Ultra portable laptop computers have recently surged in sales and become a popular alternative to both the bulky backbreaking laptop of yesterday and the smaller, but more difficult to use phones. The ultra portable makers have discovered a market with folks wanting the power of a real computer and the portability of a smaller device. Here are 10 things both good and bad you might want to consider while deciding whether an ultra portable laptop computer is in your future.
Pro #1: Lightweight. The best thing about an ultra portable laptop is its diminutive size and light weight. Having something that easily slides into a computer back instead of needing to be forced inside will be a welcome relief. Another benefit is the load you’ll be taking off your shoulders each time you take your computer with you.
Pro #2: Email and the Web. Most ultra portable laptop users will agree that they are ideal for checking email on the go or surfing the web. Users will enjoy an experience familiar to them on other computers.
Pro #3: USB expandability. Unlike phones or other small devices, ultra portable laptops offer multiple USB ports for mice, external hard drives, webcams and the like. The ability to add accessories is a feature most laptop users are not ready to give up.
Pro #4: Price. The ultra portable laptop makers have made great strides in reducing the price of these popular laptops. Gone are the days when smaller, thinner, and lighter came at a premium. While prices vary, a really good ultra portable laptop can be purchased for under $400.
Pro #5: Green machine. For those discerning environmentally conscious consumers, you’ll be glad to know that most of the ultra portable laptop computers have no moving parts inside which means it takes much less energy to run them. One very popular ultra portable laptop runs on just 20 Watts. That’s about one third of what the power hungry behemoths of old consume.
Con #1: Sausage Fingers Beware. The keyboards on these tiny laptops can present challenges for those with larger than average hands or fingers. The keys are packed tightly and their size is reduced so I don’t recommend purchasing one if you plan to do a lot of typing.
Con #2: Small size = small screen. Until the fold out screen is perfected, don’t expect too much from the laptop monitor. The size will be much smaller than any desktop or larger laptop and you will have to be creative with the space. Watching movies full screen is no problem as the ultra portable laptops are about the same size as a portable DVD player.
Con #3: No moving parts means no optical drive. The move away from spinning hard drives to solid state memory claimed another casualty along the way. CD and DVD drives are tough to find on an ultra portable. You might want to invest in some hefty USB drives to solve your transportability challenges.
Con #4: Speakers are more like whisperers. With such a small package, it should be no surprise that the speakers on most ultra portable laptops leave most wanting for a great set of headphones. The sound is usually tinny and the volume unsuited for any room where there is background noise. Luckily, the headphone jack works just fine.
Con #5: No major breakthroughs in battery life. One would think that with less power consumption (see Pro #5), these machines could be made to go for hours and hours with a sizable battery. Not so with many of the ultra portable choices. Most still only boast a 2-2.5 hour battery life.
So, I’ve laid out the pros and cons of owning an ultra portable laptop computer. I’ve owned an Eee PC for over a year now and get many interested looks when I travel with it. Ultra portables are not the end all, be all but they sure make nice travel companions when you need internet connectivity on the go.
