Category: Geeks r Us
I have a large laptop, but due to its relatively short battery life, and its weight, it's becoming impractical to lug to class every day. I have a fairly substancial walk to classes, and having to carry a massive backpack just for my laptop is a hastle.
So, if I want a small laptop for general use, word processing, web browsing, listening to music and the like, is a netbook a viable option?
I will still have my big laptop for processor intensive tasks, but will a netbook get the job done for school stuff?
I'm skeptical of running windows 7 on something with so little processor power and ram.
I wouldn't get anything with less than 2 gigs of ram, but even then I'm struggling with paying a couple hundred bucks for something that I don't trust.
Any recommendations?
What's good? What isn't?
Something that works well out of box would be nice. I'm assuming netbooks probably don't have a hole lot of bloatware, due to their low end processors, but still...
I have a netbook and it runs Windows 7 pro actually. It has 2 GB or ram.
The keys are smaller, so you'll have to be comfortable with that. It doesn't have a CD drive, so you'll need to use other methods to install things on it.
I like it, but it is slower than a regular laptop. Because price has come down on Laptops I'd opt for a lighter one. I have a Dell 14Z weight is 4 pounds. My netbook weight is 3, so not much different.
If you don't run more thant 3 programs at once a netbook is nice to use.
Blot ware? You'll get program installed just like any new computer. Remove what you don't want. Lol
Sorry about the poor typing. The telephone rang and I didn't proof my post. Lol
I had a netbook back when they were relatively new. That was back before many of them were solid state. I loved it, it was actually my main computer for the year that I had it, but it ended up failing me spectacularly after that year. Therefore I conclude that they're a little fragile, but as long as you aren't using it as your main computer or putting it through too much hardship, it should do fine. Though I can't speak for the solid state; I wouldn't buy a solid state netbook, and somebody correct me if I'm wrong, its hard if not impossible to find one being sold that isn't solid state anymore. I would opt for a lighter, cheaper laptop rather than a netbook at this point.
I'm gonna go for one that's not solid state. you can still find them online.
Thanks all for your thoughts.
Solid State would actually be the best for a netbook because of requiring less power. If you don't need much hard drive space, and for what a netbook is meant to do that be best.
solid state has a shelf life though. I wouldn't want a computer that i knew for a certainty was going to fail at a predictable time.
net book is just ok for the basic computing stuff such as browsing, going to social medias, typing documents, note taking and listening to music/videos, etc.
my sister have one with windows7 ultimate in it.
Mine has lasted 3 years. The only problems I've had have been software issues that I caused. Oops.
As far as hardware goes, the only issue I've had is the headphone jack broke when the netbook took a dive off a tv tray onto a wood floor with headphones plugged in. They broke off in it so it no longer can be used with anything other than the computer speakers. Sadly, it's been dropped several times, once even on a tile floor. It's been very durible.
Mine runs XP and works very well for the basic things mentioned. Battery life isn't very good though, about 2 hours, so that could be problematic.
I'll be very sad when I have to replace it because it's been a little work horse.
What's this solid state everyone has discussed? I'm assuming that's what mine is since it's 3 years old. What's the difference? Clue me in without laughing, please. lol
Solid state is memory for storage that doesn't involve a spinning disk, the way a hard drive does. Yes solid state has a shelf life, but that exceeds the life of the product in most cases. And you have no mechanical parts to poop out. Admittedly hard drives have gotten a lot better in the past couple of decades by various stages, but all mechanical parts wear out.
Your solid state requires no fan and motor / drive shaft to turn the disk, or to apply and remove the heads. That means the storage media (solid state hard drive) consumes less power. Hope that explains things a little bit. Yours probably doesn't have one. If you ever hear ticking when the computer is "thinking," you have a mechanical hard drive. Solid states boot a lot faster also.
i ran a test about 3 weeks ago, putting a sollert state drive and a harddrive netbook side by side, and boot them together. The sollert state drive netbook took me about 12 seconds, while the hard drive netbook took me about 40 seconds. the specs ard the same, running window 7 basic, 2gb ram, etc etc. they are identical netbook, the only different is in one got a hard drive and one got a sollert state drive.
Ah, thanks, Leo.
yep, Mine is apparently not solid state. It's quiet as all get out but you can very faintly hear clicking. Plus it has a fan and thank goodness for it because this littlebooger generates some heat when charging.
Well, I took the plunge and got an acer aspire. I hope it's worth it.
I think I'll be pleased, as it ran really well when i first turned it on and installed nvda.
Thanks all.
That's what I have. I hope you like it!
to put it in simplier terms, a solid state drive is like a USB drive in hard disk form. correct me if i'm wrong please, but that's what I understand.
hmm... I have an asus he 1000 it is a work hourse, slow but its a net book so I do not expect it to run any faster then it is already. As far as acer is conserned, I will not by another acer again. Sorry just had one crap out with in 2 years and my netbook an asus has out lasted it.
Well there might be some issue with acer , mainly the sound card, but hopefully the posters got a good one.
If it gives you any trouble at all just take it back and exchange it for Dell, Asus, or HP. Sometimes there good and sometimes not, but if you wait to long you'll be mad at netbooks when it was the brand not the book.
I learned this lesson about beeing mad at the brwon not the computer do to having to recycle a acer that just crapped out on me. I admit I am sorta byest because I like asus a lot do to the good luck I have had with them so far. Others on here might differ in oppinion.
brand, I so need to look at my posts before posting them bla.
I think netbooks would be a cheap alternative for school.
you should consider a ultrabook.Their like netbooks in the sense that they are light, but come with a full sized keyboard on most of them.
I have an acer and they tend to run pretty hot so try not putting it on any surfaces like on a bed or anywhere else where there isn't much space.
an ultrabook would be nice, but I just need a small machine for classes. It doesn't have to be a powerhouse, as I already have a nice dell. I'm writing this post on my netbook, which seems to be working great so far.
Ultra books are way more expensive, and I'm not sure the extra cost is worth it. I have a Dell Z14, and it is light and really thin, and weighs about 4 pounds. I shop so got it for 500, but the ultra book with the same specs is costing around 800 to 1000, so.
yes Ultrabooks are more expensive but they also offer more than netbooks. If cost isn't a problem, and you want portability and a powerful machine, ultrabooks are the way to go. At least, their cheaper than a Macbook air.