Broadband & free netbooks

Broadband & free netbooks explained

Netbooks are the ultimate in portable computing. With a netbook in your bag, you're carrying everything you need to free yourself from your desk and get online on the go.

What are netbooks?

A netbook is a scaled-down version of normal notebook or portable PC. Netbooks can be half the size of a standard portable computer, but come complete with all the features you’d expect on a full size version, like backlit LED displays, multiple USB connections, integrated speakers, Wi-Fi, and often even a built-in webcam.

A netbook is the most up-to-date, economical, energy-efficient and lightweight portable computer. Netbooks are sweeping the nation and drastically changing the way we use computers.

With the mobile broadband revolution well underway, netbooks are proving that portability is the key to our on-demand connectivity. And while replacing your current computer with a brand new netbook may seem a bit beyond your credit crunch budget, this need not be the case. In fact, you’ll find that most mobile broadband providers are offering mobile broadband contracts that actually come with a free netbook!

To find out more about broadband and free netbooks check out our Guide to free netbooks

What make a netbook different?

Netbooks have a few distinct and defining features:

Netbooks are small

Netbooks are characterised by their small size and are best defined as as lightweight, easily portable computers. Most netbooks have a 9 or 10 inch screen. Those which have 10-inch screens typically have a normal-sized keyboard, making them the ultimate in compact computing.

Netbooks are designed for web-users

Netbooks do generally have fewer features than standard portable PCs. A netbook typically has less processing power because netbooks are targeted at people who want to access web-based applications.

Netbooks are great value

Netbooks are designed to be cost-effective. Because of their smaller processing power and more limited memory, buying a netbook is cheaper than purchasing an all-singing, all-dancing, full-size portable computer.

Netbooks may not run Windows

Although many of the netbooks on the market run Windows XP Home edition or Windows 7, a lot of the netbooks out there are set-up to run a custom version of GNU or Linux operating system.

But don’t let these custom netbook operating systems stand in the way of a great netbook deal. Operating systems, such as the Ubuntu Netbook remix, are actually incredibly easy to get your head around.

Some netbooks will run using applications available on the internet. This is known as cloud computing and is a great way of the producing a computer that requires less powerful hardware. It also helps keeps costs down for netbook users.

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Who are netbooks for?

Netbooks are great for anyone who wants to use the internet on the go. From students to business people, there are thousands of us who'd love to be able to carry around a lightweight computer that we could use to access the internet at the touch of a button wherever we are.

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Broadband and netbook deals:

As mobile broadband sweeps the nation, internet service providers are catching on to the fact that we all want a great lightweight portable netbook so that we can really make the most of the great mobile broadband deals out there.

Mobile broadband and netbooks really do go hand-in-hand. By signing up to a mobile broadband and free netbook deal, you get everything you need to get online on-the-go with one single monthly payment. Better still, mobile broadband and free netbook deals are available from a range of mobile broadband providers, meaning that you've got plenty of models and price plans to choose from.