Netbooks. Good and Bad.

The Asus Eee PC was one of the first successful “netbook” computers when it was released in 2007. Since then, Acer, Dell and HP have caught up and brought a greater visibility to affordable, tiny computers that are designed almost solely for the internet and email user.

What makes a netbook? Generally, a sub-11″ LCD panel, a very small form-factor, an entry-level operating system and a bent toward Internet usage. The downsides are limited expansion, lower-resolution displays, poor keyboards and reduced performance.

Mostly, they come with a Linux flavor or Windows XP Home. On a solid-state hard drives, the smaller amount of storage is a worthwhile trade-off for snappy drive speed. Keep in mind that Windows XP eats up a good portion of these drives. Larger, traditional hard drive models may seem tempting, but it takes more than storage to offer the user a laptop-like experience.

For users who need a tiny machine they can drag to the coffee shop, a netbook may make sense if you can cope with its shortcomings. Business users have been tempted by these machines, however unless you’re running a terminal server or Citrix, you will find that most corporate apps need more technical chutzpah.

Check out CNET’s current favorites if you’re looking. Otherwise, it might be useful to note that Windows 7 is planning a netbook edition…a dumbed down one, of course.