The Tech-pert: 5 Tips to Get the Best Netbook Deal

By Rick.BroidaGuest Blogger(view all posts by Rick.Broida)
at 9:02AM Saturday April 3, 2010
under Shop Smarter

The Apple iPad is all the rage right now, but netbooks are still flying off the shelves. Know why? Because they do a lot more and cost a lot less.

Indeed, as evidenced by my earlier post this week, you can buy a very nicely equipped netbook for as little as $250. The entry-level iPad: $499. Okay, but what should you look for when choosing a netbook, and how can you make the most of it?

Here are five rules (Okay, guidelines...) to follow:

Don't expect blazing performance. Early netbook models ran like molasses in January. Know what? The latest models aren't much better. Netbooks were built not for mammoth spreadsheets or full-screen video, but for basic tasks like Web browsing and word processing. Don't expect too much and you won't be disappointed.

Know your batteries. The typical entry-level netbook comes with a 3-cell battery. That helps keep the weight light and the price low, but it also limits your runtime: you'll be lucky to get three hours of operation from a 3-cell battery. If you tend to take long trips, look for a configuration that includes a 6-cell battery, which should be good for at least five hours between charges. You may even be able to find a 9-cell battery for all-day mobility. Keep in mind, however, that higher-capacity batteries add bulk, weight, and cost to your netbook--to the point where you might be better off with a regular old laptop.

Don't overlook refurbished models. A refurbished (a.k.a. "recertified") netbook is, by definition, one that was returned for some reason or never made it off the factory floor due to some kind of issue. As a result, the manufacturer can no longer sell it as "new." In most cases, however, the hardware is reconditioned and made good as new, if not better: Any problem that may have existed has been corrected. Meanwhile, you stand to save a good chunk of change--anywhere from $50-100 based on the deals I've seen. The only real trade-off is the warranty, which usually drops to 90 days from the usual one year.

BYO Internet. Many netbooks are available with 3G broadband service--for a price. Although you may end up getting the netbook itself at a subsidized rate--say, $99--you'll pay a lot more over the course of your mandatory two-year, $60/month contract. My advice: Buy an unsubsidized netbook and add your own modem. I'm partial to Virgin Mobile Broadband2Go, a pay-as-you-go 3G modem that requires no monthly contract and no monthly minimums. It's not just for netbooks, of course, but it's ideal for them.

Don't buy an external DVD drive. Netbooks famously lack optical drives, meaning you can't just pop in a DVD to watch a movie or install your copy of Microsoft Office. What you can do, however, is download everything you need. Movies, for instance, are available from services like Film Fresh and Apple iTunes. As for MS Office, just download the trial version, then register it using the license code included with your boxed copy. Virtually every other application on the planet can be downloaded as well, so a DVD drive is just plain unnecessary.

Self-proclaimed cheapskate Rick Broida has been a technology writer for over 20 years. He has authored over a dozen books, including, most recently, "How to Do Everything: Palm Pre." Currently he writes the Cheapskate blog for CNET, the Hassle-Free PC blog for PC World, and technology stories for Popular Science, Wired, and other magazines.