A computer by any other name would work the same way, no? Well, it doesn’t matter if you call them netbooks, ultra-mobile PCs (UMPC), laptops, minibooks, or anything else, these small computers work extremely well.

More than a larger PDA

A netbook is not just a larger PDA. Although Intel was clever enough to adapt a processor first designed for mobile applications, they didn’t quite think of that opportunity. The predecessor of the Intel Atom N270 which is now used in most minibooks was originally designed for cell phones, PDAs, and other mobile applications.

But laptop designers are so full of ideas and using that low-power consumption CPU to create a child-sized laptop proved to be the perfect match. The goal was to make an inexpensive laptop that could be made small, durable but nevertheless still powerful enough to work in developing countries.

They succeeded, big time!

Netbooks

Current netbooks offer as much power, speed, and capacity as laptops of only a few years ago, which is already impressive. They can run Windows XP (some even Windows Vista) or various versions of Linux. Ubuntu Linux comes as a standard on some models, or as an option on others. Many manufacturers use Linpus Linux, another great flavor.

Hard drives are invariably smaller than that offered on their full-size cousins. But even the tiny 8GB SSD (solid state drive) installed by default in some models is beefy compared to a desktop of approximately 10 years ago. Things move fast in consumer electronics. An alternative capacity is offered now from 30GB to a huge 160GB. The latter is more than what used to come in most laptops only a year ago.

Highly functional

That highly functional power comes in a package that is typically about 10 inches wide by 7 inches deep by 1 inch high. Some might be a bit smaller. All weigh less than three pounds and many are slightly heavier than two pounds. That small size and weight is one of the key success factors since it makes these units ultra easy to carry around.

The screen is usually the first one to suffer from that downsizing but even here netbooks manage to eek out some very worthwhile monitors. A few offer resolutions as high as 1024 by 600, which is more than enough. Those screens are typically bright, crisp, and - on some models - superior in at least one respect to their bigger brothers.

How so? Netbook displays are usually backlit LCDs that work perfectly in full sunlight, the bright lights on an airline terminal or in a classroom. Many laptops would wash out under those conditions, but the average minibook still performs well at that particular level. Sitting on the deck outside of a campus quad while the sun is shining is definitely possible with a standard UMPC.

Substitute for Laptops

Most are not intended to be used as a full-time substitute for a full-sized laptop although they might be enough for a younger student. Even for an adult professional on the go a netbook can be the preferred option that will cover all the requirements. Like anything in consumer electronics, it comes down to the intended use and application.

Those applications run the gamut but web surfing, email and document creation are the most common. Firefox, Thunderbird and Open Office or the Microsoft equivalents all present no problem to today’s netbooks, minibooks, laptots or little computer thingies… anything you want to call them.