Netbooks are trendy. They are small, light, and affordable, and they offer acceptable performance. They do have one problem, though: no drive for CDs or DVD-ROMs.
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While this complicates the issue of installing software onto the machines significantly, all is not lost. Some programs can be started directly from other storage media like USB sticks or storage cards, or downloaded onto the netbook from the Internet.
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If a CD or DVD-ROM is required for installation, then there are two other options available: either attach an external drive, or use a shared drive from another computer on the network. Simple external CD-ROM drives connected by USB cost less than 20 dollars. DVD drives can be purchased for around 40 dollars, and external DVD burners cost around 65 dollars.
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External burners in the slim-line format are considered suitable peripherals for netbooks. The buyer should give some thought to how the external drive will draw its power, however.
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Germany-based c’t magazine recently tested six slim-line models priced between 60 and 110 dollars. Five were capable of drawing their power directly from the computer via the USB port without an external power plug. That’s practical if the burner is going to be used on the go, away from a wall plug. Buyers are advised to check the compatibility of the external burner and mobile computer via USB before making a purchase.
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If a PC is being used on the same network, its drive can then be made available to the notebook: in Windows the user need only right click on the drive and select Sharing and security from the context menu. In the next menu, select Share this folder on the network. Additional details can be set under Rights.
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Windows Explorer must be used on the netbook to assign a letter to the networked drive: a right click on the…