Posts Tagged ‘Netbooks’

Newer Entries »

Netbooks: Genuine Portable Web Access

October 13th, 2009 by admin | No Comments | Filed in technie stuff

In the early years the PC was primarily a plaything for science enthusiasts and technology geeks. To bring computers to the masses, something was needed that would engage the user and be of genuine use to them, something that we now know has revolutionised the way people live their everyday lives. And that, of course, was the internet. Enabling people to tap into the global community 24-hours a day, the internet has changed the way people communicate; helping to bridge time and distance barriers.

But there has been a tremendous change in the way people use and access the wealth of information that’s available in cyberspace. What was once a handful of networked computers found in libraries and shared amongst many users, is now affordable and technologically advanced enough to be in the majority of homes across the UK.

Moreover, one of the main changes is that the internet has been transported out of universities, libraries and homes and is now ubiquitous almost everywhere we go - airports, trains, coffee shops and even in our pockets. In fact, mobile phone technology and PDAs have advanced to the point where we can surf the internet at any time and at any place.

But whilst internet access on pocket devices does have its uses, much of the true value of the web is having large screens with a broadband network connection. And this is where laptops help to bridge the gap between home and office-based desktop machines and pocket-sized mobile devices. However, many laptops aren’t as portable as they otherwise could be and may still be too big to carry around for long periods of time. This is where netbooks come in, as they are gradually starting to fulfil their potential as being the next logical step towards enabling genuine portable internet.

Netbooks were originally designed for emerging markets as an affordable, small, network-enabled computer. But over the past few years, they have gradually begun to win over a sizeable market share from laptops. Given that the main advantage of buying a netbook over a laptop is that it offers wireless internet access for web browsing and emailing on a device with a screen size as little as five inches, it’s hardly surprising that they are starting to gain popularity with business professionals too.

Acer netbooks have proven to be a particularly popular choice on the market. However, with a growing demand for fast internet access on the move, it’s likely that many more of the computing industry’s leading brands will be fighting for a market share in the months and years ahead.

And this will be another chapter in the remarkable transformation of the humble PC of only a few decades ago to the slick portable models that are available today.

For modern style watches that look great, choose Movado Watches all the time.

Victoria Cochrane writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

Tags: , , ,

Are Subsidized Netbooks Bad News for Open Networks?

October 9th, 2009 by admin | No Comments | Filed in technie stuff

AT&T’s plan to offer subsidized netbooks for $50 (and more, depending on which model the subscriber opts for) raises interesting questions. The most basic is what means to the open access debate. 

As the name implies, open access is the ability of customers to link any device that passes technical muster to a carrier’s network. Verizon Wireless and AT&T have paid homage to the concept and, indeed, some devices – mostly in the machine-to-machine sector – employ it. 

This week, as reported by PC Magazine and others, AT&T said that customers opting for two-year Wi-Fi and a 3G plans will be able to buy an Acer Aspire One, a Dell Inspiron, LG Xenia or Mini 9 or Mini 12 for between $49.99 and $249.99, though the precise price of each was not revealed.

Of course, the fact that carriers are moving the subsidization concept from phones to netbooks doesn’t mean that open access is dead. However, it shows that the carriers still like the proprietary concept, and probably are willing to spend a lot of money in order to marginalize approaches that make it easier for customers to come and go. PC Magazine puts it like this:

Subsidizing phones has been the norm for a number of years, with mobile vendors eating the cost of the phone hardware in exchange for the ability to charge users for voice and data plans, and to upsell them on services. But subsidizing netbooks is relatively new, and it remains to be seen whether consumers will look upon a netbook as another device that they’re willing to lock themselves into a contract to own.

Verizon Wireless also is onboard with selling subsidized netbooks, though details are sketchy. InformationWeek reports that the carrier confirmed a previous Reuters report that it was going to offer the devices. The piece says that no other information was offered. It is fleshed out with speculation that the carrier is considering the Dell and HP products, including the latter’s HM Mini 1000. 

Smartphones and netbooks may be drawing closer, as well. Datamation’s Mike Elgan indulges in well grounded speculation. He says that netbooks are great sellers, but that they wear out their welcomes rather quickly. He describes why, and says that the challenges would be met by eschewing PC operating systems in favor of the OSes used to power smartphones. He describes the rationale for this, and it seems convincing. Again, using a smartphone OS in a netbook isn’t a smoking gun pointing to the death of the open network concept. It certainly seems like a step in the other direction, however. Says Elgan:

The cell phone model – giving away or heavily subsidizing cell phones in exchange for a two-year commitment on a wireless contract – will work great for netbooks. AT&T and other carriers have announced special divisions to look at such deals.

The bottom line is that open networks are not in carriers’ best interests because they loosen the reins they hold on subscribers. Carrier’s game plan will be to cajole the FCC — something that got a lot harder for the industry due to the election — and use their significant public relations machines. They also will offer customers a terrific deal on the hot device de jure in exchange for fealty to their networks.

Advice: Check out the best bluetooth headsets before you get a “hands-free” ticket!

Carl is a contributing editor to Communications Technology magazine and has held staff positions at InternetWeek, tele.com, Cable World and Cable Marketing magazines. Read Carl’s blog on IT Business Edge on how communication strategies shape the future of business. Become a IT Business Edge Facebook Fan!

Tags: , , , ,

Netbooks – Best For Wireless Communication

September 24th, 2009 by admin | No Comments | Filed in technie stuff

A netbook is a mini laptop that has been designed for wireless communication and accessing the Internet. This gadget is ideal for checking emails, viewing documents, listening music and for doing another types of tasks. An individual can easily browse the various websites and can access web-based applications. These widgets support Linux or Windows XP operating systems instead of resource-intensive operating systems as Windows Vista. A person can use netbooks for word processing, spreadsheet work etc.

There are some tips that should remind us before purchasing a netbook:-

Know Your Requirement: - Before buying any netbook, you should determine your requirements. Netbooks are the form of laptops that can be used for accessing various applications. If you want to use iTunes with your iPhone or iPod, it means that you need a netbook that is compatible with Windows XP.

Screen Size: - Whenever you go for purchasing the netbooks, you should choose the screen size according to your requirements. Normally, netbooks come with three screen sizes and 7 inches is the smallest one. The resolution of this screen is 800 x 480. Another one is 8.9 inches that comes equipped with 1024 x 600 resolutions. The largest screen size in netbooks is 10.2 inches and the resolution of this is 1024 x 600.

Keyboard: - Another main thing in netbooks is that these gadgets come enhanced with smaller keyboards. You should remember that the smaller netbook come with small size keyboard. So if you frequently use the keyboard for typing, you should consider this thing too.

Heavy Extended battery: - Many people want to buy a netbook only for surfing the web. Netbooks come equipped with either standard or extended batteries that have usually 3-cell or 6-cell batteries. If you want to use netbook for the long time, you should purchase the device that has long-life battery.

By concluding, we can say that netbooks are useful for those people who want to access Internet at the very high speed.

If you have to buy the best gift for a man, take a look at the latest Cartier Men’s Watches. Not only do they tell great time, they do it in style!

This article gives some information about the great devices i.e. netbooks. Today, these gadgets are the most popular for those people who are accessing Internet heavily. If you want to know more about, you can also visit:-http://www.connectindia.in/

Tags: , , , ,

Netbooks: Another Revolution in Computers

September 21st, 2009 by admin | No Comments | Filed in technie stuff

With the fast evolving and ever-changing world of technology, notebooks were thought to be a revolution but the demand for faster, cheaper and efficient technology gave birth to Netbooks. Netbooks are smaller cousins of notebooks. They are meant for only internet-based services like web browsing and e-mailing, etc. They are lightweight, compact and easy to carry netbooks are very small and energy-efficient laptops.

The netbooks have further reduced the size of the computers. Pioneered by ASUS the first netbook was pushed in the market in 2007. The model name was Asus Eee PC. The netbooks have a smaller display screen of 7″-10″ size. The netbooks have a smaller keyboard but no optical disk drive. Other hardware configuration includes 1 GB RAM, 80 GB HDD, advanced configuration and power interface (ACPI).

Netbooks are developed to consume lesser power and have a longer battery life in this energy-deprived world. They can provide internet connectivity virtually from anywhere. The material used in making these netbooks is very light which makes them even lighter than the traditional laptops and combined with a sleek design they take work on the move to the next level.

The netbooks come preloaded with Ubuntu Linux but the users can also install Microsoft Windows XP home edition. The Microsoft Office applications run very well thus a major target of these netbooks are the business executives who don’t have time for plunging deeper into the more sophisticated notebooks. They are actually looking for something simple to carry out their daily work.

Comparing the prices of traditional laptops with the new netbooks, Netbooks are a much economical option. As a normal laptop with a premium configuration will come for well above $1000 however, a netbook with some basic configuration is available only for $350. Although there have been trade-offs in the size, hardware and some applications but on the front of rugged operation, mobility and performance netbooks score heavily. With time, netbooks are bound to improve. They are a very good option for students, businesspersons and executives.

Want to the know the Best Christmas Songs? Check

Tags: , , ,

Netbooks Versus Laptops - What You Need to Know Before You Buy, Pros and Cons

September 20th, 2009 by admin | No Comments | Filed in technie stuff

Netbooks - What you need to know before you buy Comparing laptops and notebooks, pros and cons

Are the days of the Laptop numbered?

As the world becomes a smaller place, the Internet grows ever larger and more resourceful. Today, we cannot survive without the Internet at our disposal for a very long time. Hence, vast arrays of handheld solutions which promise Internet access are available. While all of them have their uses, Internet on handheld devices is hardly as rich and resourceful as that on a full-fledged PC. Mobile browsers come with limited support, especially for features like embedded video and animation, thus leaving your web experience half-baked. In today’s age of extensive mobility, even the much vaulted laptop looks like a lumbering giant. The solution? Enter the Netbook world.

As of today, Netbooks are little more than ultraportable laptops. As the name suggests, it is best suited for surfing the net on the go along with other lightweight allied tasks. It is not fundamentally designed to be a multimedia center or an office workstation and most Netbooks reflect that.

Screen size for Netbooks is generally 8-9 inches. Screen resolution varies according to make and model and is available up to a respectable 1024×600. While the smaller form factor has definite portability advantages, the smaller keyboard and touchpad area can be a real pain for people with large hands. Connectivity in Netbooks is paramount and hence it generally comes with a whole array of USB connectors, an Ethernet connection and the latest available wireless technology. External display devices maybe supported through DVI/S-Video. Optical drives are optionally available.

Under the hood, the processor for Netbooks needs to be a frugal drinker of electricity. As of today, three different platforms are available. The reliable but ageing VIA C7D (HP 2133 miniNote), the popular Intel Atom processor, and the mixed-bag options offered by AMD (Sempron 2100+, Turion64 or the puny Geode LX800). Memory typically comes in the 512MB-2GB range. Storage may be in the form of a SSD (solid state drive) or a simple hard drive. While SSD’s are faster, compact and consume less power, they also add a lot to the price tag of Netbooks. As a compromise, some vendors ship their units with a limited capacity (2-4 GB) flash memory which usually contains the operating system, and a standard hard drive for storage.

In terms of software on your Netbook, you can go for Windows XP or Linux. Linux distributions like Ubuntu 8.10 are an excellent choice as they work very well out of the box. Windows Vista performance is generally poor as they require more power.

A checklist while getting Netbooks can be as follows:-

• Power efficiency- The Atom offers the best bet, but the 945 chipset it ships with is old. The newer US15 chipset is expected to be out soon. Keep a lookout
• Memory- 512MB maybe adequate but you are better off with 1GB+
• Video - Look out for the upcoming Ion(Atom+ GeForce 9400) platform for NVidia with HD Playback capabilities
• Hard Drive -SSD’s offer performance and efficiency at higher prices
• Price- can be bought within $500 in general

Most major brands like Dell, HP, Compaq and Acer have Netbooks in their lineup. The ASUS Eee Pc, the first one launched, is also a decent choice. What you have to decide is whether you actually need a Netbook. While it offers portability, a rich web experience and lightweight computing capabilities, it is not really a replacement for a laptop or a phone and in general have failed to find a market niche till date.

Boxed Christmas Cards allow you to get your Christmas Cards done on time!

For more similar articles, visit http://www.bestlaptopsreviews.com, and read about Laptop and notebook reviews and ratings, most popular laptops, industry news, forums.

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Are Netbooks the Perfect Student Laptops?

September 9th, 2009 by admin | No Comments | Filed in technie stuff

Netbooks are everywhere, on buses, on trains, on planes… and in the classroom. It seems the little netbook has come out of nowhere to become extremely popular overnight.

But what is a netbook?

Netbooks usually have screens of 10 inches or less, runs Windows or Linux and generally sell for well under $500. As its name indicates, the netbook’s main purpose is to keep its owner conveniently connected to the net - anywhere, anytime.

First introduced by Asustek when it launched the first Eee PC in the fall of 2007. But it was only in the last year when we saw the explosive growth of these so-called mini-laptops. Now we have many computer companies such as HP, Dell, Lenovo… all jumping on this craze for a small portable laptop. So much so, that netbooks now is the fastest growing segment of the laptop industry and is expected to reach 139 million units by 2013.

Why is there a sudden popularity for the small netbook? Perhaps the answer lies mainly in our constant quest for mobility. We want a portable device that will keep us connected to the Internet and yet be small and light enough to be carried around all day. A truly ultra-portable device that keeps us connected with family, friends and the web.

The next question you have to ask: why do netbooks make for great student laptops? If the above reasons aren’t enough, try the following:

Size

Netbooks are small with 10 inch displays or less, which make them ideal for students. Plus, they are usually very lightweight - around 2 or 3 pounds. They are compact enough to tuck into your school bag or backpack, and small enough to carry around all day without developing a hernia.

Portability

As mentioned above because the netbook is so small and compact, it is very portable. A very mobile device that we can use to stay connected to the web and friends. Connectability is one of the main features - you are connected to the web at all times.

Sturdiness

Most netbooks are designed to be sturdy and tough. They can take a few hard knocks and still keep on working. Students are not exactly the most gentle creatures on the planet, so a sturdy tough machine is needed to handle the demands put upon it.

Battery Life

Because of their small size, you will usually get better battery life than with a regular sized laptop. This is important to the student since you may have to go all day without a chance to re-charge the battery. Long lasting battery life makes the netbook the perfect student laptop.

Performance

Although small, these mini-laptops still sports some very impressive specs. Many now come with at least 1 Gig of RAM and Intel Atom processors. There are even some with Solid State Hard Drives which make them more durable and less likely to be damaged. Most use Windows XP - newer models debuting this year with the Nvidia’s Ion platform may have Vista or Windows 7, but still don’t expect the kind of performance you would get from a regular laptop.

Storage

While storage on netbooks is constantly increasing, it is still nowhere near the kind of storage you will find on a regular sized laptop. Usually, most devices have around 30 or 60 Gig hard drives which should be adequate for most student’s needs. Many newer netbooks have 160 Gigs of storage.

Price

Perhaps, the main reason netbooks make the perfect student laptops is the low price. Students are usually on a very limited budget and the low price-tag is a perfect fit. Many perfectly adequate machines are now priced in the $300 to $500 range - while many good ones go for well under $300. Plus, prices are steadily dropping so almost any student can now afford a netbook.

As you can plainly see, the netbook does have many features to make it a perfect student laptop: small size, very portable, excellent connections, very sturdy, long battery life, good performance, adequate storage and most of all, a very affordable price almost any student can take advantage of. Overall, netbooks are well suited for the classroom and the student.

Struggling about what gifts to get for teenagers? Check these great gifts for teenagers and enlighten yourself!

For more information on Buying Student Netbooks at Bargain Prices Click Here: best netbooks Or here: Cheap Laptops Copyright © 2009 Titus Hoskins. This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.

Tags: , , ,

Newer Entries »