So what is a netbook you say. Well it is a smaller form factor notebook that is desogned primariy for users that access the Internet for most of their work or play as the case may be. Netboooks sport 8.9" and 10.2" screens an, boats battery lofe of as much as 7 hours and weigh in at around 3.2-3.5 pounds.

Netbooks have been around for about a year now and are a fast growing segment of the overall notebook market.  Whether as your primary notebook or as a secondasry notbook computer netbooks make good sense.  If you have ever had the pleasure of lugging a standard size notebook computer throught the airport or into a coffee shop you can quickly see the appeal of something smaller and lighter.

So what do you give up with a netbook system?  Well obviously screen size with the larget netbooks sporting 10.2" screens.  Als the keyboards are about 92% of the size of a normal laptop/desktop keyboard.  You also do not get dual processors, although that is on the horizon, and graphics performance while good is not 3D gmaing qiality, and you will not be foindg any video production with these systems.

However, if you need a notebook that can access your email, browse the web, play a downloaded movie on that long coast-to-coast flight and can easily slip into your messenger bag, a purse or your briefcase a netbook may just be the answer.

Two of the highest rated netbooks today are the Asus Eee PC 1000HE and the Acer Aspire One. Both system feature a 1.6Ghz Atom processor, LED back-lit display, 1 GB of RAM, and a 160GB 5400 RPM disk drive, a 1.3MP Web Cam, three USB ports, a muli-format Memory Card slot, and Windows XP Home.

Asus almost single handedly created the netbook market with their first Eee PC. Their latest entry sports also sports 802.11 Wi-Fi b/g/n, and up to a claimed 9.5 hours of battery life with Asus' Super Hybrid Engine battery technology. It tips the scales at just 3.2 pounds.

The Acer Aspire One has 802.11 Wi-Fi b/g, a dedicated SD Memory Card slot and up to 5 hours battery life. It weighs in at just under 3 pounds.

These configuration are faster than many of the full-size notebooks from just three years ago. So check out one now and see how light you can travel and still be fully connected.

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