Netbooks, as the name tries to imply, are low cost notebooks optimized for your basic application suites and for using the Internet.

Netbooks have the following general traits:

• Small Format: Many models are 8.5 x 11 or smaller, feature ultra-high resolution 10.5" screens. Some models are slightly larger, sporting screens up to 13".
• Low Power Processor: Intel's new Atom processor is all the rage. With a large cache and fast bus, you get decent performance and long battery life.
• Less Memory and Disk: Most netbooks max out at 1GB of memory, with disk sizes ranging from 60GB to 120GB.
• Graphics Accelerators: Netbooks have graphics capabilities that are out of proportion in a good way compared to the rest of the system. The result: great Internet/Web performance without the CPU and Memory cost.

By far the best feature of netbooks is the low price. Most lines have models starting below $350, with prices topping out at about $1200 for large screen models.

Netbooks are NOT for everyone. If you are a serious gamer, do graphic design, have local databases, or run CPU and memory-intensive applications, the CPU speed and memory in the netbook will not meet you needs.

For the 80% of us, however, that write documents, create spreadsheets, make presentations, and spend too much time on the Internet, netbooks can meet our needs for 1/2 to 1/3 the price of a traditional notebook or laptop computer.

Good News:
Implementation of the law has been postponed until January 1, 2010. This gives the 95% or more of businesses not yet in compliance an opportunity to tune up their policies, segregate personal information, and secure it properly.

More Good News:
Language requiring businesses to get written certification of compliance from vendors and others they share information with has been removed, eliminating a potentially time- consuming effort.

Not-So-Good-News:
While written confirmation is no longer needed, the law now requires business take "all reasonable steps" to ensure vendors and others with which they share information are compliant. The interpretation will likely be left up to the courts.

Our Advice:
Plan to have your IT usage policies and administrative policies updated by the end of the year. Take the necessary steps to isolate and secure personal information on your systems. With enforcement up to broader court discretion, better safe than sorry.

If you have 5 minutes to stop and think about how technology and our world impact one another, this is a must-see!

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