Acer Aspire One Netbook

Do you like laptops? Have you heard of a new category of laptop, called a netbook? It's a smaller, cheaper laptop. Netbooks have less-powerful processors than their more expensive laptop or desktop siblings, but plenty of horsepower for what most people do with a laptop, like surfing the web, watching video and sending email.

In November, 2008, I bought an Acer Aspire One netbook. It has proven to be a great little laptop. Of course the keyboard is smaller than a desktop or larger laptop keyboard, but I type with my two index fingers and after a little practice I can type on the Aspire One without looking at the keyboard.

Most netbooks lack a DVD/CD drive, but I haven't yet needed one, because the software I use is available for download online (i.e. OpenOffice.org, Firefox, iTunes, Thunderbird, Avast! Anti-Virus, Sunbird, etc).

My Acer Aspire One's specifications:

• Operating System: Windows XP Home
• Hard Drive: 160 GB
• Memory: 1 GB
• CPU: Intel Atom N270 1.6 GHz dual-core
• Battery: 6 cell (about 5 hours of run time between charges)
• Built in wi-fi
• Screen: 8.9" (measured diagonally)
  

Overall, this netbook is great. It gets used by either myself or my wife on a daily basis. When the lid is closed, it's about the size of two stacked DVD cases.

If you're in the market for a new laptop and want something small and portable, check out a netbook at your local electronics store.