The Unlawyer

I don’t think that consumers who buy laptop computers do so on mere impulse but only decide after a long process of comparing rival machines on their respective merits. That being said, I think that buyers of netbooks are quite aware of their pluses and minuses of these portable computers, including this one particular drawback:

“But like a rowboat in your backyard or a flat-screen TV in a blackout, most of these new PCs suffer when removed from a critical element. Specifically — when outside of high-speed Internet access range, they go from power-in-your-pocket to pricey-digital scratchpads.”

One other drawback: a short battery life, especially when using Wi-Fi to surf the Internet, although I am aware that netbook manufacturers have addressed this problem with their latest models by adding more battery cells to their respective battery packs.

This problem I noted above the fold was brought to me in sharp relief last week. I want to buy an ultraportable laptop for one of my executives who will be bringing it to areas where a dial-up connection is the most reliable form of hooking up to the Internet. Unfortunately, none of these small computers come with this feature installed. Fortunately, a search of the relevant forums revealed that the USRobotics 56K USB Modem (Model 5637) works with the Asus Eee out of the box. So where do I buy one in the Philippines?

We in Metro Manila tend to take Wi-Fi Internet access for granted. Outside of the metropolis, however, a phone line is the only means, and a very affordable one at that, of connecting to the Interent.

A wireless 3G/UMTS modem is a possible option too, but installing this devices on a Linux platform seems to me a quite complicated process.

So it’s good to hear that netbooks that come with built-in wireless HSDPA modems, like the LG X110, are being introduced. Will mobile telcos bundle data service with these 3G-equipped ultraportable computers in the future? Michael Dell thinks so:

“Dell believes that the netbook is a perfect match for mobile companies. “Telcos will embrace it. It’s the type of product that could easily take advantage of data,” he said. As to whether the subsidized model will ever work, however, we must first look at the past. The “free or cheap PC with an Internet subscription” concept isn’t a new one—in fact, it was introduced way back in the 90s when the Internet first began to get popular and advertisers started to dip their toes into the online pool. There were actually several subsidy models circulating—some companies offered subsidized PCs as long as you committed to some number of years of Internet access, just like today’s subsidized cell phones. Another model involved a free PC and free Internet access, as long as the user agreed to be barraged with ads constantly.”

That being said, the Reuters article I first linked to above certainly nailed down the reason why consumers are so enamored with netbooks like the Asus Eee, the Acer Aspire One, the MSI Wind, and similar devices:

“The idea behind the resurgent “netbook” niche is that consumers-on-the-go primarily use computers to email, write documents, manage spreadsheets and surf the Web. Once online, they can access critical files, chat with others, or use social sites like Facebook or music services like Pandora.”

—

I am seriously considering the H-P MiniNote 2133 to replace the Asus Eee 4G netbook I purchased earlier this year. So far, I like the H-P’s larger keyboard and screen but am somewhat put off by the mechanical hard drive it uses. Should I wait a little longer for an ultraportable with the same qualities as the H-P but with a solid state disk instead?