Netbook computers are the hottest selling type of notebook computer. Netbooks are defined by their small size, low-price, power, and operating systems. Netbooks are small, affordable, low-powered, and run on Windows, Linux or some other operating system.

Size: Netbooks have 7-11-inch screens, weigh from 2-3 pounds, with keyboards ranging from 80 percent to 95 percent of a full-sized laptop.

There has been a huge onslaught of Netbook models, but these specs seem to be standard:

* Screen resolution 1024x600
* Intel Atom processor running at 1.6-GHz
* Wi-Fi B and/or G
* Ethernet at 100 Mbps
* Flash RAM memory card slot
* External VGA output jack
* Built-in camera
* Integrated graphics
* Two or three USB ports
* Headphone and microphone jacks

What's Different?

One of the big differences among Netbook models is the storage medium: some have hard disks, yet others come with solid-state disks (SSDs).

Often, the Linux-based Netbooks come with SSDs whereas the Windows XP models offer a standard hard disk. The reasons include: Windows XP needs more storage space, SSDs are cheaper, while Windows is much more expensive than Linux.

Slimming Down

Netbooks aren't heavy-weight, high powered, cutting-edge super-computers (that most people really don’t need) but they are good enough for most people's computer needs.

To reduce both the size and cost, there is no optical drive, meaning CDs and DVDs are not playable.

Many Netbooks don't include Bluetooth. While they do have Ethernet and Wi-Fi, they do not include the fastest version of Ethernet, called Gigabit Ethernet, the newest version of Wi-Fi (N), or the older "A" version of Wi-Fi.

Another difference among Netbooks is battery life/power, with low-end models having 3-cell batteries while high-end netbook models do feature 6-cell batteries, which actually last 5-6 hours.

The Future of Netbooks

Netbooks are very cool and are becoming extremely popular! Their small size and low cost will open up many new uses in the near future.

Operating systems such as Linux and Android will become more familiar. The inherent safety of Linux, along with OS X, will popularize it with users sick and tired of fending off malicious software and viruses.

Netbooks will help in the transition away from DVDs as a movie medium to electronic media. Likewise, they will help and be helped by the transition to SSDs and away from spinning hard disks.

Netbooks may cause many other devices to become redundant or obsolete. Why carry a small box that does one thing, when you can carry a small box that does many things? Why buy a dedicated Internet radio, when a Netbook can do that? Why buy a small DVD player if you can get a movie on a flash memory card? Why buy a high-end smart phone, when a Netbook can do all that on a larger screen? The Netbook’s future looks very exciting, indeed.

For standard computing tasks, the small Netbook screen and keyboard will, no doubt, limit its audience. That being said, you can always connect a Netbook to an external monitor, a real mouse and/or a real keyboard. And software tricks can be played to increase the font size when an external monitor is not available.