All posts in: Netbooks

Chromebooks: Reviewers, users love to hate them -- and buy them anyway

Computers & Internet
By Heather Newman on August 29, 2011 in

Samsung Series 5 Chromebook

Samsung's Chromebook Series 5 and the Acer AC700 Chromebook  are the first of the upcoming Chromebooks to hit the market, and one of a new breed of netbooks that run on a more-limited operating system designed to be online all the time. Google's ChromeOS offers limited support for any kind of local storage or peripherals, instead working via sites and apps online to do everything from editing documents to saving and printing files. As we blogged about earlier, when word about these netbooks first hit, the concept drew wildly different opinions on whether it was a great idea, or one that was half-baked. So, then, now that the hardware is finally here, have attitudes changed? Not so much, as we found out when we prepared our just updated report on netbooks.

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The Motorola Atrix 4G is a great smartphone, but could it be your next netbook?

Electronics
By Molly McLaughlin on May 24, 2011 in

Motorola Atrix 4G

As a smartphone, the Motorola Atrix 4G gets raves from Engadget, CNET, Laptop Magazine, PC World and many more. PhoneArena.com editors sum it up: the Atrix 4G sets itself apart from a "sea of forgettable devices from Motorola's camp" and rises to the top. Among the Atrix 4G's many features is an optional dock (called the Lapdock) that allows it to double as a netbook - but reviews of the accessory are lukewarm at best.

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Google's Chromebook: Great idea or head in the clouds?

Computers & Internet
By Carl Laron on May 16, 2011 in

Samsung Series 5 Chromebook

The Internet has been buzzing with word that Google's promised Chrome-based netbook will become real next month. Dubbed the Chromebook, models will range from a $349 Wi-Fi only version from Acer to a $499 3G version with 100 MB of free data per month (for only two years, however) from Samsung. Schools ($20 to $23 per month) and businesses ($28 to $33 per month) will also have the option of leasing instead of buying Chrombooks. We'll have a full report on the Chromebook and its alternatives when we next update our report on netbooks. (Look for that at the end of next month, after the Chromebook officially hits the streets -- and the reviewers' desks.) In the meantime, here's what we know.

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Cheap netbook and notebook deals and duds for Black Friday

Computers & Internet
By Carl Laron on November 24, 2010 in

Netbooks and laptops for Black Friday

Those looking for deals on cheap netbooks have a few things to be merry about on Black Friday. If you don't mind lugging around something that's a little bulkier, though not necessarily all that much more powerful, we also spied a pretty nice deal on a super cheap full-sized laptop. But beware, among the goodies there are some of lumps of coal that are more likely to leave their recipients frowning rather than smiling. Here's what to look for, and what to avoid.

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New netbooks add some brawn, but are they still a good buy?

Computers & Internet
By Carl Laron on September 2, 2010 in

Netbook

In the beginning, netbooks were modest devices. Most lacked the giddyup to even run Windows. Now, netbooks have grown up to the point where even basic models perform many everyday tasks with ease, and a new class of netbooks is starting to challenge full-sized laptops when it comes to getting things done. But this higher power comes at a price -- literally -- as netbooks are starting to catch up to and even pass full-sized laptops when it comes to the bottom line. Do these more powerful but more expensive netbooks still make sense? That's among the things you can learn in our freshly updated report on netbooks.

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Nifty netbook deals for Black Friday

Electronics
By Carl Laron on November 23, 2009 in

Acer Aspire One D250

While the rumored $150 Acer Aspire One at Office Max turned out to be a mirage, shoppers looking to snag a sleek and stylish netbook still have some reasons to be merry this holiday season. There are some real lemons out there to be sure -- the $120 Kmart "netbook" deal we posted about earlier comes to mind -- but some good performers at substantial savings can be found at several retailers. Here are the details for some of the better deals we've spotted:

 

While the rumored $150 Acer Aspire One at Office Max turned out to be a mirage, shoppers looking to snag a sleek and stylish netbook still have some reasons to be merry this holiday season. There are some real lemons out there to be sure -- the $120 Kmart "netbook" deal we posted about earlier comes to mind -- but some good performers at substantial savings can be found at several retailers. Here are the details for some of the better deals we've spotted:

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Kmart's Black Friday "netbook" comes up small

Computers & Internet
By Carl Laron on November 4, 2009 in

Netbook

With a price tag of just $120, Kmart's Black Friday netbook doorbuster looks like a bargain at first glance. Unfortunately, when we looked further we found that it's anything but. In fact, calling the Delstar 7-inch wireless netbook a netbook at all is a stretch that would leave the Fantastic Four's Reed Richards envious. Here's why:

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Windows 7: To upgrade, or not to upgrade, that is the question

Computers & Internet
By Carl Laron on October 22, 2009 in

Windows 7

Today's the day Vista, Microsoft's much maligned operating system, officially sails off into the sunset to a chorus of goodbyes and good riddances. Microsoft is keeping its fingers crossed that Windows 7 will be everything that Vista was supposed to be, and not the slow, unstable and annoyingly obtrusive operating system that it foisted on an unsuspecting public at launch. To be fair, by the end Vista had been patched and trimmed to the point where it was actually a pretty decent OS, especially if installed fresh on a new machine. Of course, that doesn't help the millions of users struggling with a buggy Vista install.

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Nifty new netbooks

Computers & Internet
By Carl Laron on October 18, 2009 in

HP Mini 5101

Lightweight and low priced, the netbook phenomenon shows few signs of ending anytime soon. Most netbooks can't really compete performance-wise with full-sized laptops -- even cheap laptops. But if you need an easy-to-tote companion for checking email, browsing the web or low-demand computing tasks like basic word processing, a netbook can deliver the goods.

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Netbooks for kids

Computers & Internet
By Sage McHugh on September 2, 2009 in

Super-restrictive netbooks boast more parental control

Dell has launched a new netbook designed especially for children - the Latitude 2100. There are many features that will certainly appeal to kids: it has a 10.1-inch touchscreen, weighs just 2.91 lbs, and comes in a choice of five colors. A built-in shoulder strap and quick-connect handles make it easier to carry around. A special slot on the hinge allows children to personalize their computer by entering their name, school, etc.

Other kid-friendly features include a tough rubber exterior, and an anti-microbial keyboard helps prevent the spread of germs. Kids might despise it, but parents and teachers will appreciate the network activity light on the lid, which begins flashing when a browser or chat application is opened. This feature can't be disabled, so covert web surfing is impossible.

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