Netbook picks
While the global recession has put pressure on hardware sales around the world, netbook sales continue to increase. In part this is because of a combination of low prices and big features which mean users don’t have to spend more than R10 000 to get a portable computer that does what they need. Locally there are just a handful of netbooks to choose from. These are the three that we would consider first.
HP2133 Mini-Note
HP’s 2133 Mini-Note was one of the first netbooks on the market – after the Asus EEE PC – and was also one of the first to offer Windows Vista as the default operating system. Which proved to be a mistake as Vista simply overloaded the machine. HP quickly revised its approach and now offers XP or Suse Linux. The 8.9-inch screen is a bit bigger than the Asus EEE 701’s and is about the minimum you want on a netbook. Originally the 2133 shipped with a solid state drive but the most recent releases feature a decent sized hard disk at around 120GB.
In its favour the HP2133 Mini-Note has its looks. It’s brushed aluminum casing is very attractive and gives the machine a more solid feel than many of the competitors. The flipside to that is, however, that the Mini-Note is a little heavier than many other notebooks. That’s not really too much of a consideration given that the 2133 will slip easily into most bags and is small enough to not get in the way. Price-wise the 2133 Mini-Note costs around R6 000 depending on the specifications which is a little expensive for what is likely to be a second PC for most users.
Acer Aspire One
Locally the Aspire One has a big following. It is a lot nicer looking than most netbooks and has a great, almost full size, keyboard. Built on the Atom processor, the Aspire One ships with either Linpus Linux or XP. The Linux version normally ships with a flash drive although it’s worth keeping a look out for one with a larger hard drive. The Windows XP edition usually ships with a 120GB or larger hard disk. 1GB of memory is the norm, as is the 8.9-inch screen.
The Aspire One has two things in its favour: its good looks and its fantastic keyboard. One of the problems with models such as the Asus EEE PC 701 is that the keyboard is simply too small to be easy to use. Acer has made a good keyboard which is smaller than a normal laptop keyboard but doesn’t feel tiny. The glossy casing finishes the machine off nicely.
The entry-level Aspire One, with 8GB solid state drive costs around R2 000 and ships with Linpus Linux. At the high-end the Aspire One 3G includes built-in 3G connectivity, a 160GB hard disk and Windows XP. The 3G version costs closer to R6 000 which makes it a significantly more expensive purchase than the Asus EEE 701.
For the price the Acer Aspire One with flash drive and Linux is undeniably good value and would be the one we would spend money on.
Asus 701/4G
In many ways the Asus EEE PC started the netbook phenomenon. The Asus EEE PC 701 machine is ultra-compact and ultra-cheap. At just over R2 000 the 701 is very affordable. It does have its faults though. The keyboard on the 701 is simply too small. The tiny keys are hard to work with for any extended period of time and even in small bursts it can become frustrating trying to hit the right key. The 7-inch screen is also a little too small for comfort and the speakers next to the screen take up almost as much space as the screen does.
In its favour the 701 is ultra small weighing in just under 1kg which makes it a breeze to transport. Like the Aspire One the EEE 701 ships with a flash drive – just 4GB though – as well as an SD card slot to expand storage capabilities.
A R2 000 Asus EEE PC with Windows XP or Linux is ideal for the frequent traveler but is really not a standard laptop replacement.
Best netbooks discussion
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