november-2009

TECHNOLOGY
Netbook vs. Notebook
WHICH TYPE OF PORTABLE COMPUTER IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
BY LEE GIMPEL ILLUSTRATION BY TRAY BUTLER
In 2003, laptops outsold desktop
computers for the first time. Since
then, business has only become
more mobile, and now there’s an
even more portable show in town: the
netbook, designed to handle simple
tasks like email and web browsing. These
machines are considerably smaller (7- to
10-inch screens), lighter (2 to 3 pounds)
and less expensive ($300 to $400) than
regular notebooks.
Netbooks are also taking off in the
marketplace, with IDC expecting sales to
go from 11.5 million units in 2008 to more
than 50 million by 2013. Even so, they’re
still more of a consumer tag-a-long device
than a business necessity, with IDC figuring
only about 9% were destined for enterprise
use in 2009. So is a netbook for you?
For users who are largely connected
to browser-based applications and
have constant access to the internet, a
netbook is a good option. They’re great
for doing email, browsing the web and
typing up documents. Citing its “killer
design,” PCMag recommends the Toshiba
mini NB205, which retails from $350
to $400. The Acer Aspire One ($330 to
$450) also scored well in reviews.
For those who switch off between netbooks
and laptops (or desktops), Bobby
Kuzma, vice president of ElectroNerdz,
recommends using Microsoft Live Sync to
keep files up-to-date between computers.
You can also keep very little info on your
netbook by storing it on a flash drive or
accessing it online “in the cloud” such as
with Google Docs or Salesforce.com.
If you frequently work with dense
PowerPoint or Excel creations, the size
and processing power constraints of
netbooks should give you pause. The small
screen makes it hard to deal with multiple
windows, and many don’t have CD/DVD
drives or video ports, which makes giving
presentations a challenge. “If you need
the power to do heavy multi-tasking,
graphic design, video editing, CAD/CAM
or programming, a netbook isn’t right for
you,” says Peter Ubriaco, president of New
York Information Systems.
A few other downfalls: Although
netbooks offer easier typing than the
thumbs-only Blackberry, the keyboard is
still a bit cramped, says Howie Isaacks,
an IT consultant with Digital Criterion.
And, as Lance Ulanoff, editor-in-chief of
PCMag.com, points out, netbooks often
lack high-end security features like
fingerprint readers, a potential concern
for business travelers.
NOVEMBER 2009 GO MAGAZINE
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