Netbooks are a new category of laptop computer, defined mostly by their small size and cheap price. The category started only a year ago and has evolved drastically since. I tried the first netbook, an Asus Eee PC with a 7-inch screen and didn't like it; the keyboard and screen were much too small.

Since people saw the big impact of Netbooks in the market, different Linux distributions came out that were customized for Netbooks. They were designed a little differently to optimize viewable area on small 10-inch screen sizes

The Linux Netbooks are cheap, simple and small — just apt for performing the basic tasks. The future for this next wave of personal technology gadgets is simple as it doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket and has portability advantages.

I guess I'm biased, but I have a soft spot when it comes to small-size distros. I like it when developers have the craftsmanship to bundle lots of great stuff into small, highly practical packages, proving that size matters not.

I'm planning to acquire a small, ultra-lightweight, low-cost, and Linux-powered subnotebook before the end of the year. So, I began doing some research (used Google), and started my quest to find the perfect netbook.Of the many netbooks currently available, and also those that are soon to be released, I only have 3 favorites.

Netbooks are small computers that are cheaper and lighter than full-scale laptops. They have their merits—but do not ask too much of them

Canonical has announced the Ubuntu Netbook Remix, a version of Ubuntu designed for small computers with Intel's new Atom processor. These include: netbooks; (small laptops such as the Asus Eee PC), and MIDs; (small handheld computers).

The Canonical OEM team has been approached by a number of OEM’s who want to sell netbooks (small, low-cost laptops with an emphasis on the web) based on Ubuntu. Almost universally, they’ve asked for standard Ubuntu packages and updates, with an app launcher that’s more suited to new users and has the feeling of a “device” more than a PC.

Brad Linder’s liliputing.com reported last week that netbook sales were slowing, partly due to the rising tide of tablets and also because the lines are blurring between netbooks and more powerful but equally small thin and light laptops.