Netbook Facts for Kids

A small HP Mini-Note PC.

A netbook is a type of small, lightweight, and affordable laptop computer. The word "netbook" was first used by the company Intel in 2008. These computers are designed for basic tasks. This includes things like browsing the internet and writing documents.

Netbooks usually have a special CPU (the computer's "brain") that uses less power. The Intel Atom processor is a common example. Popular netbook brands included HP (like the HP Mini) and Asus (like the Eee PC). By 2011, over 50 million netbooks were expected to be sold.

What is a Netbook?
History of Netbooks
- Asus Eee PC
- Other Early Netbooks
Images for kids
See also

What is a Netbook?

Netbooks are smaller than regular laptops. They are easy to carry around. They are also usually cheaper than bigger laptops. This makes them a good choice for students or people who need a simple computer.

Netbooks are great for everyday activities. You can use them to check emails or watch videos online. They are also good for typing school reports or doing simple office work.

History of Netbooks

The idea for netbooks came from earlier small computers called subnotebooks. The name "Netbook" was first used by a company called Psion in 1999. It was then brought back by Intel in 2008.

Asus Eee PC

In 2007, the company Asus launched its ASUS Eee PC. This was a very popular netbook. It ran on a Linux operating system and had a 7-inch color screen. The Eee PC became a best-seller on Amazon.com. It was often hard to find in stores.

The Eee PC was successful because it was very affordable. It cost around $350 (or about £230/€300). At that time, most standard laptops cost over $1000.

Other Early Netbooks

In early 2008, another company called Everex released its CloudBook. This netbook used a VIA chipset and ran on gOS. Unlike the Eee PC, the CloudBook had a traditional hard drive for storage.

In June 2008, MSI introduced the MSI Wind PC. This netbook had features like Bluetooth and a 10-inch LED screen. Its screen was backlit and had a resolution of 1024x600 pixels. The MSI Wind PC was one of the first netbooks to use the new Intel Atom low-power technology. It competed with the HP 2133 Mini-Note PC, which had an 8.9-inch screen.