Find me a net book please

Kkuba on 14/10/2010 - 22:00
Last edited 14/10/2010 - 22:03

Hey,

So it's time for a new laptop, my old one is way past it's last legs.

I am still undecided whether I should get a note or net book.

I have been looking at the cheap note books (i3 $600) and also the mid range ones (i7 $1200+)

But I am planning on travelling solo for 6 months next year, so I thought perhaps a netbook could be in order for those long bus/train/plane trips or lonely nights.

Considering they are much more compact and demolish notebooks with their battery life (usually)

So, what I am after is something similar to what was on ozbargain earlier this year:

http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/23929

If one similar in specs to that came up for that price again, I would grab it.

I am avoiding those $200 COTD items, as they only have 4GB of HDD space.

ALSO I am searching for advice, because these days I don't know much about processors anymore. Whats the go with these netbook processors? what are the common options and differences between them? EG Intel Atom N455, N450, N270 (both of the same speed??? are they any different?), other brands? What do they all mean?

It has to have the Wi-Fis

No need for 3G modem

Keyboard, what is the range of the size, is it like 70-100% size of notebook? if so, I would like somewhere close to 100%, don't like tiny keyboards.

9-cell batt preferable (if I'm not mistaken, these are the ones that have 8-10 hours claimed battery life?), but not strictly, especially if upgradable

Also, I believe that this 8-10 hour claim is actually usually legit? Unlike notebooks…

Ideally I would like to spend 2-300 on a netbook.

So yeh, I'm after advice on some of the things listed, and suggestions, if I think of anything else, I will come back and add it.

Cheers, guys!

Find Me A Bargain

Comments

  • retiredfeline on 15/10/2010 - 00:29

    You think you need 9 hours but you really don't. Generally 3 hours is pretty good. Often you can find a power point to recharge in hostels, cafes, even public places like airports.

    Pay attention to the weight. Some netbooks are wannabe notebooks and weigh just as much. You'll curse every extra gram you have to lug around. You're doing well if you can keep it under 1.2kg. Remember to include the weight of the AC adapter too.

    Speed, anything > 1.6GHz is adequate. RAM, 1GB should be fine with XP or Ubuntu. It's nice to have enough hard disk space to back up your digital camera photos and hold PDFs of travel guides, scans, etc. And lots of music to reload your portable music player (it's better to use a player for that to not run down the netbook battery).

    Check ahead of time what AC converter plugs you need, e.g. if going to Europe you only need the round pin one. Pretty much all AC adapters are universal now but double check.

  • Friendly Troll on 15/10/2010 - 08:43

    Netbooks are generally used to do basic tasks (e.g. Internet, email, word processing). If this is what you need, then netbooks may be a good option.

    I recommend getting at least a 10" screen (keyboard size 70% - 100%), and upgrading the memory from 1GB to 2GB.

    I'm currently using a netbook to type this message (using Windows 7 Ultimate). I personally recommend finding a 13" laptop. Sometimes you may need that extra processing power, or you may find the 10" screen to be too small.

  • Kkuba on 15/10/2010 - 09:30

    Thanks for the replies,

    Basically, what it will be used for, while overseas, is mostly surfing, and watching movies/videos off the harddrive (internal/portable) and storing MP3s and photos. I might purchase a desktop or new laptop later on for better processing.

    Regarding battery, the reason I want such a long battery life, is because I expect to be travelling sometimes for up to 10 hours, maybe even more, and want to have that available to me.

    1GB or ram seems to be the standard at the moment from the looking around that I have been doing.

    also 160GB HDD, sometimes 250 are available.

    Netbooks come in two main sizes don't they? 10 inch and 7 inch? Or can you get bigger ones?

  • retiredfeline on 15/10/2010 - 12:50
    +1

    It may sound strange to suggest taking along a separate media player for your music and video, but you get better battery life with standalone flash memory media players. Netbooks use a lot of power because they have to be general purpose. You may find that the combined weight of a netbook with less cells and a media player is less than that of netbook loaded up with cells. And perhaps about the same cost too. The drawback is the tiny screen of those things. And the hassle of copying over new clips when you've exhausted the ones on the player.

    But really, how can you stand to watch movies for 9 hours at one session? :) I'd rather read a book or e-book or just go to sleep.

    PS: One more thing I want to add. Those charge lifetimes are often based on normal or even light use. If you are playing media, you will not get that number of hours, as media decoding takes more grunt.

  • Kkuba on 15/10/2010 - 14:03

    I did not consider the extra processing power required for video etc.

    However, when you say media player, is just a screen with some navigation keys, a USB port, and a card reader? maybe a DVD player?

    The other thing is, I guess I would like to use it to play basic games, like old dos games or SNES emulated games etc.

    Either way, how much are these media players, when I am considering spending 2-300 on the netbook anyway…

    • retiredfeline on 15/10/2010 - 16:24

      Yeah, basically a video version of a MP3 player if you like. USB port only for communicating with a computer. Maybe a SD card expansion slot but sometimes only builtin memory. Games dunno, maybe not.

      Why would you want to carry DVDs? Those things add up in weight quickly. Rip them to MP4 files.

      Here's an example of a media player:

      http://www.sandisk.com/products/sansa-music-and-video-player…

  • Kkuba on 15/10/2010 - 17:38

    No, sorry, DO NOT want to carry DVDs, was just asking what features they have, out of curiosity.

    Right, Looking at the example you gave, I was picuturing one of those protable DVD players, but with AVI capabilites, which it is not.

    It doesn't seem too bad though. IF it plays AVIs, which I cannont see anywhere.

    I wonder what kind of battery life it has for video.

    The screen is tiny though, that is the only issue. Would this unit (and screen) be comparable to an ipod classic you think?

    • Mikinoz on 15/10/2010 - 17:51

      Buy an ibm x60 for approx 160-200, 2nd hand

      http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160490…

      i have a couple of these and they are an awesome machine

      if you want new then you just missed out on the s10-3 that was listed today, that was a great deal.

      • Kkuba on 15/10/2010 - 18:06

        is that just a plain lenovo laptop?

        "Lithium Ion 8 cell configuration - TESTED 20 MINUTES MINIMUM"

        haha

        60GB HDD…

        new battery $80? and even then, how long will it last watching videos?

        so maybe 200-250 for a used laptop, with the new battery, that will last, maybe 3-4 hours, less with video, 60 GB hard drive, and probably a bit heavier and bulkier than a net book.

        But as laptops go, i like lenovos, except that stupid Fn key in the corner, it should not be there!!! when will they learn…. it should be one place inboard.

        • Mikinoz on 15/10/2010 - 19:13

          Nope one of the last of IBM / Lenovo, well built laptops

          usually i would recomend a ram or hdd upgrade for 100

          last one i bought had a new 8 cell battery which lasts me nearly 7 hours, the link was an example of whats out there that ended today!

          It will be heavier, but then put an 8 cell in any notebook or netbook and it will be.

          Mine with 8 cell weighs as much as an s10-2(netbook with 10" screen) with 6 cell so it compares well

          If you dont like the added functions then thats fair but some like those features

    • retiredfeline on 15/10/2010 - 17:56

      Go to a shop that stocks such things and try them out for yourself and see if you can put up with the small screen. Personally I don't have one, only an audio player. I find videos too distracting.

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