Some companies are helping out netbooks with new products built just for the notebook's little brother. If you need an office productivity suite, ThinkFree just released ThinkFree Mobile: Netbook Edition. ThinkFree does a great job emulating Microsoft Office, but they've modified their software to be sleeker, faster, and easier for new netbook users. Put coupon code thinkfree in during checkout, and the $39.95 price drops to $24.95.

Another netbook-friendly product is the Checkit Notebook Utility Suite from SmithMicro. The tools promise to improve performance, help backup files and compress and optimize file sizes. Retail price is $39.95. A copy is on the way for me to test so I'll let you know if it helps.

People are optimistic, and probably hoped they could spend less than a “real” notebook and get the same performance with a netbook. Nope, you can't. Don't buy a netbook if you need high performance. The small size is handy and a great advantage at times, but it's not a workhorse computer.

Need portability and a low price? Netbooks lead the way, but only a minor step up gets you a low-end notebook with more power and a CD and/or DVD player.

Need power crunching inside your portable computing device? Get a notebook, not netbook. Need a CD or DVD drive? Notebook. Need portability above all else? Netbook.

Whatever you do, make sure you test the performance of the system running the type of applications you plan to run. Netbooks are cool and hip. Notebooks are larger yet get more work done. Whichever you choose, just remember that post-purchase whining won't make the netbook run faster or jump higher.