Netbook or Laptop ?

[grantw]

I need a laptop/netbook to mainly use for offline development work, I'm thinking of getting a smallish netbook as it will be handy when I go away but as it will mainly be used for daily work do you reckon the smallness will be a pain? Maybe should just go for a standard laptop?

Cheers, Grant

 

[stevebrowne]

I need a laptop/netbook to mainly use for offline development work, I'm thinking of getting a smallish netbook as it will be handy when I go away but as it will mainly be used for daily work do you reckon the smallness will be a pain? Maybe should just go for a standard laptop?

Cheers, Grant

A small netbook is great as a desktop companion for handling email, browsing and occasional work. I wouldn't want to use one for daily work though.

 

[accelerator]

I have the Acer Aspire One and the keyboard is a bit fiddly for touch typing - it's just very slightly too small for fast typing. At home isn't a problem because you can use an external monitor and keyboard. For anyone interested in examples of what's out there at the moment, see Free Netbooks. The Samsung NC10 is a very good machine, and I also like the Dell Inspiron Mini 9.

If it was me and price isn't an issue, then I would go up to a 13 or 15" laptop coupled with external monitor and keyboard for at home.

At some point hopefully mobile phone companies will make external keyboards and monitors available for mobile phones, then that's all you'll ever need maybe? In the meantime the iPhone 3G is a fun mobile web experience.

Rgds

 

[grantw]

Cheers Steve, I've never used a netbook but was suspecting it wouldn't be a good idea.

grant

 

[stevebrowne]

Someone at the place I'm contracting at has a Dell Mini 9 and it's lovely, but doesn't replace a full PC or laptop for development work. I want to see what the Dell Mini 10 ends up costing - a bit more power, slightly larger..

 

[mat]

The dell minis and small netbooks are great for email, browsing the net and notes here and there.

But anything more and you need a laptop.

 

[grantw]

Thanks chaps, laptop it is then.

Appreciated, Grant

 

[retired_member27]

The best netbook at the moment is the Samsung NC10, but for me personally that is too small if working for hours on end, however there maybe an NC12 coming out soon which would be just exceptable for my eyes.

 

[afx]

Have a look at 13.3 widescreen subnotes. They are still very portable as well as being thin and light, but you dont have to compromise on usability; as they come with a full size keyboard.

Here's a couple of examples:

Dell XPS M1330 (budget)
Lenovo X301 (ouch)

 

[njf]

Dell's factory outlet is pretty good - approx ten days to deliver a Inspiron 1525 and you theoretically avoid manfacturing delays. They had a deal on last week where you got something like £50 off and free delivery. Lot of stock at this time of year I assume.

Worth a browse and weighing against eBay if you go Dell.

Cheers, Nick.

 

[developdomains]

go for a Dell XPS laptop, especially if your doing lots of programming/image work.

best investment I ever made. 3 years on site next day support if it goes wrong was an additional £150, bargain.

 

[ScottJ]

I had a comparison chart created for me which shows the main features of the major netbooks, may be useful to some.