A basic guide for choosing the perfect netbook

Introduction

The netbooks are there. Lightweight, compact and extremely portable, but have only enough power for basic tasks (such as browsing and editing of office documents), they are exactly what the notebook really should be: a mini-computer (really) Portable! But how to choose the perfect netbook for our needs, if the majority is practically homogeneous in its main features? 
Among the most notable features to be examined are:

• Weight x dimension;
• Autonomy;
• LCD screen;
• CPU, chipset and IGP;
• RAM;
• Storage system;
• Keyboard & trackpad;
• Connectivity;
• Card readers.

Although at first sight is an easy task, since most models have almost the same hardware requirements, some aspects can not go by unnoticed, not to prevent the choice. That is the purpose of this short guide: to guide the user to acquire the perfect netbook for your needs!

Weight x dimension

Although equipment is compact and extremely portable, not all netbooks have exactly the same weight and size. But fortunately, most models are available within the range from 1 to 1.2 pounds. Inevitably, these values are defined by the autonomy and size of the LCD screen of the device.

The public women, are more sensitive to the weight and portability, certainly tend to light and minimal equipment. For them, not exceed the recommended limit of 1.2 pounds, so netbooks with LCD screens of 8.9 "and 10.2" and 3-cell battery, will be most indicated. 
Although not a majority, there are many facilities which have weight of 1.3, and 1.4 to 1.5 pounds, where the batteries of 4 and 6 cells (even 3 cells), and the same LCD screens for 10.2 "(but larger) help this scenario.

Autonomy

The batteries of lithium-ion used in netbooks are composed of 2, 3, 4 and up to 6 cells, providing them with capacity ranging from 2600 to 10,000 mAh. In practice, the autonomy will be greater the more the cells are used, ranging from 3 to 10 hours of continuous use, in contrast, the weight and size of equipment tend to be larger, which may compromise its portability.

Most models use 3-cell batteries, which in turn, reveals itself as the ideal balance between autonomy factors, weight, size and cost of equipment. With the estimated time of use between 3 to 4 hours, and basic tasks can be performed quite fast with a single charge. In contrast, a battery of 3 cells may not be the ideal solution for those who use it intensively, taken away from. In the latter case, one should consider the possibility of using a netbook with 6 cell battery, or an extra battery for emergencies. Ah, we must not forget also to take the power source, which unfortunately is something else to load ...

The dimensions of width and length are not affected in models that use batteries, both of 3 or 4 cells in 6 or more cells, in contrast, the rear compartment tends to win an extra volume (the famous "knob"), which turn may affect the transport of the netbook, as the rebound may hinder their guard in pockets and folders that have little space available.

Finally, we must also consider the use of wireless network, which in turn can consume an average of 20 to 30 minutes of a standard battery of 3 cells (with the installation of external antennas, consumption tends to be higher). Depending on use and location (without the possibility of making plug it in), this is another factor that should be carefully observed.

LCD Screen

In addition to influence the size of the equipment, the size and resolution of LCD screens are factors that should look more closely. Size available, we have values ranging from 7 "to 12".

The lower the LCD screen, lighter and more portable equipment to become, in contrast, productivity and comfort will be severely limited due to the small size and low resolution introduced by these screens. As for the larger LCD screen ...well, not have to many details ...

What is the middle way? For general use, the LCD screen of 10.2 "is considered the ideal balance between the good portability and low cost, and ensure a great experience to use with a modest resolution of 1024x600. So there are models that have higher resolution, but due to small size of the LCD, they tend to impair the visibility of graphical elements: if the site or document display small fonts we must readjust the zoom and size of sources constantly to better view them.

Finally, we can not ignore the resolution. Reaffirming, high resolutions in small screens or medians tend to hinder visibility, while certain small screens also offer a resolution short of our needs. So if the resolution is an important factor, the user must choose to purchase a device with larger screen sizes (11 "or 12") or even consider to buy a notebook rather than a netbook.

CPU, chipset & IGP

The overwhelming majority of the current netbooks are equipped by Intel Atom and the chipset combo i945GSE, which is provided with the Intel GMA 950 IGP graphics. Although the limited capacity of processing, the Intel Atom has more potential than enough for basic needs in that netbooks were designed: the Internet access and editing of office documents, even being able to access multimedia content. As the IGP, it has power to display images with 2D/3D performance just enough for the tasks mentioned above.

There is another interesting option, as the series chipset and the Via Nano VX700/VX800, but they are often the equipment of these chips will be better to focus on the options available with chips from Intel. Furthermore, it confuses the Via Nano with the Via C7-M, both manufactured by Via Technologies. The latter belongs to the previous generation, and having a much lower performance, certainly not a good choice among already limited CPUs

Finally, we can not ignore other interesting solutions, such as the nVidia ION from nVidia. Basically is an integrated system composed of an Atom CPU and chipset from nVidia, which in turn incorporates the chip North Bridge and South Bridge, and offers the GeForce 9400 IGP. The IGP in question is a technological solution far superior to Intel GMA, offering better graphics performance overall. Included, supports Full-HD decoding via hardware, freeing the processor for other tasks. Focused on equipment for playback of multimedia content, is a really interesting feature.

RAM

Most current netbooks are equipped with 1 GB of RAM, although there are some initial models to 512 MB and more sophisticated with 2 GB. Overall, 1 GB for the basic activities for which it proposes netbooks are sufficient, but with the use of the operating system, some considerations should be taken into account.

Windows XP and Linux operating systems are most used today, although there are some initiatives that have chosen to use Windows Vista. But unfortunately, due to hardware requirements for the latter, the low performance by these devices is caused largely by the low amount of memory, because in practice are needed 2 GB for the perfect functioning of the operating system. So avoid buying netbooks with Windows Vista pre-installed, because we still have the same amount of memory required, there is a need for a CPU able to play it.

Other aspects to be observed in netbooks is the chipset in use and in the compartment where the memory modules. The i945GSE chipset, an integrated circuit which is the memory controller has a cap of 2 GB of RAM installed. If by chance the system is with 512 or 1 GB of RAM already soldered on the motherboard and have 1 bank of memory for the installation of a module to share a maximum amount can complement the existing up to 2 GB. We netbooks there is no RAM to the integrated device, you must discard the old module to upgrade the memory, because the manufacturers have chosen to keep only 1 single bank of memory.

Finally, with the release of Windows 7 scheduled for the end of this year, we adapted a version designed specifically for netbooks: Windows Starter Edition 7. Among the features, the most striking is the limitation of 1 GB of RAM for these devices. Fortunately, Windows 7 will be optimized for use in these conditions, but certainly the overall system performance will be degraded if they open multiple applications simultaneously. This same: different Windows Vista Starter Edition, the new version has no limitation of the infamous 3 applications open simultaneously!

Storage system

It is interesting to note that the first steps in launching netbooks or appliances ultraportáteis counted with the use of a hard drive (HD) with dimensions of 1.8 "or even 2.5." With the popularity of netbooks, the devices come equipped with storage units in solid state (SSD), but due to low storage capacity (usually ranging between 2, 4, 8 and 16 GB) and the high cost, again with the DH full force. Still, even with the few netbooks with SSDs, thanks to technological development achieved by these units and the trend of costs in free fall, the future SSD units to the scene again with more force.

The capacity of HDs found in netbooks range from 60 to 160 GB and the maximum speed of 4200 RPM on. Although slow, are outweighed by the good time of access, since the minimal size of these devices make the displacement of the head that makes reading the information faster. And for the basic needs in that netbooks were designed, they have more than enough performance. However, it is a mechanical device, its moving parts tend to damage it, if some efforts are exerted, and agitate as the impact, among others. Anticipating these events, manufacturers have developed technology to protect these units, reducing and even eliminating the impact caused. Even so, the netbooks with DH must be transported with some care.

The SSDs are equipped with flash memory devices, the same used in pendrives and memory cards. Your life is estimated in cycles of writing, ranging from hundreds of thousands to a million cycles in the same sector. And to maximize its duration, the actual controller of the unit record data randomly, putting information into different sectors, so that a particular industry is more used than others. This is why you should not defrag the SSD, as well as not have any effect on performance (since there are no mechanical heads are moving to a random read), consume more cycles of writing in the unit, thus reducing its life. This is also the reason why it is not recommended to create files and swap partitions because they are constantly being accessed if the system RAM is fully occupied. In GNU / Linux distributions, the swap partition should not be created, in Windows systems, the paging file SWAP should be disabled.

The SSDs have interesting features, if compared to traditional HDs: they are much safer, since it does not have moving parts, consumes much less energy, increasing in some many battery life, and have a higher life, when used properly.Although the devices used in netbooks do not have transfer rates as high as the DH, in contrast to performance is offset by very low access time spent by the unit. In general, they are balancing, taking advantage of the SSDs save more energy.

Given its characteristics, both options are feasible for the common user, differing only a little on your needs: for users who need space and not moving much, the HD is the most viable option, while for users that does not need so much space and its displacement is constant, the SSD is better. Here are the extremes.

Keyboard & trackpad

It is interesting to note that the keyboard and trackpad are elements that go virtually unnoticed by their users. However, when they do not fulfill its function well, can become the decisive factor for its rejection. And that was how it happened with the first Eee PCs ..

Equipped with a keyboard with dimensions of approximately 80% of a conventional and keyboard trackpads of minimal size, the usability of these devices was slightly impaired (for a change, these models come equipped with LCD screens, 7 "and resolution of 800x480). For and occasional use by people with small hands, did not have much discomfort, but for situations where the use was more intensive, these limitations have become quite annoying. Also, the trackpad had low sensitivity, which suggested using a USB mouse to make use of equipment more comfortable. But in the case of an ultra-portable device, no extra components to be brought together would be another inconvenience.

Fortunately, due to complaints from users about these issues, manufacturers have created (and revised) and its projects have provided new models with more comfortable keyboards and trackpads more sensitive, than the LCD screens are larger. Oh, also increased its size ...

Connectivity

RJ-45 connection, WiFi, Bluetooth and 3G modem differentials are "not so different" presented by netbooks. Of course, the availability of them vary greatly from equipment to equipment. For example, there are only netbooks that offer WiFi and the RJ-45, while others come to support WiMAX.

For which model you choose, here is the question! Again, depends exclusively on the preferences of the user. But it is a portable, the 3G modem is the most important difference for this category. What advances have made a portable equipment to access the Internet, it can not access it from anywhere? On the other hand, if the user has available to access the Internet from a wireless network (and focus its use through it), the 3G modem is replaced by secondary importance.

Readers & Connections

Card reader, USB ports and VGA output to monitor, in addition to the usual audio outputs, are the options which have a connection. And fortunately, nearly the overwhelming majority of netbooks offer these resources.

The options available, the card reader is the one that deserves some attention. Most only supports the SD format, while others can support 2 or 3 different types of cards. Depending on the gadgets and devices used, can be interesting (or not) choose to readers who access various formats. A classic example are the users who use digital cameras from Sony, which in turn store photos on Memory Stick. To access them, will be required to use the USB cable, if its netbooks only support the SD format.

To vary, with many netbooks in SSD storage systems do not have enough space to meet the needs of the user, and to make use of memory cards to complement the space required. Often, there are models that only have only 4 GB SSD, but have the card reader just to cover this deficiency.

Then there are the USB ports. Although the number of connections meeting the needs of a common user, they are not always prepared as it should. For example, two USB ports other joints can prevent the connection of bulky devices such as a 3G modem or USB Pendrive, in other cases, the location may hinder access to these devices or even cause injury to esbarrões.

Conclusion

What criteria a good choice? As always, depend on the needs of users, because ultimately, the equipment will be purchased for your use. So know the basic features that distinguish the various (and similar) models of netbooks on the market is needed, whether it is for a great experience with its latest ...