Dappered

Affordable Men's Style

  • Don’t Miss Anything
  • Start Here
  • Essentials Shop
  • Latest Deals
  • Style Scenarios
  • Reviews

Travel A Lot And Need A Computer? Get A Netbook.

September 28, 2010 By Paul | Heads up: Buying via our links results in us getting a commission (not always, but just about), which helps keep the lights on around here. We also take your privacy rights seriously. Head here to learn more.

The Netbooks: Acer Aspire – $288.12 | HP Mini – $307.74 | Toshiba Mini – $349.99

By Technology Correspondent Paul Olson

When I travel, I usually bring my laptop.  It’s pretty small – like these – and has great battery life (I can watch DVDs on the plane).  But I’m thinking about getting a travel-dedicated netbook. Here’s why:

Battery Life

Thanks to their tiny screens, netbooks get pretty good battery life – usually 8 hours or better.  If you’re watching movies, expect less (tip: burn DVDs onto your hard drive using DVD Shrink and an external DVD drive).  If you want the best battery life, get a solid state drive (SSD).  These use flash memory instead of spinning disks.  These, however, are expensive, and I don’t think they’re worth it.   You want this thing to be basically disposable. Which brings us to …

Cost

You can get a decent netbook that’ll get you through your travels for around $300 (check out options from Acer, HP, and Toshiba.)  That’s cheaper than an iPad and cheaper than a lot of high-end cell phones.  That’s not exactly disposable, but it’s far from the end of the world if it gets stolen.  And it’s far easier to stomach than getting your primary computer stolen.  You don’t want that to happen. But things could be worse, which leads us to …

Encryption

If you’re traveling with a computer, encrypt it.  Use TrueCrypt and encrypt the entire disk (here’s a tutorial).  What’s this mean?  Basically, if somebody steals the computer, they don’t get to steal your identity too.  They can’t read the hard drive to grab your stored passwords and access your email.  Encryption turns the computer into a brick without the proper password.  This is not the same as setting up a Windows password.  The Windows password simply stops a computer from booting Windows – it doesn’t protect your data.  A thief can still read all the data on the disk if they attach it to another computer. Encryption makes this very, very difficult.

Webcam

Here’s another knock against the iPad – the webcam.  Nearly every netbook has one, which means you can Skype with your family and friends on your trips.  I was just in Paris and was able to give my sister a tour of our apartment thanks to Skype.  International calls are expensive.  Skype is free.

Keyboard

Lastly, if you’re bringing a computer on a trip, it’s probably because you want to get some work done while you’re away.   And if you want to get work done, you’ll need a keyboard (sorry, iPad).   Sure they’re tiny, but they work. Bring a mouse if you really want to synergize.

What do you think? Have you tried this or know somebody who has? Let us know what you think in the comments.

Filed Under: Etc. Tagged With: computer, Laptop, laptop vs. netbook, netbook, netbook vs. ipad, why get a netbook

Continue the Conversation …

Want to share your thoughts on this article? Send us a tweet, join the discussion on Facebook, or hit us up on Instagram!

Don’t Miss Anything

Subscribe via email to get articles in your inbox or add Dappered on Flipboard. You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Or subscribe to push notifications to get alerts immediately.

New Here?

Well, welcome to Dappered. Here are what we consider the most useful posts on the site if you're looking to put a little more effort into your appearance. Just want to see our favorite menswear products? Shop our essentials here.

Bonobos Jersey Rivieras, Macy’s Watch Sale, & More – The Thurs. Men’s Sales Handful

Bonobos Jersey Rivieras, Macy’s Watch Sale, & More – The Thurs. Men’s Sales Handful

Smart timepieces. Brooks Bros Dad’s Day sale.

Steal Alert: Extra 20% off Banana Republic Sale Items

Steal Alert: Extra 20% off Banana Republic Sale Items

It’s working now. Just in time for it to end today.

Most Wanted Affordable Style – June 2023

Most Wanted Affordable Style – June 2023

Side-tab swim shorts. Suede loafers. Summery short sleeve shirts.

Follow Dappered on Instagram »

Men’s Fashion or Affordable Style?

Men's Fashion or Affordable Style?

Fashion is temporary and expensive. Style is timeless and affordable. Dappered® helps you work the retail system so that you can be comfortable, look sharp, and save money.

Want to share a great product? Email Us.
For a fit perspective, see Joe's measurements.
Make sure to read our affiliate disclosure.

CONNECT WITH DAPPERED

Thanks! Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Most Popular on Dappered

  • Bonobos Jersey Rivieras, Macy’s Watch Sale, & More – The Thurs. Men’s Sales Handful
  • Monday Men’s Sales Tripod – AE Father’s Day Sale, Brooks Bros “Dress Up your Summer” event, & More
  • 7 Types of Casual Summer Shoes Worth Owning
  • Most Wanted Affordable Style – June 2023
  • The Best in Affordable Style from the Season that Was – Spring 2023
  • Steal Alert: Extra 20% off Banana Republic Sale Items

Popular Topics

  • Best dress shirts to own
  • Best looking watches under $100
  • Best men’s dress shoes under $200
  • Nike Killshot sneaker alternatives
  • How to wear a suit without a tie
  • Suitsupply store review
  • Suitsupply Blue Line review
  • J. Crew Factory Thompson suit review
  • How much does it cost to tailor a suit?
  • Dopp kit essentials
  • Brown shoes with gray pants
  • Men’s style buying guide

Copyright © 2023 Dappered.com | Dappered, LLC | Dappered® is a registered trademark of Dappered, LLC

Hat tip: Magazine Pro Theme On Genesis Framework

Dappered does not collect or sell its users personal information | Disclosures: Privacy and Affiliates, Gilt.com, FTC

WPE

We work with partners that use cookies to understand how visitors use our site. Find out more.