Netbooks: A Cheap Alternative to Work Travel

But the relatively modest VIA 1.6G processors, running 2 GB of RAM on the 2133, offered a surprising amount of processing punch. Windows Vista Business with Microsoft Office 2007 ran just fine. And the 2133 performed satisfactorily on most benchmarks I ran. I will spare you the geek-speak here. But you can expect most business tasks to run smoothly, including downloading and installing programs, background virus scans and updates. And most average business software packages will function robustly and stably.

The 2133 is done in a very nice aluminum case that is durable and attractive. In my few weeks of lugging it around New York and Michigan, the unit did not scratch or otherwise degrade. Overall construction is solid. And the near-fullsize keyboard is reasonable, even for the typing challenged.

But honestly, these are all details. If you are like me -- to be polite, "worried" about exactly where the average small business is going to find the money to invest in all the new gear, while gulping down $6-a-gallon diesel bills -- the 2133 is a reasonable option. The unit can be installed quickly. It will give your workers a remote work platform they can use the same day to get their work done from home; and cut down on road time and gas expenditures.

It boils down to this: Either you take a good look at cutting your fuel exposure or you run the real risk of being out of step with the competition.