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How To: Become a Linux Netbook Power User

Mary Lou Jepsen didn't set out to invent the netbook and turn the computer industry upside down. She was just trying to create a supercheap laptop.

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Mary Lou Jepsen didn't set out to invent the netbook and turn the computer industry upside down. She was just trying to create a supercheap laptop. In 2005, Jepsen, a pioneering LCD screen designer, was tapped to lead the development of the machine that would become known as One Laptop per Child. Nicholas Negroponte, the longtime MIT Media Lab visionary, launched the project hoping to create an inexpensive computer for children in developing countries. It would have Wi-Fi, a color screen, and a full keyboard—and sell for about $100. At that price, third-world governments could buy millions and hand them out freely in rural villages. Plus, it had to be small, incredibly rugged, and able to run on minimal power. "Half of the world's children have no regular access to electricity," Jepsen points out.

Lifehacker's top 5 Netbooks.

Maximize Firefox 3.5's Viewing Area for Your Netbook

Your netbook's screen is tiny and processor less than mighty, so you want to maximize the web page viewing area without any performance-killing Firefox extensions. Here's how to consolidate Firefox 3.5's chrome for your Windows or Linux-based netbook.

The netbook form factor offers consumers a low-cost ultraportable notebook in a market segment where notebooks used to cost $1,500 and up. With most netbooks costing less than $400, they are cheap enough to buy one in addition to your full-size notebook. With the vast majority offering Intel Atom processors, these portable computers can handle most daily tasks with ease. In this buying guide we compare the different models we have reviewed to help you find the best netbook to fit your needs.

When people buy a netbook, they’re often not buying their primary machine. It’s a second computer, a backup device that people take when their real machine – which is often a laptop computer that isn’t much larger or more expensive – seems like too much to carry. It’s a luxury that people might ditch if the current economic situation continues or worsens and as the differences between laptops and netbooks vanish. Netbooks, as a blend of the worst of both mobile and laptop worlds, will be a transitional technology; at best, they’ll enjoy a brief heyday similar to that of the fax machine.

Why netbooks suck: http://bit.ly/Y5kQS [from http://twitter.com/medwardsmusic/statuses/2116377365]

Looks at how netbooks fit between SmartPhones and laptops, but do neither really well.

netbook - check for prices on ebuyer, dabs, laptopsdirect, amazon, and googleshopping - Consider: a) if battery life is an issue - the Acer Aspire One barely manages 2hrs, but the EEE901 does 8hrs - the average for most is 3-4hrs. b) do you want the familiarity and ~£20 cost of Windows XP, or can you handle having Linux and essentially being able to install nothing beyond what's already installed (web, email, docs, photos, vids) without delving into geek territory, and if you need to hook into other machines on a home (wireless) network it isn't going to be easy with Linux.