ZDNET's key takeaways The Piccolo N150 netbook is on sale now for $389.
This eight-inch laptop has a nice display, enough power for most use cases, and even runs Linux well.
The keyboard on the N150 is a challenge to get used to. View now at X-Plus
If given the opportunity, I would much rather use a desktop over a laptop or phone. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I have my Android, but typing on phones has never been easy for me. I like touch typing and I'm very good at it (I should be, given how much I write).
Also: I finally found a mini PC with a striking design (and the power to back it up)
On the few occasions I have had to actually write and edit on a phone, it was horrible, so I avoid it at all costs. But what do I do when I'm on the go and I don't have room in my bag for a full-sized laptop?
I go mini. Or, shall I say, tiny.
The Piccolo N150 Netbook is an eight-inch "mini laptop" that looks sort of like a tablet or one of those old-school electronic organizers from the '90s. When I first received this device to review, I was giddy upon handling it. I always loved miniaturized things as a kid, and the Piccolo speaks to something nostalgic.
This eight-inch laptop isn't a toy, however. Upon picking it up, you can feel the metal chassis has a surprising amount of weight to it. When I turned the N150 on, I was greeted by Windows 11. It should come as no surprise that I dislike Windows. So what did I do? Obviously, I installed Linux.
To be more specific, I installed KDE Neon. I knew I'd prefer the KDE Plasma UI because I felt it would be the easiest to use on the small touch screen. The installation was as easy as installing any Linux distribution (which is to say… very) and there was only one issue with the audio.
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