Computing Your Computer Needs

(CBS) There are more choices than ever if you're in the market for a new computer. Should you get one of those small, lightweight netbooks, or lug around a heavier notebook?

CNET-TV senior editor Natali Del Conte discussed the pros and cons of netbooks and notebooks on "The Early Show", to help you decide which best fits your computing needs.

Netbooks are the rage, but are a little under-powered, Del Conte said. Netbooks, she said, are good for e-mail and surfing the web. They are also good for travel, long battery life and light-duty processing. Storage is minimal.

Notebooks are a little heavier, Del Conte said. Notebooks, she explained, have a screen larger than 11 inches, and use the latest processors, bigger hard drives and shorter battery life.
However, notebooks are now being produced thinner and lighter without losing their computing power. In addition, Del Conte said notebooks are coming down in price to compete.

Other computers include the desktop, which is a full-powered computer. Desktops, Del Conte said usually have a lot of memory, disk space and speed. She said these computers are good for a family's computer needs, but are not portable. Some also have interactive touch screens.

Another computer making a splash in the market is the nettop, Del Conte said. The nettop, she said, has a touch screen monitor that's usually larger than a traditional computer screen. Del Conte said these computers are good for the kitchen or living room. She said they're good for browsing the web, viewing photos, and listening to music.

"It's more of an entertainment and browsing device," she said.

Notebooks:
• A working machine made for portability. 11 inches or bigger.
• Should have enough storage for your documents, music, photos, etc.
• Fast processors for multitasking. They are starting to come with
• Blu-ray players and HDMI ports for high definition video watching.

Sony Viao CW
• 14-inch widescreen display
• Blu-ray drive and HDMI out
• Up to 400 gigs of hard disk space
• 2.8 gigs of RAM
• Start at $800 and go up to $1500

Netbook:
• A small and portable computer that is less than 11 inches.
• Not a lot of storage, not a fast processor. Made for surfing the Web on the go.
• Slightly sluggish. Not made to be a main PC.

Nokia Booklet 3G
• First computer from Nokia
• Built-in 3G through AT&T
• 12 hours of battery life
• $299 with a two-year contract at $60/month of 3G service; $599 without a contract
For more information on the Nokia Booklet 3G, click here.

Premium Notebooks:
Notebooks are now becoming thinner, lighter without losing the computing power The prices are coming down as well, but high-end ones are still expensive.

HP Envy 13
• 13-inch widescreen display
• Ultra premium category
• Solid aluminum and edge-to-edge glass
• Oversize touchpad with multi-touch controls
• Dual-core Intel ultra-low voltage processor
• Optional Blu-ray player
• Starts at $1700

Desktop:
A family PC that stays in one place. Not portable. We are seeing the newest models come out that are touch screen, but that is certainly not necessary. Big hard drives, lots of RAM, made for all the family¹s computing needs.

Acer All-in-One PC
• Multitouch screen
• 23-inch display
• Intel Pentium Dual Core processor
• 320 gigs of hard disk space
• 4 gigs of RAM
• Starts at $900
For a review of the Acer All-in-One PC, click here.

Nettop:
Family-style computers that are great for the kitchen or living room. Built-in cameras for Web chatting. Touch-navigation for Internet browsing, or playing media like movies, music, or photos.

HP Touchsmart 300
• CNET Editors Choice
• Multitouch screen
• Built-in wireless
• HP TouchSmart Suite of applications for advanced media applications like photo viewing, music playing, movie watching, etc.
• 20-inch widescreen
• Starts at $900