Netbook choice.

Allan

Allan

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 Mar 2004
Messages
4,696
Location
Lymington
Visit site
Following my recent thread on a low power computer station (http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=336565) I have decided to buy a netbook with a SSD.
Can anyone help with:
Which one to buy?
Where to buy it?
Is Windows 7 starter pack a good OS?
Should I buy the SSD separately or already fitted?
If fitting myself, do I need to buy the OS separately?
Are there any other things I need to know?
Allan
 
Allan said:
Following my recent thread on a low power computer station (http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=336565) I have decided to buy a netbook with a SSD.
Can anyone help with:
Which one to buy?
Where to buy it?
Is Windows 7 starter pack a good OS?
Should I buy the SSD separately or already fitted?
If fitting myself, do I need to buy the OS separately?
Are there any other things I need to know?
Allan
Click to expand...


I can only tell you that I've had an Acer Aspire 1 for many years now and it works faultlessly. Mine has a H.D. and 1 gig of ram and does everything I require of it - including playing real T.V. via a digital dongle and downloaded T.V. (BBC iplayer) to an SD card. It tends to be used in places where my expensive work laptop is scared to go so it's been kicked around in rucksacks, (and on my boat).

The only area that could be criticised is the battery life but I bought a couple of spares from E-bay. That's a good point - what would rather do in your application - wait for a flat battery to charge or click in a spare?

I am tempted by a fancy new tablet but the bloddy Acer refuses to die :-)
 
I use an Acer Aspire One netbook, and it has been great since I installed Ubuntu on it. However, I did buy a Linux based one (a very limited Linux) to start with. Note that if you buy a Linux one, it will be a LOT cheaper than a Windows one - you don't pay the Microsoft Tax! I'm actually writing this on it, using it with a desktop monitor.
 
As you want to buy a netbook you clearly do not have an iPad.

If you do not have an iPad why don't you buy an iPad instead of a stupid netbook?:D
 
Ex-SolentBoy said:
As you want to buy a netbook you clearly do not have an iPad.

If you do not have an iPad why don't you buy an iPad instead of a stupid netbook?:D
Click to expand...

Assuming you have read the previous thread, link above, will an iPad do everything I need? I know nothing of iPads and thought that they wouldn't have the compatibility and USB ports I need. The previous thread was to decide between tablets, netbooks and building a mini (12v) PC.
Allan
 
I have an Emachine 150 (Acer "value" brand) for the boat; its been fine, does all I want. Runs W Xp, Wifi, dongle, HD version.. Just watch the battery size - I got a "value sized" battery too - only 2700mAH but even with that I get 2hrs+ browsing. Easy to find 4500mAH batteries, 5600 & 7200 also exist.
 
AntarcticPilot said:
Becasue a Netbook has a proper keyboard?
Click to expand...

I would agree with that. SWMBO has just bought an Ipad, well I suppose I have as well :( . Stupid gimmick imho. I can't see what all the fuss is about. That keeyboard that doesn't have numbers or various other buttons unless you press a button to bring up another keeboard. Websites that use flashplayer it wont display. You have to get another case for it to get it to stand up on it's own. My wrist gets sore holding it or I have to sit it on my knee and my back gets sore bending over to see it.
The battery life is good though, :)
 
Last edited:
Spyro said:
I would agree with that. SWMBO has just bought an Ipad, well I suppose I have as well :( . Stupid gimmick imho. I can't see what all the fuss is about. That keeyboard that doesn't have numbers or various other buttons unless you press a button to bring up another keeboard. Websites that use flashplayer it wont display. You have to get another case for it to get it to stand up on it's own. My wrist gets sore holding it or I have to sit it on my knee and my back gets sore bending over to see it.
The battery life is good though, :)
Click to expand...
I've heard similar things before but don't know enough to comment. The people who like them, like Ex-Solentsailor seem to be evangelical and often a little aggressive in their justification. I'm just trying to put together a system which is fit for the purpose I have in mind. Compatibility and ease of use are much more important to me than style or appearance. Though I do admit iPads are pretty.
Allan
 
Allan said:
Following my recent thread on a low power computer station (http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=336565) I have decided to buy a netbook with a SSD.
Can anyone help with:
Which one to buy?
Where to buy it?
Is Windows 7 starter pack a good OS?
Should I buy the SSD separately or already fitted?
If fitting myself, do I need to buy the OS separately?
Are there any other things I need to know?
Allan
Click to expand...

I did much the same this year - so this link may be of help???

My Netbook choice was made primarily on battery life as that was my key requirement... I've read with interest the comments on SSD and single memory modules neither of which I was aware of...
 
Spyro said:
I would agree with that. SWMBO has just bought an Ipad, well I suppose I have as well :( . Stupid gimmick imho. I can't see what all the fuss is about. That keeyboard that doesn't have numbers or various other buttons unless you press a button to bring up another keeboard. Websites that use flashplayer it wont display. You have to get another case for it to get it to stand up on it's own. My wrist gets sore holding it or I have to sit it on my knee and my back gets sore bending over to see it.
The battery life is good though, :)
Click to expand...

+1

also don't forget memory is dirt cheap so only cost about £9 to double the memory from 1Gb to 2Gb and that makes a difference.
 
Spyro said:
I would agree with that. SWMBO has just bought an Ipad, well I suppose I have as well :( . Stupid gimmick imho. I can't see what all the fuss is about. That keeyboard that doesn't have numbers or various other buttons unless you press a button to bring up another keeboard. Websites that use flashplayer it wont display. You have to get another case for it to get it to stand up on it's own. My wrist gets sore holding it or I have to sit it on my knee and my back gets sore bending over to see it.
The battery life is good though, :)
Click to expand...

Another reason is because you can only get applications that the great Spirit of Jobs has blessed! And because of a really silly Apple rule, that means NO Java based applications (Apple don't provide a JVM, and you can't put "software for running software" on the AppStore).
 
Spyro said:
I would agree with that. SWMBO has just bought an Ipad, well I suppose I have as well :( . Stupid gimmick imho. I can't see what all the fuss is about. That keeyboard that doesn't have numbers or various other buttons unless you press a button to bring up another keeboard. Websites that use flashplayer it wont display. You have to get another case for it to get it to stand up on it's own. My wrist gets sore holding it or I have to sit it on my knee and my back gets sore bending over to see it.
The battery life is good though, :)
Click to expand...

I have a keyboard for my iPad - it supports bluetooth as well as USB via an adaptor.
As for Flash, it's the work of the devil anyway and is no longer supported on ANY tablet or mobile unless they make a version for WinRT but I can't see why they would after ditching the others.
 
AntarcticPilot said:
Another reason is because you can only get applications that the great Spirit of Jobs has blessed! And because of a really silly Apple rule, that means NO Java based applications (Apple don't provide a JVM, and you can't put "software for running software" on the AppStore).
Click to expand...

I work full time in IT and have done for many, many years. In that time I have seen exactly one Java app that was well written, and that was a management app written by IBM for IBM hardware so is useless on a tablet anyway. Apple don't need to provide a JVM, there are sufficient developers who can use proper languages and toolkits designed for the purpose to make theirs the most profitable app store around.
 
Allan said:
Compatibility and ease of use are much more important to me than style or appearance.
Click to expand...

IMHO the iPad is very good for ease of use - provided what you want to use it for is one of the things it can do. Being not very good at compatibility, if you want to use it for anything else you're more or less stuffed.

So for instance if my grandad ever shows any inclination to get a computer for the first time, I'll fit him out with an iPad (plus one of those docks that incorporate a real keyboard, and a wireless printer) because all he'd end up doing with it is the Web and email, and it's great for those and very easy to use and understand. Trying to teach him to use (and look after and maintain) a Windows machine would be a waste of everybody's time.

I didn't read your other thread, so I don't know what you want to do with it, but you mentioned USB ports. I suspect therefore that you want to do things the iPad probably doesn't, and you'd be better off with a general-purpose computer.

Pete
 
lustyd said:
I work full time in IT and have done for many, many years. In that time I have seen exactly one Java app that was well written
Click to expand...

Hmm. Not sure how to react to that given that Java is my main working language :)

I don't think that everything I produce is badly written :D

(Not suggesting that there needs to be a JVM on the iPad though.)

Pete
 
prv said:
Hmm. Not sure how to react to that given that Java is my main working language :)

I don't think that everything I produce is badly written :D

(Not suggesting that there needs to be a JVM on the iPad though.)

Pete
Click to expand...

And where do you work Pete?
 
Best of both worlds?

http://uk.asus.com/Eee/Eee_Pad/Eee_Pad_Transformer_TF101/

I have an Asus 1015PE netbook which has travelled back and forth with me for a couple of years. Even when I'm on the boat in Spain I have to do a couple of hours work a day which enables me to spend a lot of time on the boat! I put an extra gb of ram in the Asus and it does everything I ask of it, like a proper computer with pots and everything.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

T
Notices to Mariners - Week 50
Replies
2
Views
768
tillergirl
T

Share this page

Top