Technology
What About Those Netbooks? By Pamela Bir
 Netbooks, mini-laptops, sub-notebooks, thin-and– lights–whatever you call them, these little computers have a lot to offer professionals in the A/E and design industries.
Let’s say you’re out of the office a lot with clients, builders and subs. You don’t want to carry around an extra 12 to 15 pounds of laptop. You don’t want to be tethered to a power outlet. If you’re out on a construction site, there may not even be a power outlet where you’re working. But you need access to your client files and the Internet. Oh yeah, in this economy, you don’t have a lot of money to spend on computer equipment at the moment either.
Answer? Netbooks. For somewhere between $275 and $550 dollars you can have a powerful laptop that weighs between 2.5 to six pounds. The netbook starts up faster than a laptop and has a battery life of up to ten hours--perfect if you spend the day out on a job site.
What can netbooks actually do? Netbooks allow you to browse the Internet, including accessing your social networking sites and utilizing Voice over Internet Protocols (VoIP) such as Skype or instant messaging. You can play music, view photos and videos, including streaming videos such as YouTube. You can also check e-mail via various e-mail clients and connect to your company server via VPN (virtual private network) connections.
There are some disadvantages. There are no optical drives (CD or DVD). You have limited storage, if you call 160 GB limited. Netbook processors aren’t powerful enough for the more interactive games or advanced software such as CADD programs. You’ll have to do your drafting in the office.
However, if you combine a netbook with Google Docs so that your files are stored on the Internet, you really have a portable office. Google Docs is a free, web-based storage service that can now store all file types--PDF, PowerPoint, Word, jpg, and so forth. You can access your company website. You can access your YouTube videos. You can access Flickr or other photo sites. Everything is on the web so the hard drive size becomes a non-issue.
Shopping carefully for a netbook is important. Manufacturers are adding new models and new features almost daily to grab more of the market. Netbooks are expected to be at least 25 percent of the laptop market this year. (Watch this excellent video about how to shop for a netbook: http://www.laptopmag.com/buying-guide/netbook-video.aspx.)
There are numerous review and comparison sites. You can search “netbook reviews” and find plenty of review sites, but here are a few of my favorites:
Batteries are important. Standard netbook batteries are three-cell or six-cell. The smaller batteries will get you anywhere from two to three hours on a single charge while the bigger ones range from six to eight hours. Some models promise ten hours.
Keyboards are important. They range from 89 to 93 percent of a full-size keyboard. If at all possible, try out the keyboard before you make a purchase. Personal preference on how the keys are spaced, how the touch pad responds and where the right and left mouse buttons are will affect your comfort level.
Also consider:
- The Intel Atom processor is generally considered the fastest and most energy-efficient netbook processor.
- Go for a hard drive that has a capacity of at least 60GB and a rotational speed of 5,400 rpm. Look for a web cam that is often built in.
- Look for built-in WiFi or network cards. It’s one less thing to have to remember to carry with you.
- Look for Bluetooth connectivity for your head set, your printer or other peripherals.
- Count the USB ports as that will influence the peripherals you can easily use.
As far as WiFi and Internet connectivity, you’re working with the same options as your laptop. You can have a built-in network card. You can purchase portable network cards. You can access via your cell phone. You’ll have the same monthly fees for data service that you have with your laptop. Of course, that means you can connect via your wireless network at your home or office. You can connect at a client’s office via their wireless network with their permission. Coverage is comparable with cell phone coverage.
Think about giving your back and your back pocket a break with a netbook.
Pamela Bir is president of Your Computer Lady, Inc., a firm that provides computer support including marketing literature, e-mail marketing, Web site design and maintenance, PowerPoint presentations and more. Visit www.YourComputerLady.com or email Pamela@YourComputerLady.com.
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