| Mini laptop or net book computers are generating all | | | | computers, but if you are just surfing the web or |
| the buzz about laptops these days! | | | | downloading music, you will probably not notice much |
| Why all the interest? | | | | difference. |
| Mini computers are smaller and lighter than your | | | | The least expensive mini laptop computers run a |
| standard notebook computer and have a better | | | | version of Linux, not windows, as their operating |
| battery life... but you could say that about a pencil | | | | system. I added an external CD/DVD burner and |
| and a piece of paper. In many ways a mini notebook | | | | upgraded the hard drive from 8 to 16GB to the mini |
| (or if you prefer, a mini laptop) is a throw back to | | | | computer that I recently purchased. The final cost of |
| the bad old days when the terms notebook | | | | my mini laptop was $524. Without adding the CD |
| computer and laptop computer weren't | | | | DVD burner, this system was $439. |
| interchangeable. | | | | Let’s Compare A 15 inch Laptop To A MiniLaptop |
| How Are They Different Now? | | | | The least expensive 15 inch laptop from Dell includes |
| In order to power the MIDs, Intel developed the | | | | a 120GB hard drive, built-in CD/DVD burner, and runs |
| Atom processor. Atom processors are currently only | | | | Windows Vista. Both minis and 15 inch computers |
| available embedded in an Intel motherboard. | | | | have wireless g network cards. |
| What Are The Advantages Of A Mini Laptop? | | | | If you add mobile broadband hardware to each of |
| Expect the mini laptop to weigh approximately 2.5 | | | | these computers the mini notebook is a bit pricier |
| pounds, including the battery. A good battery life | | | | than a standard the laptop. |
| should be at least 4 hours or more. Compare this to | | | | Asus has been the driving force behind the |
| a 15.4-inch laptop, which will generally measure about | | | | development of the netbook market. MSI has also |
| 10 by 14 inches and weigh about 6 pounds. The | | | | been a market leader. Just about anything less than |
| weight savings alone may persuade you to think | | | | $330 runs Linux or has a processor slower than the |
| more about choosing a mini laptop. | | | | Intel Atom or both. |
| Mini laptop computers are listed as less expensive | | | | Are You A Candidate For These New Minis? |
| than other portable computers. These mini laptop | | | | A mini laptop is marginally suitable as a primary |
| computers installed with Intel Atom processors are | | | | computer for someone who doesn't use his or her |
| generally powerful enough to run Windows XP and | | | | laptop computer at work or school. If you mostly |
| Microsoft Office without fail. | | | | use a notebook to download music and load it onto |
| What Are The Disadvantages Of A Mini Laptop? | | | | your mp-3 player, e-mail your friends, and surf the |
| The standard drives that you most likely will find on | | | | net you might get by. They are not the best choice |
| common on mini laptops are relatively small, only | | | | for games or for doing any number crunching or |
| 16GB or less. Windows XP, Windows Media Player 11 | | | | complicated word-processing. |
| and Microsoft Office Professional 2002 are well over | | | | What Is The Comparative Pricing? |
| 4GB, so this would be the area where you will most | | | | A mini laptop, a netbook, a mini notebook, or mini |
| likely want to upgrade. | | | | computers are in the same price range as i-phones. In |
| The displays generally have lower resolution than | | | | one review it was reported that to surf the net, it |
| laptop computers. But this should not be a deterrent, | | | | was a clear advantage to have the bigger display and |
| unless you will be working with digital graphics. The | | | | keyboard of the netbook, and the downside was |
| graphic cards generally are not as good as notebook | | | | that you couldn't make phone calls. |