Netbooks: The Missing Manual

Chapter 1. Buying and Setting Up Your Netbook

With an average price around $400, a netbook may sound like a one-size-fits-all deal—limited selection, low-cost components, and few custom options. It’s like buying a stripped-down economy car with a price so low that you basically get four wheels and an AM/FM radio, right?

Wrong.

True, netbook hardware is leaner and less powerful than some of the big honking laptops meant to serve as both road machines and desktop computer replacements. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have choices to make: Which operating system? Regular hard drive or solid-state drive? How big a screen? How small is too small for a keyboard?

This chapter gives you an orientation tour of Netbook Land. Once you see what’s out there, you’ll have the information you need to pick the system that’s best for you. But buying the netbook is just the beginning. You’ll also get the scoop on what comes after you pull that pee-wee PC out of the box: setting it up, getting your stuff on it, and getting ready to take it out on the road, the Internet—or both.

What to Look for When Buying a Netbook

With every computer and gadget company coming out with its own take on the netbook, you can get overwhelmed by all the models. Size is the first factor to consider. The smaller the netbook, the less it weighs. But make sure you factor usability into the mix so you don’t end up with cramped hands and a permanent James Dean squint from staring at a tiny screen.

A good netbook is the sum of its ...