Hardware > Buying & Owning Hardware

Netbook or Notebook? - The right choice could save you money

By Lasa Information Systems Team

Thinking of getting a laptop? If you’ll mainly be using your machine for web, email and basic word processing, Netbooks can be a much cheaper alternative well worth considering.

Netbooks or “mini laptop” computers are mainly designed and optimised for wireless communication and Internet access. They are small, light and so very portable - ideal for checking email and browsing the Web whilst on the move. With prices starting at under £200 Netbooks can represent a significant cost saving on a more traditional “Notebook” laptop.

Given that laptop users in organisations are using them for web, email and simple word processing most of the time, Netbooks can be a very attractive option particularly for organisations with:

• limited funds
• very basic requirements,
• mobile staff,
• staff who work remotely a lot of the time
• very limited space
  

For organisations that don’t currently have any computers, and are reliant on internet cafes, libraries, UK Online centres etc. to get online, a Netbook could “pay for itself” in a fairly short time, would be far more convenient to use, and potentially be safer when dealing with sensitive information. Coupling with a 3G mobile WiFi USB device such as those available from mobile phone network providers including:
Vodaphone, 3, and Orange adds the flexibility to connect any time, anywhere there is mobile phone coverage. However this will involve an ongoing monthly cost that would need to be budgeted for.

Increasingly, small organisations and community groups, organisations without any ICT infrastructure, organisations with dispersed workforces etc. are making use of web office tools (such as online email, word processing, calendaring and collaboration applications) to carry out everyday office productivity tasks. Remote access to the office networks has also become far more commonplace. In both these situations, the majority of processing and storage is carried out on a powerful remote computer or computers (servers) rather than on the user’s machine. This means that users can get away with much lower specified machines since the processing power required to run applications, and file storage happens elsewhere.

Available in Windows (XP) and Linux versions, early Netbooks such as the first Asus EEEPC 701 models came with very little storage space (around 4 GB), RAM (512 MB) and a relatively slow 900 MHz processor (compared to 2009 entry level desktops with 2 - 3+ GHz processors), and disappointing battery life. Even with this basic specification however, these models are capable of performing basic desktop tasks. Extra storage space can be added via a memory card slot, and various ports allow, mouse, full size keyboard and monitor to be added if required. More recent Netbooks are available with far more disk space (up to 160 GB), memory (1 GB RAM) and 1.6 GHz processor. Battery life is also much better. Performance issues become less of a concern though increased performance comes with a higher price tag.

Netbooks, can also be a “greener” alternative to the more traditional laptop or notebook and desktop computers. They tend to draw less power (so saving on energy bills) and several models use more environmentally friendly components.

The Business Week article Why Netbooks Are Greener Than Laptops has more on the “green credentials” of Netbooks.

Netbooks aren’t suitable for everyone though. If you need to multitask with several applications open at once, run processor-hungry applications such as Photoshop, use 3D virtual environments like Second Life, or play 3D Games, then a Netbook will struggle. Screens and keyboards can also be quite small meaning they are less comfortable to use. However, there are several models available with larger screens and keyboards.

The CNET article Netbooks: Best Eee PC alternatives provides a short but helpful guide to choosing a Netbook and compares some products. CNET’s Netbook showdown: The top 10 mini laptops rated reviews the top ten selling Netbooks as of October 2008 and is another useful guide.

The upshot is that in the right situation, organisations needn’t fork out for a more expensive laptop when a Netbook will do.

If you don’t need a portable device, you probably won’t be surprised to hear there is an equivalent emerging market for the “Nettop” or mini desktop… Nettops have similar functionality and pricing to the Netbook and are designed for basic computing tasks.