Laptop or Netbook? Need some help please

[puffnstuff]

So, with a new job (same company) on the horizon and a lot more travel in my future I figure its time to jump in and get my own laptop or netbook.

Now, work is cool about surfing CP on their machine occasionally but with the travel its time to have my own.

I ask the collective brain trust of CP to help make a life decision for me...what to buy what to buy???

Not a gamer so it doesnt need to be super whizzy... surf the web, maybe some Skype, youtube, if i can watch online nhl feeds that'd be cool, access my email. Wireless connectivity of course. Nothing too strenuous really.
I realize netbooks dont have CDDVD players so i couldnt watch a movie on it, so thats a drawback i already know about.

What say you all....and keep it simple please, thanks in advance.

[TSXCman]

just a side note about the lack of a dvd drive. I find that I rarely ever have a need to use a dvd drive any more, and they do sell usb portable ones that you could tug in a bag if needed.

ditching that larger drive area could be nice

[Hack&Lube]

How big do you want your screen to be? Is portability a concern? What about battery life?

You'll get the best portability and battery life out of netbook running the latest Atom processor.

A CD/DVD drive is not needed anymore in today's day and age. USB ones (that are exactly the same as a laptop drive) that are tiny and can put in a pocket are dirt cheap as well.

[Russic]

Just from your description an iPad would probably do everything you need. If you see yourself typing up reports in a hotel room it may be less than ideal, but for a travel companion to provide entertainment and a link home an iPad might do. I'm heading away on business next week (an extreme rarity), and mine is pretty much all I need. It has my movies, tv shows, books, games and skype.

You can get a traditional netbook for a few hundred less, but after owning one I wouldn't go that direction again (personal opinion).

[Hack&Lube]

I have a tablet and a netbook and a laptop. Netbook and laptop get used constantly. The netbook is the most comfortable and relaxing to use of all of them. The tablet collects dust.

The most important thing with a netbook at the moment is to get a fast Atom processor. The slower ones will have trouble with streaming video and flash.

[Kipper is King]

If you want something kinda, sorta in-between a laptop and a netbook, take a gander at this:

http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/17/h...fusion-review/

[Mad Mel]

Originally Posted by Russic

You can get a traditional netbook for a few hundred less, but after owning one I wouldn't go that direction again (personal opinion).

Or you can have both:

http://hothardware.com/Reviews/Asus-...Tablet-Review/

Bonus: Android Honeycomb OS. For puffnstuff's use case, it'd be suitable.

[Leon]

I have an Asus netbook i picked up from mem express this christmas. They are excellent and the longevity of the battery is an excellent feature.

Portable USB's have come a long way and will hold a few movies, more than enough for a lengthy flight or layover anywhere.

If you're happy with a smaller screen and reduced processing power, I'd highly recommend a netbook. I love mine - it's easy to haul around anywhere and does a fantastic job with most tasks.

I picked this little guy up for sale for around 270$ so I'm sure you can find something worthwhile for around 300 dollars.

Best of luck finding something suitable, netbooks get a big thumbs up from me.

[3 Justin 3]

Get a netbook.

[ken0042]

I would look at a 12-13 inch laptop. I have a netbook and it's great for travelling; but with the smaller screen and only 1GB of RAM; it really is more of a "toy."

[maidestone]

Originally Posted by ken0042

I would look at a 12-13 inch laptop. I have a netbook and it's great for travelling; but with the smaller screen and only 1GB of RAM; it really is more of a "toy."

My sentiment exactly!

So I picked up an Acer Aspire AA1430 11.6" with i3-380UM, 4GB RAM, and 500GB HDD - for $500, on sale at Staples. The 6-cell battery lasts approximately 5 hours, too. Now my Acer Aspire One is gathering dust...

[Hack&Lube]

Dell's got a 14" notebook on sale that claims it's $400 off only for today. Seems like outdated tech though.

http://configure.dell.com/dellstore/...B_V1014_FTbal5

Vostro 1014
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T6670 w/VT (2.1GHz, 2MB L2, 800MHz FSB)
Genuine Windows® 7 Professional, with Media, 32-bit, English
14 inch HD (1366 X 768) WLED Display with TrueLife™
3GB Single Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 800MHz, 2 DIMM
250GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
Intel® Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
8X DVD+/-RW w/Roxio
1 Year Basic Limited Warranty and 1 Year NBD Onsite Service

[ken0042]

^^ Assuming you don't need Windows 7 Pro; I would get this Dell instead. Better CPU, more RAM, bigger hard drive:
http://www.dell.com/ca/p/inspiron-14...-14r-combo-mod

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by ken0042

^^ Assuming you don't need Windows 7 Pro; I would get this Dell instead. Better CPU, more RAM, bigger hard drive:
http://www.dell.com/ca/p/inspiron-14...-14r-combo-mod

Agreed, I can't fathom how they can claim the one on sale is a $900 regular price laptop.

[Machi]

Originally Posted by ken0042

I would look at a 12-13 inch laptop. I have a netbook and it's great for travelling; but with the smaller screen and only 1GB of RAM; it really is more of a "toy."

This. I love my netbook (Asus EEEpc, 10" screen) for the battery life and portability when I'm travelling.. but other than that, I don't use it too much. I find the screen size is too small for my regular web browsing and watching videos, etc.. if you think that might bother you, stick with a laptop!

[puffnstuff]

Hey guys, i want to thank you all for the comments and suggestions...will be heading out to check these out in the next couple of days.
Still havent decided between the two...might end up with a bit of a hybrid, thinking the 13/14 inch notebook, the small screen size on a netbook would probably be an issue (and typing anything on a tablet drives me insane...or more insane then i already am)

Anyone comes across any deals, send em my way. Thanks

[sclitheroe]

Laptop - 13" is plenty small.

The reason is this - most of us can do fine with a smaller screen, even a 10" netbook screen is OK.

But the KEYBOARD - if you're going to spend any time typing at all and you are a fast typist, even a 90% full size keyboard is too small. Maybe some people do fine with them, but I found they led to cramping in my hands, and even discomfort in the shoulders from the narrower spacing. I loved the portability day to day, but coming home with sore hands (and then hoping to play guitar in the evening) was too much.

Don't neglect the comfort associated with full size input devices.

[Mad Mel]

Not so much for the OP, but since it's on the general topic:

Asus to make $200 Netbook running Android or Chrome OS.


Personally, I'd be very happy if this becomes reality. Though my larger than average hands agree with Scott about small keyboards, I'd still like to have a small netbook for travel or just surfing on the move. An Android OS would be low overhead, which should make the performance better than that crap Dell / Windows netbook I had a couple of years ago - good enough for surfing the web and watching NHL Gamecentre, which is what I'd use it for. Not to mention, a free OS keeps the price down, and Android apps are pretty cheap when they aren't free.

At $200, it's cheap enough that I can have my laptop and netbook too. I don't care for tablets, I like having a keyboard.

[boogerz]

Regular notebooks all day, every day; however, if you're going with a "netbook" go with a 12 inch one like the Asus 1215 or Lenovo x120e that have the AMD Fusion or dual-core atom/Nvidia Ion combination

"ultraportable" laptops are the best of both worlds with regards to netbooks and regular notebooks. Small, light, long battery life but can be used for more than just internet browsing. The Acer Timeline series is great.

[puffnstuff]

OK so yes, i'm a procrastinator, havent gone out to get one yet ... but i did find this one on sale at FS
http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/produ...147470e54ben02


Thoughts? It seems pretty similar to the one posted above.
Thanks