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It’s always risky carrying a high-end device around with you when you’re off-site, whether you’re going to the local café or traveling overseas. I can tuck my netbook into a small messenger bag or briefcase and do away with carrying one of those notebook bags that have a big neon sign saying, “I’ve got something really valuable in here.”

Netbooks are a lot less expensive than a regular notebook or a smartphone with all its associated data charges. Many netbooks fall within the 300-500USD range. Should something happen to your netbook while you’re on the road -- theft, damage, or confiscation by an overly aggressive border guard -- it won’t be as tragic as, say, losing a MacBook Air. When compared to a regular notebook computer or a smart phone, a netbook can be considered somewhat “expendable”.

I don’t store any personal data on my netbook. I carry the bare minimum on it -- the files necessary for the story or project I’m working on -- and a set of backup files on a USB flash drive that I keep in my pocket, not in the same bag as my netbook. If something happens to my netbook while I’m off-site -- while a total bummer and a financial loss -- I won’t lose as much sleep over it as I would if it were my primary notebook.

It’s important to realize, however, that netbooks aren’t meant to take the place of a regular notebook or desktop computer. They’re made for portability, not to run processor intensive applications. Besides, with its relatively small form factor, I can’t imagine working on such a small keyboard for more than two or three hours at a time without my shoulders, arms, and wrists seizing up and creaking like a rusty gate (coincidentally, three hours is the approximate battery life of my fully charged Aspire One).

Only time will tell if netbooks will catch on with mobile users. They’re not suitable for everyone. Graphics designer, for example, aren’t going to be running Photoshop or CAD on a netbook. But for basic productivity and connectivity needs, I can think of no better solution than a netbook.

Paul Chin (www.paulchinonline.com) is a freelance writer and journalist. He has previously worked in the aerospace and competitive intelligence industries as a software developer and intranet specialist. He currently writes on a wide range of IT topics, including systems development and security, digital communications and media, content management and web design.

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