Netbook Question

Hello Everyone,

Before I ask my question, I should state that I am a technosaur. I am WAY behind the times of current technology. I do not understand alot of the terms and things that most of you use everyday.

I am considering getting myself a netbook. I am thinking along the lines of an Acer Aspire One or an HP 110-1046NR . Cheap and basic, for my entry into this era.

My question is, is it a PC? Meaning can I run programs, that I run on my desktop, on them? I need to be able to use stuff like MS Word, I need to install TurboCad, .pdf software etc. These things, and other programs, I have on CD's. I understand that there is no CD drive on these mini's, but I figure I can connect to my home network, allow sharing, and utilize the drives from my desktop. But do you just install programs onto these netbooks, just like it was another regular computer? Or do I have to find actual applications, made for these netbooks?

I know my question is worded poorly, but not quite sure how to ask it any better.

Thanks for any help.

Wikipedia: Netbook
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netbook

Quote:

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Netbooks are a category of small, lightweight, legacy-free, and inexpensive laptop computers.

At their inception in late 2007 [1] as smaller notebooks optimized for low weight and low cost[2] — netbooks omitted certain features (e.g., the optical drive), featured smaller screens and keyboards, and offered reduced computing power when compared to a full-sized laptop. Over the course of their evolution, netbooks have ranged in size from below 5" screen diagonal[3] to 12".[4] A typical weight is 1 kg (2–3 pounds). Often significantly less expensive than other laptops,[5] by mid-2009, some wireless data carriers began to offer netbooks to users "free of charge", with an extended service contract purchase.[6]

In the short period since their appearance, netbooks have grown in size and features, now converging with new smaller, lighter notebooks and subnotebooks. By August 2009, when comparing a Dell netbook to a Dell notebook, CNET called netbooks "nothing more than smaller, cheaper notebooks," noting, "the specs are so similar that the average shopper would likely be confused as to why one is better than the other," and "the only conclusion is that there really is no distinction between the devices."

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OK, so if the netbook has an operating system of XP, then I should be able to install and run any program that I can run on my desktop, with XP?

Check the minimum screen resolution for the software you want to install, some programs may require a larger size to be usable, and of course, netbooks typically have less memory installed than normal laptops ( 1 gig usually ), have a low powered processor and integrated graphics.

This may make using certain modern software an exercise in frustration, though if you are installing ancient software designed for XP, then you may be fine.

That would depend on the software. I certainly wouldn't attempt to run AutoCAD on a machine with an Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, and a 10" screen.

I suppose it would be similar to what kind of automobile you might need. If you're jsut going to run around in the local neighborhood, one of those little Fiat's or dinky Smart cars would probably work just fine. But, if you're also planning on hauling 4 kids, all their stuff, and pull a 25' ski boat, you might appreciate something a bit beefier.

I lone my netbook for traveling small light and I have the extended battery so long battery life. The only thing I can't run is illustrator and autocad.

For not much more than the cost of a netbook you should be able to get an entry level full-sized notebook PC. That would be much better suited to running Autocad. Word, and office programs generally will be fine on a netbook, though the small keyboard and screen can be a hindrance to doing much work.

I ended up getting rid of my netbook and getting a full-sized laptop, I found it just too frustrating in the end :(

I have both a laptop (17" screen) and a netbook (9" screen). The netbook is a lot more portable than the laptop. It came with 1GB of memory that I upgraded to 2GB, and it can run just about any software that I would want to run on a netbook. No AutoCAD of course. The screen is the limiting factor. Even if the software you need runs with the screen resolution available (most does), it is small. You wouldn't use it for graphics editing work, but it is fine for e-mail, web access, Word, Excel, and viewing maps when travelling.