Netbook or Laptop, what do you think?

NoreenMF · 13-09-2009 7:18pm #1

Folks,

Scenario : Single parent here, starting Uni next week, so money is tight.

I am going to be studying Computer Science for at least 1 year if not for all three.

I'm torn between buying a netbook or a laptop.

Have had a look today in PC World at Netbooks. Nice n dainty, cheapish, grand to throw in your bag and carry around campus. Not great for the battery life tho... I have a copy of Office - How can I install this on a netbook if there is no CD drive? I'm feeling a bit stupid asking this question but I'm going a bit bonkers thinking about all the different reasons why I should buy what. And is it really going to be a pain in the backside not having an optical drive do you think?

Laptops - have been looking at the Dell Studio 15 ones for about €550. Again, it's lovely, but the price is hard to justify in my budget but I wonder if it will be too bulky for college really or will it be better because I will have the optical drive, better battery life and again, will it be a better asset if I'm studying CS?

I would really appreciate your thoughts on this one. Cheers

o1s1n · 13-09-2009 7:25pm

I've been a desktop user for years and recently decided to buy a Samsung nc10. I absolutely love the thing. I do everything on it. Desktop doesnt get used at all.

Better battery life than my girlfriends laptop. The thing never seems to die. And I always have the backlight on full.

Can just throw it in your bag and carry it around all the time as if it's not even there.

However! if you're going to be doing a computer science course then I would imagine you'd need something with a bit more power.. ?

NoreenMF · 13-09-2009 7:34pm

Hey, thanks for your reply...

Well I'm the same as yourself, not much of a one for Laptops as I love my old desktop. I find them fiddly and annoying. But the fact remains, I have to have a laptop for college, mainly for taking my notes as I have bad RSI in my hands and wrists and anyway, I can type way faster than I can write...

But you raise a good point there, I wonder if the netbook will do if I have the desktop at home for things that need more power etc.

Just wondering if I can install office on it tho? I can't see why not, but the whole not having an optical drive is gonna be a pain...

TestTransmission · 13-09-2009 7:36pm

NoreenMF wrote: »

Hey, thanks for your reply...

Well I'm the same as yourself, not much of a one for Laptops as I love my old desktop. I find them fiddly and annoying. But the fact remains, I have to have a laptop for college, mainly for taking my notes as I have bad RSI in my hands and wrists and anyway, I can type way faster than I can write...

But you raise a good point there, I wonder if the netbook will do if I have the desktop at home for things that need more power etc.

Just wondering if I can install office on it tho? I can't see why not, but the whole not having an optical drive is gonna be a pain...

Get an external optical drive?

NoreenMF · 13-09-2009 7:42pm

Just had a look at external optical drives and I thought they'd be much more expensive. Looks like I could pick one up for €30 which is dead cheap really... Maybe that is the way to go then...

Any other thoughts anyone?

Tzetze · 13-09-2009 7:45pm

I use a netbook. Any time I need to install something from a CD, I just stick it into the drive on my desktop and install across the home network.

You could also just download and install OpenOffice, but if you're set on using MS Office, I think the network install is your best bet.

NoreenMF · 13-09-2009 7:51pm

Great idea

Should have thought of that really! Well looks like the netbook is the way to go...

Thanks for the feedback and helping me think a bit:)

o1s1n · 13-09-2009 7:51pm

Tzetze wrote: »

You could also just download and install OpenOffice,

Heh, was just about to come back and mention that as I left it out of my original reply

That's what I did myself.

NoreenMF - sounds like a netbook would work perfect for you. Check out Samsung NC10s. At the moment you can get one for around 360 on dabs.ie. They were 450 only a few months ago when I got my one.

NoreenMF · 13-09-2009 7:56pm

Thanks, I had a look at it today and the only other one that rivalled it is the Dell one. They seem to be pretty much on a par with each other. I tend to go for Dell because I used to work there so I know how their customer service etc works and all the lingo they use and there are alot of other brands that I just wouldn't touch with a barge pole. Samsung are probably the only other brand I'd consider trying. I like the idea of the back light!

adamtj09 · 13-09-2009 7:58pm

hi noreen im also starting computer science next week! I bought a dell mini 10 and its brilliant it can even run windows 7 flawlessly!!

Basically I am just using it to carry around with me to browse the net and take notes and if theres anything that needs more power ill use my mac at home!

I got my Dell mini 10 for about 300 sterling in the north which is roughly 315 euro our so and it has 160gb hard drive !its so small but yet so beautiful! Just don't run games on it!(which i assume you wern't going to!

Alanstrainor · 13-09-2009 8:54pm

The difference in spec on most netbooks at the moment is minimal. Battery life if the biggest difference, and the NC10 blows the competition out of the water. It get's about 6/7 hours on a full charge with wifi. And let's face it, a long battery life on these things is essential.
I hear the Dell mini 10 isn't that great on it's batties, adamtj09, how long do you get out of yours?

adamtj09 · 13-09-2009 9:36pm

Alanstrainor wrote: »

The difference in spec on most netbooks at the moment is minimal. Battery life if the biggest difference, and the NC10 blows the competition out of the water. It get's about 6/7 hours on a full charge with wifi. And let's face it, a long battery life on these things is essential.
I hear the Dell mini 10 isn't that great on it's batties, adamtj09, how long do you get out of yours?

emm the battery is decent enough actually!it could be better but I get as much battery out of it as a macbook so its ok!

Alanstrainor · 13-09-2009 10:02pm

adamtj09 wrote: »

emm the battery is decent enough actually!it could be better but I get as much battery out of it as a macbook so its ok!

How long is that? 2 hours?

adamtj09 · 13-09-2009 10:14pm

about 3 hours running windows 7

PCPhoto · 13-09-2009 10:20pm

dont want to be a killjoy ...but maybe you should wait until you actually start and ask a lecturer whats the minimum spec that you might require....you dont want to get a netbook and then get told that it isnt suitable and you need to upgrade straight away - especially if finances are tight.

bp1989 · 14-09-2009 12:29am

I assume you're doing CS as an arts module. Did it myself, you wont even need a laptop for it, you're given so little to do. The module is really easy. A laptop could still be useful for writing essays and what not, which you will most certainly be doing in arts.

Jack Bracken · 14-09-2009 4:32pm

adamtj09 wrote: »

I got my Dell mini 10 for about 300 sterling in the north which is roughly 315 euro our so

It's a lot closer to €340 actually.

Netbook or Laptop, what do you think?

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