Anything important to keep in mind in getting a netbook

ReadyMan · Post by **ReadyMan** » Wed May 19, 2010 8:06 pm

My wife and I need a small netbook to check email/do word processing on when we travel.
She has a decent laptop, but it's heavy and bulky, so we've been looking at netbooks.

Is there anything I should keep in mind before settling on one?
I've seen some used ones with very little use, that have windows XP (all my systems have xp still), and even some with small (16gb) solid state drives.

Thanks for any input!

AceCombat · Post by **AceCombat** » Wed May 19, 2010 8:56 pm

no CD Drives, you have to get a External drive for watching DVD's without ripping them to the H/S- DD

Krom · Post by **Krom** » Wed May 19, 2010 8:57 pm

Netbooks are about twice as likely to fail as a full blown laptop. However regardless of what type you are getting, I recommend sticking to the ASUS brand, they are the most reliable and prove it by having 2 year standard warranties.

Otherwise they are going to be SLOW. You can still manage something reasonably small but packing a lot more performance assuming you have the money to spend.
Something like this will completely destroy any netbook in performance but should still be easy to stuff in a backpack and carry around with you:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6834220717

ReadyMan · Post by **ReadyMan** » Wed May 19, 2010 9:19 pm

Yeah, I like that notebook Krom!
Especially the gamer in me...
But funds are lacking. I'm still holding the $600 I was going to use for 2 new LDC monitors (still using my 2 19\" Samsungs), but I was thinking I might be able to pick up a used netbook for $200 or so.
Definitely dont want to spend more than $300, otherwise I'll keep saving my pennies and move to the small laptop type that you linked to.

Isaac · Post by **Isaac** » Thu May 20, 2010 12:02 am

Krom wrote:Netbooks are about twice as likely to fail as a full blown laptop.

How?

Krom · Post by **Krom** » Thu May 20, 2010 7:40 am

Isaac wrote:How?

Just raw numbers from a warranty insurance corporation, netbooks simply break more often. You have to realize that packing a computer into a 10" footprint for under $400 means they are going to cut some corners.

ReadyMan · Post by **ReadyMan** » Fri May 21, 2010 6:44 pm

Trying to decide on a used one or a new one. I can buy a used one with Win XP on it....which I prefer, as that's what I have on my two existing systems.

The new ones all have \"windows 7 starter\", which I have no idea what it is. What is the \"starter\" version, as opposed to full blown win 7?
...and is it worthwhile? That alone might be the dealbreaker for me.

Thanks!

Krom · Post by **Krom** » Fri May 21, 2010 7:57 pm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_7_editions

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_7_ ... ison_chart

Canuck · Post by **Canuck** » Mon May 24, 2010 1:33 am

AceCombat wrote:no CD Drives, you have to get a External drive for watching DVD's without ripping them to the H/S- DD

Buy one of these adapters;
http://www.startech.com/item/USB2SATAID ... Cable.aspx Best $40.00 CAD I've ever spent.

Xamindar · Post by **Xamindar** » Sun May 30, 2010 4:05 pm

Krom, from that comparison chart it says Windows 7 \"Maximum physical CPUs supported\" is 2 even for Ultimate. That chart has got to be wrong.

Krom · Post by **Krom** » Sun May 30, 2010 4:38 pm

Xamindar wrote:Krom, from that comparison chart it says Windows 7 "Maximum physical CPUs supported" is 2 even for Ultimate. That chart has got to be wrong.

By physical CPUs they mean the number of sockets not the number of cores. One physical CPU can have any number of cores. A limit of 2 just means you can't run Windows 7 on most of these: http://www.anandtech.com/show/2478/2

Xamindar · Post by **Xamindar** » Sun May 30, 2010 6:19 pm

I see, that's how they must force people to buy the server editions.

AceCombat · Post by **AceCombat** » Sun May 30, 2010 6:26 pm

jesus christ?!?!?! 8 CPU's?!?!?!?!?

BUBBALOU · Post by **BUBBALOU** » Mon May 31, 2010 3:24 pm

I have 2 IBM e servers, they both have the capacity for 8 Xeon MP cpu's but instead I have 4 Xeon DP's in each. I have the link cables to tether both Servers together which can create a 16(MP)/8(DP) system. Kind of scary when you think about it... this pair retailed for $107,000.00 new. All the server editions except for SMB can utilize all the CPU's, SMB only supports 2 CPU's with HT(barks at you and tell you the bad news during install about how it's not going to use them. For rendering they are awesome... lol M$ and their limitations... Home editions are the real handicap only support 1 physical Cpu and 5 user or less network sharing.

STAY AWAY FROM HOME ANYTHING... Bottom Line

Duper · Post by **Duper** » Tue Jun 01, 2010 12:47 pm

and then there's the whole Swap-out point system till lock out.

where does that benefit anyone, save MS?
(sorry that rants for another thread

)

ReadyMan · Post by **ReadyMan** » Wed Jun 02, 2010 10:26 pm

hard to know which is better, XP or win 7 for this netbook. Still looking online for a decent deal (less than $200).
Krom's notebook suggestion above seems the best bet, but is another $700+.

Looks like I'm going to be doing a bit of traveling, so I'm thinking I'll need the laptop. (and can use a netbook, if I can get one cheap enough).

I've been looking around, but havent seen too many smaller/lighter/thinner than Kroms' recommendation.
Anyone have a preference? (bubba? I always give preference to your suggestions

)

ReadyMan · Post by **ReadyMan** » Wed Jun 02, 2010 10:28 pm

hard to know which is better, XP or win 7 for this netbook. Still looking online for a decent deal (less than $200).
Krom's notebook suggestion above seems the best bet, but is another $700+.

Looks like I'm going to be doing a bit of traveling, so I'm thinking I'll need the laptop. (and can use a netbook, if I can get one cheap enough).

I've been looking around, but havent seen too many smaller/lighter/thinner than Kroms' recommendation.
Anyone have a preference? (bubba? I always give preference to your suggestions

)

Anything important to keep in mind in getting a netbook

Anything important to keep in mind in getting a netbook

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