I love to have a lot of screen real estate. I have two monitors on my desk at almost all times; one with my most active windows, the other with windows to which I refer often, such as my calendar, telephone directory and task list. So I might seem unlikely to use a small laptop.

But I do use a laptop, and whenever I look to purchase one for myself, portability is high on my list of priorities. I was among the first to purchase a less-than-4-pound laptop in the early 1990s, and my most recent laptop is small and lightweight by most current standards.

So you would think a netbook would be right up my alley.

A netbook is a very portable computer, optimized to work with the Internet instead of with local software. I'm typing this column using an HP Mini provided by Verizon Wireless. At 10.25 inches by 6.5 inches, the HP Mini has a smaller footprint than a standard letter-size page, and it's so lightweight that it can easily be slipped into your briefcase or purse.

The key to the netbook concept is that it is perfect for professionals who want to be connected on the road, don't want to carry a bulky or heavy computer, and need something more akin to a computer than to a telephone. Netbooks such as the HP Mini serve the need -- especially when you're in the heart of a cell phone coverage area of the vendor who is providing the service. Since I live and work in a strong Verizon coverage area, the HP Mini brings a Verizon Wireless network that is available almost every place I go locally, as well as in many destination cities.

The HP Mini packs a full-size keyboard on that small frame; and its keys are responsive, making it easy to type. The 8.5-inch by 5-inch monitor is smaller than I really like to have for most applications -- but it sure beats the screens on smart phones.

If you want to make it a production system and you work with large documents, you'll have to get used to the trade-off of having a small screen, which might mean making your fonts smaller or scrolling back and forth to see your entire working area.

The minute I first took the HP Mini home, I knew I'd be asking myself the question about whether I'm willing to trade the screen size for extreme portability; and my answer varies -- because at times, I can't stand it, and at other times, I marvel at being able to take my work with me so easily.

My daughters both think it's cute, and have both asked me to use "the little computer" -- one to do her homework, the other to video chat with her friends. It comes with a built in Webcam; and makes a great video socializing device. Imagine being on the road and still being able to share big events more easily with your family -- or in my daughter's case, being in our home in Pennsylvania, video chatting with her friends in Ohio.

After all, the netbook was designed to take full advantage of the Internet. And although the screen doesn't give you a lot of room for big Web pages or long e-mail lists, it does connect easily over a cell phone network. And it has enough power, disk and memory to not put major constraints on you while you're working on the Net. So it could be just the thing to grab before you run out of the house.

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