Netbook or iPad for web/word proc./email/college?

Dinarius

I have three computers, two of which are laptops, but they're heavy.

I want something very light and portable, with good battery life.

From the point of view of price, I'm tending towards a netbook.

Any advice?

If a netbook, any particular make?

Thanks.

D.

yoyo

If you'll be doing any form of typing avoid the tablet at all costs. A netbook would better suit your needs . I have a Samsung netbook and its good, good brands inc: Asus, Toshiba, Samsung, MSI,

Nick

Dinarius

Nick,

Many thanks.

I have looked at the wireless keyboards for the iPad that come with those Filofax-type cases - gorgeous! And they're only about €100 all in. The iPad itself is the pricey bit.

Will check out the netbooks and post a few candidates for judgement.

Had a look at the Macbook Air too. Technology porn that has "steal me" written all over it. But, I'd love one!

Thanks.

D.

Dinarius

Can someone please tell me if this machine has a FireWire port? http://www.dell.com/ie/p/xps-14-l421x-mb/pd
I've decided to go for broke on a new laptop and get something very high spec, but FireWire is essential in that case because I'll be tethering a camera to it that needs it.

I'm currently using a Dell laptop with a FireWire adaptor card in a slot. Does this laptop even have one of those slots?

I'm not great at interpreting specs.

Thanks.

D.

yoyo

Dinarius wrote: »

Can someone please tell me if this machine has a FireWire port? http://www.dell.com/ie/p/xps-14-l421x-mb/pd
I've decided to go for broke on a new laptop and get something very high spec, but FireWire is essential in that case because I'll be tethering a camera to it that needs it.

I'm currently using a Dell laptop with a FireWire adaptor card in a slot. Does this laptop even have one of those slots?

I'm not great at interpreting specs.

Thanks.

D.

Firewire is one of those technologies that is very rarely integrated into devices these days (even Apple seem to be abandoning it). That Dell doesn't have Firewire support so you would need an adaptor

Nick

Dinarius

D.[/QUOTE]
Firewire is one of those technologies that is very rarely integrated into devices these days (even Apple seem to be abandoning it). That Dell doesn't have Firewire support so you would need an adaptor

Nick[/Quote]

Nick,

Thanks for the reply.

When you say adaptor, what do you mean exactly? A card like I'm currently using in my other laptop? If so, does this XPS 14 laptop have the necessary slot?

If you mean something else, could you please post a link to one of those adaptors?

Many thanks!

D.

Peregrine

Nick,

Thanks for the reply.

When you say adaptor, what do you mean exactly? A card like I'm currently using in my other laptop? If so, does this XPS 14 laptop have the necessary slot?

If you mean something else, could you please post a link to one of those adaptors?

Many thanks!

D.

It would be a bit like a cable with a female Firewire port on one side which you connect your Firewire device intoto and a male USB on the other so you can plug the USB bit into your laptop

yoyo

Yeah a USB to Firewire adaptor is probably your best bet

Nick

Richard Dower

Dinarius wrote: »

I have three computers, two of which are laptops, but they're heavy.

I want something very light and portable, with good battery life.

From the point of view of price, I'm tending towards a netbook.

Any advice?

If a netbook, any particular make?

Thanks.

D.

I personally use an Asus 1215b.....best Netbook i've ever bought!....AMD E450, 4GB RAM, 50GB HDD.....super fast for the spec!, the APU is great for streaming 1080p, it can easily play any HD video. Even for some games you can get decent fps.

12.1" and 1366x768....

http://www.asus.com/Eee/Eee_PC/Eee_PC_1215B/

Got mine from Komplett for 390 squid.....

Dinarius

Richard, thanks for the reply.

Further research indicates that my main problem will be one of connectivity with my camera.

FireWire is dead in the water as far as everyone is concerned except Apple, it seems.

My camera my work with Thunderbolt using an FW > Thunderbolt adaptor, but I can't confirm thus yet.

It may also work with an FW > USB adaptor such as this

http://m.bestbuy.com/m/e/product/detail.jsp?skuId=5268032&pid=1218628120721

but I haven't been able to confirm that either.

So, I may have to go the route of an obscenely overpriced Apple MacBook Pro 15" (the software for the camera is very.graphics heavy and needs the 1Gb card) if USB 3 doesn't do the trick. I'd happily settle for the 13" (if I had to) if it had a 1Gb card.

Will Thunderbolt be adopted by Dell and others, I wonder?

Whatever one feels about Apple (& I'm no fan) they come with the necessary features - but, on their terms and at a price.

D.

Dinarius

Richard,

Thanks for the reply.

At the risk of sounding fickle (Ok, I'm fickle) I'm going to take your advice and buy a netbook. A laptop for my camera can wait - I'll continue to use the one I have.

Firstly, the machine you have is no longer available from Komplett, I think.

I've been looking at reviews here> http://www.notebookcheck.net/Top-10-Netbooks.17036.0.html and the second one on the list is available at Harvey Norman. http://www.harveynorman.ie/computing/computers/netbooks-ultra-portable?def_general_brand=7298

Alternatively, Komplett have what looks like a lot of machine for a bit more> http://komplett.ie/Komplett/product/netbooks/80006682/acer_one_11_6_ao725_c62kk_c60_4gb_500gb/details.aspx

I like the 4Gb RAM and the Dual Core.

What does US layout keyboard mean?

Thanks.

D.

Dinarius

In the end I bought one of these in Argos for €349.00.

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Asus-Eee-PC-1225B.70131.0.html

Lovely machine that is well reviewed.

Thanks to all for the feedback.

D.

yoyo

Dinarius wrote: »

In the end I bought one of these in Argos for €349.00.

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Asus-Eee-PC-1225B.70131.0.html

Lovely machine that is well reviewed.

Thanks to all for the feedback.

D.

Glad to hear. A Firewire -> USB adaptor should work with your camera. Check out ebay for one

Nick

Dinarius

D.[/QUOTE]

Glad to hear. A Firewire -> USB adaptor should work with your camera. Check out ebay for one

Nick[/Quote]

Nick, thanks for that. This little netbook would not be capable of handling my camera. I'll use it for web, email, Twitter etc. on the move.

I'm told that FireWire to Thunderbolt adaptors are working (at considerable speed!) on the MacBook Pro. The Mac also comes with FireWire and USB3 - all bases covered! So, I'll hold out for a while and see if Dell et al adopt TB. If they do, I'll stick with PC. If they don't, I'll find €2k (gulp!) somewhere for the Mac. (must confess I get the vat back, which helps)

Thanks again.

D.

yoyo

Nick, thanks for that. This little netbook would not be capable of handling my camera. I'll use it for web, email, Twitter etc. on the move.

I'm told that FireWire to Thunderbolt adaptors are working (at considerable speed!) on the MacBook Pro. The Mac also comes with FireWire and USB3 - all bases covered! So, I'll hold out for a while and see if Dell et al adopt TB. If they do, I'll stick with PC. If they don't, I'll find €2k (gulp!) somewhere for the Mac. (must confess I get the vat back, which helps)

Thanks again.

D.

Thunderbolt isn't actually an Apple invention (it's Intel) so there is every possibility that Dell machines and others will soon ship with the connector. Wheather it will be popular as a connectivity option outside of the Apple world I'm not sure, but the possibility for inclusion is there. Some laptops do still ship with firewire/1394 ports, although these days it isn't that common. If you get a laptop with an express card slot, something like this (1394A) or this (1394b) would do the job. It would be much faster than USB2->Firewire adaptors

Nick

Nick

ED E

What are you doing with this camera? Is it a DSLR? If not it sounds like an old MiniDV, if thats the case you'll need a video capture card to continue using it.

countrynosebag

hello
just to announce i'm nosying about as a newbie and i have to have 25 messages in......
but, i really am trying to follow what some of you are saying and i shall pop in and out but not be a contributor of any value - sorry
i will just struggle on with terminology and the pads, tablets talk is the most relevant for me - light and can mebbe plug-in a stick of music, talking books, films, books.........am i talking rubbish............

Dinarius

yoyo wrote: »

Thunderbolt isn't actually an Apple invention (it's Intel) so there is every possibility that Dell machines and others will soon ship with the connector. Wheather it will be popular as a connectivity option outside of the Apple world I'm not sure, but the possibility for inclusion is there. Some laptops do still ship with firewire/1394 ports, although these days it isn't that common. If you get a laptop with an express card slot, something like this (1394A) or this (1394b) would do the job. It would be much faster than USB2->Firewire adaptors

Nick

Nick

Thanks for that. The express card slot is the solution I'm currently using with the camera. I have a DELL Vostro laptop that I bought when I bought the camera, about 4 years ago.

Now, as far as I know, DELL no longer offer express card slots on any of their laptops. They're only offering an actual FireWire socket on their portable workstations (M6400, I think?). But, they're a ridiculous weight (5Kg+) and cost more than the MacBook Pro.

I was really only hoping to find an all in one solution, but now that I've decided to go with the USUS, I'll hold my fire and see what develops. The Vostro is working perfectly. But, it too is a bit heavy for location work and a tad slow now. Mac really do cater for the design/media market, it has to be said, albeit at a price.

D.

ps. Already having problems with the USUS - see the http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056707051
Installing updates at the moment. If you have any suggestions........;)

Richard Dower

Did you buy the 1225b in Argos?

Dinarius

Hi Richard,

Yes, in Argos.

D.

Richard Dower

Dinarius wrote: »

Hi Richard,

Yes, in Argos.

D.

I was looking at that....but it's only 11.6", there is a 12.1" version.....i'd personally perfer the larger screen, what CPU does it have?....a C60?

Dinarius

Hi Richard,

For convenience, I just ran Belarc on it and stripped out the basics. Apart from my password hiccup, I'm very pleased with it so far. Lovely keyboard.

Here are the details...........


Operating System new – server roles System Model
Windows 7 Home Premium (x64) Service Pack 1 (build 7601)
Install Language: English (United States)
System Locale: English (Ireland)
Installed: 17/09/2012 01:56:01 ASUSTeK Computer Inc. 1225B 1.0
Enclosure Type: Notebook
Processor a Main Circuit Board b
1000 megahertz AMD C-60 APU with Radeon HD Graphics
No memory cache
64-bit ready
Multi-core (2 total)
Not hyper-threaded Board: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. 1225B 205
Bus Clock: 100 megahertz
BIOS: American Megatrends Inc. 205 02/20/2012
new USB Storage Use in past 30 Days (mouse over last used for details) new Hosted Virtual Machines (mouse over name for details)
Last Used
Generic IC1230-M CF, s/n 0000001, rev 0.1E 18/09/2012 15:33:00*
Generic IC1230-M MMC/SD, s/n 0000001, rev 0.1E 18/09/2012 15:33:00*
Generic IC1230-M MS, s/n 0000001, rev 0.1E 18/09/2012 15:33:00*
Generic IC1230-M SM, s/n 0000001, rev 0.1E 18/09/2012 15:33:00*
V88 V88, s/n 1910150045906907, rev 5.00 18/09/2012 11:46:19*


303.95 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
268.81 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

ST9320325AS [Hard drive] (320.07 GB) -- drive 0, s/n S2WGLDQG, rev 0003SDM1, SMART Status: Healthy 3694 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory
Local Drive Volumes new – volume encryption

c: (NTFS on drive 0) * 107.37 GB 72.34 GB free
d: (NTFS on drive 0) 196.57 GB 196.47 GB free



* Operating System is installed on c:

D.