The rise of the netbook

Battery life is an important part of any notebook, but it’s a particularly important consideration when choosing a mini-notebook that you’re likely to want to use away from a desk. While most inexpensive notebooks have a short battery life, these new mini-notebooks use processors that make the most of a smaller battery.

Although some run for just two to three hours, some can be used for six or seven hours between battery charges. In many cases, larger batteries can be added later should you wish.

The smaller cases used by mini-notebooks does usually mean that one key component must be left out. Although you’ll normally find all the usual USB, network, sound and video connections on a mini-notebook, we’re yet to see one with a built-in CD or DVD drive. Should you need to install software from a CD, you’ll need to buy an external drive that connects via USB. These will usually cost around £30, although smaller portable models cost considerably more.

Most mini-notebooks run either Windows XP or a version of Linux, although HP’s Mini Note 2133 is available with Vista. Mini-notebooks with Linux usually cost less, and some like the way that Linux can be started up very quickly.

The key downside is that familiar programs such as Word and Excel aren’t available for Linux, so some will prefer to stick with the familiar Windows XP interface even though Linux mini-notebooks are usually sold with a whole host of free software such as O penoffice.

Perhaps the most striking characteristic of this type of mini-notebook, though, is the price. The cheapest we’ve seen, Elonex’s One, costs just £99, although most are priced between £200 and £350.

A new breed of computer
You might be wondering why, after years of high notebook prices, such an abundance of cheap mini-notebooks has suddenly appeared. One reason must be the success of Asus’ original Eee PC 701, which started the trend: at just £220, it was a brilliant way to surf the web on a budget, as our review says.

Another reason is the release of Intel’s Atom N270 processor in October last year. This tiny processor is inexpensive and was designed specifically for mobile computing, with a strong emphasis placed on low power usage to help improve battery life. The combination of a small chip, a low price and enough power to perform everyday computing tasks have made the Atom an incredibly popular choice for mini-notebooks, and we’ve even seen it appearing in desktop PCs such as Asus’s Eee Box.