No, netbooks is not a typo, it is the category that cheap, small, light, and portable laptops fit in. Some netbooks include the MSI Wind (which I really want to get my hands on, but it is “Out of Stock” or “Backordered” just about everywhere), the Asus Eee PC, the Acer Aspire One, and the HP Mininote 2133.

These netbooks are targeted to mainly the younger audience who are just getting their first laptop and people who want to be able to bring around a laptop for on the go stuff (which is the reason I’m getting one)

Most netbooks have a screen less than 10 inches diagonally, weigh a bit over 2 lbs, are $300 to $600, use an Intel Atom processor, and run Linux or Windows XP.

So why would you want one? For many reasons, lets say you are on a vacation, but don’t want to carry around your typical 6 pound notebook. Hey look, there is a small, lightweight, and cheap one right there! Or maybe you are a parent and have a screaming child who wants a laptop. You don’t want to spend over $1000 on the shiny Macbook that he wants because it is shiny (that, and only that, but you think that they are way too overpriced), so you see a cool, sleek netbook that is half of the Macbook! Fantastic!

Lets have a run down of the major ones on the market right now (though you may not be able to actually get one)

The Eee PC 700 series (All info and pictures are from Wikipedia, unless noted. Also, links are all to Wikipedia if you want to learn more about a netbook)

First, the long timer, the Asus Eee PCs. They have quite a few types, the 700, 900, and 1000 series and for most models, you have the choices of Windows or Linux. The 700s have 7 inch screens (hence the “7″) and are the cheapest and were the first ones to come out. They have the Intel 900 MHz Celeron-M ULV (ultra-low voltage) 353 processor and have 2, 4, 0r 8 gigs of storage (solid state hard drives). They also have 512 MB of RAM, a 4 cell battery, and the more expensive ones have built in cameras. These also come in various colors (pink, blue, and green).

The Eee PC 900 series

The 900s use the same chassis as the 700s but have a larger screen (9 inches) and some other differences with their configurations. Some also have the Intel Atom processor, Bluetooth, and Wireless N. Both the 700 and 900s have nearly untypeable keyboards, they are just way too small. You won’t be able to accurately touch type, the that is a huge minus if you’ll be typing a lot on them.

The Eee PC 1000 series (from Laptoping.com)

The 1000s (you guessed it) have 10 inch screens and are near the top of my list of best Netbooks. They mainly run the Intel Atom processor and have 6 cell batteries (that means around 6 hrs of battery life). All of them have a built in camera too and (thankfully) a larger keyboard.

The Acer Aspire One

The Acer Aspire One has a 8.9 inch screen and uses the Intel Atom processor. The computer is preinstalled with either Windows XP or Linpus Linux. You can get an 8 GB SSD (solid state hard drive) or 120 GB normal one on this laptop. The keyboard on this one is much better than the one on the Eee 700 and 900s (95% of a full size keyboard). The touchpad buttons are placed a bit awkwardly (on the sides instead of below the touchpad itself). You also have the option of a 3 or 6 cell battery. They cost about $350.

The HP 2133 Mini-Note

The HP Mini-Note is the more expensive version of the Acer netbook (many similar characteristics). It also has a 8.9 inch screen (which by the way is glossy, so be warned when you are outside in the sun), a great keyboard (92% of a full size), and the funky touchpad buttons. But the thing that drives me nuts about this netbook is that is has a VIA processor (have you ever even heard of that company?) which lowers its performance level by quite a bit. The laptop also has the option of having Windows Vista installed on it, in addition to Windows XP, and SUSE Linux. The laptop starts out at $499.

The MSI Wind

The final one I’ll talk about here is my personal favorite (as of now), the MSI Wind. This netbook has a great keyboard, a pretty sleek design, an Intel Atom processor, the option of a 6 cell battery (and 3 cell), and it is $549, but the only problem is, you can’t get it. You could get it for $649 at some places, but I don’t think the extra $100 is worth getting it a bit earlier. The computer comes with a typical 80 GB hard drive and a special over and under clocking feature to speed up your computer or save battery. There are many reincarnations of the MSI Wind, all made by MSI and redistributed under other names. This includes the Advent 4211, the MyBook M11 “Freedom”, and the Casper MiniBook. The alternative namings are not avaliable in the US and are only distributed in specific countries (see Wikipedia for more)

The Dell E

Coming soon to the hands of normal consumers are the Dell Inspiron Mini (name yet to be confirmed, other variations include the Dell E and the Dell Inpiron 910) and the Lenovo IdeaPad S10. The Dell will have a 8.9 inch screen and use the Atom. Dell has yet to officially announce it.

The Lenovo IdeaPad S10 (from Engadget.com)

The Lenovo IdeaPad S10 (Link to Lenovo’s Website) is already avaliable for purchase, though it won’t ship until early October. It will have a 10.2 inch screen, and Intel Atom processor, a webcam, and Lenovo’s One-Key Rescue System. It runs Windows XP Home Edition and the currently avaliable 3 cell version is $429 (black) or $439 (red or white) (blue and pink will be available later according to their site).

So good luck choosing between these cheap, ultraportable netbooks. I’ll certainly have a hard time since the MSI Wind is not liking to stay in stock and when it does, I might be leaning towards the Lenovo S10 or the Dell. Be sure to check them all out and see which one fits your lifestyle and needs!