A netbook is a device with a compact screen and reduced capabilities compared to a laptop. It is designed to work with the web, which is why the name came about: Net – network, book – book, and part of the term “notebook” – mobile computer. The result is a “mobile PC for online use.”

A netbook is good for sitting in a quiet and cozy place, wandering through the wilds of the Internet, and listening to music. The device is not suitable for game lovers; a netbook is not as powerful as a laptop, but has an increased battery life in offline mode. Netbooks are designed to work with documents and the Internet, navigate around the city, keep a diary or travel.

The netbook does not have a disk reader, so questions arise about how to install the operating system correctly, sometimes you even need detailed instructions. Data is loaded from a flash drive or using a memory card.

Netbook characteristics

Specifications include the size of the hard drive, RAM, and installed operating system.

The capacity of hard drives installed in netbooks varies from 250 GB to 750 GB. Some people replace the hard drive with a solid state drive - an SSD drive. The price is high, but productivity increases and resistance to mechanical stress or vibration increases.

If we talk about RAM, there are both 1 GB and 4 GB. The processor houses a controller that operates memory. It is better to look at the maximum volume supported by RAM in the model specifications on the manufacturer’s website.

The maximum memory capacity is 8 GB, although 2-4 GB is enough for a netbook. RAM can be increased if desired.

If we consider the characteristics of the operating system, I will highlight the modern “windowed” system Windows 10. Windows 7-8 also work with all models of netbooks, but version 10 is more modern.

Video tips

Case and screen

The operating panel of expensive netbooks is made of metal. The metal is processed and coated with high-quality paint. At first glance it seems that it is plastic, but metal is hidden under the paint and relief surface. This is practical because it is resistant to wear, scratches and does not leave fingerprints on the case.

Screen

The diagonal of netbook displays is 10-12 inches. Previously, there were models with a diagonal of 8-7 inches. Their production was curtailed in favor of tablets. For diagonals of 10-12 inches, several resolutions are available: 1024x600, 1366x768. The highest resolution – 1920x1080 – provides better image detail. Watching New Year's films on such a screen is a pleasure, but the text is too small in some places.

Screen resolution for a netbook is considered a significant technical parameter. To watch a high-quality picture, choose a netbook with a resolution of at least 1366x768 pixels. More preference is given to models with a matte screen or anti-glare coating. On such a screen, even in sunny weather the image is clear.

A netbook does not work well with heavy programs; for this it is better to choose a PC with a powerful processor. But the netbook has a decent video card, memory of 1 GB and a processor with a clock frequency of 1.8 GHz, which will allow you to watch movies, use applications and avoid unpleasant surprises like freezing. When purchasing, check the operating time without a charger, the presence of a built-in microphone and camera to communicate online.

Connectors and wireless adapters

Common connectors: USB, VGA, D-sub, which connect to an external monitor, HDMI to connect to household appliances. SD – memory cards, LAN – connection via wire to the network.

The more modern the netbook model, the more USB 3.0 connectors. This is one of the high-speed standards that increases the speed of the device. Compared to USB 2.0, about 10 times.

In modern netbook models, it is important to have a WI-FI adapter of the n standard. This module allows you to connect to the Internet anywhere. A Bluetooth adapter is a wireless communication standard that allows you to connect headphones, a mouse, or a mobile phone to a netbook without cords.

3G adapter - for accessing the Internet via cellular communication, not available in all models. Devices with a 3G adapter belong to the highest price segment. But it is sold separately in flash drive format.

Netbook battery

Battery - This is a component that affects the battery life and weight of the netbook. The battery life depends on the battery capacity.

Batteries are available in half - 3-4 cells, normal - 5-6 cells and reinforced - 7-8 cells, which is ideal for studying. The number of cells is correlated with the number of hours of battery life. If the battery has 6 cells, the operating time is 6 hours. The brighter the display, the more energy is consumed and the battery life is shorter.. If you plan to watch a movie, your offline time will be halved compared to working with office documents.

We have decided on the parameters and characteristics of the netbook, all that remains is to choose a netbook. Here again the question arises: what is it for? Let's try to figure it out step by step.

Why do you need a netbook?

Entertainment

Internet access, social networks, blogs, forums, email or Skype. Weight and dimensions allow the owner of the device to be in touch with the outside world. It can replace the player. If there is a WLAN module, Bluetooth - for communication through mobile operators, ExpressCard to connect the 3G module, built-in camera and microphone.

Job

Another option is working with documents. Pay attention to the programs. The presence of a Windows operating system in the netbook. Through simple operations and financial investment, it will help you install the necessary package of Microsoft Office programs that are in demand at work. Then an Atom processor and 1 GB of RAM are enough.

Please note that if a netbook is used as a mobile office, you should pay attention to the screen size. Viewing Excel spreadsheets on a 7-inch screen is difficult.

Rest

The next option is a netbook for leisure. This means watching movies and video clips, listening to music, storing photos of loved ones, family and friends, reading books or small games.

To watch movies you will need an external drive that connects via USB. For music lovers, a netbook is an MP3 storage, fortunately, the hard drives allow this, they are spacious, and the built-in speakers will satisfy their tastes.

When it comes to photographs, there is no better storage facility. With a netbook you can sit on the beach reading an e-book. A netbook with a 7-inch display is sufficient for reading. But gamers are unlikely to be satisfied with the acquisition options. True, netbooks with discrete video cards are sold, but their power is not enough for modern games, but you can play Tetris, remembering your childhood years, you see, you can pass the time on the road, the main thing is that the battery charge is enough.

Video - what to choose a tablet or netbook?

Listen to the advice of consultants, then nothing will interfere with connecting to the network, installing programs or exchanging data between devices.

So, we have looked at the aspects that influence the choice of a netbook: screen size, capacity of the built-in hard drive or hard drive, operating system, processor power.

A netbook is a cross between a full-fledged laptop and a tablet; it has a smaller screen than a laptop, but contains more features than a tablet. Thus, this type of computer technology has won a number of fans. If you want to join the fans of netbooks, we recommend that you first study our article in detail, in which we will talk about how to choose the right netbook for work, study, and even for games.

12 rules for choosing the best netbook

1. Decide on the netbook screen size
First of all, you must determine what screen size will suit you. Netbooks, as a rule, are produced with a diagonal of 8 to 13 inches, since it is within these limits that the netbook will not seem bulky and inconvenient. If you are going to work with a netbook on the road (subway, bus, taxi or in your own car), then it is better to pay attention to models with a smaller screen (up to 10 inches). However, if the work behind it will take place in the office, at a comfortable computer desk, then here you need to take the guideline for devices with a diagonal of 12-13 inches. We recommend buying the same diagonal for those who choose a netbook for study.

2. No need to choose a heavy netbook!
Most models of this equipment weigh between 1 and 1.5 kilograms. In principle, it turns out that any weight is acceptable. But from personal experience we want to say that when carrying a netbook for a long time in a bag, and even more so in your hands, these half a kilogram play an important role! After all, we buy a netbook primarily in order to be mobile and not have unnecessary devices with us.

3. Choose a decent processor
Very often, buyers make the same mistake - they do not look at the processor model, but the speed of the computer and the speed of all processes depend on it. In addition, the battery life will also depend on it, because there are processors that require more energy, and there are those that save it due to well-thought-out operating technology. Therefore, take this component seriously.

Regarding the question: “What type of processor and frequency should I take?” A lot of controversy always flares up, as some praise Intel, while the other camp praises AMD. In principle, these are two good manufacturers! However, if choosing a netbook for gaming, then pay attention to AMD processors (A6 and A8), if for study or work, then Intel will have no equal (the best in the line will be Core i5 and Core i7).

4. You need to save on the size of RAM!
Most users have a not entirely true stereotype: the more RAM, the faster the computer works. On the one hand, this is a correct judgment, however, provided that other parameters are equal (in particular, with the same processors). The site team is of the following opinion: It’s better to buy a netbook with a more powerful processor but weak RAM than vice versa!

Don’t forget that RAM can almost always be added and it will cost relatively little (about 50th of the cost of a netbook), so there’s no point in focusing on it!

5. Decide on the size of your hard drive!
If you are choosing a netbook for playing games or watching movies, then it is better to choose the netbook that has the maximum storage capacity, so that later you do not have to buy an additional external hard drive where you will store the rest of the files. Today you can mostly find models with storage capacity from 100 to 800 gigabytes, which is basically enough.

Most netbooks have an HDD, but if speed is important to you, we recommend choosing models that contain SDDs. They differ from the old model by noticeably increased speed. The price for such equipment will be higher, but it will be raised justifiably!

6. Can you do without an optical drive?
If you are used to burning CD/DVD discs and also using them, then with a netbook you will have to give up this pleasure, since 99% of modern netbooks do not have an optical drive. Instead, you can use USB flash drives and external hard drives.

To date, our team has been able to find only one netbook with the ability to write disks, as well as read them - Acer Aspire One AO722-C68kk. However, its cost is already approaching a full-fledged laptop, that is, buying it is a completely illogical decision.

7. You should definitely buy a netbook with a built-in Wi-Fi adapter!
If 3-4 years ago Wi-Fi was quite a rare phenomenon, now it has acquired rapid development. Our apartments already have several devices that have access to the Internet (smartphones, tablets, netbooks, computers, etc.), but connecting them all via wire would be stupid, which is why we came up with an interface such as Wi-Fi. Using it, you can even use the Internet in public places (cafes, bars, hotels, educational institutions and other places where there are access points).

Even if Wi-Fi seems completely unnecessary to you now, believe me, very little time will pass and you will change your position.

8. The built-in Bluetooth module can make your life much easier!
We recommend choosing models with a built-in module, since thanks to Bluetooth we can wirelessly connect a phone, smartphone, PDA, tablet, MP3 player, Bluetooth keyboard, Bluetooth mouse, graphics tablet and a host of other devices to our netbook. Just imagine how many wires you free yourself from!

Yes, you can do things a little differently by buying a separate Bluetooth USB module and inserting it into the computer, but we will take up one USB connector and also spend extra money, which is not good or correct!

9. When choosing a netbook for gaming, first of all pay attention to the type of graphics controller!
A graphics controller is nothing more than a video card. There are two types of it in netbooks:

• Built-in type- This is one of the most economical types, as it allows you to reduce the cost of a netbook. Therefore, for gamers, this netbook will be a waste of money. Although it will, of course, be possible to play, connoisseurs will simply not be particularly happy with the graphical shell.


• Built-in and discrete type- These are two graphics chipsets simultaneously built into the netbook. The built-in chipset is launched to work in simple tasks (to save the netbook's operating time), and a discrete type of graphics controller is launched when starting modern games that require fairly powerful video card performance.

However, let’s be honest – it’s quite difficult to fully play games on such a small screen and a rather weak device (whatever one may say, a desktop computer will be more powerful). Therefore, before purchasing, we would recommend asking the store or friends to show you what computer games look like on a netbook, how realistic they are and whether they can run completely without freezing.

10. Try to choose a netbook without an operating system installed
Remember, you always overpay for an installed operating system, so if you have the opportunity to purchase a netbook without an installed OS and at a lower cost, do it! As a rule, the kit comes with stripped-down versions and a lot of unnecessary programs are installed on them, so you will have to get rid of this as soon as possible.

However, if you do not know how to install Windows (or Linux distributions) yourself and do not know where or from whom to do this, then, of course, the situation is hopeless and, on the contrary, you should look for equipment with a pre-installed OS (preferably Windows, since it is much easier to install) management than Linux).

If the netbook will be a work one and used exclusively in the office, then here you should also think about a legal operating system that comes with the netbook, because if you use an unlicensed Windows system, you can get a fine from the relevant authorities.

11. The netbook must be from the “right” company!

• Acer – low prices and good quality;


• ASUS – distinguished by classic design and durability;


• DELL – produce practical and simple types of netbooks;


• HP – original designs, but often inflate prices for their brand;


• Lenovo is one of the leaders on the market, since you can get an excellent netbook for a fairly low price;


• Samsung - distinguished by a pleasant design and quality of all materials and components;


• Toshiba is a budget and interesting option for students.

12. Operating time is a very important indicator when choosing a netbook!
Here we come to the last point of our rules. However, it should not be forgotten when purchasing. The fact is that when purchasing a netbook, we buy, first of all, independence and mobility; now we no longer need to sit only at a computer desk or even be in the apartment. Now we will have access to a computer and the Internet almost everywhere. However, not every place will have power supply, so it is very important to take care of this point.

In other words, you need a powerful battery that can withstand many hours of operation (8 - 12 and no less). You may think that you won’t be working on it outside the home for so long, but here you need to take into account the error that manufacturers like to allow when determining the characteristics of a netbook. After all, they often indicate the time of general work, but do not specify what is meant by the concept of “general work”. As a rule, in their understanding, work is just a netbook turned on, but we won’t just sit with the device turned on?! If it works, it means we watch movies, edit documents, communicate on the Internet, play games, etc. And with such actions, the operating time can be reduced by almost half. And it turns out that out of the written 8-10 hours, the netbook actually works for a maximum of 4-5.

Which netbook would be ideal?

Everyone has their own interests and their own requirements for a netbook, however, let us compile a complete description of a device that could suit almost any of our readers?!

So, what should a netbook have:

• 10 inches screen size (optimal diagonal);


• Weight should not exceed 1.1 kilograms;


• Powerful processor from Intel (Core i7);


• 4 gigabytes of RAM would be enough;


• SSD disk with a capacity of 500 gigabytes;


• Built-in Wi-Fi adapter for wireless Internet;


• Built-in Bluetooth connection module to connect other devices wirelessly;


• Two types of graphics controller: integrated and discrete;


• The operating system must be missing;


• Manufacturer: Lenovo, Samsung or ASUS;


• A battery of such power that it could provide 8-10 hours of stable operation.

That's all the rules... Happy shopping, friends!

Laptop or netbook? Indeed, does a small netbook have the main and main advantages and is it even worth buying a small netbook? Let's look into this issue right now!

Is a netbook a sub-laptop or a super-tablet?

A netbook, as the name of such a device suggests, is a network notepad or book (Net-book). The netbook was conceived by the developers as a simplified version of a laptop, comfortable for surfing the Internet. The maximum number of hours of battery life of a netbook, small dimensions and modest weight - these are the parameters that the creators focused on when creating the netbook. But is it worth buying a small netbook or not?

In fact, the netbook is nothing special, innovative or revolutionary. At the turn of the emerging boom in the production of smartphones and tablets, the netbook took an intermediate position in the migration of mobile technology from a wearable embodiment to a truly not miniature, but compact device. This is how the netbook has become uncompromising.

Laptop or netbook? Having decided to create a more affordable compact computer, they tried to make it more affordable, but not completely a budget monster. And so, we began to modify and transform the laptop with thoughts of actually translating ideas into a material netbook.

Firstly, the netbook was deprived of an optical drive, this made it compact and reduced the overall weight of the product.

Secondly, having made the prototype lighter, the netbook also received a smaller display matrix, which did not deteriorate the overall perception and convenience of working with a lightweight network computer.

Thirdly, the netbook did not need to be equipped with a more capacious battery, which would have made it more expensive. The absence of an optical CD drive and a reduction in the size of the display matrix have already reduced power consumption. As a result, the netbook was able to gain increased autonomy from the built-in battery without the need to connect to the electrical network.

The netbook has built-in modules for wireless access to networks. The first adapter that became the de facto standard for netbooks was the WiFi card. As an optional component, cellular network modems and BlueTooth cards are added to the netbook.

Every netbook is equipped with USB ports for connecting external devices, so it's easy to connect an optical drive as an external device. An HDMI connector or a traditional VGA connector DSUB-15 allows you to connect a netbook to a larger display format or to a TV.

Thus, the netbook can be used as a docking station with an external display, and a mouse and keyboard can be connected via a USB interface.

We can say that the processor for a netbook was taken care of in advance by manufacturers of digital equipment. Special chips have already been created for embedded systems based on single-chip central processors. By the way, these innovative processors are also suitable for use in netbooks.

Laptop or netbook?

The netbook's power-saving features are amazing. By putting unused or lightly loaded devices into sleep mode, it was possible to reduce the overall power consumption of the netbook to significantly low values. This also added mobility and expanded the range of autonomy of the device from one full charge of the batteries.

Later, netbooks began to appear - prototypes of tablets. Netbooks - transformers equipped with a touch screen (a screen that responds to touches) continue to compete with tablet computers to this day. But netbooks are not an alternative to tablets. And this is not done in order not to miss the market niche occupied by netbooks, compact tablets and smartphones with large screens - phablets.

The netbook fits harmoniously into the space of the gadget industry and is in demand in the mobile computer market. Netbook network functions began to be transferred and built into laptops, and smart TVs appeared. Users liked this solution so much when it turned out to be revolutionary and coordinated in time, with an innovative approach to the development of electronic technology.

Is it worth buying a small netbook? For around 10,000 rubles you can buy a new netbook with an SSD drive and a 4-core processor. Good luck to you!

And in the last article I talked about, study it!

With the advent of tablet computers, netbooks are no longer as popular as before due to the initially approximately equal capabilities of these devices and similar functionality. Therefore, this type of laptop is increasingly approaching laptops in its characteristics. We will tell you further how a netbook differs from a laptop, how these devices are similar, and in what cases you should choose one or another device.

Why is a netbook often called a compact laptop?

Here are some characteristics of the fairly modern Acer Aspire One netbook so that users can use a specific example to evaluate how far these devices have come in their development and how close they are to laptops in terms of characteristics:

• CPU - Intel Atom 1800 Mhz;
• video adapter - built-in Intel GMA 3600;
• diagonal/screen resolution - 10.1 inches/1024 x 600 px;
• RAM - 2 GB, DDR3.

Let us recall that previously netbooks were so low-power that even Windows required a special “lightweight” one, with the addition of Netbook Edition in the name. This state of affairs is no longer relevant - devices now run on fully functional 64-bit Windows 8 or 10.

The netbook was originally conceived as a relatively inexpensive device. It should have allowed you to easily access the Internet and solve simple office tasks. This is now offered by more compact tablets, the touch keyboard of which is often no less convenient than the maximally reduced input device of a netbook.

The development of microelectronics has made it possible to create fairly productive laptops the size of a standard netbook with a diagonal of about 10 inches. Therefore, a netbook today is, by and large, just a compact laptop. Of course, you can forget about the cheapness of such a gadget - it often costs no less than a regular laptop of average performance.

How does a netbook compare to a laptop?

To choose a netbook or laptop, you should understand that the first option is mainly a device for working with documents and accessing the Internet - it does not contain any discrete graphics for games. A small case simply cannot accommodate an additional board, and in this case there will be certain problems with cooling.

Of course, if desired, a device with a miniature screen of less than ten inches and a not very powerful processor will allow you to run, for example, Photoshop to make small adjustments to some photos, but it is clearly not suitable for full-fledged work with resource-intensive applications.

In addition, netbook users often do not have enough RAM for normal operation. In the vast majority of cases, its volume is limited to two gigabytes, which today, of course, is clearly not enough to run more or less serious applications.

Design features and limitations of a netbook

It’s sad in this regard that the upgrade options are minimal compared to a laptop. Sometimes even memory sticks cannot be replaced with more capacious ones, since they can simply be soldered to the board. The only thing you can choose to replace is the hard drive. Of course, this is not true for all devices. However, they are mainly equipped with two functional slots for RAM, which can be increased if desired.

Another difference between a laptop and a netbook is that the latter, due to its size, simply cannot have a DVD drive. Accordingly, in addition to the Network, he can only use USB drives to exchange information. Although optical disks are used extremely rarely today, so the lack of the ability to read and write “blanks” on the device is no longer a problem.

Another limitation of a netbook is that it sometimes does not have enough connectors. However, the equipment is usually comparable to what you would normally see on a laptop:

• two, sometimes three USB ports,
• HDMI and VGA video outputs (sometimes one or the other);
• card reader;
• wireless networks Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

In a word, the functionality of laptops and netbooks is approximately similar; the limitations of the latter are mainly associated only with the insufficient performance of the devices.

When a netbook is indispensable

Despite the shortcomings, the mobility of a netbook is much higher. Carrying a laptop requires a special bag; working with it in cramped conditions, for example, on a train filled with passengers, is extremely inconvenient.

A netbook is more advanced in this regard:

• it can be carried in any bag or folder with documents;
• the device can be used even in the subway or any other transport while moving;
• The battery life (more than three hours) is quite enough to perform various tasks in the absence of an external power source.

In short, the main advantages are associated with the small dimensions of the device and low weight.

When is using a laptop preferable?

If a netbook is more suitable for work, for example, while traveling or away from home, then users often choose a laptop as a full-fledged home computer. Of course, it is less suitable for resource-intensive games than a desktop PC. In addition, gaming models today are highly expensive. But it does not take up much space, makes less noise, and has a full-size keyboard, which is not so common on netbooks.

Comparison of the functionality of the devices in question

In short, when you need to choose between a netbook and a laptop, pay attention to the latter in the following cases:

1. If you plan to use the device mainly at home;
2. When you need a fairly large display and decent image quality (constantly working on a device with a ten-inch matrix is ​​very tiring for the eyes);
3. If you need a device not only for work, the Internet, but also for games.

A netbook is suitable in the following situations:

1. For working on the road, for example, with text documents, when it is important to have a full-fledged physical keyboard, albeit a smaller one;
2. If you are used to working only in Windows at home and on the road you cannot use a more mobile and cheaper tablet that uses Android as the OS;
3. This device can be successfully used by schoolchildren and students, since due to its small dimensions and weight, only slightly exceeding one kilogram, it can be carried in a bag along with books.

Regarding the question of what is better: a laptop or a netbook, we note that you should not purchase the latter unless absolutely necessary, since the niche originally intended for these devices has now been successfully occupied by tablets. And leading manufacturers have almost stopped producing such equipment. Now these are just compact laptops with a screen diagonal of about ten inches with functionality almost the same as that of “large” laptops.

Hello readers of the ComService company blog (Naberezhnye Chelny). If you need a good netbook, you've come to the right place. In this article, you will understand the following questions: What is a netbook? and How to choose the best netbook? In the title you see a bold number - 10 years. She says that the author, that is, me, is sure that the methodology for choosing the best netbook will remain the same as it is now. Let's check in 10 years if netbooks, as a class of mobile devices, will still exist. In the previous article about you could get a little acquainted with these devices. There, thanks to you, I managed to find the differences or boundaries between these devices. I hope you agree with this state of affairs. In this article we will look separately at netbooks, what they are, characteristics and, of course, choice.

Article structure

1. What is a netbook?

To put it in very simple terms without going into details, this is a small laptop, naturally less powerful. The netbook display diagonal does not exceed 12″. Also, netbooks are not equipped with devices for reading optical discs. There is simply nowhere to install them. In this regard, some issues may arise with the installation of the operating system. This is not a problem now. You can read how to install Windows 7 from a flash drive. How to install Windows 8 from a flash drive - . Instead of a flash drive, you can use a memory card. That is, the drive is needed only to be able to read information previously recorded on optical discs.

In the article about the differences between a netbook and a laptop, we determined that there are three classes of devices: netbooks, ultrabooks and laptops. These classes are closely related to each other primarily due to their size. You can find an ultrabook with a display diagonal of 11.6″. As far as I know, only netbooks and laptops do not overlap now. All the confusion in definitions is caused by Intel, which has launched the production of processors for all three classes of mobile devices. According to unverified data, it is Intel that is the founder of the concept of a netbook.

How can you determine that it is a netbook and not an ultrabook? It seems to me that only by . If anyone knows any other differences, please write in the comments. Currently, modern netbooks use the following processors: Intel Celeron, Intel Atom and AMD E and C series. If you have a copy with one of these processors, then this is a netbook. For ultrabooks, Intel produces processors of a higher class - Intel core i3 and more powerful ones.

We have decided on the processor, but all other characteristics and properties will follow from this assumption. The highlight of these processors for netbooks is their minimal power consumption. It varies for different models, but the average is about 10 watts or less. This, in turn, allows you to increase the battery life to 10 hours.

2. Netbook screen

The display of modern netbooks ranges from 10″ to 12″. Previously, when the laptop market was developing, there were models with 8″ and, in my opinion, even 7″ diagonals. Now, most likely, they have already been abandoned in favor of tablets. Also, for diagonals from 10 to 12 inches, only 2 resolutions are available. This is 1024 x 600 for 10″ and 1366 x 768 for 11.6″. This is quite enough for working with documents, surfing the Internet and watching movies. That is, a netbook is a device mainly for simple work and entertainment. Its main task is to provide you with mobility and Internet access. (You can read how to measure the speed of your connection to the World Wide Web)

Screen netbook Just like any other mobile device, it can be matte or glossy. The advantages of a matte screen are that glare is reduced and fingerprints are virtually invisible. This allows you to work outdoors with much greater comfort

As you can see from the above figure, there are almost 3 times more glossy screens than matte ones. This may be due to the slightly higher cost. On average, netbooks with a matte surface are 500 UAH or more more expensive.

When choosing sizes, consider your needs first. If you need compactness and plan to carry a netbook with you all the time, then most likely you will be interested in models with a 10″ diagonal. How to choose a second or nth netbook for home use, here models with a screen diagonal of 11.6″ will look more interesting.

3. Connectors and wireless adapters

Netbook connectors. Let's list the most common: USB, VGA or D-sub for connection, microphone and headphone connectors, HDMI - for connecting to household appliances (TV), connector for reading SD memory cards, LAN - for connecting to a network via a wire. There is also a Kensington lock connector.

Not all models have an HDMI connector in netbooks, so when choosing, make sure it is available in advance. You can verify its presence by looking at the photo of the netbook on the manufacturer’s website or by reading the specification for it there. The remaining connectors are present in the vast majority of netbook models.

The dimensions of the device depend on the screen diagonal size. Naturally, this is reflected in the connectors. The standard ones remain as is, perhaps removing the HDMI connector and reducing the number of USB ports. There are only two of them in 10″ netbooks.

The more modern the netbook, the more USB 3.0 connectors it has. This standard is higher speed (theoretically, the speed increase is 10 times, in practice it is two times) and will soon replace the outdated USB 2.0 standard. To take advantage of the speed of the USB 3.0 standard, you must connect devices that support the same standard to it. (For example) Now they are actively appearing on the market.

Wireless adapters. The de facto standard is, of course, the presence of a wireless adapter WIFI standard n in all models of modern netbooks. At the moment, the WIFI module allows you to connect to the Internet in any place where this network is available. And one thing is good: the coverage area is constantly increasing and I hope it will soon be comparable to the coverage area of ​​​​mobile operators.

Bluetooth is a wireless communication standard for connecting devices such as mobile phones, headphones, mice and others to a netbook. It saves you from using a bunch of connection cords and thereby adds comfort to use. The Bluetooth adapter is not present in all models and its availability must be checked. Preferably in the device specifications on the manufacturer's website.

3G is an adapter that allows you to access the Internet through the networks of mobile operators. Currently it is not widely used in all netbooks. Models that include a 3G adapter are in the higher price segment (for example, some Sony VAIO models). If the selected model does not have a 3G adapter, you can purchase it separately in the form of a USB flash drive for about 200 UAH.

4. Netbook battery

The netbook battery is the main component that affects the battery life and weight of the mobile device. Modern netbooks have almost the same power and there are no other components (except for the screen) that can consume a lot of energy. Therefore, the battery life of a netbook depends almost entirely on the battery capacity.

Manufacturers complete their products with either a normal battery with 5-6 cells, or a half battery with 3-4 cells, or a reinforced battery with 7-8 cells. Capacities for 3-4 cells - 2200-2400 mAh, for 6-8 cells - 4400-5600 mAh. Based on very rough calculations, you can compare the number of hours of battery life to the number of battery cells. That is, if the battery has 6 cells, then the probable battery life is about 6 hours. A lot depends on the diagonal of the monitor and its brightness. The brighter the display, the more energy is consumed and the shorter the battery life.

It is more convenient for me to approximately calculate the battery life as follows. If the screen diagonal is 10″ and the battery has 6 cells, then the estimated operating time without an outlet will be 6 hours + 1 or 1.5 hours = 7 - 7.5 hours. For a 12″ diagonal, everything will be the same, you just need to subtract this hour or an hour and a half. It is also necessary to say that this is the time of working with office documents, for example (work that does not require significant computing costs). If you watch movies, then the battery life can be cut in half.

5. Characteristics

HDD hard drive capacity. Currently, the volumes of disks installed in netbooks range from 250 GB to 750 GB. If you really want, you can buy 1 TB for example (Hitachi (HGST) Travelstar 5K1000 1TB 5400rpm 8MB HTS541010A9E680_0J22413 2.5 SATAIII) and install it.

It is better to do this after the warranty, otherwise the latter will be void.

A replacement would also be an excellent solution. full-time hard drive to solid state drive - . For large volumes, the price will be steep, but you will get a noticeable increase in performance + you will remove the only mechanical device from the netbook, which will allow the latter to be insensitive to vibrations and any mechanical influences.

Netbook RAM capacity. Now in models you can find 1 GB, 2 GB and 4 GB. The controller located in the processor directly works with the memory. Therefore, the maximum amount of supported RAM must be looked at in the specifications for the selected processor model. The latter is located on the manufacturer's website. Currently, the maximum amount of memory supported by netbook processors is 4 GB. In general, 2 GB is enough for most tasks, but as you know, there is never enough RAM, so it’s better to take 4 GB with a reserve so as not to add more later. If you want to add memory to your netbook up to 4 GB, you can read and see how to do this here. It is best to add or replace RAM after the warranty period has passed. Also, do not forget to test the installed RAM.

Availability of an installed operating system. At the moment, the most modern “windowed” operating system is Windows 8. So when purchasing, choose it. The previous Windows 7 system also works great with all netbook models and will be an excellent option. The downside is that you have to pay a little extra to upgrade to Windows 8. Netbooks without an installed operating system have become widespread. Here the user has some freedom of choice and some may have issues with installing Windows. For a solution, please look at the section, there is a detailed description of how to install from a flash drive. In addition, you can install not only an operating system from Microsoft, but also any Unix-like system.

Conclusion

I hope I was able to clearly explain what a netbook is and why it is needed. When choosing, you must immediately decide on the purpose. If you need a device (device) mainly for entertainment, then the only thing better than a netbook is a tablet. But there is a real problem with the set of messages. If you need a device for serious and resource-intensive work, and at the same time you want to get the mobility of a netbook, then your choice is an 11.6″ ultrabook. Their pricing policy starts from the maximum price for netbooks ($500) and above.

When choosing a netbook, you first need to decide on the dimensions and, first of all, the screen diagonal. 10.1 or 11.6″. The weight of the device (that is, its mobility) and the number of USB connectors will depend on this. Select other characteristics (the presence of an HDMI connector or a Bluetooth wireless adapter) from the remaining models.

Video How to choose the best netbook

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