Before you toss out your existing laptop for the latest mini laptop trend, know your facts. Netbooks are minimally capable mini laptops that are primarily useful for web browsing, e-mail, limited word processing, and some multimedia and gaming.
Most basic netbooks have display screens of ten inches or less, contain 512MB of memory, have limited storage capacity (often just a 8GB or 16GB flash drive rather than a traditional hard drive), do not contain an optical drive (i.e. CD or DVD), and operate on a Linux platform. More advanced systems contain traditional hard drives with capacities up to 160GB, as much as 2GB of memory, and operate on a Windows platform.
Regardless of whether you purchase a basic netbook or an advanced netbook, there is a limit to how much performance you can expect. The netbook's tiny processor and limited graphics cannot compete with a standard laptop using the latest generation of processors and graphics. Also, the netbook's small display screen and keyboard (the largest is just 90% as big as a standard laptop keyboard) become a challenge when trying to do more than just surfing the web or accessing e-mail.
As far as price is concerned, the netbook is the way to go if you are looking to spend less than $500 (basic models can be purchased for as low as $275) and only need the capability to surf the web, access your email, or perform basic word processing. However, if you are willing to spend $600, you would get more for your money by purchasing a standard laptop that would include a 15 inch display, a full-sized keyboard, and built in optical drives.
