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!

Note: This article is written by “wiiloaded.com” and not any members of the Funknowledge Blog. You may visit their web site at: wiiloaded.com.

Missed the EB Games/Gamestop and Toys R Us preorders? Do not worry, this guide will help you find that Nintendo Wii that you’re searching for on November 19th, aka launch day.With the Wii’s Preorder demand much higher than original expected and the hype surrounding the Wii (not to mention eBay resellers), the Wii may be harder to find than originally expected, in spite of the record 1 million consoles available at launch.With all of this demand, and long lines for preorders, how could you possibly expect to find a Wii on launch? Without just a little effort, you probably cannot. However, this guide will give you a way to play Wii sports that Sunday with the least inconvenience.

First of all, don’t bother calling EB Games or Gamestop. They are sold out. According to reports, these companies (which have merged into one) waited until they received the initial delivery numbers before preordering, and reserved exactly that many. They do not expect to have extra units after their reserves are picked up. Gamestop and EB are thus ranked “No Chance”.

Toys R Us generally does not sell it’s entire cache of consoles through preorders. Most people will assume they did, or even forget that Toys R Us carries video games, and thus the line can be very thin. Do remember, though, that they have already preordered a significant number of consoles, and may not have many available for sale. Depending on your area, though, you may want to save this one as a last resort if you miss the midnight releases at other retailers, as after those midnight consoles are sold out, a line will form at any retailer that will be selling them in the morning. Toys R Us generally opens at 10am or Noon on Sunday, depending on your area, so Toys R Us earns the “Last Chance” ranking. UPDATE: If the rumors hold any truth, TRU may have only reserved 20% of their stockpile and may still have more units per store than ANY other retailer. If true, this would upgrade the Toys R Us ranking from “Last Chance” to “Best Chance”!

Wal-Mart, if you have one in your area, may not be a bad choice. They receive a large number of consoles, and are usually open 24 hours a day, thus you do not have to sit outside in the freezing cold. Many will even hand out tickets early and allow you to shop around until midnight. Due to this reason, though, you may have to show up during the early afternoon to claim your spot. To avoid cold overnight queues, this may be worth it. Wal-Mart is ranked as the “Stay Warm” headquarters.Target, the retailer that jumped the gun and began offering accessories before everyone else, they may be building hype for the release. Or, since they are not opening early for the release, could be the best place to line up after missing the midnight lines. Target, then, receives the “Second Chance” ranking.

Best Buy is also offering midnight releases (UPDATE: Apparently they are only opening one hour early), but be warned; this is a popular place to camp out for consoles. This will be the first place most people go to line up, and you will likely see a line formed by 2pm on Saturday, if not sooner. However, you’ll find a lot of video game fans here, so if you have a DS and a lawn chair, this may be the place to be. If you’re reading this, you probably do not have anything better to do on a Saturday night than take on strangers at Mario Kart and Metroid Prime: Hunters. Thus Best Buy gets the “Most Fun” rank.

Circuit City is joining the lineup as a midnight releaser as well. Depending on how prominent the store is in your area, this line could fill up fast or could be easily overlooked. Take a look at how popular the Circuit City is in your area for video games, and make a decision based on that. Circuit City gets the “Wildcard”.

Sam’s Club and Costco are generally not known for video games, but they do offer them! As you must have a membership to purchase anything, the expense is greater, but this greatly reduces the number of people to compete against. Also note that they generally only offer bundles, but the bundles may be a good deal. Do not be surprised if one retailer offers a Wii with a spare controller and nunchuk for $299, a savings of $10 over purchasing separately. They do not open until morning, but a wait of less than two hours is possible due to these two being overlooked. Expect the line to be made of an older crowd, usually resellers and parents. Also note that if you’re looking for a PlayStation 3, “business” members are allowed to shop earlier than other members on weekdays (such as November 17th), so investing in a business membership may be worth it. Sam’s Club and Costco get the “Most Overlooked” rank.

A few points to consider, which might make a few lines a deal maker or deal breaker. If you’re going to be outside, bring a chair, blanket, warm clothing, cooler with food/water, and something to occupy yourself, such as a DS or a good book (yeah right!). A cell phone can keep you in contact with others. Plot out how far it is to a bathroom. You don’t want to walk two miles just for that. A close by fast food restaurant might be a huge bonus, as you can send one person to pick up warm food for everyone in the line.Look around your area. Do some retailers have locations off the beaten path? Those may be the best place to wait. Sure, the more popular a store is, the more consoles it will get, but that also means the more people will be waiting there. One thing is for sure. Do not wait for November 18th to plan everything out. Get a group of friends that can call each other and give status reports of lines forming around town. Nobody wants to wait a long time, but you don’t want to show up to late either, do you? If you do miss the launch, do not worry. Nintendo is expected to deliver 4 million before Christmas, though if demand increase, Nintendo may be able to answer with more units. Thus, even with the Wii becomes the hottest selling video game system ever (and we expect it to), you should be able to find one with minimal effort to place under your tree.

Mad I tell you!! Mad! Those people are crazy, lining Thursday morning and waited there all this time just for a $600 dollar, heavy, enormous game system. Plus it uses blue-ray that could be become obsolete if HD-DVD wins the new format. I mean really what kind of people are they? The Nintendo Wii is coming out on Sunday/Saturday (depending on how you look at it) midnight. Nintendo has about 1 million systems in the US alone way more than the 400,000 Playstation 3. Things are looking good for the Wii, only $250 (really cheap compared to the Xbox 360′s $400 and the PS3′s $600), light, small, innnovative controller and of course of classic charater’s Mario and Zelda!