Posted: Oct 01, 2009 10:50 pm EDT
(HumanEdgeTech.com) Introduced at HumanEdgeTech early 2008, these days Netbooks are blowing up in US computer stores. It's a mixed blessing for retailers; the small computers offer low profits compared to regular laptops. "It will never stick," hardware pundits predicted not long ago but now Netbooks are overtaking the shelves.

Brands and models vary. Choosing has become complicated, significantly for high altitude climbers and other explorers. HumanEdgeTech checked hundreds of models and here goes this weekend's special read; the HET Netbook Review.

A new type of laptop, ideal for explorers

Connecting a satellite phone/modem to a computer is all it takes to email and post website updates from an extreme expedition.

A handheld PDA on a Windows mobile platform is the lightest, cheapest and most power efficient way to go. The PDA has image editing, word processing and emails just like a laptop. Unlike the laptop, a PDA typically weighs less than 200 gr and a single charge lasts for days.

Most explorers complement with a laptop in base camps for video editing and a more genuine computer experience such as a large screen and regular keyboard. However, the old laptops with HDD (hard disk drives) were expensive, heavy, power hungry and fragile - especially at high altitude.

In only 18 months a new type of laptop, ideal for explorers, has exploded over the world: the Netbook.

History

Taiwanese Asus launched the first Netbook in December 2007. Little known in US and Europe, it surprises most that Asus in fact is one of the world's top three computer manufactures.

The first Netbooks were delivered with Linux, hard to get to work with sat comm and overall difficult to operate for the average user.

Almost immediately, HumanEdgeTech started to configure these new ultra lights for extreme expeditions; installing Windows XP, adding extra memory, and allowing charge over solar panels.

Soon enough, the first expedition-ready Netbooks went to Everest and K2 for trials. The pros: tougher solid state hard drive, low cost, low power and low weight. The cons: less memory and slower processor than bigger laptops.

So how did it go?

"We replaced all our laptops with Solid State Drives"

Steve Prysunka is part of Alaska Crossings, the largest Wilderness Youth Program on the West Coast. Operating out of Wrangell, NW Alaska, Steve and his team typically run 8 expeditions at any given moment.

The groups are mountaineering, trekking and river paddling in severe cold, humidity and dust. "We encounter both salt water and river water humidity, and the worst is the river," Steve told HumanEdgeTech. "The wind blows up silt load (particles finer than sand which is carried on the water) and sand and it's very tough on technology and equipment".

The guides need to send daily reports to HQ over satellite internet and also be ready for quick emergency assistance. Technology is key and each team is outfitted with Emergency beacons, Iridium satellite phones, PDA or Laptop, self sufficient power systems and a custom version of CONTACT software.

"Each guide has his own personal laptop and we have switched over completely to Netbooks with Solid State Drives," Steve said, "they simply last longer and take much more beating than the old Hard Disk Drives."

Powering from 30W Feather and P50 batteries, the teams have been testing different Netbook models: "We have 15000 tech user days a year and have been running Netbooks from HP and ASUS," Steve said. "Our guides prefer the HP that is a little more robust and has a more convenient keyboard."

Trouble in paradise: return of HDD

The main data storage on a computer is either a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or a SSD (Solid State Drive). The first Netbooks were delivered with SSD; built of non-moving parts they are more resistant to shock and high altitude.

To accommodate customers' wish for more storage, lately manufacturers have switched over to the lower cost HDD. This development is unfortunately moving Netbooks away from the original concept and towards cheap and low quality versions of traditional laptops.

Best Buy (the largest computer retailer in US) offers 63 Netbook models from 10 different brands. Only three ran SSD and of those none had Bluetooth.

The Best Netbooks for Explorers in 2009

HET checked Netbooks from Toshiba, HP, Dell, Asus, Acer, Fujitsu, Samsung, Apple, Sony, Lenovo and a couple of less known brands.

To be recommended by HumanEdgeTech, a Netbook must offer the following:
SSD - solid state hard drive
Weight below 1.5 kg
Windows XP, Vista or Mac OS
Wifi
Bluetooth
Battery life 4 hours or more
Built in Web Cam

Of over 100 models tested, we have five recommendations and one maybe.

Tempting but pricey Apple

Not surprisingly, Macbook Air with SSD is the most expensive Netbook. Used by explorers all over, we have heard only good reviews of it. It works with Iridium 9505A and all Inmarsat models. At present, Mac Air does not work with Iridium 9555. It is not supported by Thuraya's models but can be connected with Thuraya SG-2520 over Bluetooth.

Mac Air is the most powerful, has the most memory (128GB), is the most expensive, and the heaviest of the Netbooks tested. Still a great machine if you got the money, offered by Apple in different configurations starting at $1799.

Sony's imperfect jewel

So small it almost falls out of the Notebook category; Sony Vaio P nevertheless has a screen with the highest resolution of all tested units, which could strain the eyes.

Apple and Sony make the most stylish computers. Vaio P is a small jewel but it's slow, runs Windows Vista, and - starting at just below $1000 - it's expensive. For explorers, we give it a "maybe" recommendation.

Asus - still on top and still climbing, Dell and HP runner-ups

First out with Netbooks, Asus have overall been cutting edge. Apple and Sony computers take advantage of Asus technology and Asus motherboards are delivered in one of three US laptops.

HumanEdgeTech is sticking to this brand but replacing the old ASUS 901 with ASUS S101 and T91 starting October 2009.

ASUS T91 is groundbreaking. The 960 gram (2.1lbs) Netbook has a display that can be rotated or folded to become a tablet. It's one of the first laptops on the market with a touch screen and the only one running a SSD. This unit has a huge "wow" factor and is presently offered with Windows XP.

ASUS S101, Dell Mini 10 and HP Mini are three traditional Netbooks all running Windows XP. The HP Mini has been out on expeditions with good reviews from explorers. The new ASUS S101 is a little thinner than the Dell and HP. The ASUS is delivered with SSD as standard; expect a 5-7 day wait if you want the HP and Dell with SSD.

The price of the Dell, HP and ASUS start at just over $400 with SSD and up to $600 pending configuration.

Expedition Ready Notebooks

HumanEdgeTech offer several ready-to-go Expedition Netbooks with drivers and settings for a range of satellite phones including Iridium, Inmarsat and Thuraya. HET Netbooks are preconfigured with extra memory, backup files, email accounts, software for photo editing, word processing etc, and CONTACT ready.

HumanEdgeTech will acquire for you the Netbook they consider offers the best value (at present ASUS T91 touch screen notebook/tablet or a HP Mini) and as usual support to get you going. If you have your own favorite Netbook, HET will configure it for $280.

Power

A small handheld PDA typically uses 2Watt/hour; compared to a traditional laptop at 70Watt/hour. Working from home or Starbucks you don't think much of it, but it becomes a different story when out in the wild.

A traditional laptop will need 40-60Watt of solar power and an intermediate battery to allow a few hours of work (pending sunshine). During similar conditions, a PDA will only need four hours on a 10Watt Feather panel to give 5-7 days of usage.

The Netbooks typically use 20Watt/hour and a single charge is good for 5 hours or more. With P50 battery and a 30Watt Feather, they can be used continuously in good sunshine. Note that none of the Netbooks or laptops tested could charge straight from a solar panel. A battery such as HET P50 is mandatory between the PC and the solar panel.

Final review

Already a user of CONTACT, American polar skier Todd Carmichael will next be attempting a 400 mile trek in 18.5 days through Death Valley in the USA.

Among the first to get the latest Asus from HET, he dispatched today, "from flexible solar panels, to a portable satellite link to the rugged mini laptop, Tom built an unbelievable system. Add cameras and a SPOT tracker and not only can I be tracked every step of the way but I can send podcasts, videos and images to share. You can even send me an e-mail."

Check the full story here.

Find details on HET Netbooks here.

HumanEdgeTech is a unique, no-nonsense virtual expedition tech warehouse for satellite communications and edge technology. Created by explorers for explorers, the store is user-friendly with no-hassle pricing, expedition-tested gear, expedition-ready hardware, fast delivery and payments. HumanEdgeTech.com accepts most international credit cards, and delivers worldwide within 72 hours.

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