What About Netbooks for Nonprofits?

This post was written by TechSoup's Lead Technology Analyst, Kevin Lo and originally posted on Managing Technology to Meet Your Mission, a strategic wiki for nonprofit leaders. This post and the wiki feature excerpts, bonus materials, and notes from the book which was compiled by NTEN of the same name. Kevin Lo and Willow Cook from TechSoup contributed a chapter. The book was recently published and can be ordered here.

In between notebook computers and smartphones came "netbooks," which generally refers to a computer with a similar form factor as a notebook computer but with a screen size less than 10 inches. As more mainstream companies like HP, Dell, and Lenovo are joining the likes of Acer and MSI in this space, more nonprofits may be asking whether they are right for them.

Their sub-$400 prices don't hurt the nonprofit as much as a normal laptop. Using a low-powered processor, netbooks can usually perform most browsing, email, and office tasks adequately. In addition, as organizations adopt more Web-deployed technologies like CRM or document sharing, this may seem like a viable option. The built-in webcam for most models also facilitate conferencing via Skype, a component that often is a $50 add-on for full sized laptops. However, I'd caution nonprofits on the following points when adopting netbooks in their organizations:

• Microsoft XP Home, the OS that comes with most netbooks, cannot join a domain like XP Professional can. While XP Home can use the Internet normally its networking features are pared down from the XP Professional edition. If it came with Linux or another operating system it may take some configuration for it to use your organizational resources.
• Like its cousin the sub-notebook (smaller laptops but with "regular" mobile processors) netbooks do not have a DVD/CD optical drive. This makes installing software a bit more difficult if they software comes in the form of physical media. Installing software may involve a combination of using a USB disc drive or thumbdrive, or a program to turn CDs into ISOs or vice versa.
• Small screens may be sufficient for online videos or a short email, but it's not easy to look at a big spreadsheet or grant application on a small screen. The small keyboard may also deter touch typists needing to type a lot on the device. You may of course use a full size USB keyboard and screen at the desk, and detach them when traveling.

Netbooks have definitely opened up a new class of machines for nonprofits on a budget. It sure beats using an old, donated computer running Windows 98, and it's more reliable given the newer components used. As always, technology should be viewed by its intended uses first, rather than what is popular at the time. Netbooks may just be the best of both worlds for those needing portability with adequate power for basic tasks.