A netbook is a lightweight and small version of the traditional laptop aimed at internet usage and emailing.

2009 has been the year of the netbooks, as new products coming to market from the manufacturers like Sony. Its Vaio P offers wider choices and features and compete with established brands like the Acer netbook.

So if you are planning to buy a cheap laptop this season, here are some options for you.

Acer Aspire One D150
Acer has recently introduced the new 10.1-inch Aspire One D150 at a price point of Rs. 20,999. After the 8.9-inch Aspire One, Acer hits the netbook segment with a 10.1 WSVGA LCD display offering 1024 x 600 pixels resolution and Acer CrystalBrite technology.

It sports the 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, a Intel 945GSE chipset that features Intel GMA950 graphics. Also, it comes with 1GB DDR2 memory which can be expanded to 2GB DDR2 memory, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Acer Crystal Eye Webcam, and USB ports. The notebook has a multi-touch trackpad and a six-cell Li-ion battery which promises up to five hours of battery life.

For a change, Acer includes Windows XP with Service Pack 3 pre-loaded in the AOD150 as compared to Linpus Linux Lite OS available in previous models.

Samsung NC20
The Samsung NC20 is a Netbook that uses the VIA Nano Processor U2250 (1.3+GHz, 800MHz), and includes 1 GB of memory as standard. The 12.1″ screen size is larger than typical for this class of ultra portable PC.

The LED-backlit screen has a glossy display with a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels. An external display can be used through the standard VGA connector.

Other features include a full-size keyboard which is coated with anti-bacterial Silver Nano ions, with standard 18.5mm key pitch between keys, memory slot for 2GB RAM, and standard internal hard drive is a SATA 160 GB, Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3 USB 2.0, SD card reader, Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks. It carries a price tag of $549.

Lenovo IdeaPad S10    
The IdeaPad S10 is a line of consumer-oriented netbook which offer a variety of colors like pearl white, black, red, blue, and pink. They feature a 10.2″ TFT Active Matrix 1024×600 display with a 80 or 160GB hard disk drive and 512MB or 1GB DDR2 RAM, both of which are easily upgraded via a user access panel on the bottom of the netbook.

Priced at Rs 20,990, the netbook packs 1.6-GHz Intel Atom N270 processor and runs on Windows XP Home edition. They support 802.11 b/g wireless networking and come with two USB ports, an Expresscard expansion slot, a 4-in-1 media reader, weighs 1.25 kg, a VGA output, a 1.3 megapixel webcam and an in-built mic.

HP Mini 1109TU    
It is a small netbook with 10.1-inch LED backlit widescreen display, 2USB ports, headphone-out and mic combo jack. It weighs just 1.09 kg with a price tag of 21,490 plus taxes makes an ideal choice for the consumers.

HP Mini 1109TU runs Windows XP Home and powered by Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz processor with Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950, 1GB memory capacity and 80GB storage. It also sports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Norton AV and in-built memory card reader.

Sony Vaio P
Sony Vaio P comes with either a 1.33 GHz Intel Atom Z520 or a 1.6 GHz Atom Z530 processor, and 2GB DDR2 memory with 533 MHz FSB. It has an 8″ LED-backlit display with native resolution of 1600×768 and weighs just 1.4-1.7 pounds. It comes preinstalled with Windows Vista Home Premium or Windows Vista Business, dependent on model.

The Sony Vaio P is available in four color options; Black, Red, Green, and White. The other features includes an integrated webcam, built-in GPS, Bluetooth, 802.11 b/g/n wireless, mobile broadband, and an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 500 video card but there is no optical drive. Dependent on the model, storage is either a 60GB hard disk drive or 64GB or 128GB solid state drive. At a price tag of $900, user could not call it a netbook.

Thanks to the internet, the communication gap has considerably decreased and thus instant interaction among people all over the world is available. Moreover, there are masses of people owning personal notebooks, this situation also occurred in the companies and other organizations, so it would be no exaggeration to say that everyone own a PC.

The condition is still far from being satisfactory that every time surfing the internet, we cannot help but worrying about the security issues. No matter considered from the aspect of hardware, software or data, securing your notebook system is very important. Especially from the aspect of data, it is often more valuable than machine itself. Therefore, in this article we will list nine measures below mean to protect your laptop.

Secure Notebook Measure 1: Encrypt entire hard drive
There are more than 75% of People in the world using laptop and they are no longer saving their data on paper. Instead, they tend to store data on their notebooks, such as company documents, files, chatting history, and Credit card numbers and so on. However, do you know the data in your notebook are watching by someone else? And your important information may have been already leaked. The good news is that a reliable encrypt system tool can stop unauthorized access to your notebook.

Secure Notebook Measure 2: Install mainstream anti-virus and anti-spyware software
In recent years, spyware and virus do more harm to the business than before. As your personal notebook frequently leave the protection of company’s network firewall, notebook tends to more vulnerable to be attacked by spyware and other latest threats. Thus, we should install anti-virus and anti-spyware software to remove virus, spyware and so on from your computer and get protection against incoming viruses.

Secure Notebook Measure 3: Visit safe Websites
You should be careful about hat Websites you visit online. When you want to find some information from internet, you should go to the most trusted ones! Moreover, just download files from well-known, trustworthy company’ websites, such as download.com and CNet.

Secure Notebook Measure 4: Use a credible firewall
Installing a firewall will give a great help to protect your notebook system, as most hackers run a program that tries to guess your password from a selected list of words found in the dictionary. Use a firewall will stop any detrimental attempt to access to your computer files.

Secure Notebook Measure 5: Be careful about suspicious E-mail messages, files and attachments
A majority of computer viruses spread through email. Therefore, never open or download the messages, files and attachments in your Email, unless you are sure of the content. It will enhance the security of your notebook.

Secure Notebook Measure 6: Make OS and software up-to-date
Hackers are apt to looking for the security gaps to hack into your laptop. Thus, you need to update your notebook OS and software (files) as soon as a newer version is available. In addition, most updates will correct previous vulnerability and glitches within the software. So make sure everything in your computer is up to date.

Secure Notebook Measure 7: Set up a password for your wireless network
Make sure you set up a password for your wireless network, or else anyone else can access to your notebook through that wireless network. More tips, never use a word directly from the dictionary as your password. Make up a combination of words at least six letters long with numbers and letters.

Secure Notebook Measure 8: Back up your data regularly
Back up your entire system to ensure your notebook won’t be infected or harmed, you can still have your original files back. This way when your computer is fixed, you can reinstall your files from your backup copies.

Secure Notebook Measure 9: Install only from credible CDs
When you install programs, you should be careful about what CDs you put into your computer. In general, credible and authoritative CD distributor’s are recommended.
Well, I do hope you find this article informative and helpful. The only thing left for you to do is to take action – following these nine methods to secure your notebook now!