Something I planned to do, but never got around to it, was to start doing virtual reviews of all the netbooks that are out there. I don't want to review other types of laptops (notebooks and other weird laptop configurations, like the kind with swivel displays) because they're supposed to be desktop computer replacements. Not only that, but there's just way too many of them. There are more than enough netbooks to keep me busy until they're no longer sold as such.
Are laptop computers better than desktop computers? I don't think so, but today I was reminded of one the reasons why most Filipinos buy one form of laptop or another. It's because a laptop battery is included and can usually last up to three hours or more, depending on what applications are being run. A backup power supply for a desktop computer has to be purchased separately.
I honestly can't answer the question of ALL of the netbooks with the most memory and drive storage capacity without going to each manufacturer's website and looking through product descriptions. Fortunately, there is a web application called Google Squared.
After seeing a couple of blurbs today about how the iPad will crush or slay netbooks and e-readers, I just have to add my two cents and say that they're wrong. Whenever Apples comes out with a shiny new, cool-looking gadget, the Apply fanboys are all over it in droves. Of course, since Steve Jobs came out and said it was awesome and better than a laptop or a smartphone, that's just fuel for the fire. Let's get this straight. The iPad is an application device and not a computer. A netbook or notebook (or laptop by any other name) – they're computers.
I've already mentioned my dead notebook computer. I would have to say it lasted just over a year before it couldn't be used anymore without being taken to an HP authorized service center. Of course, I didn't have an extended warranty on it, so I shelved it.
The HP notebook computer (HP Pavilion DV8110-US) that I bought in late 2005 or early 2006 died on me in September of 2007. First, the fan quit working right and I thought it was just dust, but I was wrong. Then a couple of weeks later, the monitor started developing vertical red lines and I thought it was dirty connections, but I was wrong. I'm not a genius, but I was able to take it apart and clean everything. It was to no avail, because the problems did not disappear.
I'm now using Clonezilla to back up my MSI Wind netbook Windows XP partition, using a USB thumb (flash) drive. I actually found it by accident when I was looking for a suitable disk imaging application for Windows. For the uninformed, Clonezilla runs on Debian Linux.
A netbook by any other name would be so sweet… okay, so forgive me for the Shakespeare-like references. It's just that so many companies tend to avoid the word "netbook" if they can, probably trying to disassociate from the cheapness the word may imply. Dell has been around the block a few times and it looks like they know what they're doing, so who am I to judge their marketing decisions?
A Bluetooth wireless headset has its uses but the kind you see pictured doesn't work very well with any computer, whether it's a desktop or a laptop. How do I know? I have a USB Bluetooth dongle and the headset to go with it. I could get it to work, after a lot of hassle, but the battery runs down quickly since it has to be in "call" mode all the time.
Why is that when Google announces a new application or product, the Google fanatics come out of woodwork? Not everything Google produces are as good as those people make them out to be. In my own opinion, the Google search and Gmail are the top performers and everything else is ho-hum. I'm talking about everything from their RSS feedreader (Google Reader) to their browser (Google Chrome). Speaking of Google Chrome…
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