Netbooks

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

well looking at idea of a netbook as multi purpose tool, not so much heavy duty
computing more media machine.

my htc touch hd phone is nearly 2 years old as was thinking of an upgrade but
not seeing much to better it still. could do with a bigger screen but 4" is about
limit for a pocket device, the ipad is ok but will never be a phone, the samsung
galaxy could be a phone but at 7" too big for the pocket.

so keep phone get a tablet? except pricey, unsure if could get memory map
on it etc.

got me thinkikg these tiny lappys, at 10" portable in car, perhaps in MM mode,
in caravan as music player, tv via err tv dongle.

gather there are true dual cored net's now which might be better for MM, of
course running it as a pc too, rather than a hand held.

found at toshiba, so well built 10" hd screen 250gb hdd dual core 1.5mhz atom
cpu, upto ten hour battery, also doubles as an mp3 dock even switched off
can charge mp3 from usb and play it thru mic socket and harmon whastit
speakers! £280, ok heading for cheap laps but size is so handy.

any thoughts, if yer awake still!?

 

[lacroupade]

Just my humble opinion as someone whpo works his IT kit hard....

I think ipad type devices are a complete gimmick, favoured by trendy media types. The whole principle of a touch screen device which ends up grubby and greasy very quickly just escapes me LOL. Sure its got some cute tricks but nothing I can't live without.

Dell do one now though that has a keyboard integrated into the casing, so you can use it as a touchpad or a conventional lappy.

But the netbook thing works for me...small, light, same technology platform (so no learning curve) and providing you can do without a carry-round DVD drive and the odd PCMCIA slot then its perfect!:thumb2

 

[clivvy]

I work in IT, in fact, I work for a pretty big reseller of laptops etc. We sell an absolute ton of Netbooks, and let me tell you, the quality these days is fantastic. They may be cheap, but you get a quality peice of kit for your money, albeit small.

As for your requirements, id be leaning towards iPad territory. Ok I understand Lacroupades points, BUT, they arent gimmicky to me, they are a real alternative to the laptop. Battery life on iPads is well proven and much higher than netbooks (just) and the ease of use is frankly, unparralled right now. They are a media/internet device, fantastic screen, so really, fit your requirements perfectly. iPad is a proven, superb little device, its popular for a reason, not just great advertising. Its like buying a popular car like a Ford Focus-not the very best the world has to offer, but a damn fine product.

If you dont go for iPad, then the Toshiba netbooks are very good and robust. A friend of mine got one last year, and they say its brilliant. Of course you buy theusual windows or linux quirkiness, where as with iPad, you buy something that works.

There are some "dual core" netbooks out there, but there are some with a diffeent type of graphics card and this makes a huge difference, ion2 chipset i think its called, see here:

http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/netb...st-netbook-to-use-nvidias-ion-2-graphics-chip

 

[lacroupade]

I work in IT, in fact, I work for a pretty big reseller of laptops etc. We sell an absolute ton of Netbooks, and let me tell you, the quality these days is fantastic. They may be cheap, but you get a quality peice of kit for your money, albeit small.

As for your requirements, id be leaning towards iPad territory. Ok I understand Lacroupades points, BUT, they arent gimmicky to me, they are a real alternative to the laptop. Battery life on iPads is well proven and much higher than netbooks (just) and the ease of use is frankly, unparralled right now. They are a media/internet device, fantastic screen, so really, fit your requirements perfectly. iPad is a proven, superb little device, its popular for a reason, not just great advertising. Its like buying a popular car like a Ford Focus-not the very best the world has to offer, but a damn fine product.

If you dont go for iPad, then the Toshiba netbooks are very good and robust. A friend of mine got one last year, and they say its brilliant. Of course you buy theusual windows or linux quirkiness, where as with iPad, you buy something that works.

There are some "dual core" netbooks out there, but there are some with a diffeent type of graphics card and this makes a huge difference, ion2 chipset i think its called, see here:

http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/netb...st-netbook-to-use-nvidias-ion-2-graphics-chip

bah! :lol Definite case of form over function, typically Apple. I bet you bought an iPod as well LOL I worked in IT for 20 years and cut my teeth supporting what was once Europes biggest mac client with around 12,000 units......I would NEVER buy a Mac or Apple product. Same with the iPod.....it couldn't/can't hold a candle to the best of breed in the MP3/video world as regards playback quality.

Anyone in doubt just needs to Google 'ipad problems' :doh

But big ups to Toshiba I agree; always been a good quality product, well spec'd and reliable...:thumb2

 

[4x4_Gav]

Macbook Pro

 

[Deleted account DD]

Im not a fan at all of 100% touch screen devices, agree with paul about them. They do have their uses but id like a physical keyboard too. Blackberry torch style :thumb2

I reckon netbooks are great. My missus has an HP one and its a top performer (despite the fact its pink) . Was cheaper than a lap top too.

Only problem i have with it though is the track pad. Being left handed and with big hands its a right chew on to use

 

[clivvy]

ive always had various gadgets, and yup, I got an iPod classic years ago (60Gb) and its by far the best MP3 player functionality wise ive ever had. My iPhone is just unbeatable, sure its restricted, and yes other phones are better specced, but nothing so far is "better", not for me anyway, not yet. Im due an upgrade so im considering a Samsung Mobile 7.

Apple products though, they are top notch mate. The hardware is superb by any standards, and yes the MAC book pro is a superb peice of kit. Apple products are excellent, well designed devices and ok, they have problems like ANY other device, but i tell you this, they have a LOT LESS problems that other devices, and they are generally way better to use in the first place, so going wrong with an Apple device is far harder than with others I have used.

I should work for Apple.

 

[briggie]

ive always had various gadgets, and yup, I got an iPod classic years ago (60Gb) and its by far the best MP3 player functionality wise ive ever had. My iPhone is just unbeatable, sure its restricted, and yes other phones are better specced, but nothing so far is "better", not for me anyway, not yet. Im due an upgrade so im considering a Samsung Mobile 7.

Apple products though, they are top notch mate. The hardware is superb by any standards, and yes the MAC book pro is a superb peice of kit. Apple products are excellent, well designed devices and ok, they have problems like ANY other device, but i tell you this, they have a LOT LESS problems that other devices, and they are generally way better to use in the first place, so going wrong with an Apple device is far harder than with others I have used.

I should work for Apple.

cor is it appealing ? ( omg my jokes are getting worse )

 

[zippy656]

whats the cheapest netbook worth looking at,

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/7-NETBOOK-MIN...t=UK_Computing_Laptops_EH&hash=item3cb4dcbe5e

this ANY good. ??

 

[clivvy]

no mate, thats sh1te!! For a start, its not a proper 100% netbook, for a start, it doesnt support flash or java, so thats a vast majority of websites that will either not load, or not display correctly. It uses windows CE and this is very basic and very crude-the only devices we have at work that use CE, are the handheld scanners used for stock control. Its cheap for a reason, avoid it!

 

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

well i was looking at a dell single core atom netbook at 199.99

down from 280, probably cos single cores are on way out.

then found the tosh and sorely tempted.

ive noted some of the acers come with win7 and android suppose
could be handy.

not seen one take more than 2gb, all come with 1gb, not sure
though if only single slot and have to bin the 1 to get a 2 in.
certainly on dell site they list a 2gb card for the 1018 first looked
at.

 

[clivvy]

majority of the smaller ones are single slot for memory, but if it comes with android or windows 7, its plenty enough if you only use it for internet, and BASIC media. plenty out there though with more memory just shop around.

 

[Deleted account DD]

Sorry Clivvy but the Apple hardware is not top notch. Theres no other manufacturer ever released a phone solely to meet consumer demand BEFORE they managed to make sure the aerial worked ie you could phone out on it :lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol

There was also someone on here who's relative worked for a shipping company and the highest proportion of phone going back pro rata were iphones :thumb2

Ive just been searching and cant find it but a while back there was a cracking article in a Which type magazine.

They tested top line smart phones. All were competent and would appeal to different consumers BUT if the iphone had been released as "The Jobbs Smart phone" ie without the religious fervor of the branding, it would be unlikely it would have the market share it does.

An android phone and a blackberry whopped it on all round performance and reliability :thumb2

 

[Deleted account DD]

well i was looking at a dell single core atom netbook at 199.99

HP mini 110 solid build and win7 which seems to work well. No idea how much at the mo but was cheapest at Argos when they were "current" models :thumbs

Tescos also seem to watch the market and price well

 

[jims-terrano]

If you look they are usuallu running W7 Starter? would Home Premium be better or doesn't it make much difference. I've not had anything to do with em but I too have seen the Dell for £199 and it's tempting.

Jim

 

[jace]

i used to have dell lapys,i spent more time on phone to somewhere in a jungle to arrange for it to be fixed,got rid of both for hp now much better no breakdowns (famous last words)

 

[zippy656]

so is this one any better??
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/packard-bell-dot-se-r-110uk-red-netbook-08753834-pdt.html

 

[clivvy]

so is this one any better??
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/packard-bell-dot-se-r-110uk-red-netbook-08753834-pdt.html

you can get better for the money.

 

[Deleted account DD]

you can get better for the money.

:thumb2

 

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

so is this one any better??
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/packard-bell-dot-se-r-110uk-red-netbook-08753834-pdt.html

err pay attention, the dell i mentioned is same price, and a bigger hdd, better build
though fear customer service is off shore, lets leave it there.

after that theres couple of acers, with the 250gb hdd.

now lots of folks recommending acer in general, indeed was seriously looking at
a high spec acer laptop, quad core!, lots of bling!, but current budget points to
a netbook.