How to Make Sure You Pick the Best Mini Notebook Computer

By Mika Staplesson

Tags:notebook computers,How to Make Sure You Pick the Best Mini Notebook Computer,notebook computers

It is quite simple actually, many people think they are not computer savvy enough to make such a decision, but they very much are. Netbooks are rather simple to tell the difference between, you just have to take a few key elements into consideration and you are going to be able to get the best netbook for your budget.


Netbooks usually go well under four hundred dollars and it is a very popular selling point for them. Most people think that these are just like any other notebook with a smaller screen and a friendlier price tag. Not exactly, but most people never get to know that before they actually purchase and start to use one.

Mini notebook computers are rather different in nature, but most people refer to netbooks when they say that. Netbooks are made specifically for browsing the net and perhaps playing music, but since their introduction they've been much more than that. Only a year or two ago became clear the way which Asus wants to go on. They wanted to make sure you can do many more than just watching a YouTube video and checking e-mails. They put 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor in most of their notebooks accompanied by a gigabyte of RAM and a 9-10" screen.

This used to be the basic recipe for netbook manufacturers, Dell, HP, MSI and Lenovo all jumped on the bandwagon and started to make their own variations. The only thing differed between them was the quality of the screen, the external casing and the keyboard. Everything else was almost the same down to details like performance, battery and connectivity options.

Some manufacturers added a slower, 1.3GHz processor to achieve better battery life; some added a bigger battery at the cost of weight, while some others installed 3G modem or Bluetooth connectivity to stand out. This was not enough obviously, and the customers were quite unhappy with the result, they wanted to get a netbook, which usually meant trying the keyboard, checking battery life and picking a color they like. There is not much that can differentiate one manufacturer from another when they all make the same product with a different logo.

Fortunately, since Intel came up with the dual core Atom, and Nvidia took its shot at the market there are different netbooks to choose from. Some brands also opted for a bit larger screen allowing you to get one all the way up to 11.6".

Some say that even this screen is small for every day work, but should they have the opportunity to try it for a longer period they'd be absolutely positively surprised that they can get so many things done with such a small and simple computer.

When you head out to the market to get a netbook of your own, always consider the features you need, screen size is a good point to start, but always take a look at the processor. N470 or Z520 refers to older variations of the same Atom processor, despite its relatively high clock speeds you are better off with a dual core version.

Memory is like apple pies, the more the merrier. If you have the chance, go for a mini notebook that has at least 2GB. You can get by with only 1GB, but twice the amount considerably speeds up your multitasking actions.

Last but not least important point is always the price. Set a budget and get the best computer for that amount of money, not the other way around. For $500 you can get the most generously assembled Lenovo netbooks, if you keep your eyes open you will be able to find the one that serves you for a long time.