Netbooks are the latest, lightweight mini-laptops that you can take anywhere with you. A good netbook will do most of your basic computing - internet services like email, web browsing and downloading, run business applications and play music and video files - without straining your back or your bank balance. They’re cheap and they’re fun! Most netbooks come with Windows ready-installed and there are Linux-based mini-notebooks with their simpler interface that’s very popular.

Although there’s a big selection of netbooks for sale out there, not all mini-notebooks are created equal. The people who design them have to contend with the problems of weight, size and performance and their decisions can cause problems for you, the netbook user.

Here are 5 factors you need to know when shopping for a netbook:

1: Will it do the job?

Most netbooks feature a useful 1.6GHz Intel chip and although they give good, brisk performance in the jobs they’re designed for, remember that they’re not heavy-duty number crunchers. If you need to do some heavy-weight computing, you may need a notebook that’s got more power.

2: Is the keyboard big enough?

The keyboard is the main interface with your netbook and many early-model mini-notebooks had mini keyboards. People who could easily touch-type on a regular keyboard found themselves struggling on a netbook. As well, some designers try to save space by moving keys around or reducing their size. Test the keyboard before buying so you know you’ll be able to type comfortably.

3: Is the track-pad adequate?

In the struggle to make netbooks ultra-portable the track-pad and its buttons frequently get the chop, too. Unless you’re prepared to carry a mouse, the trackpad is the other main interface with your computer. Check that the netbook’s trackpad is large enough to be usable and that the buttons are well positioned.

4: Is the display large enough?

Early-model netbooks also had smaller displays, and while they were more portable, 7 inch displays are not noted for their visibility. Currently, 8.9 inch screens seem to be about the smallest display for reasonable readability, while the industry standard, the 10 inch display, is a reasonable compromise in terms of size and ease of viewing. Check that the laptop you’re considering won’t cause you eyestrain.

5: Does it have the features you require?

The majority of netbooks have the features we require in a notebook computer: a good-sized hard drive, webcam, speakers and microphone, card reader, bluetooth and a wireless card. The only feature that netbooks lack is an optical drive - the DVD/CD drive has been sacrificed to keep size and weight to a minimum. When choosing your netbook, be sure it has all the features you need.

So there are five important things to consider when purchasing your netbook.

Although these mini-notebooks are cheaper than regular notebooks, do your due diligence before buying. The main manufacturers all have web sites with detailed specifications. Have a look at them at your local computer store and check out online netbook forums. If you buy online, don’t buy on impulse and buy from a seller with a good reputation.