Netbook as Remote Access Device

There's lots of buzz in the market these days about mobile devices - particularly the latest round of iPhone / Palm / Blackberry smart phones. I love my iPhone, but I still can't imagine doing any real work on it. It's amazing for email, getting a map, seeing the weather radar, updating Facebook, and so much more -- but the screen is too small, and the navigation and keyboard too cumbersome, to possibly do substantial work. If I need to work on a Powerpoint, dig into some Excel formulas, or update the content and images on our websites, I simply can't do that from my iPhone. I need a bigger screen, a full-size keyboard, and preferably, a mouse.

That's where a Netbook comes in. Small but not too small, and coming in at only a few hundred dollars, a netbook (also known as UMPC or Ultra-Mobile PC) can be the perfect on-the-go computer for the mobile knowledge worker. Netbooks all have built-in wifi, and many even have built-in cellular broadband coverage (with a plan from Verizon, AT&T, or Sprint, of course), so you're able to be connected all that time.

That connectivity is critical, because you don't want to fall into the trap of loading all your data and software onto the netbook device itself. That'll tax the capabilities of the device, use the battery faster, and increase the damage if the device is lost or stolen.

Instead, you should think of the netbook as a portable terminal to your information. Don't carry the info with you - reach out across the Internet and work with it in its native location. That means using a secure remote desktop solution to log into your main PC back at the office, or a VPN to connect to the office network. Tools like chat, IM, and even Twitter help to keep you in the loop even when you're miles away. Google docs and other online applications provide another way to leverage ubiquitous connectivity without overstepping the bounds of what the netbook can handle.

What are your experiences with netbooks? Any favorite brands or models?