Netbook Accessories

Peripherals and Upgrades To Add to A Netbook Laptop PC

The biggest drawback to netbooks is their lack of an optical drive. This makes it hard to load software from CD or DVD, playback audio CDs or even watch a DVD movie. An external DVD drive makes a great addition to just about any netbook. Not only does it allow the system to install software, but it can also allow it to play DVD movies or even burn CDs or DVDs. Pioneer has released the new DVR-XD09 slim external USB DVD burner that is exceptionally small. It is only slightly larger than the average CD case making it one of the smallest available and it weighs just half a pound. It will run off a single USB connector and supports all the current DVD and CD formats. Priced around $80.

Pretty much every netbook that comes with Windows XP on it is restricted to just 1GB of memory because of Microsoft's licensing agreements. This limits the overall performance of netbooks in a variety of different tasks. Some netbooks can have their memory upgraded by replacing the existing 1GB memory module with a larger 2GB module. Crucial is a division of Micron Technologies that is one of the larger manufacturers of memory modules. Their 2GB SODIMM module makes an affordable and excellent upgrade for any netbook user. Be sure to check with your user manuals before purchasing a memory upgrade to make sure that the memory can be upgraded and that it can use a 2GB module. Prices range from about $20 to $30.

Netbooks are extremely small and portable but they are susceptible to dings and dents. Since netbooks can be tossed into just about any type of bag, they are very prone to scratches and damage. Some models include a sleeve to protect them, but many do not. If you happen to own a netbook and don't have a sleeve, then you should really consider getting one. The Mobile Edge MESSU1-10 is a neoprene sleeve that fits most netbooks with 10-inch screens. One of the nice features on it though is the external pocket that allows one to also pack the power adapter and accessories that one frequently needs to carry with it. Pricing ranges from $17 to $25.

Almost every netbook on the market includes a slot for a flash memory card. These slots allow a card such as this 16GB SDHC card from A-DATA to be used to expand the storage capacity. This is very critical for netbooks that use solid state memory for storage and have limited storage such as 16GB of space. That provides just enough space for things like the OS and applications but very little room for data or extra applications. It is also important to get a high speed SDHC card that is rated at Class 6 such as the Turbo SDHC series so that the memory reads and writes to the card will be as fast as possible. Even if you have a hard drive based netbook, a SDHC card can be useful for transferring data between devices. Prices are around $30.

An external USB hard drive is something that is useful to all netbooks whether they use a solid state drive or a hard drive. They are useful for expanding the total amount of storage space or having a place to back up your data. It can also be used as a means to transfer large amounts of data between a netbook and another primary computer such as a desktop or laptop. Western Digital has been producing some fabulous hard drives and the My Passport Essential series brings that to a portable format. The drive uses a USB 2.0 interface and is entirely powered by the USB connector thus not requiring any form of power adapter. Prices range from $70 to $100.

The extremely small size of netbook results in very small trackpads. They can also have awkwardly placed or difficult to use mouse buttons making them hard to use. Many people would rather use a separate mouse. For those wanting such a device, I recommend the Logitech V450 Nano. This is a very compact wireless mouse that uses laser tracking technology to make it highly accurate on a wide range of surfaces. It is wireless and comes with an extremely small RF USB adapter that is easy to store and carry. This does limit the range a bit more compared to a larger dongle that can be placed away from the netbook and its wireless networking antennae. Prices range from $40 to $50. (The V470 Nano is the same but uses Bluetooth wireless.)

As with any computer, having a printer so that you can actually print documents from web sites, word processor, spreadsheet and even photos is something that would be useful for a netbook. Epson offers a very reliable and high quality inkjet printer with their WorkForce 30. It may not look like much and doesn't have many fancy features but has some superb output quality on a wide variety of paper types and sizes. It also features a very compact design that won't take up much desk space. Prices are around $70.

Most of the peripheral devices that are used with a netbook require a USB 2.0 port. The average netbook only comes with three USB ports. In addition to this, the USB ports are often placed so close together than some devices such as flash drives can't be plugged in with other devices due to space conflicts. This is where a mobile USB hub will come in handy. A small hub such as the Syba CL-U2MNHUB-4B will be extremely useful for those requiring additional ports while on the go. The device is highly portable and does not require external power. The downside is that the hub will not power all USB devices that require a fully powered USB port. Prices are very low ranging from $7 to $10.

While netbooks are great for mobility, their small screens make them less than stellar for use in a home. The screens give a limited resolution that provides very little space for applications. Often they can be quite difficult to view over extended periods of time. Thankfully the netbooks generally include a VGA monitor connector for use with an external monitor. By hooking up a monitor, netbook users can dramatically increase the overall graphical workspace and give their eyes a much needed rest from straining at viewing such a small screen. The best LCD monitors in terms of their price for their size is the 22-inch class. Prices range from around $150 to $400 depending upon monitor features and brand.

If you plan on using your netbook computer at an office or home for extended periods of time, then a full sized desktop keyboard is a highly recommended addition. The larger key size and full set of function keys make it much easier to type on. The Logitech Alto Wireless is a unique keyboard designed especially for laptop computers. It comes with a laptop base that rests the netbook above for easier viewing and also features a built-in USB hub for easily adding on additional peripherals. This base houses the wireless transmitter that then connects to the full size keyboard. This essentially provides a desktop docking station for the netbook. Prices range from $75 to $100.