If everyone remembers, I mentioned that I saved myself from making the mistake of purchasing a netbook. I am writing this post to show everyone that I have just ate my own words.

The Acer Aspire One… It’s absolutely stunning. Well, it’s only stunning because within 15 minutes of openning the box, I had a flash drive prepared to wipe out Windows XP in exchange for Ubuntu Netbook Remix. The Acer Aspire One combined with Ubuntu Netbook Remix is like a perfect match. Everything just looks right. Enough raving about Ubuntu Netbook Remix, I’m here to talk about how cool the Acer Aspire One is.

Even though the screen is small, it’s very usable. I maintain my own website and I had no problems sending files via FTP, no problems accessing PHPMyAdmin, and no problems playing with HTML files, CSS files, and Wordpress.  It’s actually not a strain to use a netbook on a daily basis. Lucky for me, I have hands that are small enough to experience no discomfort using the keyboard.

The screen is ultra sharp and bright. Maybe a little too bright. It’s great for watching movies, up until the battery runs out. Most of the time I’m at school, so if I do run out of batteries, I’m always within a few feet of an outlet. The microphone and camera work nicely. I was able to record a video and engage in some live webcam chatting. The speakers are a little bit on the quiet side, but that’s not a big deal. When I’m using this in public, no one wants to hear what I’m working on. Headphones solve everything in that department. Even with my laptop, I always had headphones on when in public.

As great of a netbook that the Acer Aspire One is, it does have its share of problems. It did not come with an actual restore disc for Windows XP. Even though I know I would never use it, it’s nice to have if I ever wanted to sell the netbook. FYI, I really wiped out Windows XP from the system. I dedicated the entire hard drive to Ubuntu Netbook Remix. As seen in other reviews of the Acer Aspire One, the mouse does feel a little cramped. Here is where Ubuntu Netbook Remix really shines. If you look at the screenshot of my netbook, there are sidebars. This makes everything a whole lot easier to get to. Another problem with the Acer Aspire One is the battery life. I can get about 2 hours on a single charge, which is normal, but I want something that lasts a little longer. I guess I’ll be saving up for the 6-cell or 9-cell battery.

Please remember something when purchasing a netbook. It’s not really meant to replace a laptop. I’m using it as a replacement for my laptop because I have a great desktop at home. Some of the other reviews that I have read online are not really fair. People are comparing netbooks to a laptop. I hear way too many complaints about a netbook running slower than a laptop with similar specs. The capabilities of a processor from a laptop and netbook are completely different. You probably won’t be able to multi-task to the extent that you would on a laptop. Is the netbook meant for only surfing the net and checking email? NO!!! I was able to multi-task with music running in the background, Evolution opened, editing two documents, and one presentation. There is not enough screen space for me to multi-task with a movie running in the background, but movies get a little distracting.

I hope my little review helps. And remember, a netbook is not a laptop. If you need a portable workhorse, you will be better off with a laptop.