Netbook as TED Viewer, Browser

Feb 25, 2009 • Uncategorized
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Last year, I got an EeePC 8G as a bargain from a Hollywood producer who had expected “more of a Mac experience”. Undaunted by the machine running something other than Windows, I jumped at the chance to get this tiny wonder, considered the first true mainstream “netbook“. Since then, I have tried 2 other operating systems including most recently, Windows 7, however, I tend to concentrate on the main purpose for the device for me – as a TED viewer.

Ted, which stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, is captivating, even aside from when Bill Gates let mosquitoes loose at this year’s event. On the smallish, 4-inch screen, the viewing experience is closer to that of a PSP than a regular computer or TV. Since most of the content is focused on conference speakers and audio, I am not missing out on a 1080P experience.

Computers, though generally sold as multi-purpose devices, are mostly only used for 1 or 2 activities. In the case of a tiny netbook, you can title the main activity, “entertainment”, whether it is video viewing or surfing the web. For a consultant such as myself, being able to grab a small machine in a pinch can save the world. In fact, for several times now, I have been able to plug my phone through mini-USB into the machine and remote in to a corporate environment for some emergency assistance.  On most days, though, the EeePC multipurpose machine is only showing either Miro or a browser.

Last week, for their birthdays, I helped get my parents Dell Mini 12 laptops, the newest netbook on the block. Compared to the cramped EeePC (both in keyboard size and screen resolution), the Mini 12s are a dream. While I am writing this post on my ‘main’ laptop, a Gateway P-7811 FX, I could easily see a smaller, cheaper, lighter and built-in 3G machine becoming my new go-to machine.

A few years ago, when there was even greater disparity between desktop and laptop processors, I employed a setup I called “Master Blaster” (yes, from Mad Max). I had a dual-CPU machine with an aluminum case and a low end laptop that I would bring along with it.  With laptop on one shoulder and the desktop machine on the other (using a GearGrip), I had a lot of portable horsepower. Using remote desktop, I could switch between devices, controlling the brawn of a server from the comfortable laptop via a crossover cable.

Now with cloud computing and browser-based offline email a reality, there is no reason to continue going big on the local front. Unless you are a PC gamer, you will probably be happier with a machine that is highly portable and you could hand to someone as if it were a book. For programmers and other CPU-intensive users like me, we are going to continue to be stuck using multiple machines (3 for me)… as long as one of them can play Quake while I listen to TED of course.

Efren Toscano

Efren Toscano founded TechZulu in the heart of Southern California: Orange County. Focused on providing a platform to showcase all that is happening here in the tech and media space. TechZulu is rapidly growing to be the hub for Southern California technology companies news source. Efren has been chosen as one of LA Weekly's People of 2009 and selected as a Top 20 MostPublic Individuals in Los Angeles in Tech and Biz by NowPublic. He divides his time between San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles and tech events around the US.

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