NetBook Reviews

How to Buy a Netbook?

Seems like everywhere you turn these days—newspapers, magazines, TV shows, even your friends—netbooks are a hot topic for discussion. What has pushed netbooks—very small laptops that run a full-blown Linux or Windows operating system—into the spotlight is the fact that they are capable yet inexpensive, with prices ranging from $300 to $600. Early on, they were considered second computers, best for e-mail and Web surfing—thus the netbook moniker. But as manufacturers compete vigorously for market share—slashing prices and tacking on extras—consumers are reconsidering the roles that netbooks could play. Inexpensive and portable netbooks appeal to a wide audience, from businesspeople who travel frequently, to kids and home users looking for a small laptop to carry from room to room, to book-laden students who spend long hours on campus.