Let’s Discuss
How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Netbook.

EMG 30-Second Rundown
My netbook (HP Mini 1000) is the most productive computer I have ever owned, and happens to be a green computer too.

First let me be clear, this is not the fastest computer I’ve ever used, but it is the greenest.  In fact, this computer is EPEAT Silver certified.  EPEAT is a system that helps purchasers evaluate, compare and select electronic products based on their environmental attributes.
Everything about this netbook screams green.  A smaller screen size means less materials in the unit, solid state drive means less power consumption, smaller more eco friendly packaging meaning less carbon footprint for shipping.  Yet the netbook is good enough for everything I do:   as it handles the entire Microsoft Office Suite without any problems. I use it to email, browse the web, listen to music, touch up photos and even watch online video.  I suspect this is true of most people.
I never thought that a computer with just a 10” screen, a low power processor, and a nearly decade old operating system (Windows XP was released in 2001) would be able to completely handle everything I needed for work and play. I’ve never felt held back by its performance or size.

The EMG Takeaway
The netbook follows the “take only what you need” approach.  Using about 10% of a desktop computer’s carbon footprint, the netbook has done everything I’ve thrown at it.
Putting my ego aside, I realized I don’t need a 17” screen when  10” will do.  I don’t need the latest processor when the efficient processor runs the software I use without any delay.  I don’t need what I don’t use, and in that way, this is the most efficient and green computer I’ve ever used.

3 Questions to Continue the Discussion
When most of the time we aren’t using the capacity of our computer, why should we be paying for it?
Unless you are in a specialized field working with large graphics or video, or a hard core gamer, why do we have this desire for the fastest system?
How many of us regularly are editing high definition video?  Manipulating 20+ megapixel production quality photos?  Do more than just use the Microsoft Office Suite and the internet?