Although tablets are all the rage, there are definitely advantages to writing on a netbook. A netbook is a very compact computer. You can see just how compact by looking at its size compared to a laptop, as shown in the picture below.
Size matters.
Being small, the netbook is very easy to carry around in a briefcase or even a carrier bag. And unlike a tablet, it has a keyboard, which I find much easier to type on than a screen keyboard, and much more convenient than lugging around a separate keyboard.
Although my netbook is able to connect to the internet, I tend to use it without the wi-fi enabled. This is both to prevent my getting distracted by fact-checking, which I can do later, and to conserve the battery charge, as I described in 5 minute tip: get more from your battery.
It comes with all the software you need (note the word “need”: you may want other software). For example, it has OpenOffice, comprising a word processor, spreadsheet and presentation software, as well as a PDF reader and a web browser. (It has lots of other stuff too, but I have listed just the items that are useful to me as a writer).
There are some disadvantages. In my case, the battery lasts little more than three hours, so I probably need to buy a more powerful one. Mind you, three hours is usually more than enough time to spend in a café bashing out an article.
Another disadvantage is that if you have large hands, it is very easy to mistype, and to enter numbers mixed in with the letters – as you can see from the pre-spellchecked version of this article, below. Let's put it this way: Beethoven would never have been able to use one of these!
Another possible disadvantage, although I see it as an advantage, is the fact that the software on it is pretty basic. I see this as an advantage because, again, it means I don't get distracted from the task in hand.
I used to have a Psion organiser, which was even better in one respect: it could fit into my pocket.
I've put the links to both of these devices below. bear in mind that they are Amazon affiliate links, and that the netbook is not the exact same model as mine. It's a later version that has Windows installed. Apparently, it comes with OpenOffice installed, but you will need to check for yourself whether it meets your needs.
The original version of this article
Alth0ugh tablets are all the rage, there are definitely advantages to writing on a netbook. netbook is a very comact computer. You can see just how compact by looking at its size compared to a laptop, as shown in the picture below.
Being small, the netbook is very easy to carry around in a briefcase or even a carrier bag. And unlike a tablet, it has a keyboard, which I find much easier to type on than a screen keybpoard, and much more convenient than lugging around a separate keyboard.
Although my netbook is able to connect to the 9nternet, I tend to use it without the wi-fi enabled. This is both to prevent my getting distracted by fact-checking, which II can do later, and to conserve the battery charge, as I described in <post>.
It comes with all the software you need (note the word “need”: you may want other software). For example, it has OpenOffice, comprising a word processor, spreadsheet and presentation software, as well as a PDF reader and a web browser. (It has lots of other stuff too, but I have listed just the items that are useful to me as a writer).
There aree some disadvantages. In my case, the battery lasts little more than thre hours, so I probably needd to buy a more powerful one. Mind you, three hours is usually more than ennough time to spend in a cafe bashing out an article.
Another disadvantage is that if you have large hands, it is very easy to mistype, and to enter numbers mixed in with the letters – as you can see from the pre-spellchecked version of this article, below. Let's put it this way: Beethoven would never have been able to use one of these!
Another possible disadvantage, although I see it as an advantage, is the fact that the software on it is pretty basic. i see this as an dvantage because, again, it means i don't get distracted from the task in hand.
i used to have a psion organiser, which was even better in one respect: it could fit into my poicket.
i've put the links to both of these devices below. beasr in mind that they are amazon affilieate links, and that the netbook may not be the exact same model as mine.