A 12 inch netbook computer for only $379

Some people are buying netbooks to use as their main computer. I'm a big fan of netbooks, but there is no getting around the small keyboard and screen, they are best used sporadically rather than constantly.

Back in May, I wrote that I expected a new class of netbook computer, those with 12 or 11.5 inch screens, would be the perfect mating of low price with a keyboard and screen good enough for everyday, continual use.

One of this new class of netbooks, the Lenvo S12, is currently on sale for $379 (with free shipping). This is an amazingly low price for a 12 inch netbook.

There are multiple models of the S12 and this price is for the cheapest one.

A month ago, when Brad Linder did a lengthy review of the next-model-up S12, it was $499. That model, with an Intel Atom processor, now sells for $449. For $379 you get a VIA Nano processor.

Still, no one buys a netbook for the performance, it's purchased for some combination of price, portability and operating system.

The most important aspects of the S12, for me at least, are the full sized keyboard and the 12.1 inch 1280x800 screen.

I have not used an S12, or seen a review that comments on just how pokey the VIA processor may or may not be. Certainly the glossy screen will be a turn-off for some.

On the other hand, Linder notes that "Typing on the IdeaPad S12 keyboard is virtually the same experience as typing on a laptop with a 14 inch or larger display" and he estimates the battery life to be between 5 and 6 hours.

He also agrees with me about prefering a larger netbook. He writes 

As much as I love a 10 inch netbook, I find myself frequently grabbing the larger IdeaPad S12 when I’m on the go because it has many of the benefits of a netbook including long battery life and relatively small size and light weight, with the added advantage of a screen that can display significantly more information.