diff --git a/app/src/processing/app/Editor.java b/app/src/processing/app/Editor.java
index 65345016e..7ed0103a8 100644
--- a/app/src/processing/app/Editor.java
+++ b/app/src/processing/app/Editor.java
@@ -264,7 +264,9 @@ public class Editor extends JFrame implements RunnerListener {
       splitPane.setDividerSize(dividerSize);
     }
 
-    splitPane.setMinimumSize(new Dimension(600, 400));
+    // the following changed from 600, 400 for netbooks
+    // http://code.google.com/p/arduino/issues/detail?id=52
+    splitPane.setMinimumSize(new Dimension(600, 100));
     box.add(splitPane);
 
     // hopefully these are no longer needed w/ swing
diff --git a/build/shared/lib/preferences.txt b/build/shared/lib/preferences.txt
index bca71bfd9..3db5b824d 100755
--- a/build/shared/lib/preferences.txt
+++ b/build/shared/lib/preferences.txt
@@ -76,11 +76,16 @@ editor.window.width.default = 500
 editor.window.height.default = 600
 
 editor.window.width.min = 400
-editor.window.height.min = 500
+editor.window.height.min = 290
+
+# the following commented out to better support netbooks
+# http://code.google.com/p/arduino/issues/detail?id=52
+#editor.window.height.min = 500
 # tested as approx 440 on OS X
-editor.window.height.min.macosx = 450
+#editor.window.height.min.macosx = 450
 # tested to be 515 on Windows XP, this leaves some room
-editor.window.height.min.windows = 530
+#editor.window.height.min.windows = 530
+
 
 # font size for editor
 editor.font=Monospaced,plain,12