News1 min ago
Netbook
7 Answers
I shall be away from home for about 8 weeks in the near future and want to buy a Netbook to keep in touch with family etc.
I have been looking for ages and have discovered that the choices are many, although I quite fancy the Samsung N120. In fact, the more I look the more confused I get!
I would really appreciate comments and recommendations.
TIA, JD
I have been looking for ages and have discovered that the choices are many, although I quite fancy the Samsung N120. In fact, the more I look the more confused I get!
I would really appreciate comments and recommendations.
TIA, JD
Answers
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When working or living away from home there are several things you need to consider, if you are going to living outside the country then weight is one of the most important factors, as airlines are now getting very strict on hand luggage weight.
We have been outside the country several times in the last six months and have come up against petty jobsworths for as little as 100g at the check-in desk, we have got to the point where before we check in putting anything that can be into our clothes pockets this has included things like psu�s for out notebook etc.
The main thing to consider is what you are going to use the notebook for, if it is simply a matter of the odd e-mail etc then I would suggest something like the Samsung N120 or Asus eee 1000HE both have stunning battery life and are getting excellent reviews on the net, don�t go for one of the ULTRA Cheap notebooks as a lot of these do not have wireless N, which is a real necessity unless you are sitting about 20ft from the router. I personally have an Asus and have not been disappointed for the use it gets, but then again I have upgrade this to 2Gb of RAM and a 250Gb HD (didn�t cost me anything as I had them lying around).
If however you think you are going to need a CD/DVD drive at sometime in the future then I would SERIOUSLY advise against a notebook and go for a reasonably specified laptop, when you consider things like having to buy external CD/DVD drives to enable the re-installation of the system at (GBP) 50-60, and the lower specified processors in notebooks, i.e. Atoms then for the cost/usage then a laptop is a better option.
My only advice is weigh up usage with cost.
We have been outside the country several times in the last six months and have come up against petty jobsworths for as little as 100g at the check-in desk, we have got to the point where before we check in putting anything that can be into our clothes pockets this has included things like psu�s for out notebook etc.
The main thing to consider is what you are going to use the notebook for, if it is simply a matter of the odd e-mail etc then I would suggest something like the Samsung N120 or Asus eee 1000HE both have stunning battery life and are getting excellent reviews on the net, don�t go for one of the ULTRA Cheap notebooks as a lot of these do not have wireless N, which is a real necessity unless you are sitting about 20ft from the router. I personally have an Asus and have not been disappointed for the use it gets, but then again I have upgrade this to 2Gb of RAM and a 250Gb HD (didn�t cost me anything as I had them lying around).
If however you think you are going to need a CD/DVD drive at sometime in the future then I would SERIOUSLY advise against a notebook and go for a reasonably specified laptop, when you consider things like having to buy external CD/DVD drives to enable the re-installation of the system at (GBP) 50-60, and the lower specified processors in notebooks, i.e. Atoms then for the cost/usage then a laptop is a better option.
My only advice is weigh up usage with cost.
Wow, thanks BR for a very comprehensive answer, very much appreciated and extremely useful.
The usage will be just to keep in touch with family and reading and sending emails, also using skype to talk occasionally too.
I had intended to upgrade to 2Gb RAM and the cost of that is relatively inexpensive.
The reason for the Notebook over a laptop was weight whilst travelling and, whilst I can see the disadvantages of not having a CD/DVD drive, I dont think this will be too much of a problem.
Once again, my thanks, JD
The usage will be just to keep in touch with family and reading and sending emails, also using skype to talk occasionally too.
I had intended to upgrade to 2Gb RAM and the cost of that is relatively inexpensive.
The reason for the Notebook over a laptop was weight whilst travelling and, whilst I can see the disadvantages of not having a CD/DVD drive, I dont think this will be too much of a problem.
Once again, my thanks, JD
I think most important is your budget ... you have two options - a netbook - or a smartphone ... if it's purely for e-mail a sm is a good option - (I hate mobiles and the people who use them intrusively - I don't have one) I use one for work - it's a cheap HTC 620 which is part of the broadband package they provide for me
I have the option of fon and other hotspots
wifi at home ... gprs out and about.
I used it for two weeks while in hospital (a lot) and was still within the allowance.
if it's a netbook - you have to consider the lack of storage as well as external inputs - the eeee range now includes a machine with dvd reader ... which is a good idea
if look on the magazine shelf at the supermarket - there have just been a couple of reviews of netbooks - it might help
http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/archiveproducts earch/9/Laptops
B rub ... I love the jobsworth crack - what would it matter if we all turned up with just a few Kg over the limit ... in fact why bother with a limit at all?
answer - not paying for your excess keeps the price of MY ticket down ... instead of stocking up - try taking less
I have the option of fon and other hotspots
wifi at home ... gprs out and about.
I used it for two weeks while in hospital (a lot) and was still within the allowance.
if it's a netbook - you have to consider the lack of storage as well as external inputs - the eeee range now includes a machine with dvd reader ... which is a good idea
if look on the magazine shelf at the supermarket - there have just been a couple of reviews of netbooks - it might help
http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/archiveproducts earch/9/Laptops
B rub ... I love the jobsworth crack - what would it matter if we all turned up with just a few Kg over the limit ... in fact why bother with a limit at all?
answer - not paying for your excess keeps the price of MY ticket down ... instead of stocking up - try taking less
The samsung NC10 and EEE 1000HE are both highly rated. The Dell mini's are also quite nice (though need a bigger battery pack --- look for 6 cell or more generally).
Look for Atom processors, and note the battery time. If possible, try them out first (especially keyboard, noting location of right shift key).
Look for Atom processors, and note the battery time. If possible, try them out first (especially keyboard, noting location of right shift key).
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