Not long ago I was looking to buy a subnotebook computer, and there
really wasn’t much of a choice unless I willing to spend at least a
couple of thousand dollars. Then, with the arrival of the sub $500 Asus
EeePC, the game changed completely.
I bought an EeePC as soon as I saw it in my local office supplies store, and I have to say, it’s one of the most useful and clever IT products
I’ve ever purchased. That was just a few months ago, and now a number
of companies - including Everex and HP - have jumped onto the low-cost
subnotebook bandwagon. There’s also a new EeePC,
the 900, coming out, in May. So how do you decide on which model is
right for you? Following are the key features to look for. There’s also
a table at the bottom of this post where you can compared the key
features of the Everex Cloudbook, Everex Cloudbook Max, Asus EeePC,
Asus EeePC 900 and HP Mini 2133.
Screen size: These low cost subnotebooks feature
screen sizes of 7″ or 8.9″. Obviously this is smaller than the standard
15″ notebook screen, but the point of a subnotebook is maximum
portability. I’ve had no problems working with a 7″ screen when I’m out
and about, though the small screen size does make working on large
spreadsheets a little problematic. As long as you have realistic
expectations, you won’t have a problem, ie don’t expect to use one of
these subnotebook computers as your main computer.
Keyboard: If you’re going to be doing a lot of
typing, make a point of trying out the keyboard of the model you intend
purchasing, before you buy it. If you have large fingers you may have
problems with some of the keyboards (the EeePC’s keyboard is 83% of
normal size). As someone who’s managed to use a Jornada 680, I had no problem adjusting to the keyboard of the EeePC, but I can imagine that others might have problems.
Operating system: In order to minimise costs, and
maximise features, some models come with loaded Linux. For me this has
been fine. I’ve never used Linux, and never been a particular fan, but
in the case of the EeePC, I’ve had no problems adjusting to the graphic user interface,
and I’ve found the accompanying office suite, Open Office, to be
excellent. However, if you have a particular platform-specific piece of
software you want to run, you’ll obviously need to go for a model with
an appropriate operating system installed (you don’t want the hassle of
installing a different operating system, trust me, though it can be done).
Processor and memory: We’re talking about low-cost
computers, so there do have to be compromises somewhere. Compared to
regular notebooks, these low-cost subnotebooks feature slower processes
and less memory. Again, it comes down to expectations. These machines
are designed for maximum portability at a low or reasonable price, so
you can’t really expect them to run the latest games and processing
intensive 3D rendering packages. Having said all that, my relatively
low power EeePC has no problems playing back video files and accessing
online multimedia content.
Storage: The EeePC is most challenged when it comes
to storage, with the cheapest model coming with just 2GB of flash
storage. If you’re needing to store a lot of data, obviously 2GB is
rather restrictive, though with the use of USB memory, it’s not such a
problem (for example you can easily play video files from a USB memory
stick). Still, if you do need to carry a lot of data around with you,
you’re going to be better off with a model that comes with more storage.
Battery time: Since the whole point of these
products is to provide portability, how long the battery lasts between
recharges is crucial, especially if you’re planning to use the
Here’s an overview of the key specifications of the key low-cost subnotebooks currently available or proposed:
Continues : http://buy.blorge.com/
