Best Netbook on the Market: ASUS Eee PC Review

Posted on October 19, 2010 by Best Netbook on the Market

It seems like it is getting more and more difficult to find the right netbook as more options and brands come to market. All of us want to make sure that we get the best netbook on the market for our needs, and the Asus Eee PC 1005HA-PU17-BK is the current candidate to win this title in this site’s opinion.

First, let’s cover some of the standard reasons that a person wants a netbook. Users normally turn to the netbook market to satisfy desires for a more portable and smaller laptop than a standard size laptop, while still wanting to maintain solid usability. Netbooks also have a strong aesthetic appeal to many users and this can also be a factor in a purchasing decision. Some main concerns for a user are often how will typing on the smaller netbook keyboard work, will the battery life hold out for a long period of time, and will it be powerful enough to do what it needs to do. We will address these in our review of this site’s choice of the best netbook on the market, the Asus Eee PC.

As a user of this model, this review is based on normal usage, and not just a test model or review in a store.

I can say that this netbook deserves the title of best on the market as it has become a standard piece of equipment for me to use and my more powerful but larger standard laptop usually only gets turned on one or two times a week now if I need to go and do some serious plugging away in my home office. The Asus netbook is more than adequate for normal computing needs including both work and personal tasks.

This PC has shown more than enough computing power as it runs multiple browsers, multiple tabs, and multiple programs all at the same time with no noticeable slowdown in performance. It is a common occurrence to be running a Firefox browser, Chrome browser, Excel or Word, Google Talk, Dropbox, and a music player all at the same time and it handles this well. Windows 7 is a vast improvement over Vista and runs like a charm on the netbook. The boot up times are fast and efficient without any of the apparent Vista bloat. The performance has exceeded expectations as like many users the expectation was that a netbook will be more underpowered than this experience shows.

As to any concerns about battery life they have all been swept away by the solid battery performance of this netbook. It has exhibited a great battery life with no issues going all day without a charge if using it heavily, and often going 3 or 4 days without a charge if using it for just casual internet surfing and email for a couple hours a night. Same thing goes for any concerns about the keyboard as the keyboard becomes easy to type on after spending a day or so becoming accustomed to it. The keyboard on this netbook is far superior to some other models which felt unnatural and hard to strike their keys compared to this one. The screen size is a good size, and is clear and readable in all programs.

Aesthetically, this netbook is appealing as well. With a nice clean finish and a couple color options those who want their computer to look good as well will not be disappointed. This is a top notch device.

To sum it all up, if you are looking for a top netbook and the one that gets the vote here for best netbook on the market, then selecting a Asus Eee PC is a recommended choice.

Take a look at the link below and to view detailed descriptions on Amazon, click through on the link.

Asus Eee PC 1005HA-PU17-BK 10.1-Inch Intel Atom Netbook Computer (Crystal Black)

In keeping up with the continuing saga of which netbook is the best on the market, if you make a purchase of this model (or another) then please visit us again and leave a comment to let us know how your experience is going and add your own vote to the discussion.

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Toshiba Mini NB255-N245 10.1-inch Black Onyx Netbook Review

Posted on August 12, 2011 by Best Netbook on the Market

Toshiba Mini NB255-N245 10.1-inch Black Onyx Netbook Review

Up for analysis here is another contender for the title of best netbook on the market. This Toshiba product also comes from a good manufacturer and has some good features, but can it lay a claim to the title we are reviewing for? Continue reading below for the rest of the netbook review.

Light and super compact, the Toshiba Mini NB255-N245 10.1-inch Black Onyx Netbook is a budget solution to mobility and functionality. It weighs less than 3 pounds and measures 8.3” x 10.4” x 1.3”. If you want to surf the web and get things done on the go, the Toshiba Mini NB255 is your perfect travel companion.

Product Features
Powered by the 1.66GHz Intel Atom N455 processor and 1GB DDR2 RAM, this Toshiba netbook can run up to 8 hours before recharging. It is equipped with a 160GB SATA hard drive and Wireless-N Wi-Fi networking capabilities. The netbook comes with Microsoft Windows 7 Starter operating system installed.

The computer also comes with 3 USB ports and a VGA video output. Microphone and headphone jacks are also provided, as well as a Secure Digital (SD) memory card reader.

Why You’ll Like It

This Toshiba netbook is sleek, durable, and has one of the more solid keyboards on a netbook. The keys are as big as laptop keys and you can type fast and comfortably. The bright 10.1-inch screen is LED-backlit, making the computer more energy-efficient. Windows 7 Starter boots up and runs faster on the netbook compared to Windows XP. Upgrading the memory to 2GB will make your programs run even faster.

This computer is very lightweight and will easily fit in a bag. You can carry it around in school and not have to worry that your battery will run down. It’s also the right size for when you travel or go on vacation. The netbook provides fast access to the internet via WiFi. If you are on a tight budget and can’t afford a Mac, the Toshiba Mini NB255 can give you exactly what you need without breaking the bank.

Unless you need a computer for heavy graphics work, this netbook should be just fine for you. It’s a quality product with a good keyboard, bright and crisp monitor, and great battery life.

Cons

The netbook’s audio is quite poor. You may find that the built-in monophonic speaker is hard to hear even at maximum volume. If you are running an application where audio is important, you may have to install external speakers.

Bottom Line

If you need a no-fuss computer to bring to school or work, the Toshiba Mini NB255-N245 netbook could be a solid option. You can also take it along on your travel or vacation. It’s affordable, durable, lightweight and compact but provides all the functionality that you need. Order it now at Amazon and see how you like it.

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Acer A0532h-2588 10.1-inch Onyx Blue Netbook Review

Posted on August 12, 2011 by Best Netbook on the Market

Acer A0532h-2588 10.1-inch Onyx Blue Netbook Review

Another netbook review for a device from a reputable company. Is it a candidate for best netbook on the market? Not quite that good is the summary, but it gets a solid review. Keep reading for the detailed review.

There are times when even a notebook is too cumbersome to take around with you. That’s when you’ll really appreciate the Acer A0532h-2588 10.1-inch Onyx Blue netbook. Weighing a mere 2.76 pounds, the netbook is ridiculously light and compact. Wireless-G connectivity lets you access wireless networks, share files, surf the net, and exchange emails. This tiny but powerful netbook is your office on the go.

Product Features

Equipped with an Intel Atom N450 processor and 1GB memory (expandable to 2GB), the Acer A0532h comes with a 160GB hard drive and a 10.1-inch LCD screen with LED backlighting for lower power consumption. It has a built-in webcam and microphone for video and voice messaging, plus stereo speakers for listening to music and streaming media. The touchpad supports 2-finger scrolling, page slipping, circular-motion scrolling and pinch-action zooming. A 6-cell battery provides up to 10 hours of battery life. The large keyboard is 93% of standard size. It comes with the Microsoft Windows 7 Starter.

Why You’ll Love It

There are times when you don’t really need or want to carry a powerful but heavy laptop around. That’s when the Acer A0532h netbook comes in handy. It is ultra thin at 1 inch and easy to pack. Women can easily slip it in a tote bag or a large purse. The 1GB memory is large enough to let you run your programs or surf the net. If you opt for the 6 cell battery pack, you can have your netbook running up to 8 hours before recharging.

You can easily create and edit Word documents and Excel spreadsheets on your Acer notebook. It’s also convenient to take along with you when you travel or go on vacation. Although the netbook runs PhotoShop Elements 8 and you can view, rename and store photos, the screen is too small for serious photo editing. However, you can use it to surf the web and watch streaming video on Netflix or Hulu.

Bottom Line

With a reasonable price at Amazon, you could say that you get more than what you pay for with the Acer A0532h netbook. It’s extremely portable, lightweight and has a decent battery life. You can get your work done, as well as have fun and play games. Just don’t expect it to run as fast as a laptop with 8GB RAM and dual-core processor.

The Acer A0532h-2588 Netbook could be a solid choice for a netbook.

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Apple MacBook Pro MC374LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop Review

Posted on August 9, 2011 by Best Netbook on the Market

Apple MacBook Pro MC374LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop Review

It can be debated over at what size and what level of portability and performance a laptop crosses over into netbook territory, but some of the main features of small size, weight, and portability are definitely found in this thin and almost airy device from Apple. The Apple MacBook Pro MC374LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop is a crossover range device that should be considered by a potential netbook buyer.

Light, compact and powerful is the best way to describe the new Apple MacBook Pro MC374LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop. It is powered by a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and features the NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics processor with 256MB shared memory. The 13.3-inch LED-backlit display has a 1280 x 800 resolution. The MacBook Pro is also equipped with a 250GB or 320 GB hard drive, 8x DVD/CD SuperDrive, and 4GB DDR3 RAM. The laptop also comes with the Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard Operating System and iLife.

Why You’ll Like It

Portability is a big thing with laptops and netbooks. This light machine weighs in at a scant 4.5 pounds and measures 12.78” x 8.94” x 0.95”. While most laptops are 1.5 inches thick, the Apple MacBook Pro is less than 1 inch thick. At the same time, its patented unibody casing makes it tougher and more durable than other laptops.

This laptop may be lightweight but it’s a heavyweight when it comes to processing power. Its 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo makes multi-tasking a breeze and the NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics processor can easily handle image software and video games. The machine keeps cool during operation, thanks to the Core 2 Duo processor. With its 4GB RAM and improved video card, it’s an improvement on the previous version.

The Apple MacBook Pro’s battery is simply amazing. When fully charged, the battery can last up to 10 hours. This is a whole lot longer than many other laptop batteries. However, you should expect the battery life to be less than the rated 10 hours depending on the applications you are running.

You’ll find many good things going on in this machine. The keyboard is extremely comfortable and gets good reviews compared to many other laptops. And the multi-touch trackpad is a cool feature. It supports inertial scrolling, rotate, swipe, one-finger tap, two-finger tap, double-tap, drag, etc. It is so intuitive that people who are used to pointing and clicking with a mouse will be trackpad experts in no time at all.

If you can’t let go of your Windows applications, you can still run them on the Apple MacBook Pro. BootCamp allows you to partition the hard drive and install Windows along with the Mac OS X.

Possible Cons

You really need to think to find anything to complain about too much with the Apple MacBook Pro in terms of functionality and style. Of course, long-time Windows users may need a little time to get used to the system and become comfortable with the Apple operating system, but as mentioned above, there are some workarounds to maintain usage of some Windows applications. Also, admittedly, it is more expensive than many other laptops and netbooks, but it is a sleek device with many nice features.

Recommendation

If you want a solid light laptop/netbook and are ok with spending a little time learning your way around Apple’s operating system then this is a good choice. With the Apple MacBook Pro, you’re getting a solid product. Order it now and get a good price over at Amazon.com.

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Get a Netbook Skin to Personalize your Computer

Posted on January 29, 2011 by Best Netbook on the Market

With the growth in netbook sales and ownership there has been a follow on growth in sales of products to customize and personalize our netbooks. In a trend that got started to a lesser degree with laptops, skinning and customizing your netbook has become even more popular. Likely caused by the fact that netbooks are carried and displayed in public even more than laptops which are as likely as not to be a business use item, having a great look and style to your netbook is a nice fashion statement and if you want it to be, a great conversation starter in a coffeeshop or bookstore.

Skinit is one of the places to check out and find some nice looking new skins for your netbook.

When you click over, you can check out the netbook menu by clicking on the left menu, then select your netbook model and start browsing. They have tons of sports designs, including pro and college teams, along with tons of other artwork inspired designs, cartoon designs, and tons of others. There is even a feature to upload an image from your PC or Facebook account for use.

In addition to netbook skins they have skins for lots of other devices in case you want to customize their look as well. iPhones, iPads, smartphones, ebook readers, mobile gaming devices, you name it and there is a skin for it. Go check it out by clicking Skinit or on the image below.


Skinit Laptop Skins

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Get a Netbook for the Kids’ first Computer: Are They Ready?

Posted on January 29, 2011 by Best Netbook on the Market

With the continued proliferation of Netbook models of all size, shapes, and colors, many parents are looking to the netbook marketplace to not only get their main computing device or a second mobile device, but they are moving away from the standard desktop PC as a entry choice for a child’s first computer. Many of the factors driving the huge growth in the netbook market such as portability and ease of use are also driving many parents to consider them for their children as not just toys, but as learning tools to help their education and computer skills at the same time.

With netbook pricing not only meeting, but often beating, the price for a new desktop PC, the economic pendulum has swung to where parents should be in favor of considering a netbook for a child’s first PC. In addition to the economic rationale, there are other good reasons why a netbook can be a good starter PC.

It seems counter-intuitive to some that a device that is powerful enough for an adult can be used as a child’s first PC, but that is exactly what a desktop PC is and no one thinks twice about that for a first PC. It is only the relatively new entry of netbooks on the scens that has not yet allowed the idea to fully enter into the collective culture. But moving to features. As previously stated, netbooks are light and mobile, and we know that our children like to move around and do activities in different areas of the house. With a netbook, that is possible. Schoolwork can be done on netbooks just as easily as a desktop. When papers need to be written or even just normal elementary school stuff, a netbook can provide the basis for writing and learning. Many classrooms today even in elementary school have the ability to log into the internet to get additional lessons.

Even without having specific educational goals such as homework, it is this very notion of a wired (or wireless) world that is being fostered by gifting a child with a netbook for their first computer. Think about what technological changes have occurred in your lifetime, and the speed of change that has occurred in the last ten years. My young children today take the vast power of an iPhone for granted and operate it as easily (maybe more easily) than a microwave. By introducing them to the mobile computing revolution at an early age, they will be taking a positive step towards being ready for the next generation of jobs and work which will require a knowledge of computers and technology that we may not even fully comprehend yet today.

Receiving a netbook as a first computer will give a child a sense of adultness in their computer usage that will inspire them. Having this shiny new thing, they will want to play with it, and will be learning in the process which is a beautiful thing.

For anyone who is skeptical, of course you have to know your own kids, and evaluate each case appropriately, but at the age of as young as 5 children can be ready with adult guidance to start learning about computers and the related technology that runs our modern world.

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Is Windows 7 the Best Netbook OS?

Posted on January 29, 2011 by Best Netbook on the Market

Windows Vista is dead if it can ever be considered to have really lived. Vista was a bloated piece of operating system that ate RAM for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It was Vista that had a significant impact in many users not advancing past Windows XP. However, Windows 7 seems to have rectified many of the mistakes made with Vista, and of note for us here, has made a significant inroads into becoming a top notch Netbook operating system.

Almost all of the major manufacturer netbook options ship with Windows 7 starter edition. While still now lightweight, the operating system has a quick and clean boot on a netbook and with a slimmed down behind the scenes approach, seems to operate extremely well on the netbook architecture.

In my personal experience, the best thing about running Windows 7 on the netbook is the very fast load times compared to other versions of Windows, and even compared to some other operating systems.

The Starter edition of Windows 7 does have some limitations that some users have bristled at in the beginning, but after much usage of netbooks the feature set in the shipped with version is more than adequate. Almost the only feature missing that you hear any complaints about is that the desktop wallpaper is not user editable. While nice to have, this is a feature limitation that can be lived with. And if not, then an upgrade to Windows is available almost instantaneously by purchasing it, then entering the key/license code to activate.

Looking at other competitors in brief, the Linux system would run well and light just as it does on regular PC’s, but there are the limitations that made it an ok option when compared to Vista, but not as much compared to Windows 7. The common complaint levied against any of the Linux or Ubuntu installs is that they are not user friendly and intuitive, especially to those familiar with a Windows GUI (Graphical User Interface) style of computer usage. These Ubuntu and Linux builds work well on Netbooks from a speed and responsiveness standpoint, but have some learning curve.

One possible near-future heavyweight contender is the Google Chrome operating system. For anyone who has tried Google’s Chrome browser and marveled at the speed and cleanliness of it, prepare to seriously consider their Chrome style OS as a viable netbook operating system. Early reports from Beta testers rave about it and it is eagerly anticipated by many. Running a lot of cloud apps and booting in under 5 to 10 seconds, this will take many mobile users and make them very happy indeed.

So, to summarize, for now, Windows and Microsoft are still ruling the Netbook world just like the desktop world. Windows 7 is a good standard and very useful and user friendly operating system for a netbook user. While their are viable alternatives, and some cloud alternatives coming, for now Windows 7 is a very serviceable option.

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What is the Best Netbook Keyboard Choice?

Posted on January 25, 2011 by Best Netbook on the Market

One of the features that a user should pay close attention to when making a netbook purchasing decision is the type of keyboard on the netbook under consideration. With a smaller and lighter configuration on netbooks, one of the things that can be sacrificed is keyboard quality and comfort if attention isn’t paid to the design.

The good news is that most of the major manufacturers make netbooks that have completely adequate keyboards for the size of the machine and there will be something that works for almost all users. With ASUS netbooks that advertise a 92% of full size keyboard that is ergonomically designed and Toshiba netbooks advertising full-size keyboard and touch pads the fears of too small keyboards should be in the past.

However, that doesn’t mean that there are no important decisions or differentiators to be made based on keyboard design in your netbook review process. One of the major aesthetic look and feels of a netbook is still much in play based on the keyboard style you choose.

I like to describe this option as the more standard keys versus erupting keys. The term “erupting keys” is referencing keys like those on the Toshiba netbooks which seem to “erupt” up from the inside of the netbook while standard keys are more like the ASUS eee Netbook PC (see ASUS Netbook Review).

See below picture from an Asus Eee PC Netbook Computer for an example of what is being called here the standard keys setup. This is a more familiar structure to what a user will find on most desktop keyboard setups and produces a different look and feel from the other key types. With a more familiar feel, many users will be more comfortable with this style of netbook keyboard.

For an example of what is being called here “erupting keys” see the image below of a Toshiba Netbook which has the keys coming up through the netbook to be self contained blocks for each one. This setup produces a different look and feel from a standard desktop as well as the other netbook keyboard types.

For many users, and for my personal tastes, the “erupting keys” style of netbook keyboard produces a strange typing experience and is one of the reasons for choosing another model netbook for the preferred choice.

Keep in mind that the netbook keyboard style is another option to consider whan making a netbook buying decision. Clicking on either of the images above will allow you to see more information on the two netbooks discussed here.

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