Styleforum › Forums › General › General Chat › Any thoughts on Netbooks?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Any thoughts on Netbooks?

post #1 of 24
5/12/10 at 10:54pm
Thread Starter 
The last thread on netbooks is a little dated.

I am considering getting one as a cheap alternative for travel and to act as a second surfing laptop around the house.

Are they still under-impressive? Are they just too small?

Anyone have any thoughts/experience? What about brand comparisons? Any thoughts?
Reply
Reply
post #2 of 24
5/12/10 at 10:58pm
I think they are fine if you are just wanting something to check emails or go online. Don't expect to be using Photoshop and stuff though. Alternative would be iPad.
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 24
5/12/10 at 11:09pm
They are extremely slow for anything above basic web browsing, emails, or some word processing (if you can deal with the smaller keyboard).
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 24
5/12/10 at 11:29pm
I use a 10" acer netbook i bought off woot for like $225, and I absolutely love it. Its my primary and only computer. I use it to download songs, search the web, watch porn and do basic word processing for my resume and stuff- I bet that is pretty much the extent of what most average people do for their home computer. There has never been a scenario where I didnt think it was "fast enough" - i never understood that argument.

Of course if you work from home, manage spreadhseets, play games or do graphic design then the small screen and keyboard may be a problem, but if you do those things why dont you have a desktop and why would you even consider a laptop in the first place?

I have a 16" hP laptop work gave me and it sucks. Has no battery life, is a beast to carry around, is heavy and the screen just seems huge to me. No buyers remorse at all for the netbook.

My only gripe is the trackpad. It sucks. But I bought a wireless mouse - problem solved.
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 24
5/12/10 at 11:30pm
Perfect for 90% of what 90% of users need.
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 24
5/13/10 at 12:15am
Just get an iPad. Join the bandwagon. Do it! They're actually pretty awesome.

(Cue the flames)
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 24
5/13/10 at 2:09am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Arrogant Bastard View Post
Just get an iPad. Join the bandwagon. Do it! They're actually pretty awesome.

(Cue the flames)


How is an Ipad better? What is the difference?
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 24
5/13/10 at 10:18am
Well the netbook is like a supplement to a desktop or fullsize laptop.


The netbook is not as fast, nor is the screen and keyboard as nice as a fullsize laptop. CD drives are lacking.


Like what has been said, just basic surfing the net, email and word processing is about all there good for. Other then that (video editing, watching movies, games, HD video, 3d apps) you'll want an full-size laptop with an good video card.
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 24
5/13/10 at 10:19am
Slooooooooow. Even for just web browsing.
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 24
5/13/10 at 10:20am
I got a Gateway netbook for free(after rebate)when I got a new Berry in Dec. I use it for travel and iot does the job. Don't expect to replicate what you are doing on your primary PC/laptop. They are good for what they are designed to do!
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 24
5/13/10 at 10:27am
I'd go for an iPad instead. Sure, it's going to be a couple of extra dollars, but you can still do quite advanced word processing and create presentations with Keynote, Pages and Numbers, and the battery is good. The screen is probably the perfect size as well, it's large enough for watching movies when you're on the go, and reading newspapers and books in bed.
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 24
5/13/10 at 10:35am
I have a Samsung N510 I got a couple of months ago which has a slightly larger screen (11.5") than most netbooks and a proper graphics processor giving it a higher resolution. I had to hunt around slightly to find it as it is a slightly older model and they don't seem to have made a new version. I have been very pleased with it, I expected to have to buy a separate keyboard for writing long work but I have found the keyboard quite adequate and although I have a larger screen I haven't bothered hooking it up, apart from when viewing multiple documents side by side the screen is big enough. It does all your normal tasks quite speedily, makes next to no noise, is incredibly light and the battery will do 5 hours or so even under fairly intensive use. I found on a bored weekend with the family it will even run some older games (medieval total war 2) with a plug in dvd drive. Haven't switched on my "proper" laptop since I bought it.
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 24
5/13/10 at 11:58am
Someone mentioned battery life, in regards to iPads above.

My god. I've gotten 11 hours on my Asus. As people are saying, it's not a high end computer and it cannot do what a desktop or nice notebook can do. But what it does, it does well. Perfect for travel, sitting outside, etc. No worries about battery life and a need to plug in. Put your iTunes library on your nice, big 250 gig HDD.

Ipads do look cool, but never buy the first generation of an Apple product.
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 24
5/13/10 at 12:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Piobaire View Post
Ipads do look cool, but never buy the first generation of an Apple product.

I tend to agree with this, btw. I'm a gadget dork, so I always ignore the best advice along these lines and take the plunge. But generally speaking, yeah, you want to avoid the first generation of an Apple product. Next spring, there will no doubt be an iPad twice as powerful at half the cost.
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 24
5/13/10 at 12:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Arrogant Bastard View Post
I tend to agree with this, btw. I'm a gadget dork, so I always ignore the best advice along these lines and take the plunge. But generally speaking, yeah, you want to avoid the first generation of an Apple product. Next spring, there will no doubt be an iPad twice as powerful at half the cost.

I've been a tech "early adopter" for 20+ years. I've learned the cost of being an early adopter the hard way...more than once.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: General Chat
Styleforum › Forums › General › General Chat › Any thoughts on Netbooks?