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 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 64 bit. That aside . . .

We have come across many cases where PC vendors (typically discount houses like Fry's, Best Buy, etc) are selling computers (especially laptops!) with the Windows Vista 64 Bit operating system. I find this to be an incredibly bad idea for most consumers.

While I will not attempt to be your advisor, I will ask you to be very careful about which operating system you buy. Many software applications will not run on Vista 64 bit. The VAST majority of applications are 32 bit applications that benefit only minimally, if at all, in a 64 bit environment. There are VERY few 64 bit native applications, such as Photoshop CS5 and some high end graphics and video programs -- I'd guess that fewer than 1% of the people viewing this page run an application for which there is a 64 bit version.

For example, the current Microsoft Office suite, 2007, which includes Word, Excel (spreadsheets), Powerpoint, etc., is a 32 bit application suite which gets no benefit, and possible issues, from 64 bit.  Per Microsoft: "The 2007 Microsoft Office system programs client is a 32-bit application and can run on a Windows 64-bit platform (Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, and Windows Vista) but there may be some feature limitations as noted in the system requirements below . . . . ."

There are many applications that will not run in a 64 bit environment -- PALM OS for just one, also older AviSys versions 3, 4 and 5.

There are many 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.

Here is an "expert" descripton of the situation (remember, virtually all your applications are 32 bit):

"Many 32-bit applications will not be updated for Windows Vista x64 Edition; however, most 32-bit software will still function because of a Microsoft emulation layer. This emulation layer, known as Windows on Windows 64 or WoW64, enables 32-bit programs to run as though on a 32-bit version of Windows by translating instructions passing in and out of 32-bit applications into 64-bit instructions. Emulated programs act as though they are running on an x86 computer and operate within the 2 GB of virtual memory that a 32-bit version of Windows allocates to every process. However, despite Wow64, 32-bit programs on Windows Vista x64 Edition cannot take advantage of the larger 64-bit address spaces or wider 64-bit registers on 64-bit processors." In other words, there is no advantage, and possibly disadvantage, to running normal 32 bit programs in Windows 64.

Ask the sales person at the store to explain to you exactly why you would benefit from Vista 64 bit -- ask if the major programs you run can benefit from a 64 bit operating system. Expect to hear a litany of buzzwords. If you persist, you might hear the same litany repeated -- a sure sign that that's what the salesperson has been told to say, the "talking points" supplied by the employer or vendor.

I have no idea why these stores are pushing computers with Vista 64. I do find, however, that in most cases additional memory (RAM) is being sold with the computer -- a VERY expensive (and VERY PROFITABLE) upgrade which, if over 4GB, is useful ONLY for native 64 bit programs which the consumer doesn't have. I would not like to think that the additional RAM sale is the motive -- I'd prefer to think that the sales people are just ill informed. I've heard of cases where salespersons told customers, "Everything will run twice as fast in 64 bit Vista! 64 bits is two times 32 bits!" Ludicrous!

In any case, you may have a situation where a 64 bit Vista or Windows 7 is the correct solution -- in that case, it's the only solution. But I suspect that you would then represent fewer than 1% of the viewers of this page.

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.

As always, take my opinion with a grain of salt -- ask a local expert who has nothing to lose, who is really an expert, and who doesn't think that just because something is the very latest it's a good idea.