Netbook or laptop?

Rico · March 09, 2010, 07:09:28 AM

Been toying with the idea of getting a netbook or laptop. I mainly want it to surf, check email, maybe watch a video (that's on the hard drive), etc. A bit torn between a netbook or a lower end laptop. With all the traveling back and forth it would be nice to have to transfer files, etc. from home and here too. Best Buy has this Asus Netbook for only $249. this week. Advice/suggesions??

P.S. I'd also like to use it as a secondary computer for the podcast to play audio out of and tie it into my main PC. Can a netbook handle that ok?

billybob476 · March 09, 2010, 07:16:19 AM

I think the problem with a netbook, especially for a guy like you Rico, is that while you say you'll only want it for email, surf, etc, eventually you'll want to do something more and the netbook just won't be able to hack it.

I'm sure to play audio it'll be fine, but personally I think you'd be better off with a lower end laptop for around 100 dollars or so more. Netbooks are a great idea but unless you REALLY need to ultra portability, a 12 or 13" laptop will be much more versatile.

Rico · March 09, 2010, 07:48:54 AM

Yeah, I pretty much agree Joe. It's just the cost factor that really was driving me there. But hey, I do have a job now. ;)

Feathers · March 09, 2010, 07:58:31 AM

A netbook will certainly handle the audio but I think Joe's right. You need to be sure your requirements won't overflow into something more sophisticated.

My netbook's fine for browsing, email and a bit of Google Docs writing but for anything else, I revert to the laptop.

Rico · March 09, 2010, 09:37:43 AM

One of the reasons this comes to mind is in my current situation I don't have my TIVO and when I watch TV I can't skip the commercials. So, I usually have a book or magazine nearby for that time but having a laptop or netbook would make those few minutes even easier to handle. Maybe a "scouting" trip to Best Buy is called for.

Darkmolerman · March 09, 2010, 11:27:04 AM

If all you will do is surf the web, check email, watch videos you should get a netbook, GREAT battery life, tiny, but slow. I downloaded an HD video from Amazon and it lagged a bit but apart from that it is a marvel of modern engineering. But its slow...very slooow

Geekyfanboy · March 09, 2010, 01:25:27 PM

Love my netbook.. I use it for surfing the net mostly and for the price you can't beat it.. if you get a low end lap top you are still very limited to what you can do with it. Now if you were choosing between a nice lap top or a net book then I would say laptop.. but from what you want to do with it.. a netbook would work.

Darkmolerman · March 09, 2010, 01:37:43 PM

Just don't get a Lenovo Ideapad S10, I have one and it sucks, if the school would allow any netbook for extra money I would personally pay for a better one

Bryancd · March 09, 2010, 04:07:26 PM

Quote from: Geekyfanboy on March 09, 2010, 01:25:27 PM
Love my netbook.. I use it for surfing the net mostly and for the price you can't beat it.. if you get a low end lap top you are still very limited to what you can do with it. Now if you were choosing between a nice lap top or a net book then I would say laptop.. but from what you want to do with it.. a netbook would work.

Which is where I am with a portable device like these, Kenny. I do agree, though, Rico you may want a higher degree of functionality a netbook, by design, will never have. I just want an iPad so I can get back on the forum during the day from my office! :hate

Rico · March 09, 2010, 04:11:28 PM

In a perfect world (and excess money) I would just end up with both. And that may happen at some point. All good points by everyone. I can easily find myself finding uses for both devices. I guess it comes down to which one to get first.

Bromptonboy · March 09, 2010, 05:16:24 PM

How about the ThinkPad X100e? It has an 11" screen, and decent CPU, and can sport up to 4GB of RAM.
I love the small footprint of a netbook - and I have been toying with buying one for some time.

Rico · March 09, 2010, 05:55:09 PM

Quote from: Bromptonboy on March 09, 2010, 05:16:24 PM
How about the ThinkPad X100e? It has an 11" screen, and decent CPU, and can sport up to 4GB of RAM.
I love the small footprint of a netbook - and I have been toying with buying one for some time.

That looks pretty nice. Good review of it here: http://netbooked.net/netbook-reviews/review/lenovo-thinkpad-x100e-review/
Seems like it can even handle WOW. Hmmm,....

moyer777 · March 09, 2010, 10:44:49 PM

I love my Acer Netbook and use it every day for surfing, email and occasionaly instant messaging. It isn't so powerful so I just stick to writing with it and surfing. It's small, easy to take with me and connects very easily to any wireless network I encounter. I don't do any audio hardly at all with it, and of course that is what I do mostly for a living now. So, it's just handy, and for the money, totally worth it.

alanp · March 10, 2010, 04:24:42 PM

I picked up an older Dell laptop at a computer store and installed latest Fedora Core. Works well for me for browsing, word processing, and watching videos.

spaltor · March 11, 2010, 06:44:13 AM

I love my netbook, especially for travel! For surfing, it's fantastic. I also authorized the watered-down office programs (word & excel), because I'll sometimes use them for work purposes when traveling. Sometimes, on hulu, it's a little slow for streaming, no matter that quality of the wireless connection. I also use skype on there from time to time.

But from what I've heard, you don't want to have any more programs on a netbook than it. It might technically be able to handle them, but it will end up running so slowly you can't use it. I haven't even attempted to put iTunes on the netbook, I just wait to download new podcasts when I get home. ;)