Want a netbook... which brand?

[saggs]

So I wanna get a little netbook.  I'm back in school and just want something to take notes, check e-mail, copy files, etc.  I see a lot of them for around $300 with a Intel Atom N450 processor, 160GB HDD and 1GB ram which should serve my purposes fine I feel.

It's been a long time since I've bought a brand name computer though, Ive never owned a laptop, and my last two desktop systems I built myself.

So what brands are recommended nowadays??  I'm shying away from Dell and HP just from second hand experience with their machines from friends and family.  I'm leaning toward Asus a bit just cause I had an Asus MB that lasted for many years.  But what about Acer, MSI, Toshiba, Samsung, Gateway?  I little to no experience with these brands.  Good, bad, indifferent.... opinions appreciated.

[Jayhawk]

I just received this one last week: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834131058.

I haven't had it long enough to give you the best review but I'm happy with it so far.  I also use it primarily for school.  Battery life is good, and it's sleep function does really well at conserving power.  I can have my laptop on, get to class, pop it open, and have it running in just a few seconds.  It's light and simple, which is what you want out of a netbook.

The worse part is all the software that comes with it (but what computer doesn't?).  McAfee came on it and reminded me ever 30 seconds that I need to activated my security until I uninstalled it.  There are all kinds of trial games I took off as well, and Microsoft Office came as trial software (installed my copy of Office from a flash drive).

[Sonicblu]

I'm using iPad to type this.

Wife got it for me for fathers day. So I could read books. But I surf the net and watch movies with it.


Not good for games though.

[Tac]

I got an ipad for college..and I have a desktop and a laptop.


For school stuff , no comparison. the Ipad's size, light weight and ease of use tops it all.

yes, its crApple and you cant do much with it.. but as a work/study tool its amazing.

I can take notes with a scribe pen and a handwriting recognition applet.. I write anywhere on the screen and it just adds each word to a text document for me. When im done I can edit it and re-arrange it just as I would in an email or a post here.

I can draw next to my notes, I can record audio for the entire class and attach it in a footnote on my written notes should I need to go back to it if I didnt understand something.

With the college's public wifi available in class ... if I need to look up something I can do so in an instant.

Some of my college textbooks for next semester are available online as e-books ... for 1/3rd the price of the flippin' paper textbook. Thats just too sweet.

Cons are of course, its crApple , you need to hook it to a REAL PC once you get home to get your stuff onto a real word processor and bigger file storage and you cant really buy much programs for it unless its something you find on itunes (and thus controlled by Apple itself).

In short, its not a computer. Its a high tech PDA that deserves recognition for its niftyness. As a computer however, it SUCKS.

[Tupac]

We have been through 3 Dells and an HP - Im typing this from a 6 year old toshiba laptop that is our backup computer and we have never had a problem with it, I have several friends that will tell you the same thing about Toshiba's reliability.

[saggs]

Not interested in an Ipad at all sorry.   Never been an Apple fan.

Plus:
Ipad 64gb  = $800
Netbook w/ better specs and more compatibility = $300-$350

ipad is NOT an option at that ridiculous price.  Even if the ipad where in my budget I'd still prefer a Windows based netbook I think.

We have been through 3 Dells and an HP - Im typing this from a 6 year old toshiba laptop that is our backup computer and we have never had a problem with it, I have several friends that will tell you the same thing about Toshiba's reliability.

Thanks I'll definitely look at Toshibas.

[Spikes]

Thing about Toshibas as well as any is the bloatware they come with...be prepared to spent a good hr hr and a half uninstalling all of the crap they put on it.

1GB and an Atom are great for general use. The new Atom dual cores are out but I don't think they've made it into many netbooks yet.

[saggs]

I like the case and keyboard style of some of the Acer Aspire series that I've looked at.  Anyone have any feedback on them?

[sluggish]

I like the case and keyboard style of some of the Acer Aspire series that I've looked at.  Anyone have any feedback on them?

I have two Aspires and love them.  For a nominal fee I reccomend throwing a two gb stick of ram into it. It will run AH with the eye candy backed off at 24 frames per sec...

[Tac]

Not interested in an Ipad at all sorry.   Never been an Apple fan.

Plus:
Ipad 64gb  = $800
Netbook w/ better specs and more compatibility = $300-$350

ipad is NOT an option at that ridiculous price.  Even if the ipad where in my budget I'd still prefer a Windows based netbook I think.

Thanks I'll definitely look at Toshibas.

Im not an apple fan either. I think its insulting how they peddle the Ipad as a computer when its really just a big Ipod.

the basic ipad model is $499 . 16gb wifi only. You dont need more than that for a note-taking PDA.

I mention it because you said you needed it for school. I assume its to take it TO school and use in class and you have a real PC at home. Ipad cant be beat for class stuff.

Before you decide on a laptop/netbook i'd consult with your teachers to see if the allow its use in class. Over the years I found that many proffessors forbid them because of the tak-tak-tak typing noise was very distracting on top of the obvious distractions the machines could provide a student with.

If its gonna be the only machine you have FOR school then yeah, dont even look at the ipad.

[greens]

I am getting the wife a $1200 Mac laptop, they work great, no probs nothing.

[Jayhawk]

I should have linked to this thread, I was contemplating my options earlier this year and started this thread.  Some good information, a lot of Ipad bashing (which you might enjoy).  I was trying to make a decision you've already made, but there is still some good information to consider in there.

http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,287429.0.html

[kotrenin]

My wife got the HP netbook a few weeks ago.  Its alright for the purpose but she does complain that she has to wait for the computer to catch up with her typing. I'll watch over her shoulder, when she pauses another 10- 15 characters pop-up on screen.  The graphics processor leaves something to be desired also.

[sluggish]

My wife got the HP netbook a few weeks ago.  Its alright for the purpose but she does complain that she has to wait for the computer to catch up with her typing. I'll watch over her shoulder, when she pauses another 10- 15 characters pop-up on screen.  The graphics processor leaves something to be desired also.

You need to shut off all of the crap running in the background.  A netbook should have no problem at all running a browser and word processing software.

[saggs]

I should have linked to this thread, I was contemplating my options earlier this year and started this thread.  Some good information, a lot of Ipad bashing (which you might enjoy).  I was trying to make a decision you've already made, but there is still some good information to consider in there.

http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,287429.0.html

Yea... ...   I just can't see where and Ipad is worth 200-300% of the price a netbook.  Sure it's got a touchscreen, maybe that's worth 30-40% more.  Beyond that it seems your just paying twice as much for that little silver apple on the back.