The second generation of netbooks is here and they’ve brought more storage with them.

The pint-sized mobile computers typically now come pre-loaded with Windows 7, but consumers should remember that not every netbook running Windows 7 is quicker than older models with Windows XP. Models released onto the market in the Christmas run-up are often running on the same hardware as their predecessors.

More mighty models are only now trickling onto the market. The newer devices typically have bigger hard drives, with 250 gigabytes (GB) as the new unofficial standard. considering netbooks are sold as highly affordable and mobile web-surfing machines with good battery life, Thomas Rau from Germany’s PC Welt magazine doesn’t anticipate any “exorbitant upgrades.” “Most manufacturers want to keep the basic price below 400 dollars,” Rau says.

While computer maker Acer hasn’t revealed prices yet, it has indicated that new netbooks are on the way — and soon. The new models include the

Aspire One 532 with a 10.1-inch display and, optionally, with WSVGA or WXGA resolution (16:9). The major difference from previous devices is the 250 GB hard drive. The processor once again is an Intel Atom chip from the N series.

The new Eee PC 1005PE netbook from Asus plus has an Atom processor and a 250 GB hard drive. Yet Rau doesn’t see netbooks suddenly mutating into multimedia machines. Manufacturers don’t want to cannibalize the market for their bigger, more almighty — and somewhat more expensive — laptops with CULV energy-saving processors.

Netbooks continue to sell briskly around the world, reports the industry organization BITKOM. And the trend is pointing upward. The experts anticipate that Windows 7 will bring another bump in 2010.

As usual, the new operating system comes in various versions. The starter edition is the one typically installed on new netbooks. It is not slower than the…

Original post by dhiram