I bought myself a toy on Saturday (after an annoying amount of research) – a netbook. For those who aren’t familiar with these, they are a small, laptop style computer, ideal for writing, emailing and blog entries, which is of course the reason I bought mine. They can not however be compared with a standard desktop or laptop computer because their memory and processing power is way tooooooo limited. But for what I wanted (to write, blog and email when I am out of the house) they are perfect.

I even tried it out on Sunday using the free wifi access in the local McCafe, and it worked wonderfully.

For anyone who has been considering one, I thought I might offer some of the results of my time-draining research. (I feel I should add here something like the ads do, something like, please read the pdf carefully to see if this product suits your personal needs.)

When it came to selecting which netbook I chose I, as you might have guessed, had several priorities:

1. As long a battery life as possible. There is nothing like finding the most idyllic and tranquil spot, being inspired to write then the computer going dead (I know I could write by hand, but I’m not so good at that.) Most netbooks come with a 3 cell battery, which in all honesty I am told lasts around 2 – 3 hours depending on how you are using your machine. A 6 cell battery is said to run for around 11 hours, but that is when you aren’t actually using the netbook to do anything apparently. If you are actually using the keyboard the estimation is around 4 – 5 hours. (I will update you on this when I use it non-stop on battery.)
2. Lightweight and small enough to fit in a handbag. Netbooks come in 10.1’ and 12’ width, and most weigh around 1.5kilos. I wanted the 10.1’, also don’t assume that the weight of the computer you would lift up off the shelf in the shop is the actual weight. Most netbooks on display are plugged into the mains without their battery attached – a battery would seem to add another 50% to the weight of the machine.
3. A keyboard that was easy to type on. Most of the keyboards are around 95% of a tradition qwerty keyboard, but don’t include the extra number keys and arrows normally found on the right of such a keyboard. I have ‘ladylike’ fingers so I am told, so the smaller keys actually make typing easier. But it was also important to try typing in the shop to listen to the sound of the keys and the pressure needed to use them.
4. The other bits I wanted were seemingly standard: webcam, wifi, half-decent speakers.

It was the need for a 6 cell battery that really limited my choice, that and not wanting to pay a fortune for a different colour casing. In the end I was left with the Asus or the Dell, I picked the former, primarily because it was a decent price and the Dell wasn’t in stock.

So far (2 days on) I am still excited about my purchase, and have found nothing to moan about that I didn’t expect – like the speed, or lack of. I was particularly delighted at the noise it makes, or, once again, lack of it. If it wasn’t for the pretty, shiny lights I probably wouldn’t know it was on half the time.

Anyway, I will let you know how I go.

Tags: Asus 1005P, choosing your netbook, Elizabeth Bezant, netbook, review, writers, writers hobbies, writing, writing advice

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