Netbook ?

[retired_member32]

anybody recommend a good netbook ? and they all seam to be using the "atom" processor is this a good processor ,do's it punch above it's 1.6ghz speed ?

my missus is writing a book and she wants something to use...

i was looking at the review sites and people were putting in the reviews "windows 7 is a nasty operating system and the colour of the case reminds me of water,and the netbook is good"

any ideas would be welcome

 

[monaghan]

Depends what you want it to do, as you mention, most netbooks are built around the atom processor which is fine for "normal" low power use such as web surfing and a bit of simple word processing, try and play modern interactive games and you'll see the lack of CPU power.

If the Mrs is writing a book, then I'd have thought a desktop with a proper keyboard and decent sized screen would be a better option? Failing that get a laptop with a bigger screen and keyboard.

I usually get my laptop hardware from a local supplier who build to order, feel free to drop me a PM if you want me to get a quote for a 17" screen laptop

 

[retired_member32]

yes we are going down to Pc World later to see if she would prefer a normal laptop or a netbook,she might be going back to Uni this month also ,so being mobile would be a consideration...

 

[denchomsky]

Get a macbook, I have the 13" black one, dual core intel, prob get one second hand for about £400-£500 now much nicer keyboard for typing than a cheap netbook or laptop.

DVI out to a larger monitor if need be, nice and compact for out and about also.

 

[accelerator]

A netbook will be powerful enough for word processing. The only issue I have is I don't find them comfortable for typing as the keyboards are too small for me. However, when at home you can connect up an external keyboard and monitor if you want to.

Netbook brand wise I would say look at Samsung, they are probably the best quality. My second favourite brand would be Dell. I bought an Acer One a few years ago and it was a nice little machine but the battery stopped working (haven't looked into it though).

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk is good for detailed netbook evaluation.

Rgds

 

[AssetDomains]

I bought a netbook uni last year and I second the Samsung recommendation its spot on.
spec wise there all pretty much the same just look out for one with a decent battery life.
Netbooks are brilliant for mobile browsing and editing the odd document etc over lunch not having to be stuck in one of the uni computer rooms.
Really wouldn't recommended them for prolonged usage such as writing a book though just don't think it would be comfortable.
Rather than luging around heavier full size laptop though maybe just getting a second monitor and usb keyboard and mouse to plug into at home would be an option for you.

 

[mat]

If I was going for a netbook it would be Samsung or Dell aswell.

Feel free to use the site in my sig when making the purchase

 

[retired_member32]

good old Mat has a domain for every occasion....


thanks for the advice guys....my trail of thought is i would prefer her to have a full 15.4 " laptop but don't have a lot of money to spend on another piece of hardware,laptops are notoriously unreliable (thats why there are more listings for broken laptops than laptops on ebay) so it would be a new netbook or a secondhand laptop....it's costing me a fortune to send her back to Uni for law....we already ran up £25k worth of debt for becoming a teacher

Regards

 

[AssetDomains]

Go for new a netbook and pick up a cheap monitor for at home when you have bit more cash currys,dixions and PC world all still have money of codes for netbooks at the moment my work on collect at store at PCworld if your buying one instore

 

[davedevelopment]

I bought a Samsung laptop a couple of months back and I'm happy with it, particularly just for browsing. Thinking about getting an SSD and some more RAM if I can free up some cash.

 

[jimm]

Ive got a Samsung NC130. Very good machine. Easy to use when out and about. Good KB, screen, trackpad etc. Light enough too. I just wish they had done the power conversion at the plug end like the EEE did. But good netbook.

 

[retired_member32]

yeah i was looking at the eee with it's seven hour battery....the general census seams to be netbooks good but limited userbility....she spends hours typing away and the size of the screen 9/10" ,we went down PC World to see the netbooks and they are nice looking but the demo didn't go too well,the one they shown us froze then packed up....

 

[retired_member32]

update: we decided to go for an dell inspiron mini 10" screen....what a load of rubbish the thing is possesed ,my missus is writing a book and every now and again the page freezes losing everthing,i was looking at the software that is pre-installed onto the thing and it is unbelieveable.....when you have a 1.6ghz processor you want limited software installed...the toolbar is packed full of rubbish and it has norton anti virus which was too heavy for my dualcore....and it keeps reverting to UK (welsh) or US (english) even though i keep asking for UK (english) default....arrggghhh

 

[mat]

The main thing is to uninstall all the "crap" as soon as you get the laptop/computer.

Get rid of all the software it comes bundled with, replace the anti virus with something like AVG free and should have no problems!

A pain I know, but has to be done really...