Cheap Netbooks @ Ramvalley

Netbooks – What you need to know before you buy Comparing laptops and notebooks, pros and cons

Are the days of the Cheap Laptops numbered?

As the world becomes a smaller place, the Internet grows ever larger and more resourceful. Today, we cannot survive without the Internet at our disposal for a very long time. Hence, vast arrays of handheld solutions which promise Internet access are available. While all of them have their uses, Internet on handheld devices is hardly as rich and resourceful as that on a full-fledged PC. Mobile browsers come with limited support, especially for features like embedded video and animation, thus leaving your web experience half-baked. In today’s age of extensive mobility, even the much vaulted laptop looks like a lumbering giant. The solution? Enter the Netbook world.

As of today, Netbooks are little more than ultraportable laptops. As the name suggests, it is best suited for surfing the net on the go along with other lightweight allied tasks. It is not fundamentally designed to be a multimedia center or an office workstation and most Netbooks reflect that.

Screen size for Netbooks is generally 8-9 inches. Screen resolution varies according to make and model and is available up to a respectable 1024×600. While the smaller form factor has definite portability advantages, the smaller keyboard and touchpad area can be a real pain for people with large hands. Connectivity in Netbooks is paramount and hence it generally comes with a whole array of USB connectors, an Ethernet connection and the latest available wireless technology. External display devices maybe supported through DVI/S-Video. Optical drives are optionally available.

Under the hood, the processor for Netbooks needs to be a frugal drinker of electricity. As of today, three different platforms are available. The reliable but ageing VIA C7D (HP 2133 miniNote), the popular Intel Atom processor, and the mixed-bag options offered by AMD (Sempron 2100+, Turion64 or the puny Geode LX800). Memory typically comes in the 512MB-2GB range. Storage may be in the form of a SSD (solid state drive) or a simple hard drive. While SSD’s are faster, compact and consume less power, they also add a lot to the price tag of Netbooks. As a compromise, some vendors ship their units with a limited capacity (2-4 GB) flash memory which usually contains the operating system, and a standard hard drive for storage.

In terms of software on your Netbook, you can go for Windows XP or Linux. Linux distributions like Ubuntu 8.10 are an excellent choice as they work very well out of the box. Windows Vista performance is generally poor as they require more power.

A checklist while getting Netbooks can be as follows:-

-Power efficiency- The Atom offers the best bet, but the 945 chipset it ships with is old. The newer US15 chipset is expected to be out soon. Keep a lookout
-Memory- 512MB maybe adequate but you are better off with 1GB+
-Video – Look out for the upcoming Ion(Atom+ GeForce 9400) platform for NVidia with HD Playback capabilities
-Hard Drive -SSD’s offer performance and efficiency at higher prices
-Price- can be bought within $500 in general

Most major brands like Dell, HP, Compaq and Acer have Netbooks in their lineup. The ASUS Eee Pc, the first one launched, is also a decent choice. What you have to decide is whether you actually need a Netbook. While it offers portability, a rich web experience and lightweight computing capabilities, it is not really a replacement for a laptop or a phone and in general have failed to find a market niche till date.

They’re tiny (enough for a handbag), fast (Linux) and resilient (all-solid-state memory and storage), thats the beauty of netbooks. And unlike the beauty from Cupertino, their price tag matches their stature. Check out our hands-on video with the Everex Cloudbook and the Asus eeePC.

Netbooks are everywhere, on buses, on trains, on planes… and in the classroom. It seems the little netbook has come out of nowhere to become extremely popular overnight.

But what is a netbook?

Netbooks usually have screens of 10 inches or less, runs Windows or Linux and generally sell for well under $500. As its name indicates, the netbook’s main purpose is to keep its owner conveniently connected to the net – anywhere, anytime.

First introduced by Asustek when it launched the first Eee PC in the fall of 2007. But it was only in the last year when we saw the explosive growth of these so-called mini-laptops. Now we have many computer companies such as HP, Dell, Lenovo… all jumping on this craze for a small portable laptop. So much so, that netbooks now is the fastest growing segment of the laptop industry and is expected to reach 139 million units by 2013.

Why is there a sudden popularity for the small netbook? Perhaps the answer lies mainly in our constant quest for mobility. We want a portable device that will keep us connected to the Internet and yet be small and light enough to be carried around all day. A truly ultra-portable device that keeps us connected with family, friends and the web.

The next question you have to ask: why do netbooks make for great student laptops? If the above reasons aren’t enough, try the following:

Size

Netbooks are small with 10 inch displays or less, which make them ideal for students. Plus, they are usually very lightweight – around 2 or 3 pounds. They are compact enough to tuck into your school bag or backpack, and small enough to carry around all day without developing a hernia.

Portability

As mentioned above because the netbook is so small and compact, it is very portable. A very mobile device that we can use to stay connected to the web and friends. Connectability is one of the main features – you are connected to the web at all times.

Sturdiness

Most netbooks are designed to be sturdy and tough. They can take a few hard knocks and still keep on working. Students are not exactly the most gentle creatures on the planet, so a sturdy tough machine is needed to handle the demands put upon it.

Battery Life

Because of their small size, you will usually get better battery life than with a regular sized laptop. This is important to the student since you may have to go all day without a chance to re-charge the battery. Long lasting battery life makes the netbook the perfect student laptop.

Performance

Although small, these mini-laptops still sports some very impressive specs. Many now come with at least 1 Gig of RAM and Intel Atom processors. There are even some with Solid State Hard Drives which make them more durable and less likely to be damaged. Most use Windows XP – newer models debuting this year with the Nvidia’s Ion platform may have Vista or Windows 7, but still don’t expect the kind of performance you would get from a regular laptop.

Storage

While storage on netbooks is constantly increasing, it is still nowhere near the kind of storage you will find on a regular sized laptop. Usually, most devices have around 30 or 60 Gig hard drives which should be adequate for most student’s needs. Many newer netbooks have 160 Gigs of storage.

Price

Perhaps, the main reason netbooks make the perfect student laptops is the low price. Students are usually on a very limited budget and the low price-tag is a perfect fit. Many perfectly adequate machines are now priced in the $300 to $500 range – while many good ones go for well under $300. Plus, prices are steadily dropping so almost any student can now afford a netbook.

As you can plainly see, the netbook does have many features to make it a perfect student laptop: small size, very portable, excellent connections, very sturdy, long battery life, good performance, adequate storage and most of all, a very affordable price almost any student can take advantage of. Overall, netbooks are well suited for the classroom and the student.

Alienware Laptops are one of the costliest gaming laptops available in the market. If it is difficult for you to get a brand new Alienware gaming laptop you can check out for other options. Alienware Refurbished Laptops come at affordable rates. You may be biased about buying a second – hand laptop. A refurbished laptop is different from a “second-hand laptop.”

Buying an Alienware refurbished laptop for a much lower price is no different than purchasing a new laptop. There are few things to look at before you go for a refurbished Alienware laptop.

•    Alienware refurbished laptops run several hundred dollars less than the exact same model being sold as new.
•    Alienware refurbished laptops are fully inspected and tested by the third party sellers.
•    In most cases, warranty is provided with every purchase of Alienware refurbished laptop.
•    Before you buy an Alienware refurbished laptop, check the date of purchase so that you could determine when it was sent to the vendor for revamping and when it was marked refurbished and sent again to the market for resale.
•    Hardware usually becomes obsolete in a span of 5 years. Never go for a refurbished laptop older than 2 years.
•    Remember, there is a difference between a used laptop and refurbished laptop. Used laptops can be found anywhere at very low prices but there is no warranty of the product unlike Alienware refurbished laptops, which are certified and fully inspected for resale.
•    When a laptop is refurbished, it is likely that the model has been upgraded. So, check out the new upgraded features of the Alienware refurbished laptop before you take it home.
•    Warranty period for a brand new Alienware laptop and refurbished Alienware laptop may vary. Instead of a 1 year warranty for a new laptop, most companies offer a 3-4 month warranty on refurbished laptops.
•    Compare the price of the Alienware refurbished laptop with any laptop having same features. You will still find Alienware refurbished laptop better.
•    Transact with reputable vendors or credible sources only or you may end up wasting your hard earned money.

Getting an Alienware refurbished laptop is no more a struggle. A huge range of top end cheap netbooks and Alienware refurbished laptops is available in the market including Alienware M5500i R3, Alienware Area 51 series  including 5620p, m9750, m3450, m 766 etc. to name a few. The premium Alienware refurbished laptops are not just for the gamers and enthusiasts but to cater the needs of all who are eager to use its highly specialized technology.

You can check out for detail at – Service.Ztronics.com to get one of the masterpieces you have always dreamt of.