difficult to read under different lighting conditions. The eink technology may be one of the main reasons why Amazon Kindle and Sony Reader score well above Netbooks.
But more than technology it is the look and feel of Amazon Kindle and Sony Reader which sets them apart from Netbooks. You have to understand that readers of books, novels and periodicals are a different breed of animals. They want to read lying down, half sprawled, on the beach, on a mountain top and everywhere else in between. Try doing this with a Netbook and you will know the difference. Lugging it up a steep mountain path would be enough.
Amazon Kindle is a e-reader designed and sold by Amazon who are the largest book sellers in the world. The Amazon Kindle version of novels is far cheaper than the print versions. They can be downloaded instantly using Amazon Kindle without bothering about delivery and other such problems. The only issue is that not all books have a Amazon Kindle version which can make things a tad difficult for bibliophiles.
On the whole, Netbooks are for those who want to keep in touch with friends and colleagues while they are on the move. Reading experience per se is not the main criteria. Amazon Kindle and Sony Reader on the other hand are purely e-reading devices.
Friday is hot deals day: Intel Atom N280 1.66GHz, 1GB RAM, 160GB HDD, 10.2″ WSVGA – MSI Wind U123-033US 9S7-N03333-033 Netbook
Price: $299.99
- Intel Atom N280 1.66GHz processor
- 1GB of RAM
- 160GB hard drive
- Windows 7 Starter operating system
- 9-cell Lithium-ion battery
- 4-in-1 media reader
Link: MSI Wind U123-033US 9S7-N03333-033 Netbook
If you have Bing Cash Back – You can save yourself another $37.50.
The last time I posted this deal, this netbook was $299 – Today it is available for $279 here: Toshiba Mini NB205-N325BN
- 1.66GHz Intel N280 Atom Processor
- 1GB DDR2 533MHz Memory
- 160GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive, Integrated Wi-Fi
- 10.1″ LED Backlit Display, 1024×600 native resolution (WSVGA)
- Microsoft Windows 7 Starter (32 bit), *9 Hours of Battery Life
Link: Toshiba Mini NB205-N325BN
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