12" netbooks the way forward for business?

A series of 12" netbooks are becoming available from different vendors, offering a higher-spec that traditional 10" versions. With larger keyboards and more power under the hood, would you be tempted to trade in your notebook PC for one of the smaller 12" alternatives?

What are your thoughts on netbooks and business usage?

This is for a future BusinessZone.co.uk piece, so your quotes may be used.

Best,

Jon

 

[level200]

I Phone 3GS is the way forward for business i think, couldnt do without mine

 

[JayZee]

Years ago I had a little fujita notebook - it was half the size of any other laptop I'd seen, but has as much memory as as many functions - I could pop into a handbag or even a large pocket and I loved it, until it got a virus and died :-(
I've never seen anything as convenient since - if I see anthing that's as small and as functional again I'd grab it and cherish it

 

[garyk]

I had one of those mini sony vaios a few years back, nice little piece of kit. Now I think anything smaller than a 13" is abit of a compromise, I love my 13" macbook but even with that I think I could do with a little more screen space, even with 'virtual' windows using spaces.

 

So is a 12" screen too small even for a complimentary role?

Are PC manufacturers treading the wrong path by offering 12" mini-notebooks?

 

[Nickdavis87]

12" is a good size for being on the move etc, i wouldnt bother with a 7" or 9" as i have a htc magic for email etc and cant see the benefit of a laptop that small.

The real benefit for the smaller laptops will come when the wireless internet dongles become cheaper, i am waiting for a landline provider to offer a combined package of broadband and wireless internet.

 

[Page]

It all depends what you want and how you are going to use it.

If you think to work at a 12" screen with whatever the restricted resolution is compared with a 15" oer 17" or 19" laptop with full size keyboard and decent processor and memory etc then you are kidding yourself.

But which would you want to carry?

So then where do you come in?

You need to sit down and think how you are going to really use it in real life. Are you going to get it in and out of a car and be able to plug in - go for a proper one. Are you going to carry it around all day and need long battery life well then a netbook might be better. No one machine is perfect it all depends on what you want.

I have both and the 10" (I think) net book is awful to work at but sometimes useful.
Small screen and keyboard (plus less keys! go look).
Slow (needed for long battery life) - fine for word etc but when you are multitasking then ...
To light and small to have balanced across my knees. And that does matter to myself at least.

PCPro have a review this month - just out. So if you think a netbook is what you need then go buy. If unsure why not see if you can borrow one from someone for a day or two.

 

[SneakSMS]

i am waiting for a landline provider to offer a combined package of broadband and wireless internet.

Virgin Media currently offer this, £5 a month extra for dongle

 

[Computer Technology Ltd]

Hi all,

Personally i think the manufacturers always try to meet the demand for whatever product is out there on the market. I'd excerise a bit of caution when making any kind of IT purchase.

As Page said it all really depends on what you need to achieve. I get asked a lot by businesses about what I think they should be investing in. I always start of with this first question:

Have you identified your needs and your goals? (with regard to IT equipment)

The fact that any given product looks good, performs well or is something that the management feel people would like own are some of the reasons mistakes are made. One thing to consider for example is employee productivity: I know for me personally I'm far more likely sit infront of a 15.4" wiedscreen laptop or a 22" desktop screen being productive doing whatever it is I'm doing than I would if I were infront of a 12" screen.

However, if I was a travelling salesrep then I might very much appreciate the smaller netbook (just dont think I'll be doing any overtime on it).

Identify Needs & Goals > Consider Budget > Make a confident and informed choice.


Just my opinion, but I hope that helps.

 

[Cornish Steve]

Two of my children have Acer Aspire netbooks, and they really are excellent. Given their convenience and low cost (and they run XP and not Vista), I've been very tempted to buy one for myself.

 

[Interconnect IT]

I run a lightweight, but worrying expensive 13" laptop which has plenty of power. Key advantage is that it's still easy to carry around (it's actually no thicker than my NC10) yet when I get to the office I connect it to my big screen, keyboard and mouse and it works beautifully as a full power machine.

The netbook is when I need to be able to power up for hours on end, possibly miles from electrical points, and without so much fear of theft as it's cheap. I use it for travelling, mostly. It's not very fast, but fine for server admin, word processing etc but the screen is too low-res for anything significant.

All computers are compromises - netbooks compromise power and screen size for ultra long battery life (at least, the ones I'd buy!), cheapness and portability.

What I'd really like a smartphone with a 15" screen, a teraflop CPU, and a full sized keyboard. But that ain't gonna happen

 

[edmondscommerce]

a single 17" laptop screen is a big compromise.

I've recently had the pleasure of using 2 x 30inch mac monitors and it's great.

12inches? not for me

 

[scrizzle]

I run a lightweight, but worrying expensive 13" laptop which has plenty of power. Key advantage is that it's still easy to carry around (it's actually no thicker than my NC10) yet when I get to the office I connect it to my big screen, keyboard and mouse and it works beautifully as a full power machine.

The netbook is when I need to be able to power up for hours on end, possibly miles from electrical points, and without so much fear of theft as it's cheap. I use it for travelling, mostly. It's not very fast, but fine for server admin, word processing etc but the screen is too low-res for anything significant.

All computers are compromises - netbooks compromise power and screen size for ultra long battery life (at least, the ones I'd buy!), cheapness and portability.

What I'd really like a smartphone with a 15" screen, a teraflop CPU, and a full sized keyboard. But that ain't gonna happen

Couldnt put it better.

13" is perfect. I have a 13" macbook pro and i tell ya, its supper powerful. Even better on an external monitor.

 

[An Oasis]

I'm a ludite when it comes to technology and can't see any benefits over a laptop but then I refuse to do things like text as well. On the other hand my wifes loves her netbook (where you put the CD/DVD's?).