Why netbooks can kill MacBook Air

Longtime I was looking for an ultra portable alternative to my iMac to use mostly when I am not at home. My first intention was to buy a MacBook Air: great design, great quality... but also "great" price. Some week ago a friend of mine suggested to me to take a look at some Netbooks, in particular at the Compaq Mini, and I remained really impressed by this litte jewel. So, yesterday I decided to buy it.

First impressions: I can say the Compaq Mini is not a simple low-cost pc (399 EUR versus 1.699 EUR of a MacBook Air!) to use only to connect you to the internet. Compaq Mini is a powerful netbook you can use to do everything you do with your primary desktop PC or notebook. These are some of main characteristics:

- Processor 1.6GHz Atom N270
- 1GB RAM
- 60GB drive
- 1,024 x 600 display
- Bluetooth
- WiFi
- Integrated webcam
- Built-in microphone
- Windows XP

The first impression is to have a "micro" PC with all features of a normal notebook or desktop PC. You can use all your preferred applications such as Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Excel, Word, Outlook... without problems. The display is very clean and luminous, perfectly readable. This is a screenshot of my desktop:

Take a look at the full size picture

Let me do this little clarification: price difference between Compaq Mini and MacBook Air is obviously motivated by a lot of factors. But if you are just looking for a portable alternative to your primary computer... I think a MacBook Air is very too expensive, considering you can have "same" functionalities with a considerably lower price in a low-cost pc.

Applications: In these hours I'm stressing my new netbook working with some applications I often use in my work and to update my blog with new posts and tutorials. I installed old versions of Photoshop and Dreamweaver (Photoshop CS and Dreamweaver 8) I used some year ago to design websites, and Microsoft Office 2007 which I bought in order to use it on my iMac with a version of Windows XP I never installed :). System response is awesome. You can work with Dreamweaver 8 and Photoshop CS at the same time without problems.

I'm writing this post on Blogger using Internet Explorer 8 and at the same time using Photoshop to modify images and Media Player 11 to listen music from a web radio. I am not noticing any slowdown or delay.

Take a look at the full size picture

Microsoft Office 2007: It's a pleasure to use Office applications in this little netbook. Word, Excel and Outlook work perfectly. If you prefer to use open source alternatives try OpenOffice, but if you have Microsoft Office I suggest you to install and use it. It's without doubt the best office suite in circulation and is not so "heavy" to compromise system performances.

Take a look at the full size picture

Mobile Phone integration: integration with Mobile Phone is very simple. I'm using ActiveSync 4.5 to syncronize contacts, messages, activities and everything with my Samsung SGH-i780 mobile phone which I also use to connect me to internet (if there is not a Wi-Fi hotspot available), and browsing the Net with the same speed of an ADSL connection. In this way I can work to my blog, talk with my friends using Skype, take a look at my banking account and make a lot of other things in every place where I am.

After all, Compaq Mini is an ultra portable and convenient alternative with a killer price to carrying your primary notebook PC everywhere you go. If you want to know more info about this little jewel I suggest you to take a look at the HP official page.