Charlottechicken Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 Anyone got one of these rather than a full size laptop? How do you find the screen size, and portability? Price is an issue so if these are a no-no, I won't be buying anything! I think I can now have broadband (was on light user but now on BT basic) so have started the ball rolling there. When I am up and running with it I was hoping to get one of these as they are a really good price. I've seen an e machines one in the Tesco catalogue I could get with further discounts so it would cost around £180. Thanks in anticipation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 It depends on what you want to use it for, I am thinking of getting one to use at school. Netbooks are ideal for word processing and email, but not much else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 My hubby keeps trying to persuade me to get a netbook, I use a normal sized laptop all the time. I was worried too about the screen size. I've seen my SIL's, she used it to show me some photos which was fine but I think I would want to try a few other things before making a decision on it. It was a handy size, she had bought it to a hotel we were staying at so much more portable, so good in that respect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 I have one and love it. It is very easy and light to take around. I transfer word from my desktop on a stick to it and work on it while I am waiting for my children to finish various acivities. A negative is that I have found that some programmes just will not work on it. I am unable to install my Garmin 405 running watch downloaded software on it and also my sony Ereader software. I think that it is a glitch with the software rather that the netbook but nevertheless they are just not compatable. Also bear in mind that you ideally need an external CD drive to install software that cannot be downloaded. I don't find the screen size an issue at all and use it to watch iplayer on a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 I am thinking of getting this netbook mainly because it has a 9 hour battery life and its fairly cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 I'm replying on my 15 month old £160, 1kg Acer Aspire One 9" screen netbook. I love it! I'll tyr to keep this brief Within 20 seconds or switching on (it's Linux, not WIndows!), I can surf, email, word-process (can save in MS Word format) and use spreadsheets (ditto into Excel) with no problems at all. I also resize my photos on here (but can't do anything flash!) to upload and link to here! I very occasionally get script errors on some websites (down to Linux) but I can read PDFs, watch iPlayer and YouTube fine. I love working with it on my lap on the garden bench with the girls trundling around me Mine is "1st generation" - so Linux with 16GB solid state hard drive which I've doubled to 32GB with an SD card. I like that, as it means no hard drive to bounce around on the move and it keeps the weight down! The downside is there's no built-in DVD drive so can't watch DVD movies or install bought software from ROM (but I have a desktop to run my Adobe suite). My spreadsheets are simple home stuff - egg weights, DVD lists etc so I think I'd use my desktop for anything more complex. Oh and battery life is about 2 hours... but it's not like I use it on long train journeys, just in the kitchen and garden! 1st gen are difficult to find now. Most netbooks will have minimum 10" screen, 120/160GB hard-drive and WIndows XP or 7 (don't know how they perform under Windows). I saw an article on the BBC recently that netbooks have lost their way and are becoming small laptops. I was shocked at the price too in PC World... nearly £300!!! And yet the launch of the iPad is meant to see a surge in the sales of tablets - and possibly netbooks? Article here I don;t have any problems typing with the small keyboard' and wear reading specs anyway so am happy with the diddy screen! Unless you want to install complicated graphics software (eg Photoshop) and memory hungry data crunching (spreadsheets, databases), I'd say... go for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 I am thinking of getting this netbook mainly because it has a 9 hour battery life and its fairly cheap. That's a good'un! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 I've seen an e machines one in the Tesco catalogue I could get with further discounts so it would cost around £180. Is it this one? Sounds like a bargain - I'd say, go for it Especially as it's XP not v7 so should run OK with just 1GB RAM (don't know enough about Windows-based netbooks to say either way). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 Whatever you do, avoid the REALLY cheap, sub-£100 ones. I had one in the early days and took it back as it was horrendous - keyboard errors (random characters appeared when typing), keys actually physically in weird places (like "@" down by the space bar), wouldn't connect wirelessly, updates didn't work, lack of ram, could only run 3 programmes at a time etc etc... Not naming names but there's a fair review here! How times have changed, reads like it was 10 years ago, not just 18 months Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 This is a really useful thread ... just moving to WiFi and when that's up and running, I'd like to get a laptop/netbook so I can surf the Omlet forum whilst supervising the chickens! And other things. I've got a desktop, and as far as I can see I'd only use a second computer for email, internet surfing and maybe the odd bit of work on Word if I don't want to sit upstairs in the study. It sounds as if either of the ones above would be sufficient for that purpose. I'm assuming most laptops/netbooks these days will have wireless connectivity built-in? good price on the Tesco one, Charlottechicken! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 Hi - they are brilliant. We take ours everywhere & it enables us to still carry on our business. I've got a little Asus. Hubby has a Toshiba. His Toshiba is brilliant - slightly larger, but still very compact. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted March 28, 2010 Author Share Posted March 28, 2010 Wow, thanks for all the comments folks, really useful stuff! Olly, that's what I want one for too, and as I will be off work most of the summer recovering from my op, I need something to occupy my mind. I'm not a fiction reader so thought one of these netbooks would be money well spent. When I am wifi and broadband I will be able to move my pc into the back room, and carry this around with me. I keep burning the chicken's pasta at the moment as the pc is in the front room and the kitchen 60 feet away, it's a long run to check on stuff Is it this one? Sounds like a bargain - I'd say, go for it Especially as it's XP not v7 so should run OK with just 1GB RAM (don't know enough about Windows-based netbooks to say either way). That's the one! I've just realised I have £50 worth of Tesco vouchers so it may be even cheaper if I can use those too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 I've just realised I have £50 worth of Tesco vouchers so it may be even cheaper if I can use those too Wow go for it! You won't be disappointed You can order it online for free delivery to selected stores... Get another £5 off for spending more than £50 at Tescos Direct (enter voucher code TDX-24R8 valid til 11/4/10 see here). You can add your clubcard voucher codes to your online order so in all, it should only cost you £145 - BARGAIN! And 398 clubcard points too!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treekeeper Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 I am using my Samsung netbook now it does just about everything I require, downside no cd/dvd driver but a usb one is £29 so not too dear screen size not a problem and I do need glasses. We've booked hols on internet I use it for ebay and if I do need any more power or programmes I do have several other pc or laptop options. I love it personally Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 Mother has a Samsung one I think and she gets on really well with it now - took her a couple of weeks to get used to the keyboard. I think they're really good for working out and about and can fit in your bag etc, but I think I'd rather use my big laptop for any big bits of work I had to do. I don't like linus, prefer windows, but probably should have given it a bit more time to get used to it School bought one just for assemblies, so they can just run powerpoints and somtimes youtube videos off it, and its small enough to carry round and fit on the lectern Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 Couple more thoughts... MSN works fine (even on my Linxu one!). But don't know if a netbook will run iTunes (I leave that Mr Frutti on his proper windows Laptop, which stores all our music and photos). It's not hard drive space that's the issue (a 1TB external (USB) hard drive is only about £60-70), but rather the processor/operating system. Would be interested to know if anyone else has got it working? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 29, 2010 Share Posted March 29, 2010 I got an Asus netbook last year at a really good discount through a mate of mine. It's absolutely fabulous and I take it when we travel now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted March 29, 2010 Author Share Posted March 29, 2010 Wow go for it! You won't be disappointed You can order it online for free delivery to selected stores... Get another £5 off for spending more than £50 at Tescos Direct (enter voucher code TDX-24R8 valid til 11/4/10 see here). You can add your clubcard voucher codes to your online order so in all, it should only cost you £145 - BARGAIN! And 398 clubcard points too!!! You are so reading my mind, and I don't need any encouragement I happen to work near to one of the Tesco's they deliver to Trouble is I daren't order until I know my broadband is up and running (just worried about the phone line as it used to be light user, which doesn't take broadband) so may miss out on the voucher, but I can go through quidco Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted March 29, 2010 Share Posted March 29, 2010 I have a Samsung N140 arriving tomorrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted April 2, 2010 Share Posted April 2, 2010 Jack gave me his Samsung NC10 netbook on Tuesday . He has just bought himself a fancy laptop. The Samsung is great, small and light and the battery life is good. Just need a little carry case or bag for it now, any reccomendations? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted April 2, 2010 Share Posted April 2, 2010 Tech Air and InCase are good brands, expensive, but worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted April 2, 2010 Share Posted April 2, 2010 The £ shop sell neoprene cases Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted April 2, 2010 Share Posted April 2, 2010 The £ shop sell neoprene cases Is that the same as Poundland? If it is I will take a look tomorrow. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted April 2, 2010 Share Posted April 2, 2010 Yep, Poundland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted April 3, 2010 Author Share Posted April 3, 2010 Silly question, can I use a netbook with dial up? I've just noticed there's a load of ports along the side of these things and it looks like I could connect to my dial up connection to check the netbook works OK. If so I can order one today for collection on Tuesday how will I connect to my ISP though? Lewis, well spotted with the poundland netbook cases! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
