Netbooks>>>>Laptops...any laptop users convert yet?

First off, I hope this is in the right forum, I didnt see a general board, so anyways...

Second, Im strongly considering getting a netbook and keep my laptop at home or either sell it (if I can find a netbook thats powerful enough to replace my current laptop).

Netbooks are where its at IMO. When you come to think of it the only significant differences between a laptop and a netbook is the absense of an optical drive, different CPU (doesnt matter anyways for basic tasks), and smaller HD.

Having to lug around an optical drive is overrated, Ive learned this after many many years owning different kinds and sizes of laptops. I never watch movies on the go, and if I need to install programs, chances are I can just download it or if for some reason I need use a disc, I can now just use a flash drive to copy the contents over and onto the computer. Once you take the DVD drive out, it cuts the weight and size of your book by 1/5th if not more. Its one less moving part to have to worry about and pay extra for (when to me its just a waste of money).

Netbooks are in the $400 ballpark and IMO they fit the bill much better when describing what a portable computer is. Laptops are still portable but netbooks are much more portable and better suited for casual users.

 

Yeah, I would like to get one at some point, but they're not a laptop replacement, IMO. It would just be handy to have both for their respective uses. :smile:

 

Netbooks are nice and all but they lack alot of power.
I think the best small laptop is the Dell E6400
It has a ton of power, not too expensive and its lightweight.

I have seen people with the EEE', and Acer mini and I cant see how they can use them. They are so small it is very counterproductive. At that point its better to use a paper notebook.

K-TRON

 

I have an Aspire One, I like it, but in no way could it replace my work laptop. It's nice for simple emailing and web surfing, but it's so small it's very constrictive. Most websites on even a 15" screen get partially cut off on the 9" screen because of the resolution.

I like it, but would never convert to it as my main laptop. Ever.

 

I got an Aspire One last week ..and am loving it ....the keyboard is just perfect ....the screen felt a bit awkward at first but now my 15.4" notebook screen luks awkward although i still think 10" would have been better compared to 8.9" ... .... In all, Its a powerful little machine

That said .everyone has a different view point so before buying one , Do get your hands on them to see how the keyboard/screen work out for you..

 

I like them, want one, but wont evr buy one. $300-$400 is much more worth it to me to put it toward a new laptop.

 

That's exactly the way I feel. Until they become sub-$150, I don't think that it would be too worthwhile for me.

 

Yeah, if they were 150, id get one. But $400, is a nice CPU or GPU upgrade on my next lappy, like I said.

Glad we agree.

 

Outstanding for the price, but I want an optical drive and better processor.

 

Well unless you have a 13" or ultraportable laptop, netbooks are basically only supposed to be supplementary computers. They're made so you don't have to carry around your 17" monster laptop with you everywhere

 

Netbooks need to have better keyboards.

 

I will stick to my 12.1 ultra portable sa2052t everex model, or any other ultraportables...

My buddy got the msi wind and its not just too small but its slow! windows xp runs slow on it and opening big programs could be a hassle sometimes...

To me its not worth the $300-$500 bucks. Maybe $200 is the highest I would pay for the speed and low quality resolution lcd.

 

I think the netbook explosion will lead to WAY more powerful and better solutions in the near future, so I'm "on the fence". If money was no object I'd probably just get a macbook air and put XP on it or something though, lol.

 

Having recently used a 12.1-inch laptop for several hours, I have to say I can't see subjecting myself to anything smaller. At 12.1-inch the screen is still reasonable, if low resolution (1024x768), but the keyboard is already starting to be cramped. I got used to it enough to type, but it's nice to be back to my 15.4-incher's keyboard!

Plus, I like to use powerful programs (games mostly) that just wouldn't run on a netbook. And I like speedy performance in general. And the DVD drive is a plus, too - I don't use it all the time, but it's quite nice for DVD movies and not using CD hacks. Just the screen size, too - who wants to watch a movie on a 7-inch screen? There's a reason I watched the last movie I saw on a projector!

That said, I can see why it would be handy to have a 12.1-inch laptop. They are light - I could leave one in my backpack nearly all the time - and they get pretty good battery life - although my 9-cell battery pretty much makes up for that despite dedicated graphics, a larger screen, and a processor that's supposed to be higher voltage (thanks to undervolting, my T-series actually uses less voltage than a standard L-series). But it's not worth the high cost to get a reasonable level of performance.

 

For work and such, netbooks are too small and lack the necessary functionality you generally find in business grade laptops. For home and other casual use, I'm sure you'd find someone who wouldn't mind switching however

 

lol, yeah. Thats what I do.

 

Unlike with a decent laptop, there is simply no way to use one of those things as a primary computer. Sure, they're portable -- but they also have tiny screens and keyboards, wimpy processors, little disk space and no optical drives. I use my laptop both at home and at work and it does everything I want it to do. There's simply no way the current generation of netbooks can compete with that.

 

I sold my XPS M1330 and purchased a Samsung NC10 and I'm very happy with it. Its my only laptop and it works well for internet and some office work, which is what I use it for most of the time. The battery life is really good, easily enough to get me through a work day with wifi disabled and connected to LAN.

The keyboard is really nice too and the overall package just screams "Classy".

Its great as a secondary computer, but I'm a geek and so I have a desktop PC too. Problem being that while traveling I don't have the desktop with me.

However, until specs increase I'm just going to live with it because I'm not big on going back to a bigger notebook because its unused most of the time when I have my desktop anyway.

 

I don't want to pay more than $200 for an ATOM platform... Netbooks still seems to be very weak for me performance-wise...

 

I own a Sager NP9262 w/3x 160's in RAID-5, a single 8800M GTX 512, Core2Quad Q6600, 4GB of RAM, etc, etc. It's a DTR machine, for sure. It's loaded to the gills (okay...almost), has more power than my gaming rig at home (int eh CPU), and is a wonderful machine. I received it on December 19th of 2007, and was one of the first in the USA to get one from Sager when they launched the model.

Two days ago I got an Acer Aspire One White 160GB XP version, and have already determined I need to add another 512MB of RAM, and a Bluetooth 2.0+EDR adapter to it (which will be sodered internally). I lvie this little thing. I've already moved my VM for work on the road over to the One. There's no replacing the 18lb monster, but this Aspire One will likely serve 90% of my needs 90% of the time. Not bad for a 2.5lb package. I'm loving it, but I certainly won't be doing any transcoding, HD-DVD/BD viewing on it, or any serious gaming. However, for flights...hell yes, this thing is gonna be awesome!

 

I have an Asus 1000h and a Gateway 6860fx, I enjoy the gateway for gaming and love having it for going to Lan parties, but it isn't reasonable for taking to class.

The asus is an awesome lil machine that does everything I need for school, plays divx and mp3s, and I can run a few of the old mmo's for the 3 hour break I have in between classes. Once I installed a 13000mAh batter into it, I got 10+ hours of battery surfing the net, and about 6-7 hours playing games.

I love my gateway, but I don't know what I'd do without my netbook.

 

Netbooks are good as a supplement to a notebook or desktop but aren't a replacement.

Even from a expense standpoint a netbook isn't worthwhile as a primary PC since for less than a couple of hundred dollars more (or even for the same cost of some netbooks) you can purchase a full fledged notebook of 13" or larger.

Netbooks do shine at replacing other portable electronic devices like MP3 players, portable DVD players (w/o having to carry around DVDs), and even GPS.

They're a worthwhile purchase but if I didn't have a real computer first I'd never consider buying a netbook.

 

You forgot the graphics and screen aspect. I would hate to stare at a tiny 8-10" screen all day (which necessitates an external monitor, nullifying whatever cost advantage the netbook had), and also, it would be insufficient for running graphics-intensive programs, mainly games.

Also, there is little cost advantage to a netbook - for ~$400, one could get a pretty decently performing 15" laptop, definitely more capable than a netbook, without the need for an external monitor, keyboard, etc. For a few hundred more dollars, one could get a much, much better performing general-purpose laptop - if mobility is desired, a 13" laptop could be chosen, while still retaining the performance of a full-size notebook.

I do agree that netbooks may be good for people with a powerful desktop/desktop replacement notebook and a lot of money to throw around, but for most users, it just won't be sufficient as a main computer - and most would be rather loathe to plunk down a few hundred for a secondary computer. The average consumer will not buy multiple computers without very good reason to, and netbooks currently do not provide enough of a reason.

 

Yea, a netbook would never be able to replace a powerful pc, and the screen resolution does prevent any sort of multitasking, but I think the price is a decent range for what it does. Most of my relatives have hopped on the ipod bandwagon, and their ipod touch costs almost $300. For about $100 more, I have a mp3 player, portable divx player, internet browser, and many other apps that I could never get on other portable machines.

I don't prefer the netbook over a standard laptop for most of my high end pc/gaming needs, but I definitely prefer it over any other kind of portable machine.

 

i was considering a netbook for a long long time but ended up getting a new laptop instead.

netbook cons include smaller screen, small keyboard, weak gfx, weak cpu, etc.

these may be pros for some but just not for me.

 

Everybody is referring to netbooks at $400 computers -- have you looked around lately?

10" EEE PC's are selling for $315, 8.9" EEE 900A's have been selling for $199 at Best Buy, and Dell Mini 9's have been seen for as low as $184. At half the price or less of a 14" or 15" entry level notebook, they're not even in the same ball park.

Nobody has ever planned to use a netbook as a notebook/desktop replacement as far as I know. They're a supplement, since most people don't do CPU/GPU intensive things on the road / in class.

All that said, I bought an EEE 900A for $200 and returned it within the week. The keyboard had flex, was too small, but the biggest reason is that it suffered from the dreaded SSD stutter in XP. 10" I think is the smallest I'd go. I'm waiting for DVI/HDMI to make it into netbooks or else IMO they're severely limited.

 

Yeah netbooks and laptops catter to different people. As it stands netbooks will be for the casual computer user who just wants to bring their every day computer uses around with them. Power isn't an issue for these buyers.

The true power freaks will still have to use desktops anyways and laptops will be only a portable solution to this.

Laptops are the general compromise between portability and power. They are portable, yet are still powerful enough for most advanced tasks excluding the toughest of works(which will be reserved for desktop machines anyways).

So really, it's a question of different tastes and needs. You can't really generalize nor compare all of these machines.

 

I would love to get one if only I had the money to actually buy one

I think they're really useful, especially if they had really long battery life and wireless-n [which is surprisingly common at the malls I go to].

 

Just got me a MSI Wind from BB, and so far love it, very good deal if you ask me, $329.99

 

Im getting one....not sure which one, probably the acer as it is available at the Local store. I want one for tossing in my carry on to use while traveling...as my 17" notebook is too big for that.

 

Have anyone consider the bootup time?

 

I'd get one to type on in class cuz I cant read my own writing, but I just don't like typing. Laptops 4 ever

 

nver liked netbooks nver will... screen is too small and the res is crap... notebooks still will own the day...

 

I don't see myself ever owning one either.

I had no problem carrying around my 9.5 pound Dell Inspiron 5100 (PSU included), so current laptops seem light to me.

 

my pc, my laptop, my netbook, and my phone can all do the same stuff. all of them have some place where they are then used best => there they get used.

 

I own an MSI Wind U100, and have been using it exclusively for over 6 months. The tiny keyboard and trackpad, combined with the teensy screen that can't even properly display the whole width of a NBR thread a lot of the time, have made me go in the complete opposite direction. I ordered a patio stone, as spec'd in my signature.

Netbooks have their place, but NOT for everyday use. ESPECIALLY if you have to use anything that stresses the CPU / GPU.

 

You did good for 6 months!

I tried the MSI Wind U100 a year (more?) ago and it lasted maybe 16 hours for me before I returned it.

I was amazed at the battery life, at the small size and the 'turbo' mode for the CPU, but ultimately, I was slower on this machine for 'general' computing than I am on a 6 year old ThinkPad.

But, the Acer 1810(?) with the CULV processor has caught my eye!

 

My 13,3" Vaio is portable and does Photoshop on the go - also lasts 4 hours on 80% of battery charge - with 7,2% wear.

I think that's superior to a netbook.

I stick with my laptop

 

DetlevCM,

I agree notebooks are better.

This here:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=5649691&postcount=16


Is what I consider a 'netbook' that I might want (Acer Timeline 1810tz).

Main reason? Battery life (almost 10 hrs).

 

Nice
I suppose if I could get hold of 2 extended batteries my SZ would last longer... for 4 hours I'm on the regular 6 cell.
Extended battery would be 9 cells... if you can still get them... and they were about 300€...

I suppose if I were to go "ultra mobile" I'd have to look at things like the Vaio TT (now I'm not sure about other manufacturers, I'm sure there are comparable devices from other manufacturers)

 

Where the heck did this thread erect from?

Anyways, I love my netbook. No, seriously! I love it.

PS: Didn't vote because I don't currently own a laptop at present; but nevertheless I think we all know that laptops are superior when it comes to performance.

 

Yikes, you're right, someone must have "necroposted" (someone here once used this phrase - or a similar one)

 

Mine is 11.6" and no I don't think it's a netbook, look at the specs... Netbooks are too small and too weak in performance!

 

QFT!
Thin and lights are the sweet spot if you want increased battery life without (much) decreased performance. The HP DM3T and ASUS UL30VT are real standouts. The DM3T even moreso if you go for the SP9300/G105M combo. It will outperform some full sized notebooks.

 

how many eeepc's would it take to match even a standard 1200$ 15incher?

6 or 7? maybe more for the CPU, and the GPU... well even the 4500MHD looks amazing compaired to the GMA 900/500 chips.

just imagine how many netbooks you would need to run in parrellel... to anything over a 1000$.

 

My 8.9" Acer aspire one also does photoshop on the go and it 6 hours on 100% charge with 12% wear.
Isn't that superior to a notebook?

 

20 seconds cold startup from pressing power button until useable for a netbook with windows 7.

 

What kind of Photoshop?
Panoramas? HDRs, batch RAW conversion, RAW editing?

I don't think you have a 2,5GHz processor.

 

Used a Asus 1000H for a few days resulting in headaches and overall cramped experienced. Went for a s/h 2510P which cost the same yet has delivered a much more pleasurable experience, accomodating nicely to greater performance+functionality need.

Will stick with it and skip 45nm tech, upgrading to a 32nm 12" system with expresscard 2.0. Great for some external gpu gaming

I noticed too resale depreciation on netbooks has been savage after the CULV onslaught.

 

Exactly, so happy with my 1810TZ. 7-8 hours battery life, and powerful enough to do Lightroom/Photoshop etc.