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Netbooks: What are they?

Author: Emmanuel

Since Asus introduced the first Eee PC model in 2007, netbooks have become one of the most sought after products on Twenga. However, manufacturers’ and retailers’ descriptions do not always explain clearly what a netbook is and what makes them different from other laptops.

Netbooks are generally cheaper scaled-down laptops with 7” to 10” inch screens, small keyboards, small storage capacities and no cd/dvd drives.

They are ideal secondary laptops or as a first computer for technophobes. They are great for email, internet, word processing and can handle instant messaging, playing music, viewing online photos and videos. However, they are not suitable for gaming, audio and video editing or multitasking.

Users looking for a fuller PC experience but still packed into a small size should consider:
• Ultra-Mobile PCs, which are even smaller touch screen business devices from £500 to £1000.
• Ultra portables, which are more expensive, from £1000 to £15000, but are capable of gaming, have DVD drives with 11” to 13” screens.

During Q1 of 2009 netbook sales increased sevenfold to 4.5 million and made up roughly 8 percent of all PC sales. Acer is forecasting that global netbook shipments will reach 50 million in 2010.

Here are some the hottest netbooks being searched for on Twenga:

Popular netbooks on Twenga
•    Asus Eee PC S101: from £279. Aimed at executives (stylish design, good keyboard).
•    Asus Eee PC 901: from £179. 20GB solid state drive, quiet processor (Atom), less likely to overheat.
•    Samsung NC 10 from £287. Large screen (10.2”), sleek design, best all-round performance.
•    Acer Aspire One A150 – £149. Cheapest with good keyboard.

Other popular netbooks on the market
• Asus EEE 1000HE – from £309. Long battery life and good quality audio.
• HP Mini 2140 – from £350. Great for business users, fast and rich in features.