Netbooks

Geschpooklichkeit · 05-23-2009, 08:12 PM

I want one. Is there anything about them that I should know about that aren't discussed in detail in review pages?

**dieKatze88** · 05-24-2009, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Excel-2009

I want one. Is there anything about them that I should know about that aren't discussed in detail in review pages?

SSD looks great on paper, but unless you're running an operating system that aggressively abuses memory to cache data (read: Vista, 7) You're going to be in for a world of hurt. The netbook we have where I work to do network testing takes almost a full 6 minutes to boot. And that's after I stripped it out.

**helix eternal** · 05-24-2009, 11:11 AM

I dunno what the reviews say, but from personal experience I know the keyboard is tiny and hard to use, the screen is an odd shape so it uses weird resolutions making it hard to play games that don't stretch to fit the screen, and because of the small screen I think it's kinda hard to read/see things sometimes.

This is the one I got for my wife: Newegg.com - Acer Aspire One AOD150-1165 Blue Intel Atom N270(1.60GHz) 10.1" WSVGA 1GB Memory 160GB HDD Netbook - Netbooks

I've only used it a few times, I'm not especially fond of it but she likes it a lot. They're great on battery life.

Blackraven · 05-25-2009, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dieKatze88

SSD looks great on paper, but unless you're running an operating system that aggressively abuses memory to cache data (read: Vista, 7) You're going to be in for a world of hurt. The netbook we have where I work to do network testing takes almost a full 6 minutes to boot. And that's after I stripped it out.

Interesting.

However, in the case of SSD, aside from the trade-off of having lower capacity, isn't it that SSD drives are *supposed* to better in all aspects compared to HDDs (in terms of performance)??? Yet then again, I've read one time in Dailytech and Annandtech that it does have a few issues regarding the limit of read/write cycles (like what flash memory is experiencing)............or was it just my imagination?

Anyways, please care enlighten me (or us for those who are interested).

Quote:

Originally Posted by helix eternal

I dunno what the reviews say, but from personal experience I know the keyboard is tiny and hard to use, the screen is an odd shape so it uses weird resolutions making it hard to play games that don't stretch to fit the screen, and because of the small screen I think it's kinda hard to read/see things sometimes.

This is the one I got for my wife: Newegg.com - Acer Aspire One AOD150-1165 Blue Intel Atom N270(1.60GHz) 10.1" WSVGA 1GB Memory 160GB HDD Netbook - Netbooks

I've only used it a few times, I'm not especially fond of it but she likes it a lot. They're great on battery life.

Hmm.......you do have a point.

In fact, the best case-in-point lies in the VAIO P that I just saw a few days ago. It's definitely cheap, portable and has superb battery life (that's 45nm process technology at work hehe). However, the screen size and resolution is just.............

Heck, I personally don't know if I could bare such and that's why that I may not personally consider a netbook/nettop............unless it is really necessary imho.

I'm yet to be impressed by it as of the moment though I'm still willing to change my mind if something promising comes up.

Just my two cents here

AceJay · 05-25-2009, 11:23 AM

VAIO P isn't a netbook rofl.

**dieKatze88** · 05-25-2009, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackraven

Interesting.

However, in the case of SSD, aside from the trade-off of having lower capacity, isn't it that SSD drives are *supposed* to better in all aspects compared to HDDs (in terms of performance)??? Yet then again, I've read one time in Dailytech and Annandtech that it does have a few issues regarding the limit of read/write cycles (like what flash memory is experiencing)............or was it just my imagination?

Anyways, please care enlighten me (or us for those who are interested).

Yes and no. You know how Hard Disks come with different Interface transfer rates, RPMs, and (God I'm old) Seek Times? These attributes translate somewhat well over to the Class of an SD card, or the speed of the flash in an ATA Flash disk (Like a Compact Flash card or a SSD in a computer)

The trick is, Lots of SSDs have great read times, and poor write times. When I was still using my iPod Mini, I had a 16gb CF card in there instead of the 6gb Microdrive. Theres great things in that for battery life and for read times, as those were better/faster. However, the write times were horrible. It took nearly 16 hours to load the iPod initially with 12.5GB of music. Giving us a write speed of something close to Kilobytes per second. Remember, Windows XP is stupid and designed for computers 10 years old, It needs to write to the hard disk CONSTANTLY.

Now, there are such things as high performance SSDs, Like Intel's X25 series. These are designed to read and write MUCH faster than your average flash chip. They also start at 314 USD for a 80gb model. These disks are great for Gaming, high performance computing (read, real computers. Not the shit you have on your desk), computing in dangerous environments, and Possibly Space Flight (I haven't checked the environmental specifications of them) On the other end of the scale, much less speedy and much less reliable drives are made out of standard grade flash all the time. These are the kinds of disks that end up soldered to the motherboard of your average netbook. NOT Intel's latest screamer of a drive. Seeing as Intel's drives START at what your average Netbook COSTS in the first place, I'm seeing an obvious selection on the side of the manufacturer. Can you blame them?

And now you know what you need to know about Solid State Disks.

Geschpooklichkeit · 05-26-2009, 06:08 AM

Thank you for your input. I wasn't planning on getting an SSD drive anyway since I don't trust those things enough to hold an OS.

Now, brands. I don't want one of those Acers with the mouse buttons on either side of the touchpad. I know they save space but that's just stupid.

**dieKatze88** · 05-26-2009, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Excel-2009

Thank you for your input. I wasn't planning on getting an SSD drive anyway since I don't trust those things enough to hold an OS.

Now, brands. I don't want one of those Acers with the mouse buttons on either side of the touchpad. I know they save space but that's just stupid.

Well if you wait a few weeks we could be netbook buddies. I plan on buying a Lenovo S12 thanks to its Nvidia ION Graphics chipset. It also has ExpressCard which will let me use my Verizon datacard. It's not as small as most netbooks, but its not that much larger, supports 1080p video output, and has a screen thats better than 720p inbuilt. Reviews and previews so far are pretty positive, and I just want a netbook with a graphics chipset that doesn't fail. Full size keyboard too.

Starts at 450 for Onboard graphics, 500 for Discrete.

**helix eternal** · 05-26-2009, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Excel-2009

Thank you for your input. I wasn't planning on getting an SSD drive anyway since I don't trust those things enough to hold an OS.

Now, brands. I don't want one of those Acers with the mouse buttons on either side of the touchpad. I know they save space but that's just stupid.

Oh there's something I forgot to mention. The mouse button on our Acer Aspire (although it is on the bottom like normal, and not on the side) SUCKS. HARD. It's the worst mouse button I have ever encountered on a laptop, you have to practically hit it with a hammer to get it to respond.

I'm very anti-touchpad anyway and would recommend a wireless mouse any day.

Blackraven · 05-26-2009, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dieKatze88

Well if you wait a few weeks we could be netbook buddies. I plan on buying a Lenovo S12 thanks to its Nvidia ION Graphics chipset. It also has ExpressCard which will let me use my Verizon datacard. It's not as small as most netbooks, but its not that much larger, supports 1080p video output, and has a screen thats better than 720p inbuilt. Reviews and previews so far are pretty positive, and I just want a netbook with a graphics chipset that doesn't fail. Full size keyboard too.

Starts at 450 for Onboard graphics, 500 for Discrete.

I also heard about it a few days ago (it's one of the first to use the new platform). It seems quite interesting (though personally, I don't feel like going for lenovo but that's just me).

I'd rather stick with Acer group, HP group and Toshiba.

P.S.
Anyways speaking of Acer:
This maybe slightly off-topic but they too announced a new product that will be part of the first products using the Ion platform (Intel Atom + MCP79 chipset):

Aspire Revo

Geschpooklichkeit · 05-26-2009, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dieKatze88

Well if you wait a few weeks we could be netbook buddies. I plan on buying a Lenovo S12 thanks to its Nvidia ION Graphics chipset. It also has ExpressCard which will let me use my Verizon datacard. It's not as small as most netbooks, but its not that much larger, supports 1080p video output, and has a screen thats better than 720p inbuilt. Reviews and previews so far are pretty positive, and I just want a netbook with a graphics chipset that doesn't fail. Full size keyboard too.

Starts at 450 for Onboard graphics, 500 for Discrete.

Where do you go to buy something like that?

Quote:

Originally Posted by helix eternal

Oh there's something I forgot to mention. The mouse button on our Acer Aspire (although it is on the bottom like normal, and not on the side) SUCKS. HARD. It's the worst mouse button I have ever encountered on a laptop, you have to practically hit it with a hammer to get it to respond.

I'm very anti-touchpad anyway and would recommend a wireless mouse any day.

I would kill to have a netbook with that dot mouse tracker thing between the keys.

**dieKatze88** · 05-26-2009, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Excel-2009

Where do you go to buy something like that?

I would kill to have a netbook with that dot mouse tracker thing between the keys.

Lenovo.com when the thing Is released in the USA region.

DjMeas · 06-03-2009, 01:52 AM

Hey guys!

Personally, I have the MSi Wind, and I really enjoy using it.

160gb HHD, 1GB RAM (2 max), 1.6Ghz running windows XP. The only downside is battery life (i'm using the 3 cell version, it runs about 3 hours on lowest settings). They do make a 6 cell version if you need more than 3 hours of usage inbetween charges.

Keyboard is very good too, not as small and flat as some of the other netbooks. Give it a looksy ^_^

Geschpooklichkeit · 06-03-2009, 01:06 PM

What model is it? I'm seeing several on Newegg.

Geschpooklichkeit · 06-14-2009, 06:23 PM

Now I'm at a conundrum. I was planning to get me one of those S12s before I saw the HP tx2697cl at Sam's Club. Basically, it's a tablet PC the same size as the S12, a few pounds heavier and $200 more, but several times more powerful. If I wait a little longer I can have this now instead of waiting for the S12 to be released and then shipped here. Would this be a better deal or are HP notebooks not to be trusted? This particular model appears to be a Sam's Club exclusive as the HP site doesn't have much information on it.