Anyone with Knowledge on Netbooks / thin lappy's?

**sagedil** · 19-03-10, 03:46 PM

I am head over heals with my netbook in love.

For about 95% of at I do now, it is all I use May use my desktop like once a month now. Took a good deal of time to get used to the real estate available on the screen. But once done, I love it.

As far as power, a netbook has al you need. No, I probably will still keep using Photoshop on the desktop. But for everything else. And I mean everything, the netbook is more than enough.

Just do some reading about quality. My first netbook, an Acer, was complete sh** o quality issue. Keyboard died for good at about 7 months. Still use the old one to watch everything I do over the TV. Old one is now just permanently connected to the V, as I don't need the keyboard to do that. My newer one, a Eee I bought from best Buy for about $350, has been WAY more reliable.

But the concept??? Hell yeah, I love it with no reservations. For all those reasons you said and much more

**LaZeR** · 19-03-10, 04:26 PM

Thanks sage. I mean I'm a bit of a computer junkie but admittedly have fallen behind a bit with the newer technologies. All I know is my pre-built custom lappy with like and AMD 3200 and Ati 7600 graphics like 5 years ago cost me nearly $1200 and only has a gig of ram init plus a pretty puny I think 60GB harddrive. Now I see these nifty little "Netbooks & compact notebooks" with there 10.1" and 13.3" screens and the power they seemingly pack plus ability to run Windows 7 which I need to start working with to keep up with the times and possible future conversion to at work.

The prices have really come down for what punch these things pack. I wouldn't mind having one that if in the mood, I could fire up a game like L4D or L4D2 even at a lower res but mainly this would be for portability - wireless - internet - streaming and saving/viewing vids, ect... + word, excel, ect... and other work related. So the smaller size is a real plus for me since I'm happy enough with my desktop and current "Brick" of a laptop albeit 5 years old and becoming outdated. Yes, wouldn't mind to cheat up a little from the 10.1" to the 13.3" variety and just unsure of the value in this mentioned Toshiba unit.

So many to pick from.. just like snus! :lol:

**sagedil** · 19-03-10, 05:53 PM

LOL, OMG, I so get it. I was exactly where you were before I got my first last September.

I am old school, but also pay less attention these days. Was almost like I woke up one day and suddenly realized they were all around. But yeah, from building a kick a** duel processor all skuzzy beast for $3000 10 years ago. Or the ungodly money I paid for my first laptop that lasted a bit over 3 years. I was like, are you kidding me, $300?????

And guess what. I had to replace that $300 machine in 6 months. My $2200 laptop lasted 3 years. $300 every 6 months is still $1800 over 3 years.

So far, am realy liking this Eee so much better than the Acer. Hoping it lasts a bit longer too. But, go in knowing that is what you may have to deal with. And really, take the time to put your hands on as many as you can.

But yes. I will just end with this. I will always own a netbook now. Will always be my primary computer now. I just make use of external hard drives to store everything critical as I don't look at my netbook as a long term computer. For $300 - $350, a new one every year would be perfect for me.

I am a believer now. I was just like you at first. But having used them now for a year. Watched TV on it with it 3 inches from my face for the 6 months I didn't own a good TV. I take it everywhere with me. easily slips into the saddlebag on my motorcycle. Even take it with me to the can. It is like the size of a medium sized book for god's sake. And so freakin light

Yeah, I was skeptical at first too. But the netbooks made me fall in love. They are for real.

** One note. At least last year, some netbooks got cheap by not running Windows. I had NO interest in that. Only considered netbooks running Windows XP. BTW. Windows 7 was designed to run on a netbook. Whole reason it was pushed through so fast, Vista couldn't work with a netbook. Microsoft realized the netbooks were here for good and made sure Windows 7 worked well with them. Just for a future FYI

**Mordred** · 19-03-10, 06:46 PM

Re: Anyone with Knowledge on Netbooks / thin lappy's?

Originally posted by LaZeR

Mainly for keeping up with the interwebZ with a little capability to recreational game - watch pron, webcam with fiance' ... ect... (Tether with my Samsung Omnia & elsewhere -via WiFi)

Comments?

I don't know the model, but the specs should easily handle the tasks you're thinking about. Just don't try to get any serious gaming done. You can do "casual" games like Peggle and stuff, but nothing else. Well, you probably can, I had World of Warcraft running on my first gen Asus EEPC, but it's more painful than fun.

Far more important than specs though are ergonomics. Is the screen good enough for you? Is the keyboard suited for your hands? Is the bulk of the device acceptable? Those things you can only figure out by actually holding and using the device.

**Premium Parrots** · 19-03-10, 06:48 PM

sounds good. But I wouldn't buy anything unless I first go to the dell site and look up refurbished models. I have bought a couple of refurbished laptops from them and they have all worked well and are dirt cheap. I'm not much into buying anything refurbished but with computers you can save alot of $.........as long as they still offer a warranty.

@Sage.....were you tring to make a point or did you double post by mistake?

**LaZeR** · 19-03-10, 08:29 PM

Thanks for the responses. I will certainly get a better "feel" for this before purchase as the brief look I had whilst in the store the damn security bar prevented me from picking it up and playing with it.

PP, I took a look @ the Dell refurbs and unfortunately nothing really stood out with a decent graphics card - small form (netbook style) under 14" screen ect... without getting way over my budget.

PS: Here's a link to the complete product spec sheet on the one I'm zeroing in on from Toshiba: http://cdgenp01.csd.toshiba.com/cont...135D-S1320.pdf

Like I said, by viewing it so far is nice and thin, seemingly light but with the 13.3" and added processor/graphics power and extra ram, seems to deliver a bit more punch for the $ still retaining "netbook" like portability. I'm not too concerned if the battery life is a bit lower than the 10.1s Intel Atoms as most of my usage will have AC available.

**sagedil** · 19-03-10, 08:49 PM

See, here is where you need to make decisions. That Toshiba is too big for me. Would have trouble fitting it in my saddlebags for one. Two, it is 33% heavier. My netbook weighs in at 2.2 pounds. As small as that is, the extra weight makes a huge difference to me.

For what you said, except any serious gaming, a basic netbook WILL do everything you need. But if you really feel the need for a bit more power and screen real estate, the Toshiba is good

**LaZeR** · 20-03-10, 06:56 AM

Bought the Toshiba as mentioned tonight. Played around with it a little, it's pretty cool. Will try to post some better impressions later, right now I'm tired.

**Snusmun** · 20-03-10, 07:04 AM

that picture demonstrates perfectly life with a netbook.....always needing more real estate. It works, but it's never quite comfortable.

**Ainkor** · 20-03-10, 05:34 PM

That's for sure a decent laptop. I would be hesitant to call it a net book. I think once you break the 11.6" screen size you get into the thin and light category.

As for the chip, while it's not nearly as energy efficient as an intel Atom, you get a ton more power out of it and a pretty decent mobile graphics card.

I bough the little brother version of that for my daughter for her birthday last year and it is rock solid. I have a 1000HD EEEpc that I love and my son uses a normal 14" laptop for music production. One suggestion to folks looking for a netbook these day is unless you absolutely need one, hold off a few months as they are getting much better, especially with the release of the ION2 nvidia graphics card.

If I were buying a new netbook, this is the one that I would get:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-659-_-Product

It is a different class of computer than yours (smaller) but that size it about as large as I will go. Either that or I will pick up a tablet computer once they are out and I figure if I want to go with Android or the iPad.

**lxskllr** · 20-03-10, 07:06 PM

Originally posted by Ainkor

It is a different class of computer than yours (smaller) but that size it about as large as I will go. Either that or I will pick up a tablet computer once they are out and I figure if I want to go with Android or the iPad.

10" is the absolute biggest I'd get for a netbook, and I prefer 9". My Eee900 will fit in the cargo pocket of my BDUs. I also prefer an SSD for durability. The drive in my Eee is slow as hell, but I don't mind. The size makes up for performance issues for me. I use a desktop for my power box, and value portability, and features over power for my portables.

**Ainkor** · 20-03-10, 09:39 PM

Originally posted by lxskllr

10" is the absolute biggest I'd get for a netbook, and I prefer 9". My Eee900 will fit in the cargo pocket of my BDUs. I also prefer an SSD for durability. The drive in my Eee is slow as hell, but I don't mind. The size makes up for performance issues for me. I use a desktop for my power box, and value portability, and features over power for my portables.

You hit it right on the head about netbooks. For my use, if it can fit into my murse, I am just fine with it, although smaller but usable is always better. I really can't wait for the new tablets to come out so I can see if one of them will fit my mobile computing needs.

**LaZeR** · 21-03-10, 08:04 AM

Well I'm lovin my little laptop. I'll stop calling it a netbook just to make ya'll happy. I'm currently holded up alone in my fiance's extra bedroom a typin away and much enjoy the speed and responsiveness along with the "slightly" larger screen but 1/3 the weight of my 5 year old 12 pound 17" lappy.

And I dig having this built in webcam even though I've yet to figure out how the f.... to use it. :?

**LaZeR** · 24-03-10, 06:53 PM

Update:

So I went to Staples to buy one of those nifty little cordless optical mices with the shortened USB adapter that leaves you plug it in and keep it in so not to stick out and break anything. Anyhoo to make a long story short, I spotted something on sale:

Dell Inspiron 1464 14.1" Laptop (Black)

http://www.staples.com/Dell-Inspiron...P4118:CL161747

With an instant $150 off sticker and containing and Intel Core i3... another gig of Ram and twice the hard-drive not to mention a DVD/CD writer/burner... and only 1 lb. heavier than the Toshiba, I just had to splurge on this one and promptly returned my previous one to the Walmart. To be honest, the flimsy keyboard on the Toshiba had me a bit worried.

This Dell is pretty sweet! Still learning all the gadgetry within and the webcam utility is awesome you can make effects like smoke and lightening bolts shoot out of your pecker and stuff.

Anyone with Knowledge on Netbooks / thin lappy's?

Anyone with Knowledge on Netbooks / thin lappy's?

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