Looking for advices on notebook (or netbook)

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technicaljoe

248 posts

Master Geek
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Topic # 57394 11-Feb-2010 22:02

Hi guys,

I'm looking at options for spending less than $700 to get a suitable notebook/netbook.
The machine would be intended for general Internet use, MS Office, some light multimedia stuff.

At the moment, the newer netbooks using Atom N450 (e.g Asus EEE PC 1001P or HP Mini 210) seems to fit the price range nicely.

Is netbook a good option, or are there other options I should be considered?

Any advices would be greatly appreciated! :-)

Cheers

JT

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870 posts

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Reply # 298142 11-Feb-2010 22:11

Not much of a budget, but you could get a New Toshiba L300 Satelite Pro for that price

technicaljoe

248 posts

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Reply # 298146 11-Feb-2010 22:24

rphenix: Thanks! The tosh looks alright, good spec, but might be slightly bigger than I'd like. I'm looking for something easy to carry around :-)

What about this updated Dell Inspiron Mini? (http://bit.ly/a4vwdH...)

I'm starting to think about: cheap but limited netbook vs slightly more pricey entry level small form factor notebook...

rphenix

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Reply # 298149 11-Feb-2010 22:27

Thats fine. But the Mini is slow as a turd in comparison though its quite cool and you can put it in your cars glove box. Personally I would only use it when no other options are available including a laptop given your budget Id still go for a laptop unless you would possibly get both? Benq make the joybook which is could be cheaper than the Dell Inspiron Mini if you look around onlinethough I've never used/seen it but should be fine.

nitrotech

1231 posts

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Reply # 298150 11-Feb-2010 22:30

I love my netbook but the atom processors are slow which you mainly notice on flash animations on websites.

Harvey norman have a netbook for $0 down on a vodafone netbook plan and there is a compaq for a good price if you're after a full size laptop.

http://www.harveynorman.co.nz/...

technicaljoe

248 posts

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Reply # 298153 11-Feb-2010 22:37

Is the Atom processor struggling slow? With Flash animation, does that includes Youtube?

nitrotech

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Reply # 298155 11-Feb-2010 22:48

technicaljoe: Is the Atom processor struggling slow? With Flash animation, does that includes Youtube?

Speed is always relative, the atom is fine for basic tasks, I can use corel draw on it you tube video at SD is fine HD is unwatchable.

There are some flash animations that simply bog the processor down which makes even scrolling on the page sluggish.

However for all it's failings I love my netbook, infact I have 3 of them and full size laptops too but the netbook is small enough for me to take to meetings and carry around everywhere, if you're wanting something super portable get a netbook, if you need processor grunt get a full size laptop.

technicaljoe

248 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

Reply # 298167 11-Feb-2010 23:26

Thanks!

What about those ULV CPUs, are they good middle ground?

Or Atom with ION graphics? (http://www.asus.com/product.as...)

technicaljoe

248 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

Reply # 298172 11-Feb-2010 23:33

Just read through its spec and pricing at Computer Lounge, looks OK?
http://www.computerlounge.co.n...

kelly00527

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 298347 12-Feb-2010 13:27

come to justlaptops, we can talk and we got some netbook on display, you can have a play with b4 buying.

vinnieg

2260 posts

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Reply # 298358 12-Feb-2010 13:36

kelly00527: come to justlaptops, we can talk and we got some netbook on display, you can have a play with b4 buying.

Go here, check out the laptops, then use computer lounge and you'll save about 200-300 ;)

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

Nety

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Reply # 298359 12-Feb-2010 13:38

We purchased a Acer Aspire 1810TZ to replace a old IBM T42 and to take to europe with us. It is a bit above your budget but when I starting looking into it I could see that a netbook would have a limited lifespan as they are so limited hardware wise.
The 1810TZ is a ULV dual core and I have been really impressed with the performance of it. I have even hooked it up to a 1080 screen via HDMI and played 1080 MKV's and Freeview|HD recordings without any issues.
I did splash out and max out the ram to 4GB but only because I know ram gets more expensive the older it is so wanted to get it while it was still cheap.

Media centre PC - Case Silverstone LC16M with 2 X 80mm AcoustiFan DustPROOF, MOBO Gigabyte MA785GT-UD3H, CPU AMD X2 240 under volted, RAM 4 Gig DDR3 1033, HDD 120Gig System/512Gig data, Tuners 2 X Hauppauge HVR-3000, 1 X HVR-2200, Video Palit GT 220, Sound Realtek 886A HD (onboard), Optical LiteOn DH-401S Blue-ray using TotalMedia Theatre Power Corsair VX Series, 450W ATX PSU OS Windows 7 x64

vinnieg

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Reply # 298360 12-Feb-2010 13:41

technicaljoe: Just read through its spec and pricing at Computer Lounge, looks OK?
http://www.computerlounge.co.n...

The 1201n is alright, the battery life is quite poor though, usually around 2.5 hours. The atom is a bit slow too, but the graphics are good enough to play Medium res COD4 :) or MW2

Have you thought about Amazon and Shipito?
It's ok if you don't want ot buy from overseas that's ok.

You can get an:
Acer 1410 timeline series 11.6" intel celeron 1.3ghz dual core(faster than the dual core atoms and faster than the SU1400 1.4" Intel core solo. 2gb Ram, 250gb HDD, 2gb ram(with a slot free for another 2gb), G4500 graphics with HDMI out, round an 8 hour battery life(5 hour real world). With Windows 7 64bit premium.

for just a smidgen under $700 ;)

http://www.amazon.com/Acer-AS1410-2039-11-6-Inch-Windows-Premium/dp/B002P3KVAY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1265935160&sr=8-2

Get it shipped for Free to Shipito.com and then they'll ship it for roughly $44 USD(including their fee)
Round $644 NZD + 2% cash fee = $656, definitely worth it!!!

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

vinnieg

2260 posts

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Reply # 298363 12-Feb-2010 13:42

Nety: We purchased a Acer Aspire 1810TZ to replace a old IBM T42 and to take to europe with us. It is a bit above your budget but when I starting looking into it I could see that a netbook would have a limited lifespan as they are so limited hardware wise.
The 1810TZ is a ULV dual core and I have been really impressed with the performance of it. I have even hooked it up to a 1080 screen via HDMI and played 1080 MKV's and Freeview|HD recordings without any issues.
I did splash out and max out the ram to 4GB but only because I know ram gets more expensive the older it is so wanted to get it while it was still cheap.

Haha Deje vu!

Yeah, the 1810TZ is similar to the 1410 with the addition of a 3g card build in?

I was thinking about that, but have gone the hard road with getting a mate to solder in the 3g PCIe slot and buying a sierra quadband WCDMA card and just hope it works :S

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

kelly00527

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 298365 12-Feb-2010 13:45

vinnieg:
kelly00527: come to justlaptops, we can talk and we got some netbook on display, you can have a play with b4 buying.

Go here, check out the laptops, then use computer lounge and you'll save about 200-300 ;)

ye.. do that and see if you can save anything.

vinnieg

2260 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Reply # 298367 12-Feb-2010 13:50

Otherwise, there is a 10.5hour 1005HA(I've got the 8.5 hour one) at Ifocus for $619

http://www.ifocus.co.nz/Laptops/Netbooks/ASUS+EeePC+1005HA+Seashell+-+White+Intel+Atom+N280+10.1%22+...

They are all good

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

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