Five ways to put your Netbook to good use
March 21, 2009 Computer Tips And Tricks
Portable Music
With their WiFi functionality, netbooks can be a great client for shared music libraries. You can stream through software like iTunes or listen to online music services like Pandora. 
Plug in the netbook, connect it to your stereo or headphones, and you instantly have access to your entire networked music library. You must remain in WiFi range.
Second Computer
Every human usability problem can be solved by plugging in accessories. Screen too small? Plug into an external monitor (netbooks like the Acer AspireOne and Dell Inspiron Mini 9 have VGA ports). Keyboard too awkward? Add a USB solution. Docking your netbook into these devices lets you treat your unit as a fully capable second computer. This makes the cost outlay for a permanent netbook home-base almost vanishingly small.
Media Center
Most netbooks are compatible with a variety of USB TV tuners and perfectly capable of driving large TV-sized displays. Reasonably priced tuners and software exist for most operating systems that run on netbooks. They allow you to connect your netbook to your cable system or record free-to-air broadcasts.
Kitchen Computing
For years, people have gone on and on about the “kitchen computer” being the future of the Internet. And yet, netbooks make excellent kitchen systems. Their especially small form factor lets them easily fit on a cluttered counter while offering a big enough screen that you can display a recipe while you prepare dinner.
Social Appliance
Netbooks are small enough to sit at your side as you keep up parent duty from your front porch. With a decent home WiFi network and the built-in video camera that ships with many netbooks, you can divide your time between parental supervision and video chatting with your friends.
