Good Options and Categories for Netbooks

There is no shortage of netbook models now. NewEgg alone has 65 choices. But which ones to buy? I have some suggestions.

1. Value Model on Sale

Price: $200 to $260
Availability: Now when on sale
A 9" or 10" model (if 10", it will have a 10" keyboard but most likely a 9" screen) with the Intel Atom N270 CPU. Most likely 1GB, but if it has 512MB, you typically can easily upgrade. May come with XP or With Linux. Either a Solid State Drive (usually very fast like Dell's are, but avoid the acer SSDs) at 8 GB or 16GB, or an 80GB to 160GB HDD. 3 or 4 cell battery.
Good Examples:
1. This rebranded Dell Mini 9 http://www.dealigg.com/story-Dell-Vostro-A90-8-9-Laptop-Atom-1-6GHz-512MB-RAM-8GB-SSD-Linux
2. This acer http://www.dealigg.com/story-Dell-Vostro-A90-8-9-Laptop-Atom-1-6GHz-512MB-RAM-8GB-SSD-Linux
How to find: Follow dealigg, show all deals

2. Basic Model

Price: ~$300
Availability: Now
A 9" or 10" model (if 10" phsyically/keyboard-wise, it will have either a 10" or 9" screen) with the Intel Atom N270 CPU. 1 GB RAM. Comes with XP. Has a hard drive, 120 to 160 GB. 3 to 6 cell battery.
Good Examples.
1. This Asus 9" model with a 4-cell battery. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220441
2. This MSI 10" model with a 3-cell battery http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834152093
3. This Asus 9"-screen/10"-keyboard with a 6-cell battery http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220442
How to find: Any Online Store (especially newegg) May be able to find a deal on dealigg.com

3. Slightly-Upscale Well Rounded

Price: ~$350 (on sale), $390 (regularly)
Availability: now
There really is only one model for this category due to it's amazing battery life, faster Intel Atom N280 CPU, and all around quality. This is the Asus 1000HE. It is a 10" model. 1 GB RAM. XP. 160GB. 6-cell battery. Upgraded 802.11n wi-fi
Everyday Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220504
Sale Link: http://www.dealigg.com/story-ASUS-Eee-PC-10-Laptop
How to find: any online store, or find it on sale on dealigg.com (search for 1000HE)

4. Larger and/or Thinner Model

Price: $500 to $700
Availability: Coming out now
These tend to vary more. They can have other processors, such as a faster Intel core solo or the Via Nano. 10" to 12" screen. Often very thin and light, such as the macbook air. Assume XP, 1 GB RAM or 2, 160GB, and who knows what for the battery. Likely to have upgraded 802.11n wi-fi.
Example Link:
1. Samsung VIA 12" model: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834131031
2. Asus Super-Thin and a little-bit light: 10" model: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220530
How to find: Many online stores

5. Nvidia Ion Netbooks with great graphics.

Price: $500 to $550
Availability: June
The highlight of these models is the Nvidia Ion graphics processor. It does not use up much more power, yet it enables 1080P video playback (when run properly) and far better 3d game performance. Games will be far more likely to not run because of the CPU rather (roughly a 2.0 ghz pentium-4 equivalent) than the GPU (graphics). Intel Atom CPU, prefer the Atom N280. 1 GB of RAM or 2. 10" to 12" size. 160GB HD, or larger if not using XP (getting XP at all and for cheap means max 160GB.) Likely a 6-cell battery. Likely to have upgraded 802.11n wi-fi.
How to find: follow http://www.ionbased.com and http://netbookupdates.com/

Preview Link: http://www.ionbased.com/2009/05/lenovo-ideapad-s12-hands-on-video-and-details/

6. ARM Netbook

Price: $250 to $200

Availability: June at the earliest

These are models based around ARM Processors/Systems-On-A-Chip. This ARM architecture enables them to be very low-power, thin, light, and even fanless. However, ARM can only run Linux (and android before too long) and not Windows. They will have a less powerful CPU and probably less RAM, but make up for it by being able to decode 720P video. Expect 7" to 10" screen sizes and flash memory.

Preview Link: http://news.zdnet.co.uk/hardware/0,1000000091,39617753,00.htm

How to find: follow http://www.ionbased.com and http://netbookupdates.com/

Personally, I'm looking for a 10" Ion netbook for gaming. That 12" Lenovo is too large and heavy.

Nevertheless, there are plenty of good options right now.

$200 and $100 Netbooks

I previously covered the decreasing cost of netbooks.

Recently, they have gone down even more.
Dell has offered their inspiron mini 9 netbook with Ubuntu for a starting price of $200 recently.
The SSD upgrades may be expensive, but this a real netbook with an intel atom @1.6 ghz, a 9" 1024x600 LED screen, a 4 cell battery, and other usual specs for $200.

Unfortunately this was just a temporary promotion to get rid of the old stock in preparation for their newer model coming out. It is now currently $250.

Recently there was also a model with 1 GB of ram and a (presumably slow) 16GB SSD by acer for $240.

Now on the ARM processor (power efficient but can't run desktop Windows) front there's even more progress. Freescale expects to be able to make a model for $100.

"Freescale believes netbooks built around its technology will be able to be made at a cost of about $100."

These $100 models may very well run Ubuntu and Google's Android. At least higher end models with a Freescale ARM processor will.

You can read the original announcement here on the Freescale based netbooks here.

They cite the possibility of these netbooks being used for Indian schoolchildren once they are at $100. The OLPC could face some competition unless they move from the soon-to-be-abandoned AMD x86 Geode to an ARM processor to match the price. At least the OLPC still has other factors going for it still like the sunlight-readable screen and its rugged design.

Still, even if you aren't a schoolchild and you will merely be using a netbook indoors without roughing it up, the social implications of a $100 computer are enormous. At that price there will be no reason (in the 1st world) not to own a computer if you want one and have internet access. More less-committed people and impoverished people will be able to own one. People will also be able to buy their small children real computers. Linux will gain an advantage as Microsoft will not be able to port Windows XP Starter Edition or Windows 7 Starter Edition so easily, and even then they would need companies to port their proprietary software, including drivers. Open-Source software is more readily ported to these platforms, and that's why Ubuntu is nearly complete at being ported.

Yes the future looks bright for affordable computing.

Asus Eee 700-Series Netbook for $232 total

Let me just say, that as a proud owner of an asus Eee 901 20G netbook, netbooks are awesome. They are great for taking to class, or coffee shops, or wherever. I am so much more productive on mine than on my iPod Touch.

Well, NewEgg is now offering the first generation Asus Eee 700-Series model for $232 (with the cheapest shipping.)


While you can often find more luxurious models for $250, such as this acer with a much better processor and a better screen (for $300 now,) this is still a huge step forward in making new computers affordable.