Netboooks

[MannyIsGod]

What are everyone's opinions on Netbooks?

[anakha]

If web browsing and basic office apps are all you need, it's good buy.

[TDMVPDPOY]

yeh basic stuff is a good buy, it comes with built in webcam, good enough to watch dvds, vids etc...and handy 8hr battery :D

not good for 3d gaming....

they are better than buyin a portable dvd player imo....

[PixelPusher]

Last year, I picked up a 2004-ish Toshiba Portege 12 inch tablet on ebay for around $350, and it's specs are pretty similar to what netbooks are at now (1.5gHz, 1Gb RAM, built in wireless G), except it has a GPU, a comparatively smaller HD, is heavier and only gets about 1.5 hours battery life. And this was a $2000 laptop when it first came out.

Netbooks are the ultimate expression of how computers have become a broad consumer product for everyone, and not just pros and tech geeks.

[balli]

I've actually been thinking about getting a netbook of some sort. They're great IMO. For work, I need the RAM and LCD's I got with my desktop, but in general a netbook would suit me great. Not that a having a good, powerful laptop wouldn't be awesome, but I'd much rather own a nice desktop and a netbook, than one ridiculously powerful and expensive laptop.

[Borosai]

I like them. Decent specs in a small package. Very useful. Good pricing. I would really like one, but only as a second computer.

[Cry Havoc]

I have an acer aspire one. I think it's a great little computer. Netbooks are fantastic for surfing, chatting, email, and some basic computing on the go. My acer fits into a coat pocket. Crazy. Linux runs fast and clean and boot time is sub-20 seconds.

[MannyIsGod]

I think I'm going to get one. The only thing I need my laptop for really are for internet and Word usage. I'm assuming I could load office on one since the specs on most are decent. I really like the prices and the weight too. My 15 inch notebook isn't huge by any standard but when I'm on my bike it can get cumbersome.

I'm looking at a few - most of them seem to be around 300 bucks or so. Can't beat that.

[Cry Havoc]

I think I'm going to get one. The only thing I need my laptop for really are for internet and Word usage. I'm assuming I could load office on one since the specs on most are decent. I really like the prices and the weight too. My 15 inch notebook isn't huge by any standard but when I'm on my bike it can get cumbersome.

I'm looking at a few - most of them seem to be around 300 bucks or so. Can't beat that.

Whatever you do, make sure it has a comfortable keyboard. That's the #1 thing people overlook when buying a small laptop and it can end up making your hands cramped and sore from typing. It's the main reason I bought the Acer, because I tried it out and found that the keyboard, while nowhere near as big as a full-size, is more than adequate. I was able to comfortably achieve ~5-10 wpm off my regular typing speed (90-120 wpm) with it, which is pretty good if you ask me.

[MannyIsGod]

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B001F0Q9I6/ref=nosim/msols-20

That just seems like a lot of computer for 300 bucks to me.

[MannyIsGod]

Whatever you do, make sure it has a comfortable keyboard. That's the #1 thing people overlook when buying a small laptop and it can end up making your hands cramped and sore from typing. It's the main reason I bought the Acer, because I tried it out and found that the keyboard, while nowhere near as big as a full-size, is more than adequate. I was able to comfortably achieve ~5-10 wpm off my regular typing speed (90-120 wpm) with it, which is pretty good if you ask me.


Thats really good advice. I'll have to "test drive" a few then.

[PM5K]

I've owned a few (for my son).

Nice little machines.

[PM5K]

I've had an Asus, and I didn't think the build quality was that good.

I've also had a Dell Mini and the build quality was considerably better, but the drive space was too limiting.

I wound up going with an Acer Aspire One like Havoc, it's got good build quality and comes with options for either an SSD or a hard drive.

I'd take a look at the 160GB version, it runs about 400.00:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115512

[baseline bum]

Should be ok as long as you save your weather modeling for the desktop.

[MannyIsGod]

I've had an Asus, and I didn't think the build quality was that good.

I've also had a Dell Mini and the build quality was considerably better, but the drive space was too limiting.

I wound up going with an Acer Aspire One like Havoc, it's got good build quality and comes with options for either an SSD or a hard drive.

I'd take a look at the 160GB version, it runs about 400.00:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115512

My last Acer has left a bad taste in my mouth and the Dells are probably nice but they are too expensive for what you get compared to the MSI, Asus, and Acers out there.

http://www.amazon.com/900HA-8-9-Inch-Netbook-Intel-Processor/dp/B001GIPSAM/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1227511246&sr=8-2

This is like the Asus I linked earlier but its got a bigger HD for 30 bucks more. I do like the way the Acers look best of all, but really thats what I care about least by far. I've read some reviews on the Asus models and they've all been really positive, plus they are the easiest to add more RAM too. The Acers are apparently a pain in the ass to upgrade at all.

[anakha]

I've actually been thinking about getting a netbook of some sort. They're great IMO. For work, I need the RAM and LCD's I got with my desktop, but in general a netbook would suit me great. Not that a having a good, powerful laptop wouldn't be awesome, but I'd much rather own a nice desktop and a netbook, than one ridiculously powerful and expensive laptop.

Agree.

Price-wise, a desktop with decent-good specs plus a netbook would be generally cheaper than a laptop with the same specs.

[MannyIsGod]

Plus unless you get a Macbook Air, that shit can get annoying to lug around. 15 inch laptops aren't TOO bad, but if I only had a laptop I'd want a 17 inch and they are heavy as hell.

[PM5K]

Like I said, the build quality of the Asus netbooks is pretty poor, or average at best.

I'd never buy one again, the Dell and Acer and considerably better build quality wise, and when it's something you toss into your backpack every day, it needs to be well built....

[MannyIsGod]

Went ahead and got the ASUS 904HA.

I think the build quality is actually better than I was expecting. The keyboard did take some getting used to but its not bad after maybe 15 minutes of use except for the weird shift key.

My one gripe so far is the touch pad's lack of scrolling on the side. I got really used to that on my acer and on my moms compaq I use sometimes. Otherwise its fucking light and small which rocks. Also, the battery time is insane.

[Heath Ledger]

Id stay away from Acer, i bought one, the hard drive failed about 20 days after its 1 yr warranty expired.

[Cry Havoc]

Id stay away from Acer, i bought one, the hard drive failed about 20 days after its 1 yr warranty expired.

:sleep

Please show me a company that doesn't have regular failures in PC products. That kind of comment is so ridiculous. "I got a bad computer... so let's summarily judge the entire company!"

Even Lenovo products fail from time to time. Does that mean we should never buy any product, since it might be faulty?

[ChumpDumper]

Id stay away from Acer, i bought one, the hard drive failed about 20 days after its 1 yr warranty expired.Who made the hard drive?

Some of those components may have a longer warranty period than the computer as a whole.

[PM5K]

My one gripe so far...



Don't worry, I've been here for four years, I'll be here in a few weeks when shit starts to break and you have a lot more than one gripe, just don't say I didn't tell you...