Authored by Jackie Acosta in Computer Hardware 
Published on 12-05-2008

A few years (or maybe even decades!) ago, computer manufacturers worldwide impressed everyone when they introduced a way to make it possible for people to carry their computers from the desk to almost about everywhere they went. No longer where they tied down to one place—they were now able to hold a virtual office almost anytime and anywhere.

Laptops were developed to make it possible for people to gain access to their work at their own time. This convenience came with a price, though. To some, carrying the “virtual office” almost anywhere is just the same as carrying their entire desktop—without the books and the computer! These laptops proved to be heavy and can be quite an inconvenience when one needs to move around a lot. Lugging around these five pound machines caused several backaches and shoulder problems for people who were constantly carrying them.

Enter a new revolutionary idea that brings a solution to the problem: the ultra-portable lightweight laptop, more popularly known as the netbook. The netbook is a “lite” version of the laptop—most of them weighing about 3 pounds maximum and is tinier than the original version with screens measuring from nine to ten inches. This mini laptop or the netbook is indeed a great idea for people who are always on the go but does not need a fully-tricked out computer to take with them. All they need is a computer that can perform the just the basic stuff like surfing, chatting, and maybe do some work like documents, presentations, and spreadsheets.

Most of these mini laptops have been built and modified for the sake of portability without having to sacrifice function and even design. Netbooks are equipped with the basic computer requirements except for a CD/DVD drive, which most agree that is not necessary anyway. They run on efficient power that still enables one to still multi-task like they would on any other computer. Carrying it around is easier and a lot more convenient as they are slimmer and lighter.

Aside from the lack of DVD drive, there might also be several drawbacks to this though—most netbooks use materials that are not heavy-duty such as plastic instead of the sturdier ones like aluminum, so they are prone to more damage and can be weathered easily if one is not careful. Others might find it hard to run heavier or bigger programs such as graphic-based applications and editing software as the processors of these mini laptops are also relatively smaller too, hence limiting its uses for some people.

While it is still virtually a new market in the computing technologies industry, there is room for improvement and development of more features for these netbooks. Technology, indeed, moves at a frantic pace—and who knows, the lack of a DVD drive might not be as much of a negative aspect as it is now. For the mean time, the netbooks available in the market can make do for the traveler who needs to be connected, the businessman who is constantly on-the-go, and the student with a busy schedule.