Inexpensive Gateways to the Internet: Netbooks
Relatively new computer devices emerging in late 2007, early 2008, netbooks are storming markets with attractive pricing, competing with their laptop and notebook forefathers. Used mainly to surf the web and perform small computer functions, consumers now have the option to have a dulled down laptop that will meet their computing needs at a fraction of the cost.
Netbooks are designed to utilize the Internet for the majority of computing necessities such as word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, storage, and other various applications. Netbooks do not come with powerful features, as the majority of models have a hard drives that rarely exceed 250 GB, which is fairly new to netbook lines, as it used to be 160 GB. It is also common to find netbooks with 8 GB to 32 GB solid state hard drives that are smaller, faster, and more shock-resistant as they in the form of a series of small chips unlike their disk shaped counterparts.
In addition to small storage space, netbooks are also known for their low processing speeds and are usually equipped with low amounts of memory. As these computing marvels are not designed to run much more than an internet browser, 1 GB of memory has become the industry standard for netbooks, while some even run 512 MB. Processing speeds are currently hovering around 1.6 GHz.
Consumers that are seeking these cost-effective computers thinking they are just getting a miniature laptop may be in for a surprise. Users of netbooks will not find any optical drive on netbooks, as not only is there no room in a 7" to 10" sized machine, but it also defeats the "gateway to the internet" philosophy. Netbooks, however, do come equipped with USB ports for external hard drives or USB drives.
The evolution of netbooks has been quite mind boggling for manufactures. When they were first introduced, manufacturers were adamant about keeping features and specifications of their netbook products at a minimum, as to not intrigue their laptop consumers to switch over to a less expensive product. This marketing ploy has been less effective recently as less expensive, and profitable, netbooks have impacted sales of laptops and notebooks. Computer manufactures are now faced with investing more effort into less profitable netbooks to compete with their adversaries.
Original equipment manufacturers (OEM), such as Microsoft and Intel have had to meet the demand of netbooks, and have developed products for these tiny marvels of computers. Microsoft has introduced Windows XP at low costs for netbook users, and even claims that their operating system is running on 96% of netbooks. Linux has also introduced an operating system to the netbook market, but only shares less than 10% of consumer's OS purchases. Intel's Atom processor line offers small, low-energy, as well as, lower powered processors for netbooks.
Currently, netbooks average $300, as they offer minimal computing power when compared to their high-powered laptop and notebook relatives. Netbooks are not only revolutionizing the computer industry, their low cost is even putting them in the living rooms of homes that never owned a computer in the past.
Matthew Kerridge is an fan of conusmer electronics. If you want further information about types of netbook or are looking for a reputable netbook online retailer please viasit http://www.ebuyer.com