If I were going small, I’d look for the new AOD 150s by Acer. That’s what my head says, “buy small”.
But the Neanderthalic part of me says "
Must have
2.4GHZ! Need machine for
Fallout3!!!
"
I’ve had that argument with some people here. There’s small and then there’s too small. One of the guys who was arguing for a smaller machine actually has a smaller Asus Eee PC (9in or something). I tried to touch type on his computer and could not. Too darn small. Guess what I discovered then: he does not touch type. Not an issue for him but it is an issue for me.
And I already have a smaller computing platform: my Treo 650. Sounds crazy but I’ve used it before to take notes at conferences. It is just not optimal. Forget about touch typing.
[quote=“Sleepyhead”]
But the Neanderthalic part of me says "
Must have
2.4GHZ! Need machine for
Fallout3!!!
"[/quote]
I already have a 15" for things like Fallout 3 and more CPU/GPU intensive computing but I’m tired of lugging that beast around. I’m going to a conference next week. I so wish I had an Eee PC to take with me rather than my big laptop (or rely only on my Treo). It’s also hard to use on planes because of the lack of space and because of the short battery life.
[quote=“lemur”]
I’ve had that argument with some people here. There’s small and then there’s too small. One of the guys who was arguing for a smaller machine actually has a smaller Asus Eee PC (9in or something). I tried to touch type on his computer and could not. Too darn small. Guess what I discovered then: he does not touch type. Not an issue for him but it is an issue for me.[/quote]
From what I’ve read on the reviews, 9" is too small. The DellMini thingy is supposed to come out in a 10" model. For now that’s the one I’m looking at getting because the reviews say that it’s good, but just too small for typing. To me 10" seems to be the right size, but I’d have to try it out first.
the 9" and 10" Asus Eee PCs are in the exact same box size, just the larger bezel around the smaller screen to make up for it.
small enough for small hands, though: even those who touch type.
i would HATE to play a full-on video game on one f those. i have a suspicion that even were the chip fast enough, the video processor would have a heart attack at even 2 frames per second.
I had one of the original EEE pcs last year and it was brilliant for travel. It was so small and light that it hardly made a difference to my carry on luggage weight.
It did web surfing, email and chat with no problems and I took it to Thailand with me.
Ill definitely be getting one of these newer models this year.
The 7inch ones that run on linux are real cheap now. Only 199 dollars here at BestBuy.
I got the 10inch 1000HD with no camera for 411 out the door. And a week later price dropped another 50 bucks. I shoulda gone back for the difference.
I dont think the 7 inch ones are a real substitute for a laptop on the go. The keyboard is ridiculous for typing. The 10 inch ones are really able to sub for the regular laptops and are real light to carry around. Iv enjoyed the lightness of it on a recent trip . Just threw it in with some clothes in my backpack. Hardly know its there. Much unlike a laptop where you tend to notice the size and weight.
So overall , yes if you want a super light notebook to carry around the 10 inch NETBOOKS are real nice.
But for one thats all around useable I think a 14inch slim notebook like an HP or IBM is the best.
If thats going to be used at home as well in lieu of a desktop. For me I hook up my netbook to a monitor and separate keyboard and mouse at home so it functions like a desktop. And still retain the smallness of it when i want to travel with it. Best of both worlds.
[quote=“lemur”][quote=“Sleepyhead”] That’s what my head says, “buy small”.
[/quote]
I’ve had that argument with some people here. There’s small and then there’s too small. One of the guys who was arguing for a smaller machine actually has a smaller Asus Eee PC (9in or something). I tried to touch type on his computer and could not. Too darn small. Guess what I discovered then: he does not touch type. Not an issue for him but it is an issue for me.[/quote]
I never touch my laptop’s keyboard except when I travel. I always use a full size board and mouse on USB.
If I could force laptop makers to listen, I would have one without a built-in keyboard, similar to the Fujitsu Stylistic, though I would include a touchpad mouse. I would have the keyboard be USB-only, either a roll-up for portability or a hard keyboard to use at a desk. No internal keyboard means a smaller machine or more room for toys.
I have a PDA and keep my dock at my work desk with a USB keyboard. The screen is too small to look at while typing, but I can type without looking anyway - I’m slow, (around 25WPM) but I’m accurate. Character recognition on PDA screen works but is ridiculous; I can text faster on my phone’s keypad.
I don’t travel much so I laptop is enough for space and my mobility. But I’m not a fan of the price tags on 2.4GHz machines, and most are huge (up to 5kg).
I’m sorely tempted to spend NT$15K-20K on a tower capable of playing FO3, but reality is setting in. I’ll probably end up buying the game and waiting two years to play it when 2.4GHz machines are cheap.
Or… you could spend about 7,000 NT and buy an xbox 360 
This is brilliant. If you arent playing high end games or doing digital editing etc… A netbook is more than enough to run web surfing, chat and other low processr load applications
yes there is (at least the one I saw yesterday) , its just not optimum but not as badly placed as the Asus HD.
I think I wouldve gotten the HP one if I was choosing today. Best keyboard and specs as good as the rest.
Ok CNET UK thinks this Asus S101 is the best netbook on the planet right now
reviews.cnet.co.uk/laptops/0,390 … 379,00.htm
[quote=“tommy525”]Ok CNET UK thinks this Asus S101 is the best netbook on the planet right now
reviews.cnet.co.uk/laptops/0,390 … 379,00.htm[/quote]
The new atom-netbook are coming out; also there’s talk of tablet netbooks.
cnet? i’d take that with a grain of salt. But yes, the S101 is nice, but the price point is starting to creep up - which makes the netbook less attractive for its “niche”.
I found the S101 to have good battery life, near enough 5h, although under fairly light load.
The price is also coming down, it’s dropped by almost €100 in Europe from what I hear.
[quote=“lemur”][quote=“tommy525”]Ok CNET UK thinks this Asus S101 is the best netbook on the planet right now
reviews.cnet.co.uk/laptops/0,390 … 379,00.htm[/quote]
I’m going to be blunt. The S101 has crap battery life compared to the 1000HE and is more expensive. Why the fuck would I want it? Because of a 300g weight difference?[/quote]
ya but its got that shiny brown top?? 
actually i dislike the shiny black top that my Eeepc 1000HD has, it shows all the finger smudges. It only looks nice if its polished up.
Holy Toledo!
Looks like AAPL might get into the fray, and with a touchscreen netbook no less.
money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/art … RTUNE5.htm
[quote] The mini laptop computers will likely have monitor screens that are between 9.7-inches and 10-inches, one person, who declined to be named, said.
Another person said other specifications and functions are still under evaluation.
Apple is working with Taiwan’s Wintek Corp. (2384.TW), a contract manufacturer of small and medium displays, to make the touch-screen displays and Quanta Computer Inc. (2382.TW), the world’s largest notebook maker by revenue, to assemble the new netbooks, the second person said.[/quote]
[quote]
The arrangement frees Apple and its fellow vendors from running complicated, labor-intensive production lines, while the ability of Taiwanese companies to slash manufacturing costs helps cut product prices over time.[/quote]
Am I the only person who likes having the shift key on the left?
Tommy,
I want to do some traveling/backpacking, and I’ve currently got a thinkpad x60, which is larger, but about the same weight 1.6kgs. Do you think it’s worth it to get a 400 netbook for the smaller size? i know it’s subjective, just wondering your opinion.
the netbook will mostly be used to connect to the internet, do email, update a blog, and handle photos-uploading.
[quote=“Jack Burton”]Am I the only person who likes having the shift key on the left?
Tommy,
I want to do some traveling/backpacking, and I’ve currently got a thinkpad x60, which is larger, but about the same weight 1.6kgs. Do you think it’s worth it to get a 400 netbook for the smaller size? I know it’s subjective, just wondering your opinion.
the netbook will mostly be used to connect to the internet, do email, update a blog, and handle photos-uploading.[/quote]
The answer is not so simple. Theres much to be said pro and con. I think the thinkpad x60 should be small enough to travel with, you honestly do not need a netbook when you already have that. That being said, if you do a lot of travelling and really plan to spend only an hour or two at night with emails and want the smallest and lightest puter without compromising the ability to touch type then a netbook starts to make sense. I would say anything smaller then a 10 incher is too much of a compromise for typing ability. Therefore if it was myself, I would not choose one of the super tiny 7 inchers or even the 8.9 inchers. There are several 10 inchers that are very nice. My fav would be the HP one , it has the biggest keys and has good specs all for 400. The next fav would be the Lenovo 10 incher with the same specs but smaller keys for 25 bucks less. I would certainly consider the Asus EeePc 1000HE because they have fixed the incorrect right shift key placement. And I have had my Asus for nearly five months now and found it to be a quality machine. Well put together and a solid performer. I have had it hooked up to an external monitor and keyboard and mouse when at home and its an easy thing to disconnect it and take it out with me. Its been a great performer and a good travel puter.the thing even feels solid and yet is light. You barely notice it after you throw it in your backpack.
For those people that really need a travel puter a netbook makes sense for that purpose. I bought it for the novelty and also because it was nicely priced. But if a 12 incher with built in cd rw (or better dvd rw) was available for similar money I wouldve bought the 12 incher.
Since you have the x60 which is considered a fine machine, it doesnt really make sense to get a netbook? Unless you do quite a bit of travelling and the x60 has features you dont really use?
IF I was there, I would consider a straight trade with you. YOU get my 1000HD and I get your x60
I would at least let you borrow it for a trip or two to see if you think it would work?
I have been pleased with mine. I used it as my main machine.
But best when connected to the external stuff at home though.
A week ago I bought a used desktop for 100 and now the EeePC will only be used outside of the house.
tOMMY,
Thanks. I am thinking of heading out to Cal for a reunion, but I would not trade my x60. lol.
It’s actually become my main computer (like your set-up, I’ve got it hooked up to a 19" wide mon, full-size keyboard, and extra large optical corded mouse - my preference, for my home office).
I was thinking of doing some extended backpacking, and the thought of my main computer breaking, lost, or stolen would be painful (along with all that porn, I mean, important data that I have on there), but a sub-400USD would be different. and I like your throwing it in the backpack idea.
[quote=“Jack Burton”]tOMMY,
Thanks. I am thinking of heading out to Cal for a reunion, but I would not trade my x60. lol.
It’s actually become my main computer (like your set-up, I’ve got it hooked up to a 19" wide mon, full-size keyboard, and extra large optical corded mouse - my preference, for my home office).
I was thinking of doing some extended backpacking, and the thought of my main computer breaking, lost, or stolen would be painful (along with all that porn, I mean, important data that I have on there), but a sub-400USD would be different. and I like your throwing it in the backpack idea.[/quote]
NOw see if you said that in the beginning, it would totally make sense to get a 400 dollar netbook. If you are using your X60 as your main puter, you obviously need a sidekick that you can travel with. Got the wife at home minding affairs and now you need the little mistress to take on trips…totally makes sense. Cant lose the wife but the mistress for 400 bucks ?
Totally making sense now. Since you are headin this way, when you get here, the best deals these days seem to be at BEST BUY believe it or not. Check out the HP 10 incher and the Lenovo 10 incher and see which one fits you? I didnt see the EeePC 1000HE but I would imagine thats not bad.
I would say get the bigger keyboard ala HP because the Eeepc keyboard is still a bit too small to not hit the wrong keys. I used it for a few hours in a cafe today and often hit the wrong keys. I aint got no asian chickie fingers thats for sure and unless you do, you will appreciate bigger keys.
Tommy,
did you ever consider the Samsung NC10? Had a look today, and the keyboard was one of the best ones, about same stats as the 1000HE, except for the atom280 processor on the HE.
I just dropped by the computer markets. compared to the last time I posted, prices (for the Samsung NC10 and Asus 1000HE or HA, I forget) have dropped by almost 10%… I think the others must have likewise dropped some too, but didnt look.
Indeed, a few of the merchants have thrown in some ext. DVD drive (I have one so I didnt ask about the quality and specs).
just not a big fan of XP Home, kinda remember it needed more tinkering with.