Netbooks differ from computers and laptops in terms of size and hardware power. As a rule, they have a weaker filling than their older counterparts. This means that the operating system (OS) installed on the device must match the hardware of the netbook in order to work on the laptop as comfortable as possible.
Windows
The best option for working with a netbook would be Windows 7. This operating system is usually supplied preinstalled and does not impose increased requirements on the hardware; it is suitable for a netbook that has 1 GB of RAM and a screen resolution of 1024x768. Your portable device may be single-core with a 1.2GHz processor, but you can get better system performance if you use a netbook that has 2 or more processor cores.
If your PC does not meet the requirements of Windows 7, you can install Windows XP on it, which will be enough to run on a netbook with 256 MB of RAM and a processor clock speed of 1.2 GHz or less.
This OS will successfully cope with any tasks that you want to perform on the device - you can run any office applications and programs for working on the Internet.
Comparatively newer dual-core netbooks with more than 1 GB of RAM can run Windows 8. It differs from Windows 7 with improved performance and an updated interface. Your netbook must have a display capable of displaying screen elements at a resolution of 1024x768. However, it is advisable that the screen of your netbook supports a higher resolution so that you can comfortably navigate the Metro system menus.
Linux
Operating systems of the Linux family are an alternative to Windows. They are distinguished by low system requirements and can be used to carry out any tasks for working with a computer.
Among the more user-friendly Linux distributions, Ubuntu is a good fit. This system is distinguished by the ability to install the Unity desktop, which is just adapted for laptops and netbooks. With the help of this interface, you can quickly call the necessary system functions and work with programs.
To install the latest Ubuntu (13.10), you do not need more than 512 MB of RAM and a single core processor with a frequency of 1.4 GHz.
Alternative distributions for Linux users include Suse, Mint (based on Ubuntu) and Mandriva. For more advanced users, systems like Slackware and Debian are fine. A distinctive feature of Linux is the ability to fine-tune, its openness, and therefore the ability to optimize your OS as much as possible for working with a netbook.
