I can’t tell you how many people stop me when I’m out and about, to ask me if I love my netbook. After using a few different brands for over a year now, I have to say that it’s definitely one of the smarter investments I’ve made–not just for my own work but for our family as well.
So let me tell you what I tell everyone who stops to ask.
1. Travel
When my husband made a bit of an impulse purchase with our first netbook, I initially didn’t understand the appeal. But with his frequent travel, it’s genius. While the iPad or another tablet is handy to have for moms and dads on the go, he much prefers the netbook for when he’s trying to get work done that requires a keyboard, document downloads, and usb-connected devices. It’s lighter and easier to pack than a laptop, but has almost all the same features we rely on, like a built-in web cam for our family chats on Skype.
2. Kids
While the netbook is lacking a disc drive, it’s got everything else a laptop has, just in a smaller size, making it the perfect computer for kids like mine who enjoy playing Internet games. Instead of my kids begging to use my own computer all the time, we have a super cheap Asus EEE set up just for their use that that cost us less than $150. This way, they’re still getting the experience of using a “real” computer, but we don’t have to worry about little fingers accidentally deleting our important files.
3. Mobile Office
I like to use my desktop computer or MacBook Pro for work, but when it comes to simple stuff that I can do from my kitchen, my netbook has been invaluable. I just pop in up on my kitchen counter or downstairs on our basement bar, and I can do a quick check of email or our Facebook page without having to leave the kids and traipse upstairs. The full-size keyboard of the HP also makes it very easy to use, and I never feel like I’m working on a kid’s toy.
If you have a netbook, we’d love to know why you love it and how it functions in your work and/or family life. And many thanks to HP for providing me with a pretty pink HP Mini 210 which has become a huge part of my life. – Kristen
[Main photo via]
I have an Asus netbook that I’ve been using much more lately since my laptop battery quit charging and I can only use it when it’s plugged in. Instead of carting the laptop and cord everywhere, I can charge up the netbook and use it anywhere, in the house or when I’m out and about. It fits well in my large purse and I’m planning to take it with me when traveling in a few weeks too. That being said, I still prefer to use my laptop for most keyboard-intensive work, and I only download and store photos/videos there so that I don’t have them in multiple places. The laptop functions more like a desktop right now though – it doesn’t usually leave my desk since that’s where the charging cord is.
I’ve got a netbook (HP mini) and an iPad. The HP mini is great for getting into sites and using widgets that aren’t supported on the iPad (eg, shockwave flash), for times when I just need to be able to do a bit more, and need that USB drive as you mentioned.
The iPad is terrific for having a lightweight, kid friendly option that’s easy on my shoulder and has a great battery life.
That said, after seeing the Samsung tablet and Air equivalent at BlogHer, I am totally sold on those!