Help needed buying a netbook

bazzachazza

I'm thinking of buying a netbook as I'm going to Paris for 6 weeks in the first quarter of next year.

My budget is max €500 preference of no more than €400.

Will use it mainly for internet and watching films and tv. We have a laptop and desktop so will use this mainly for surfing when I get back.

The plan in future is to take this away on holiday with us and when herself is away with work so we can keep in touch so looking for a balance between light and good size screen for viewing films for two of us without herself whining.

I would also like a good processor and ram in the event I load up a game or two.

Preference is for Vista OS or W7.

Have to say I'm lost with the options and would usually buy Dell but not impressed with whats on offer and price.

Thanks for any help given if possible I would like to collect it here in Ireland (Dublin) as it may be difficult to arrange a home delivery with the work hours we both do.

Alanstrainor

When you say "load up the odd game or two", what games are you talking about here? Netbooks are built to be light and cheap, most will have poor atom processors(They've got very low power consumption but performance suffers too). The most recent netbooks will come with Nvidia ION graphics cards which will give you the ability to play HD content, and potentially some older games.

bazzachazza

Ah ok. In that case I won't use it for games then. Just for net and films etc.

stephen_mch

The closest thing i can think of to what youre looking for is the samsung n510

http://elara.ie/products/detailsfullat.asp?productcode=ECE1768864#spec

I know its a bit expensive and the os is windows xp so its not perfect but like i said, its the best i can think of.

Or for something a bit cheaper try the samsung nc10, i have one myself and it works perfectly for simple tasks, can even run a few games!

bazzachazza

No that price is fine.

Is there any issues with updating to Vista on a netbook. Just wondering as so many come with XP.

Outkast_IRE

For 500 euros get a notebook , performance is so much better .

do yourself a favour its 2009 nearly 2010 get windows 7 on whatever you end up buying .
I have been through all the Operating systems and for the use your describing i have to point to windows 7 for the following reasons.
1.you can get microsoft security essentials for free which is a free real time security program iv been using it for months and find it very good at what its meant to do .
2.It updates itself so you will be aware of all security/features updates .
3. Its the latest OS and is very well supported .
4. I dont think there will be any price difference
5. It knows when its installed on a laptop so there are prefrences for power saving etc.

I cant see a valid argument for a run of the mill user looking for net use and games to go with anything besides windows 7

bazzachazza

Will do;)

Alanstrainor

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

For 500 euros get a notebook , performance is so much better .

You're right, but what you gain in performance you lose in battery life, and size, full laptops will weigh more too. It sounds to me like a netbook would suit the OP more than a full laptop.

bazzachazza

I have a notebook I'm using it right now. If I wanted one I would have asked for help getting one, I'm asking for help getting a Netbook.

I want one for surfing, IM'ing and watching tv and films while I'm away. I want something lighter and therefore more mobile than a notebook.

ED E

bazzachazza wrote: »

No that price is fine.

Is there any issues with updating to Vista on a netbook. Just wondering as so many come with XP.

You'll need to buy an external DVD drive or make a bootable USB key with the selected OS.

Outkast_IRE

bazzachazza wrote: »

I have a notebook I'm using it right now. If I wanted one I would have asked for help getting one, I'm asking for help getting a Netbook.

I want one for surfing, IM'ing and watching tv and films while I'm away. I want something lighter and therefore more mobile than a notebook.

Ya netbooks are lighter but for me screen quality isnt as good , but thats neither here nor there
For between 400 and 500 for a netbook you will get some of the best spec netbooks out there such as
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=518731
or
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=503614

both are available with windows 7 and both have top netbook specs

Amalgam

stephen_mch wrote: »

The closest thing i can think of to what youre looking for is the samsung n510

http://elara.ie/products/detailsfullat.asp?productcode=ECE1768864#spec

I know its a bit expensive and the os is windows xp so its not perfect but like i said, its the best i can think of.

Or for something a bit cheaper try the samsung nc10, i have one myself and it works perfectly for simple tasks, can even run a few games!

That's a lovely 'Netbook', stephen_mch has picked out, but bear in mind the size is approaching what normal laptops would have been not so long ago. If you're paying more for something that has no optical drive, that's an inch or two shorter than a lowly Dell, then think about maybe getting the Dell..

Just pointing that out.

I'd love to see a ten inch ION netbook.

Amalgam

If you can live with XP, some of the Asus Eee's are about 300 euro now, for a rather nice configuration.

€309.83 - 6 cell battery - Eee PC Seashell 1005HA - Atom N280

http://elara.ie/products/detailsfull.asp?productcode=ECE1761319&productID=S6684121

Bog standard in specifications, but the finish on the 1005's are quite lush and discreet.

bazzachazza

Wife has an optical drive she never uses so I'm sorted there.

Outkast those two are pushing the limit on price and what I can get past the accountant i.e. wife.

I'm happy with Stephens and its just under half the weight of what I have on my lap which is great.

If anyone can match it for spec and get me down towards €400 I would be grateful.

Thanks all for the help all 4 suggestions I gratefully appreciate even the suggestions of notebooks. There out of the picture due to size and mainly weight.

manutd

Lethal_Bullet wrote: »

You'll need to buy an external DVD drive or make a bootable USB key with the selected OS.

You can download it off the Microsoft website,

Microsoft has released the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool, which lets users download Windows 7 then create a bootable USB drive or DVD for installation. The online Microsoft Store is the only place where people can download Windows 7, and netbook users are advised to download it directly to a USB drive.

http://store.microsoft.com/win7netbooks

Cutie18Ireland

In the market for a netbook myself pc world have some good offers on at the minute. windows 7 one here.. for £230

mumof2

I don't understand why anyone would want to waste money on a netbook!! If your laptop can do everything, that is!

I recently wanted to buy one or a new laptop and thought that the only difference was size between the two and I thought it would be handy for travelling on the train etc to keep up to date on my stuff.

However, the netbook I spotted for Eur 199.00, just didn't suit my needs - I couldn't connect a printer - this had to be done via my pc??
I couldn't connect an external Hard Drive??
Nor would it accept USB memory sticks - so why would anyone buy this?? They only have the bother of having to connect to another PC to end/finalise tasks like uploading / printing/ etc.....

OR am I missing something???

Amalgam

mumof2 wrote: »

OR am I missing something???

Without wanting to sound smart, you are missing something.. it is hard to assess how the printer could not be attached to even the most basic netbook. Understandable if the printer is Parallel or SCSI, or some other standard, but if it is USB, it will work, believe me, as long as there is OS support for it.

A netbook comes into its own for discreet and compact browsing, I use an Eee 900, which is barely 22cm in width, which allows it to be stowed away in most backpack outer pockets. I can watch video, listen to audio, use IM, on a useable screen, as opposed to a cramped smart phone.

..of course there's limitations, but if you can validate the purchase of a netbook to yourself, which I can, they're worth their weight in gold.

bazzachazza

If your laptop can do everything, that is!

Of course it can but your forgetting my original request LIGHT and COMPACT for TRAVEL.

The laptop I bought is for my wifes use not mine. I will NOT be taking it away with me as she will use it around the house rather than fixed it one room (Pc).

mumof2

bazzachazza wrote: »

Of course it can but your forgetting my original request LIGHT and COMPACT for TRAVEL.

The laptop I bought is for my wifes use not mine. I will NOT be taking it away with me as she will use it around the house rather than fixed it one room (Pc).

I know, and I wasn't trying to tread on ur toes:D
I just dont understand the difference between the two except for what the obvious is - size and weight!!!

To Amalgam:
Quote: it is hard to assess how the printer could not be attached to even the most basic netbook. Understandable if the printer is Parallel or SCSI, or some other standard, but if it is USB, it will work, believe me, as long as there is OS support for it.

Im still at a loss to understand - because why then, would they print on the back of the box for this particular one I was looking at, (written beside the USB info which wern't 2.0 or such like), that it doesn't support printers which can only be linked directly via a pc, and doesn't support an external hard drive, and doesn't support memory sticks. Also I Couldn't upload photos onto it so as far as I could tell.

Why would I bother with it? If there is one out there that can do that I'd love to hear. By the way, operating software - can this be uploaded if there is no cd drive? (didn't take notice but dont think there is one on netbooks)

Oh and bazzachazza, very sorry for hijacking this thread.:o

the hp mini 311 is an 11.6" atom netbook with ion graphics (will play and output 720p and play some games) that is pretty much up there with the n510 but it's cheaper. I'm buying one myself but I want w7 and am finding it difficult to find it over this side of the atlantic with that (xp home at the mo). should be available soon with w7 tho and possible to get for €350 or so from the uk.
it gets great reviews.

Catalyst

Maybe ULV processors?

http://www.elara.ie/products/detailsfullat.asp?productcode=MME865S193#spec

http://www.elara.ie/products/detailsfullat.asp?productcode=ECE1841026#spec

or an interesting one

http://www.elara.ie/products/detailsfullat.asp?productcode=ECE1811270#spec