Posted: 6/6/2011 4:59:37 AM EDT
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It has been awhile since I have looked at netbooks. I am trying to find a lightweight one that I can install meego / chromium / ubuntu on for very basic use while traveling. I plan on running a very lightweight OS that allows me to browse, email, watch videos, and use the webcam to call home.
I am trying to avoid a "cheap" netbook. (I realize I am saying CHEAP and NETBOOK in the same sentence, and that the two terms usually go hand in hand.) I want one that doesn't feel like a hard sneeze will cause the keys to fly off. It will get tossed into a bookbag daily, and will probably get banged around. One that is popped together will probably not last a month. I'd be happy to hear your experiences. |
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I use a Toshiba NB-255 netbook. It came with Win7 Starter and I loathed the OS simply because I could not change the wallpaper. I loaded up Ubuntu Netbook Remix and used it for the better part of last year. It was fast, easy on the battery, and not too shabby. I got tired of the interface eventually though and switched to Win7 Ultimate. Battery life is teh suck with Win7 compared to Ubuntu, but I do enjoy having a traditional desktop interface. I think I will end up with Linux Mint or another distro on it later so I can get my battery life back. It went from lasting about 8 hours on a charge down to something like 5-6 hours. I am still using the stock 1GB of RAM, and it was sufficient for light web browsing and watching some videos. Forget about running multiple programs at once with any kind of efficiency. I have carried this thing everywhere with me since I got it. I do not have a smart phone but free wifi is always nearby so I find it extremely handy. I also loaded Microsoft Streets & Trips along with my USB GPS dongle, its my giant Tom-Tom and gets me to places when I am unfamiliar with the area. I bought a neoprene case and it looks as new as the day I bought it, aside from the scratches when I dropped it off the turret.
Asus Eee PC has a cult-like following, and their own forums. They are also cheaper. I bid on them for months on eBay trying to win the 20 dollar auctions, convinced they got a third party to run the bids up to retail. That's why I ended up with the Toshiba, it was on sale when I was walking through BB. |
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I'd check Maximum PC magazine for a recent netbook roundup. Last one I recall they did was in 2009 so it's definitely time for an update.
I love my Asus netbook but it's two years old now so I would not recommend it to a new buyer. Whatever netbook you purchase, I would recommend upgrading to 2 GB of RAM, it's only $30 and easy to do. |
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I have an Asus Eee PC with the Atom N280 processor and 2GB of RAM. It came with XP but I formatted the HD and installed Windows 7 32-bit Professional. It runs like a bat out of heck. I can't fathom using an iPad or slate/tablet to replace the netbook. I can do everything on a netbook that I can do on my full sized Dell Studio laptop. The netbook even runs Office 2010 Enterprise (which loads like a bat out of heck as well). |
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I have an Acer Aspire One that I have treated quite badly but it has skipped a beat. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile I've had one for two years, and it's been beat to hell in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the UAE. Works like a champ.  Whoops, I meant mine "hasn't" skipped a beat... 
I'm quite surprised by it. I expected it to die within a month or two considering all the banging around it endures. But it is chugging along steadily. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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MacBook. /thread Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile Macbook =/= Netbook 
I love my iPhone and iPad but I still cant relate to the deranged Apple fanboys that feel the need to always offer up their beloved mac when someone is obviously looking for something else. Here is what the OP is looking for: I plan on running a very lightweight OS that allows me to browse, email, watch videos, and use the webcam to call home.
Tablet/iPad does all those, and is much lighter than any netbook. Add on the long battery life, and instant powering on, and IMHO, it's the best solution to what the OP presented. Unless he is looking for additional requirements... |
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I have an Acer Aspire One that I have treated quite badly but it has skipped a beat. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile I've had one for two years, and it's been beat to hell in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the UAE. Works like a champ. Whoops, I meant mine "hasn't" skipped a beat...
I'm quite surprised by it. I expected it to die within a month or two considering all the banging around it endures. But it is chugging along steadily. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile I actually missed that typo
Funny what the mind will do. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: MacBook. /thread Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile Macbook =/= Netbook I love my iPhone and iPad but I still cant relate to the deranged Apple fanboys that feel the need to always offer up their beloved mac when someone is obviously looking for something else. Here is what the OP is looking for: I plan on running a very lightweight OS that allows me to browse, email, watch videos, and use the webcam to call home. Tablet/iPad does all those, and is much lighter than any netbook. Add on the long battery life, and instant powering on, and IMHO, it's the best solution to what the OP presented. Unless he is looking for additional requirements... I agree that a tablet/iPad would do all those things but OP specifically said he is looking for " lightweight [netbook] that I can install meego / chromium / ubuntu". |
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Quoted: Anyone have experience with the Dell Latitude 1012 or 1018? There is one of each at the local pawn shop... I have a 1012, works well if you want a windows 7 environment (as opposed to iOs or Android), haven't tried it with ubuntu etc. It has survived multiple international trips. Haven't touched it since buying an iPad though. |
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Get one of the new generation of netbooks with the AMD E-350 APU (dual core & GPU in a chip) It is night / day difference from the old single core atom netbooks. It can run Win 7 64-bit and "feels" like you're on a laptop, not a netbook. I picked up a ASUS 1215B because it comes with USB3.0, but HP's DM1Z has a reputation of having a better build quality. |
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Anyone have experience with the Dell Latitude 1012 or 1018? There is one of each at the local pawn shop... I have a 1012, works well if you want a windows 7 environment (as opposed to iOs or Android), haven't tried it with ubuntu etc. It has survived multiple international trips. Haven't touched it since buying an iPad though. Want to part with it? |
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MacBook. /thread Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile Macbook =/= Netbook
I love my iPhone and iPad but I still cant relate to the deranged Apple fanboys that feel the need to always offer up their beloved mac when someone is obviously looking for something else. Here is what the OP is looking for: I plan on running a very lightweight OS that allows me to browse, email, watch videos, and use the webcam to call home.
Tablet/iPad does all those, and is much lighter than any netbook. Add on the long battery life, and instant powering on, and IMHO, it's the best solution to what the OP presented. Unless he is looking for additional requirements... I agree that a tablet/iPad would do all those things but OP specifically said he is looking for " lightweight [netbook] that I can install meego / chromium / ubuntu". Thank you for reiterating my original post. It seems all threads deviate from an OP's specific question. IPads are cute, but not what I am looking for. They are great for consumption. I also want security thru obscurity. All of the lisited OSs give me that. |
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My Acer Aspire One is 14 months old. I like it a lot. There's a lot of Windows 7 Starter hate out there, but I think it works great on the netbook. It boots quickly, and it awakes in about 10 seconds from hibernation. I can easily go 6 hours on a charge. I played a promo video in media player continuously for 2.5 hours before I needed to plug in. I read that it wouldn't stream video very well, but it does great. I can even watch Netflix.
I get a little better battery life when I run Linux Puppy, but it's not much different. Linux Puppy does run quicker than Windows and the fan runs a lot less running linux. I tried ubuntu netbook, but it seamed real doggy for some reason. I've read that ubuntu runs much better on Asus hardware. Good luck. |
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To everyone saying tablets have taken the place of netbooks, where do i plug the mouse in, how do i type 75words per minute, how do i run anything other than "OoOoO look at my new version of angry birds"? There's a whole shit ton of other things that tablets[toys] can't do, which is why the netbook market is still outselling tablets. OP, i've had 3 Asus Eee's they've all been tough as nails. For what you're looking for, i'd recommend getting the SSD for it. |
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To everyone saying tablets have taken the place of netbooks, where do i plug the mouse in, how do i type 75words per minute, how do i run anything other than "OoOoO look at my new version of angry birds"? There's a whole shit ton of other things that tablets[toys] can't do, which is why the netbook market is still outselling tablets. OP, i've had 3 Asus Eee's they've all been tough as nails. For what you're looking for, i'd recommend getting the SSD for it. Ipad with a bluetooth keyboard and Documents to Go. Or, Asus EeePC with SSD and extra RAM. |
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Bump. Got a flyer in my inbox for an Asus 1015PE-BRD603 refurb for $199, free shipping. Is this something to jump on, or are there better deals out there? "
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