Anyone here own a netbook?

3/23/2011 4:28 PM EDT

I don't, but i'm seriously considering one, Speed. I don't tote my work laptop around and my home laptop is a robust and large (but heavy) Toshiba running an AMD processor (quite well, I might add).

My wife got an iPad some months ago and I was going to buy one with her, but thought I'd like to figure out my personal use case first. Turns out I don't go to it much, although it's always fun to use when I do.

I'm a keyboard guy. I write to communicate, so that brings me back to a device with a real keyboard. And lightness is more important now that it's a reality in PC design.

Here's some feedback from a Sears.com posting (believe it or not!):

http://www.mysears.com/Computers-Electronics/topics/Netbook-recommendations-/posts

Have you thought about a Chrome device? I'd love to play around with one.

3/24/2011 5:02 PM EDT

Speed, here's an interesting option from Toshiba tipped from my colleague Brian Dipert at EDN:

http://www.wired.com/reviews/2011/03/toshiba-nb505/

3/24/2011 6:37 PM EDT

I do not own a notebook and current could not justify the cost. My usage would primarily consist of: design tools and email. I am not sure that a regular laptop/desktop could be beat for these normal type of applications. Can anyone tell me what the "best case usage" is for a netbook? Just wondering.

3/24/2011 7:25 PM EDT

Netbooks are NOT replacements for your main machine -- whether laptop or desktop. Even the latest multi-core and multi-thread machines don't have the power for serious work. On top of that you have a small, limited-resolution screen.

Netbooks are great when you are travelling, or moving around a lot, and need to access several documents, images, media files. They're also very good for internet access of email and news sites. I travel for business and the very compact and light netbook is what I prefer to take along, especially to meetings and presentations. Battery life is great for long flights and days full of meetings.

If you are doing EE design work, software development, graphics, video processing, etc. you should get a more powerful machine. If you are going to have only one computer, save up for a more capable laptop.

3/25/2011 9:32 AM EDT

I don't have a netbook, but I am seriously considering it. Apparently it is an option for me through UBM Electronics.

I am in the travelling light and long battery life please use case....but would I miss the larger screen size in the office? I regularly have 10 or 15 browser windows open.

There's an old saying: Those that can, do; those that can't, teach; and those that can't teach, write about it.

Could that be paraphrased to: Those that can, have a desktop/laptop; and those that can't, could benefit from a netbook?

3/25/2011 12:03 PM EDT

Why not enhance budget and try 10 inch MacBook Air?

3/26/2011 4:24 PM EDT

Right now manufacturers are rethinking the netbook concept. Current models don't really have low enough prices to justify their existence when low-end traditional laptops have practically the same prices. This category is probably going to be redefined as the ChromeOS boxes for $200-$250. Personally, I'm buying a Wifi Xoom tablet tomorrow.

Larry M.

3/29/2011 4:58 PM EDT

I got one for my wife. I'm glad I did, as it proved to me that I will never own one. Why? THe keyboard is simply too small for my big "man-hands". (sorry gratuitous Seinfeld reference)

3/31/2011 10:31 AM EDT

A Lenovo Ideapad S10-3. Works fine for a friend of mine. Robust too.

3/31/2011 2:59 PM EDT

I have a Samsung netbook from last year and my wife just purchased a Toshiba netbook (both 10-inch screens). From my perspective, I would never give it up. The portability and battery life are unmatched for the price point. For traveling, I can use them on those wonderfully compact airline tray tables AND eat a snack (or reference a book) at the same time. I do everything with the netbook that I do with my standard laptop. I run Windows XP and a full version of Office, Adobe Acrobat Professional, a website design software, various internet browsers, Skype, etc. with no real problems. Upgrading the standard RAM is required, though, if you want any speed, which is really the only limiting factor I've noticed. I regularly have 4 or 5 applications open at the same time, and they do run. although slower than a full-size laptop.

I've heard rumors that the netbook lines may start disappearing once tablet computers reach a similar price point, but for now I would highly recommend one. Also, get one with a standard-size keyboard, and at least a 10-inch screen. Use an external laser mouse instead of the small touchpads for better speed and control.

3/31/2011 3:19 PM EDT

P Dave - How much memory, RAM do you suggest?

3/31/2011 5:25 PM EDT

I just bought an Atom-based Inspirion mini 1810 under $250, that comes with Windows 7 starter, 250GB hard drive, that is basically falls in the definition of NETBOOKS, I am happy to say that delivers at least a typical 5 hours of battery life while browsing internet and mild use of office applications. Although Dells website claims over 7 hours, I am sure those are ideals scenarios not the real multitasking user. For whatever is worth.

3/31/2011 11:53 PM EDT

I am not a big netbook fan. For me they are too small. I have seen a hp netbook that a relative of mine has and I thought it was nice. Then again when you buy a netbook, you are probablly not too concerned with performane because you are not going to get an i-7 processor in a netbook. At least I have not seen one. It really depends on how much you are willing to spend. I wouldn't spend more than 500 dollars on a netbook.

4/1/2011 9:01 AM EDT

Apparently I can have the Lenovo Thinkpad X120e which is described not as a netbook but as an ultra-portable notebook computer.

The specifications quote 11.6 inch screen and up to 6.5 hours battery life with the bigger bulge-out-the-back battery. One potential drawback is no optical drive for reading CD-ROMs or playing CDs or DVDs.

But the X120e has got good reviews so I said "yes."

4/6/2011 9:05 AM EDT

I have an Acer One and I love it. Even though it's my own, I've used it on business trips to connect to equipment both by network and by serial (with use of USB to serial adapter). Recently, my employer bought a larger, more capable notebook for my use, but I find that I'm still carrying the little netbook around at work. One guy asked me why I wasn't using the notebook and I said "it's too big!"

The netbook graphics processing is underpowered and the screen resolution is low. The keyboard is a little cramped. I love it anyway just for the convenience of size; I can tote it around safely in one hand, but have the capabilities of a full computer. Plus it runs Linux like a champ.

4/14/2011 4:05 PM EDT

One of my daughters has a netbook. She loves it for toting to school. It will fit in her purse (big purse) and is very light. She does miss having an optical drive occasionally, but in general is ok with it. Hers was dual boot until Windows blue screened. Now it's Ubuntu only, until we get Windows reinstalled. I believe hers is an Acer.
Another daughter doesn't like the netbook. The keyboard is smaller, and she is not comfortable typing on it. She got a full size laptop. If you plan to do much writing, you might try typing on the keyboard to see if it feels ok.

4/20/2011 11:01 AM EDT

I bought a netbook for my daughter when she went to college. I got the lightest, longest battery life unit I could find for $350. The battery life is over 11 hours. For work in her apartment, I bought her a big (23") LCD monitor and a wireless keyboard and mouse. She just connects the monitor and the transmitter and presto she has a "desktop" PC. All the benefits of both. For Christmas I got her an external USB DVD burner. She's very happy.

4/20/2011 1:26 PM EDT

I've used a nice little HP netbook. The portability and battery life are great. Browsing can be a bit of a pain due to the small screen size. You have to do a lot of scrolling.

If you can deal with the small screen and don't have high power needs, it's hard to beat a netbook for portability.