With computing moving more and more into web based use, it’s no wonder many manufacturers have responded with new offerings such as netbooks, tablet devices, and web enabled media players. Available in a variety of price ranges with varying technical specifications, there seems to be an endless amount of choices.
One of the many netbook’s available is the Packard Bell Dot S2 Uk/002. It offers a great device for someone looking for a gateway to the web, some basic word processing, and portability, all at reasonable price.
The hardware includes a 1.66 GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, and a 250GB hard drive. It also is loaded with 3 USB ports, so it’s easy to add an external mouse, hard drive, etc. The S2 comes stock with Xsync, allowing you to easily transfer information between your main computer and the Dot. The battery is advertised to run somewhere between 8 and 10 hours, which should be adequate for most users.
The keyboard responds well, and the touchpad mouse also functions admirably. It comes stock with Windows 7, and most notably, a full version of Adobe Photoshop Elements (valued at roughly £40).
The Dot S2 also comes standard with a very good neoprene case. The power supply is built into the power sprocket, and the plug is adjustable, so plugging it into tight spaces is very easy. Quite an ingenious piece of design work by Packard Bell.
A glaring deficiency comes in the WIFI department, as it lacks N class speeds. However, it still performs adequately enough for basic web functions. The Dot S2 also has a relatively weak graphics engine, so HD content and gaming is almost certainly out of the question.
The Dot S2 is not going to blow you away as far being a premier netbook. But for its price, it offers some nice features, such as Photoshop and a very responsive keyboard, and will handle the basic functions you need in a netbook flawlessly.
