It is no secret that we are big fans of netbooks here at JPT.  However it has recently been brought to my attention that they might in fact be too small.  Does using a netbook make you seem like less of a man?  This is an important question which demands further consideration.

Part of the appeal of netbooks is that they are ultracompact and thus ultraportable.  However, as a result some models, particularly the early Eee PCs, can look almost toy-like.  I will admit that it is quite disconcerting to see a middle-aged man sitting at a cafe table using a 9-inch netbook.

A few months ago, I was given a Lenovo IdeaPad S10 to review, and I carried it everywhere I went.  Whenever I took it out in public, I couldn’t help but notice people noticing me and my little laptop.  They would whisper things to their neighbors or just stare quizzically at the petite portable I was using.  At the time, I assumed that they were amazed and surprised that you could achieve so much functionality of a full-size computer in such a small package.  Now, I cannot help but wonder, were they actually staring at how ridiculous I looked?  Were their whispers not of amazement, but rather of derision?

It is widely believed that someone who uses or does something highly excessive or massive is compensating for something (commonly called the Napoleon complex).  Examples include driving a Hummer, buying a laptop with a 20-inch screen, and a proclivity to stand on benches.

Perhaps, there is a polar opposite effect where using something tiny leads other people to think less of you.  Would people on the subway giggle at me using a netbook like they do at a clown on a tricycle?

After speaking with some close friends on the matter, I have come to the conclusion that the risk of looking effeminate is worth it for the added productivity and utility you get.  Of course this is a very personal decision that every man must make for himself.  However, I have this to offer.  It is the 21st century, and people are more accepting of new ideas.  You should not fear what society may think of you, because the educated, advanced masses will come to realize, as many already have, that netbooks are great addition to one’s tech arsenal that slots perfectly between a phone and a laptop.

Similar Posts:

• Blast from the Past: Sony Vaio P for PictureBook
• TinyBook!
• TuneUp your iTunes
• Netbooks: Fad or Future?
• Asus Eee PC 1000HE long-term review