Windows 7 on a netbook, a few questions!

Fad

Hi,

I'm actually a mac user but I'm going to buy a netbook for college use (Portability issues and the like) and I'm going to install Windows 7 on it (It's free why not?!).

The netbook I intend on buying is the Toshiba NB200 which seems to be a fairly decent spec (Gonna upgrade it to 2GB of ram though) but I dont know whether to install the 32bit or the 64bit version (If I'm honest, I'm not entirely clear what the difference is!)

Any advice?

cpu-dude

Fad wrote: »

Hi,

I'm actually a mac user but I'm going to buy a netbook for college use (Portability issues and the like) and I'm going to install Windows 7 on it (It's free why not?!).

The netbook I intend on buying is the Toshiba NB200 which seems to be a fairly decent spec (Gonna upgrade it to 2GB of ram though) but I dont know whether to install the 32bit or the 64bit version (If I'm honest, I'm not entirely clear what the difference is!)

Any advice?

32-bit is fine, 64-bit is more so for Dual Core machines with 4GB+ RAM (32-bit can only utilise 3.3GB of RAM). Best of luck with the new netbook, that's a nice looking one. I have a Samsung NC10 with Windows 7 on it (since the Beta was out) and I've never had an issue.

Biggins

64 is great is you are using it with/for a more limited range of software and don't mind the lesser availability of such 64 bit software.

32 I'd go with if your new to the pc environment and/or also want a greater range of software applications.

cassette50

cpu-dude wrote: »

32-bit is fine, 64-bit is more so for Dual Core machines with 4GB+ RAM (32-bit can only utilise 3.3GB of RAM). Best of luck with the new netbook, that's a nice looking one. I have a Samsung NC10 with Windows 7 on it (since the Beta was out) and I've never had an issue.

I have an NC10 as well, did you make any upgrades to the NC10 before upgrading as I'm tempted to switch.

cpu-dude

cassette50 wrote: »

I have an NC10 as well, did you make any upgrades to the NC10 before upgrading as I'm tempted to switch.

Only one, new 2GB stick of RAM from Elara.ie - perfect amount for it to run just nice.

Next in the list is a new wireless card, the Atheros one is a bit weak and I'm considering wireless N.

Capt'n Midnight

64 bit netbooks ? pray do tell more.


check the specs on the netbooks, most have a limit of 2GB or 4GB ram because they have 32 bit processors, and so 64 bit ain't going to happen on them. Many netbooks have dual core anyway

The Acer Aspre One has a brilliant wifi card.
But the older version is a complete pig if you want to upgrade RAM


If you have a free copy of windows 7 happy days,
otherwise the demo will run out in march

Try out a few from your friends to get the size right even if you've never used windows you could just use a browser, an inch makes a huge difference in portability and viewability

Alternatives

You could ask in the MAC forum about BSD OS's that are similar to MAC OS look and feel , it would break your Mac license to run the native OS on a netbook but it is technically possible.

check on ebay for second hand small apple laptops - not too sure if they are good value for money or powerful enough for what you want, but then again you aren't going to be number crunching on a netbook anyway.

Ricky91t

I have run Mac OSX 10.5.4 on a Samsung NC10 and it ran great(for testing purposes only!) upgraded the wi-fi card to the Dell/Airport card and It was great..If you want to go down that road there are alot of guides on the net for the NC10,But I've never checked for any other machines as I've had no need too...

Overheal

Biggins wrote: »

64 is great is you are suing it with/for a more limited range of software and don't mind the lesser availability of such 64 bit software.

Poo to this. 64 bit OSs run 32 Bit programs just fine.

But for reasons previously stated, a Netbook has few needs for it unless youre using memory heavy programs like huuuge spreadsheets or photoshopping, and even then, only if you have 64-bit versions of those programs will it do you any good.

gwenuska

Hi

I just bought a Sony Netbook a week ago. It has 1GB ram and Windows 7 Starter and I'm finding it slow, a bit disappointing after the high cost. Anyone know if the ram can be increased on this machine?:(

Capt'n Midnight

gwenuska wrote: »

Hi

I just bought a Sony Netbook a week ago. It has 1GB ram and Windows 7 Starter and I'm finding it slow, a bit disappointing after the high cost. Anyone know if the ram can be increased on this machine?:(

use cpuz to see what is in the machine, slots / ram speed / manu

or check on shop4memory for what it's configurator says about your system

gwenuska

Thanks for that - it didnt come up in shop4memory. I will scout around.