Since you asked, I’ll tell you about my Netbook. I found out about this wonder of the computing world from Theresa Kavouras via a post in the Scrap Girls blog. She owns her own little pink Netbook she dubbed Trixie.
My interest was immediately peaked once I learned how light it is (only 2.6 pounds) and how long the battery lasts (about 5 hours). This was particularly interesting to me because…
- I suffered a back injury caused by lugging my laptop in a backpack while I travel. (Laptop = small elephant disguised as a computer)
- I had to travel again and did not want to re-injure my back.
- I wanted a traveling-companion computer that allowed me to browse the Internet whenever I wanted.
- I longed for a computer that would allow me to work in my backyard.
Rosie – my cute little pink MSI Wind Netbook – allows me to do everything I want to do! I have a Verizon modem for it – it’s a tiny little thing – and it allows me to get on the Internet anywhere I can get a cell phone signal. Verizon’s network is fast (G3) so my Internet experience is sweet. (I can also use my home’s wireless cable connection, too.)
The Verizon USB modem and the MSi Wind laptop are a match made in heaven. It’s a perfect combo for traveling about. I feel like I have been sprung loose because I can work from (almost) anywhere. (Where in the world is Ro, Waldo?)
I can also use my T-Mobile BlackBerry as a modem. However, I found that the connection wasn’t as fast as my Verizon modem and the set-up was clumsier so I went back to my Verizon setup when I’m not at home.
Here are the specs of the computer I purchased:
- Intel® Atom™ N270 Processor
- Dimensions: 10.23"(L) x 7.08"(D) x 0.748"~1.24"(H)
- Weight: 2.6 lbs (6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery)
- Genuine Windows® XP Home
- 10" Wide Screen Display
- System Memory: 1GB DDR2; Hard Drive: 160GB SATA
- Built-in 10/100 Ethernet; 802.11b/g/n Wireless Lan with Bluetooth
I don’t keep a lot of software on it because I want to keep it fast. I have Photoshop, Live Writer, Seesmic (a Twitter application), McAfee Suite, Picasa, and a couple of browsers. I also installed Open Office (free software that come with the equivalents of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) because I uninstalled the trial version of Office that came with the computer. I’ll probably install a FTP client and, perhaps, Dreamweaver.
I keep back-ups of my photos and supplies on a tiny (in size) 500 G external hard drive from Western Digital. If I want to scrapbook or work with the photos, I plug it in. The external hard drive only weights a few ounces.
So how much does it cost? Depends on what you get on it and where you get it but they are in the $400 range! Very reasonable.
Here are the colors that are currently available.
You can now get a 9 cell battery that lasts about 7 hours.You can also get 2G of RAM, but that costs more. My Netbook is fast enough for how I use it so I’m happy with the machine I bought. MSi softened up the pink a little in the current version.
Warning: If you HAVE to have a pink one, be prepared to search for it. They seem to be as rare as purple geese or flying dogs.
I have one because I had to have one. After all, pink is my signature color!
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There are other brands of Netbooks available. Most of them are priced between $300 and $400, depending on the specs. I can’t speak to the other brands because I haven’t used them.
