Netbook or notebook

USB DVD drives aren't more than $60. I don't remember the last time I used my CD drive. I have my ipod to listen to music in my car, I can watch movies on my laptop or use a VGA cable to watch them on my TV ... really the only thing you need it for now is software installation, and even that isn't going to be for long. I just bought Office Ultimate and it was an online download from Microsoft.

 

Will you consider tablets? You might find some tablets in your criteria.

 

Acer makes a ~8" Aspire for $395

http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=0&t=959837

Post # 3 shows an HTC 7" laptop or w.e they are called.

 

Just letting you know, the ads are out, and it's not that great of a sale this year.

 

You might want to consider picking up one with XP, and upgrade the memory (I think that's what your talking about ) yourself.

 

I picked up an Acer Aspire One this morning. I went for the 1Gig ram and 160Gb hard drive. I'm quite happy with it, but I think I will pick up a SB keyboard to use it at a desk since the keyboard is a little small.

 

What's an SB keyboard? I'm guessing it was a typo for USB. If you don't mind me asking, how much did you pick it up for? and..for the keyboard, have you considered one of these, might be waaay to expensive though. http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/input/8193/

 

Haha sorry I meant USB. I'm back on my 17" laptop and appreciate a full sized keyboard. I can get those fold out keyboards for a pretty good price so it's also a possibility.

 

I'm sure you can just get used to it. I mean, it would probably annoy me at first as well, but so would carrying around a fold out or any keyboard for that matter & kind of ruins the purpose of having a 8" or so laptop.

 

Good point. I'll be using it a lot in the next 10 days while my laptop is getting repaired and I will have a better idea of the practicality of this machine. It is going to be awesome having something I can take to class though, I could never do that with my big laptop.

 

So true, it's hard enough paying attention for me though, the computer is a distraction, unless I am looking at a PowerPoint. I probably would do better with a smaller screen than a 15.4" screen and not being able to see the professor speaking. I was actually looking at a tablet, the HP one was in the "price range", plus I'd be able to write notes directly on the screen, and draw on it.

 

Has anyone brought a laptop/netbook when it first comes out? If so, did you encounter any problems due to manufacturing issues?

I tried an Asus Eee 1000HA netbook in a store, and really liked it. I noticed there's a newer model so I preordered the 1000HE on Amazon. I like that it's supposed to have better battery life, bluetooth, wifi N. Plus I like the color blue. Release date is still unknown though, price $375.

For $350 I can get the current 1000HA model, which probably has the kinks worked out and available now.

I don't really need it right away so waiting is not an issue. But I'm concerned in case it turns out to be a lemon.

Has anyone used the Dell mini-12? (or insider info on when the mini-10 is released? )

 

I'm what you would consider an "early adopter". I bought the Mini Fujitsu, the Asus Acer and others when they first came out and have had no problems with any of them. The biggest bang for your buck at the moment is the Acer One. Very nice Netbook. I'm posting on it now. It's really nice for traveling.

 

The Acer is on sale right now for $239 w/free shipping http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834115508

I played with an MSI netbook today and my boss has an Acer netbook. I don't know they're fun to play around with but I think I'd rather get an actual laptop.

 

I couldn't agree more. I had the Aspire One until a week ago and loved every minute. I had the XP Home version with 160 gig hard drive and it ran great. I even used it for a little light photoshop work - just batch resizing pictures. All in all a great machine (just don't forget to enable the wireless adapter to run at full power on battery) - With the 6-cell battery it would run for almost 5 hours. In the end, I wanted something with a bigger screen, I just couldn't get used to the 8.9" screen - the Monitor Our worked well, but I've already got a desktop...

 

I have this netbook except in white and it's the 512MB model. I like it for kicking back on the couch or bed and surfing the web. I wouldn't recommend it as a work machine. The keyboard is a bit tight and I'm not a fan of the fact that the left mouse button is, well, on the left side of the pad rather than below. This makes clicking a bit awkward. Linpus Linux is ridiculously easy to use.

I know a guy who had an Acer EEE and it was a good machine but I found the keyboard waaaaaaaaaay too small.

 

I used a lot of the netbooks at least once a day since release. HP makes a nice one with a HUGE screen and full size keys, while still being the same size as the Aspire One. It is a bit more expensive though!! I'm not very happy with the Toshiba netbook because the keys are ridiculously small.

The Dell is nice but TBH I don't recommend any netbook other than the Acer. It's not particularly better than the others, in fact it's very average, it's just that you don't NEED any better from a laptop the size of a novel.

The Acer Aspire has 1Gb of ram, 160Gb hd, Wireless integrated (unfortunately only G) and you can pick one up for CHEAP. If you're in the market for one it's possible to find them for $199.

With that said, I have absolutely no direct affiliation with the companies mentioned above, I do howver, use them for work purposes (I've also tried almost every laptop out there).

Best of luck, btw if you're a university student be prepared for girls coming up and commenting on how cute the laptop is. Looks like I don't need my puppy anymore

 

I have a Samsung NC10. Its lightness is as important as its size. You can hold it on your knee or in bed or anywhere and you never notice the weight as with a laptop. You end up using it everwhere, which I didn't with a laptop.

It is also very capable for most peoples every days use.

They don't have a DVD drive, but the only time this has been an issue has been to put some software on that I could only get on CD. I transferred it to my iPod and across, and I think its the only time I have used a CD other than for music in about a year. Everything is downloadable now. If you use iTunes to load CD's on it would be worth getting a USB drive and then you don't have to carry round all that internal weigh and mass for the rare occasion you use it.

You can plug them into a big monitor, with the existing monitor cable - just plug in and go (adjust the resolution if you want)

They really liberate your computer use, and for us have made the internet a thing we have in the house, not in a particluar place. I got rid of the desktop in the house which I think says it all for how user friendly they are.

You acclimatise to the small screen and don't even notice that you have to scroll up and down more. When you plug it into your monitor you find it better, but you don't see the disadvantage when using its own screen.

It so small that when I leave it in the car I just slide it under the drivers seat. You can tell I am geting carried away, but it has been fantastic. Its a full size computer in a tiny tiny unit. I like it nearly as much as my iPod nano.

 

The netbooks with Linux are nice, but the screen is a bit small and they don't have a full size keyboard.

I ordered two Macbook Airs from the refurb Apple Store for $999 each, I'll be getting them tomorrow. They have a full-size backlit keyboard, aluminum case, and run Mac OS X. They have full notebook functionality (except the optical drive, which I haven't used in years anyway) and the portability of a netbook.

 

Your keyboard point is valid. I wouldn't want to be doing a lot of word processing on this, but its remarkably good for its size and perfect for all other uses. You can plug in a big keyboard at home if desired.

You can get them with Windows and large hard drives now. I would love an Apple especially for the Operating system, but the price of the Samsung was a major factor.

 

You can get a Dell Mini 9, 8.5" screen with built in mobile card for $99 ($450 with $350 rebate) with a 2 yr. ATT service contract for mobile broadband at $60/month. I have the ATT mobile broadband on a 15" Dell and it's like dial up until you get to a 3G signal and then it's broadband fast.