Netbooks ("mini-notebooks")

Be careful of "netbooks" for now. You know, those tiny, very inexpensive computers. Designed primarily for email and web browsing (that's why they are called "net"books), they have non-standard screens, with non-standard resolutions, typically 1024x600. We have a solution to this problem for netbooks with a screen resolution of 1024 x 600 (and possibly for those unusual ones with 1024 x 578 if the task bar is lowered).

If you have a netbook, are considering one, or want to learn about the AviSys 6 solution, please check HERE.

Some things to think about when selecting such a small computer:

A "netbook" may not be your best solution. While they are very small and lightweight, they have three compromises that you may feel are deal-killers:

• They have a short battery life, as short as 2.5 hours in some popular models. That means you might have to take along the AC adapter and cords, weighing typically 3/4 pound.
• None of them have CD/DVD drives. If you need to run software that uses a DVD, or want to watch rented movies in the hotel room or on the plane, you'll need to get a separate USB powered DVD drive, weighing an additional .80 pounds. And the DVD drive really eats into battery life!
• If you want to watch movies, or study bird songs, you will need earphones . . . "netbook" speakers are terrible.

Let's look at the worst case example: "Netbook": 2.75 pounds, AC adapter .75 pounds, DVD drive .80 pounds. That brings the "netbook" up to 4.3 pounds, even more if you get one with longer battery life. Compare that to some full size notebooks, and you may find that there is not much weight advantage if the full-size notebook has has a DVD drive and enough battery life that you don't need the AC adapter.

Then you need to add into your decision tree the tiny screen and small keyboard of a "netbook."

The unmitigated advantages of the "netbook" are:

• They are clearly smaller than standard notebooks.
• They cost MUCH less, sometimes half or a third the price of notebooks!

A "netbook" may be the perfect solution for you . . . but you need to understand all the factors in your decision.

Windows 64 Bit

First off, understand that AviSys 6 runs just fine in Windows Vista and Windows 7 64 bit. That aside . . .

There are some applications that will not run in a 64 bit environment -- PALM OS for just one, also older AviSys versions 3, 4 and 5. Just be sure you don't have an affected application on which you depend.

There are some peripheral devices, printers, hard drives, scanners, video boards, etc., for which no signed 64 bit drivers exist -- and 64 bit Vista or Windows 7 will not allow any other kind of driver. Just be sure you don't have an affected device on which you depend.

If you get a 64 bit OS, do NOT install AviSys in C:\Program Files -- Microsoft does some strange virtualization things with data stored in that folder in a 64 bit environment, hiding the data writes in an invisible Microsoft-only folder, which exposes your data to loss.  In the case of a 64 bit OS, install AviSys in the default C:\AVI6.