Netbook Purchasing Guide:
Recommendations for Second Quarter 2009-2010
Specifications effective October 1, 2009
Some small low-cost notebooks are classified as "netbooks" or sub-notebooks. Information Systems & Computing (ISC) sees netbooks as an emerging market segment of potential interest to many users at the University. ISC expects to see extremely rapid change in this segment.
Netbooks tend to weigh between two and four pounds and have 7 to 12 inch screens. In performance, they tend to lag substantially behind last year's desktop recommendations and contain fewer features. In the University environment, netbooks are currently suitable only as a complementary device to a more capable desktop or notebook - they should not be deployed as a user's only computer. Examples of such netbooks are the ASUS Eee PC 901, the Dell Inspiron Mini 10, the Dell Latitude 2100, and the Lenovo IdeaPad S10e.
Recommended Configurations for Netbooks
Specifications effective October 1, 2009
Specifications will be reviewed and updated quarterly as appropriate (1/1, 4/1, 7/1, 10/1) |
|---|
| |
Windows |
| Hardware |
Processor |
ATOM (1.6 GHz)1 |
| Memory (RAM) |
1.0 GB |
| Mass Storage |
16 GB solid state drive or
160 GB/5400 RPM hard drive |
| Display & Graphics |
7.0 to 12.0-inch widescreen
integrated video |
| Miscellaneous |
optional external DVD-ROM/CD-RW "combo" drive
optional Bluetooth |
| Network Connectivity |
High-bandwidth |
internal 10/100BaseT Ethernet
internal 802.11b/g (Wi-Fi) |
| Low-bandwidth |
optional V.92 modem |
| Recommended Operating System |
Windows XP Service Pack 32 |
| Life Cycle |
18 months to two years |
| Estimated Price |
$400 - $7003 |
Footnotes:
- Processor speed remains important in netbooks, mostly because they are all quite low-powered. ISC strongly suggests the 1.6 GHz version of Intel's ATOM processor.
- Windows XP Service Pack 3 is supported and recommended for netbooks, mostly because their low processor performance can not usefully support Windows Vista.
- Estimated prices for these netbooks include one-year service plans from the manufacturers, which ISC strongly recommends. Note that the one year warranty is an extra cost for some netbooks and that this cost is reflected in the estimated price.
Pricing is generated using the online configurators available from Dell and Lenovo, and is for general reference only. Support providers will often be able to generate more competitive pricing using various means, such as purchasing components (RAM, etc.) separately and taking advantage of vendor bundles and rebates.
These specifications are sometimes revised in mid-quarter when major changes in configurations from Dell and Lenovo become generally available. When this happens, the revision date is highlighted in red.
Other than some differences in peripherals, support for netbooks is usually similar to desktop computers. Providers and users will often need to approach netbooks in a fashion similar to PDAs, restricting data and applications to less than the full set installed on a more capable desktop or notebook.
If your school or center is considering a netbook purchase, ISC strongly recommends a consultation to weigh pros and cons in today's rapidly changing environment (contact John Mulhern III in ISC, mulhernj@isc.upenn.edu; 573-3567).
Desktop Recommendations
|
