Awhile ago I noticed people in Starbucks with these tiny laptops. “Thats stupid”, I thought. “You can barely see the screen! Why would anybody want something too big to be a cell phone and too small to be a laptop?” Now, Im hooked, and “netbooks” are everywhere. Here are 3 reasons I converted, and 3 reviews from ones I have sampled.

1. Portability

The obvious reason to have a netbook is that you can carry it without having to have a big laptop bag.Having an internet accessible device that can also serve as a word processor is better than trying to squint and type on an iPhone.

2. Hotspot Access

If you are planning on doing alot of gaming, then netbooks arent for you. THey simply dont have enough power, screen resolution, or storage capacity to support games. Netbooks are mainly used for internet access wherever there is a hotspot (like starbucks, borders, or local restaurants).

3. Tactical Adavantage

By leveraging the portability and accessibility that netbooks give you, you are better able to stay on top of your game. Now I can publish blogs any time, anywhere then slip my netbook back into my backpack and be gone. You cant do that with a heavy laptop!

What to look for in a Netbook

There are some techincal specifics that you need to have in a netbook to make it an effective tool:
* A high performance, low power consumption processor
* 1GB or more of RAM, but of course the more space you have the better
* 2 hours of battery life – just long enough to watch a movie
* Network connectivity – Wi-Fi b/g and megabit (10/100) LAN are standard. Newer netbooks come with Wi-Fi N, Bluetooth, and soon 3G and WiMax.
* Keyboard size and spacing – this is important if you have big hands or fingers, since you might find that the keyboard is too small for you.
* Ports – 1 VGA out (for connecting to a monitor), 3 USB ports, headphone and mic ports (especially if you podcast), and SD card readers are standard. Some have fewer USB ports, while others have expansion bays and Firewire ports.

With that, here are some reccomendations to get you in the game

The ASUS 8.9″ Eee 4GB PC Netbook

This is the best and most cost effective of the netbooks that I have tried. It has a 4 GB Hard Drive, integrated video and audio with built-in speakers, an Ethernet and Wireless LAN Keyboard with TouchPad, and 50 preinstalled programs for learning, working and playing. With its Linux OS, boot up takes no time and you will be on the Internet in mere seconds from the time you press the power button. If you dont have a mobile computer, the $170 price tag should get you in the game. Available in white, black, and purple. Check it out on Amazon.

The Aspire ONE D250

Its smaller and lighter than the ASUS, but comes with less memory and fewer features, too. Here, youre really just paying for the size and style, since this netbook comes in Diamond Black, Sapphire Blue, and Seashell White, and Ruby Red. Headphones are a must, since the embedded speakers are wack, but the resolution is pretty good for a netbook (1,024×600-pixel native). There arent any bluetooth ports, but three USB 2.0 jacks make up for that. For more specs, check it out on Amazon.

Samsung GO N310-13GB 10.1-Inch

This was one of PC Magazine’s top rated ultra-portables. It has the usual three USB ports, Ethernet, VGA-Out, 802.11g WiFi, and a 1.3-megapixel webcam, but unlike other netbooks, The NB310-13GB has Bluetooth 2.1, a 160GB hard drive, and 9 hours worth of battery life. Best Buy was asking almost $500, but its available from Amazon for $424 in all kinds of colors.

There are a few items that you are going to need if you decide to purchase a netbook. One is an external CD/DVD drive. Since most netbooks lack an optical drive, it can be hard to load software from CD or DVD, playback audio CDs or even watch a DVD movie. An external DVD drive makes a great addition to just about any netbook. Not only does it allow the system to install software, but it can also allow it to play DVD movies or even burn CDs or DVDs. Also, an external hard drive can prove to be useful. Check out some of these products and buy here instead of getting ripped at Best Buy.

The Wrapup

To be effective in your hustle, youve got to be mobile. Having a small, portable, and net accessible device other than your cell phone can give you a huge competitive advantage. Bookmark this page (below) and come back to it on payday. Shop around, hit me with some reviews, and if you already own a netbook, brag about it in the comments section.

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