View Full Version : Anyone have one of these?
OSUFan
06-16-2009, 12:52 PM
What's the conclusion on these mini-laptops? We saw a few at Staples. Don't know how reliable they are but they sure would be lighter and easier to carry around.
Mini-laptops (http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/laptop-mini?c=us&l=en&cs=19)
I know a few people that have them. I can tell you from a IT guys view, they are good for very few things. If you're looking for something to have in the living room/kitchen to look stuff up on the internet, listen to music/videos and do a little MS office work, then these are perfect. But do not mistake them for powerful FAST pc's, because they are the bare minimum of a modern computer, as far as speed and power goes.
And from what I have read about them for the past 2 years, the best ones are Asus' eeepc, Dell mini's, Acer's and HP's netbooks all get high reviews from the tech blogs.
Before you buy one do some google searching and read reviews first.
FalseGod
06-16-2009, 04:04 PM
They are all low powered laptops at the moment, but in the next few years you will start to see more powerful ones emerging. They are good for people who don't really need to push performance on their computer (i.e. a web browser, document writer, simple applications). You aren't going to be able to play WOW on them or anything.
MajorMike
06-16-2009, 05:40 PM
Oh, well poop on that.
Actually I have been looking at one to get for my kids so they can play their nickjr.com and disney.com flash browser games on it.
If they were more proven and a bit more powerful 2 years ago I would have bought one instead of the $700 laptop that I bought. Probably in a few years when this one craps out on me, I'll get a netbook.
BigBadBen
06-16-2009, 08:00 PM
basically those are good for what?
surfing the net & email......
my iphone does that & its much smaller.
:D
But with much bigger screens, and much faster hardware (Compared to the iphone)
FalseGod
06-16-2009, 11:46 PM
It will also be much cheaper and give you more storage than an iPhone. These are for people who need to carry around a computer with them that is very light, but is still an actual computer. It is not something you would want to install AutoCad on and start doing engineering work on. It is for people that just go to lots of meetings or coffee shops and are tired of lugging around big heavy computers. They are great for plane travelers too because instead of having to pack an extra laptop bag to carry your laptop, you can usually just throw them into your backpack because they are small enough to fit in there with other things. Most normal sized laptops would be very annoying to carry around like that.
OKState918
06-17-2009, 12:28 AM
It will also be much cheaper and give you more storage than an iPhone.
I don't know about that - especially given the price reduction for the iPhone 3G model and the storage capacity of the iPhone 3GS...
My take is that netbooks or mini-laptops or whatever the hell you want to call them are kind of a nice toy to play with when you don't want to lug around a full size notebook computer, although the sacrifices you make with them don't particularly justify the cost as of right now.
You're basically getting a machine that can do two things: browse the Internet and do basic word processing functions. From everything I've read, it's even a little difficult to run programs like iTunes and other RAM-heavy applications, and with their limited storage space, you're not going to be able to do much media-wise on them.
Anyway. If I had to choose between spending $500 on a netbook (which seems to be about the going price for one these days) and putting that money toward a regular laptop, I think you'd be able to find a "real" computer for about the same price right now.
Superaggie2
06-17-2009, 01:42 AM
Hmmm,my little girl is 9 and just needs a pc to surf on,play her disney,webkinz games,etc..so maybe they would be an ok starter laptop thou?
I don't know about that - especially given the price reduction for the iPhone 3G model and the storage capacity of the iPhone 3GS...
My take is that netbooks or mini-laptops or whatever the hell you want to call them are kind of a nice toy to play with when you don't want to lug around a full size notebook computer, although the sacrifices you make with them don't particularly justify the cost as of right now.
You're basically getting a machine that can do two things: browse the Internet and do basic word processing functions. From everything I've read, it's even a little difficult to run programs like iTunes and other RAM-heavy applications, and with their limited storage space, you're not going to be able to do much media-wise on them.
Anyway. If I had to choose between spending $500 on a netbook (which seems to be about the going price for one these days) and putting that money toward a regular laptop, I think you'd be able to find a "real" computer for about the same price right now.
most net books come with 160 gigs of hard drive space. Call me when the all mighty iphone has that much space and can do everything a PC can do, like use flash.
Vulgar Display of Orange
06-17-2009, 06:42 AM
most net books come with 160 gigs of hard drive space. Call me when the all mighty iphone has that much space and can do everything a PC can do, like use flash.
zing
Hmmm,my little girl is 9 and just needs a pc to surf on,play her disney,webkinz games,etc..so maybe they would be an ok starter laptop thou?
It's a perfect computer for this. IMO this is why the netbooks are doing so well, parents are buying them for their young kids that just need basic functions of a PC.
GoPokes83
06-17-2009, 09:00 AM
I'm seriously thinking of getting one. We have an aircard with another year left on the contract that we got for my nephew when he was at Ft. Hood. I'm thinking of getting a netbook to use in the car. We travel a lot and it'd beat hauling a laptop with us everywhere we go. We actually had an auditor in here at work last week and she was using one. It ran their accounting software fine, and she used our wifi at the same time to download data to their system. (I guess that would actually be uploading) Small keys, but definitely better than trying browse the net on a phone.
osupride97
06-17-2009, 09:38 AM
most net books come with 160 gigs of hard drive space. Call me when the all mighty iphone has that much space and can do everything a PC can do, like use flash.
Apple hater:food-smiley-004:
FalseGod
06-17-2009, 09:49 AM
I don't know about that - especially given the price reduction for the iPhone 3G model and the storage capacity of the iPhone 3GS...
My take is that netbooks or mini-laptops or whatever the hell you want to call them are kind of a nice toy to play with when you don't want to lug around a full size notebook computer, although the sacrifices you make with them don't particularly justify the cost as of right now.
You're basically getting a machine that can do two things: browse the Internet and do basic word processing functions. From everything I've read, it's even a little difficult to run programs like iTunes and other RAM-heavy applications, and with their limited storage space, you're not going to be able to do much media-wise on them.
Anyway. If I had to choose between spending $500 on a netbook (which seems to be about the going price for one these days) and putting that money toward a regular laptop, I think you'd be able to find a "real" computer for about the same price right now.
I am sorry, but I don't think you really know what you are talking about. The pricing on Netbooks is anywhere from $150 to $500, but most of them are in the $300 range. that is the same price you will pay for a 32GB iPhone if you are not on AT&T already and or are eligible for an upgrade to your phone on AT&T. The price of an iPhone for someone who already has one or is already on AT&T will be much higher than that.
The netbooks use standard 2.5" mobile drives or SSD drives. These come in a wide variety of sizes, but 160GB is not uncommon for non-SSD. If you get one with SSD you will get much less space, but that is because SSD is still expensive for any decent amount of space. The ones with the SSD drives with large capacities will be the ones you see in the higher price ranges. This is a completely luxury however, so you can just use a standard drive and get large amounts of space for a cheap price.
Netbooks range in power as well by price. The ones I have seen have no problems running one or two normal applications at the same time. For business, you are not going to be able to use an iPhone to install your company application or any standard Windows application. This is another reason why people are getting netbooks.
The new iPhones will finally support flash, so that is one thing they can finally do that they could not before, but they still won't replace the market niche that a netbook hits.
FalseGod
06-17-2009, 09:52 AM
And anyone in the market for purchasing a netbook needs to monitor the deal sites like Slickdeals.net and fatwallet.com. They post netbook deals there on a weekly basis pretty much. You'll get a good deal on one no problem.
Apple hater:food-smiley-004:
I have never denied that :pacman:
I am sorry, but I don't think you really know what you are talking about. The pricing on Netbooks is anywhere from $150 to $500, but most of them are in the $300 range. that is the same price you will pay for a 32GB iPhone if you are not on AT&T already and or are eligible for an upgrade to your phone on AT&T. The price of an iPhone for someone who already has one or is already on AT&T will be much higher than that.
The netbooks use standard 2.5" mobile drives or SSD drives. These come in a wide variety of sizes, but 160GB is not uncommon for non-SSD. If you get one with SSD you will get much less space, but that is because SSD is still expensive for any decent amount of space. The ones with the SSD drives with large capacities will be the ones you see in the higher price ranges. This is a completely luxury however, so you can just use a standard drive and get large amounts of space for a cheap price.
Netbooks range in power as well by price. The ones I have seen have no problems running one or two normal applications at the same time. For business, you are not going to be able to use an iPhone to install your company application or any standard Windows application. This is another reason why people are getting netbooks.
The new iPhones will finally support flash, so that is one thing they can finally do that they could not before, but they still won't replace the market niche that a netbook hits.
Don't forget about the monthly fee to have a iphone.
Also where did you see iphone is getting flash support, last I read (from Adobes site) the Pre was the first one getting it, and that wont be ready until December.
OKState918
06-17-2009, 12:24 PM
most net books come with 160 gigs of hard drive space.
Wow. I might want to take another look at them then. When I was browsing them a year or so ago, the capacity on them was around 8, maybe 16 gigabytes at the most.
Just goes to show how quickly technology evolves. If you've got a good recommendation for at 160 GB netbook that runs Windows (not a big Linux fan) for around $500, let me know and I might have to buy myself a new toy :)
Wow. I might want to take another look at them then. When I was browsing them a year or so ago, the capacity on them was around 8, maybe 16 gigabytes at the most.
Just goes to show how quickly technology evolves. If you've got a good recommendation for at 160 GB netbook that runs Windows (not a big Linux fan) for around $500, let me know and I might have to buy myself a new toy :)
Those were probably SSD drives, the 160 gig netbooks have the same hard drives your typical laptop does, puts off a bit more heat, but SSD is pretty unproven for being used as a hard drive.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2034940772+1723145094&QksAutoSuggestion=&Configurator=&Subcategory=772&description=&Ntk=&CFG=&SpeTabStoreType=&srchInDesc=
there's a list of 160 gig netbooks.
BigBadBen
06-17-2009, 03:47 PM
But with much bigger screens, and much faster hardware (Compared to the iphone)
but can it:
make phone calls?
be used as a gps?
take photos?
get the internet without wifi?
be turned on it side and look like its pouring a beer?
Oh I think not! :D
it can make phone calls with skype or other voip apps. You can get a web cam, or even find one with a web cam built in to thake pictures. I can use my current cell phone to tether it to the laptop and get internet.
But you got me on the pouring beer and GPS.
But you don't need a $90 plan for a netbok =]
FalseGod
06-17-2009, 11:20 PM
I know that you were joking, but some of them have built in 3G modem cards and can be purchased with a plan for that, or you can buy a 3G card and do that as well. The only thing they won't do is pour a beer unless you were to add the hardware to one to do that. They make that type of hardware if you wanted to make it, but you'd probably have to do some coding to make that app to use it.
I am sure there is someone out there that has interfaced a netbook with a GPS and the internet to get that functionality, but I don't know of any that have it out of the box.
Wasn't Flash support supposed to be one of the features for the 3GS? I don't know why, but I thought with the increased CPU and 3.0 firmware it was going to support it.
Wasn't Flash support supposed to be one of the features for the 3GS? I don't know why, but I thought with the increased CPU and 3.0 firmware it was going to support it.
It's not about the phone supporting it. It's about Adobe making the damn software. And in all the stories I have read about the iphone 3gs (who came up with that name???) I didn't read anything about flash. I could have missed it though.
GoPokes83
06-18-2009, 08:15 AM
it can make phone calls with skype or other voip apps. You can get a web cam, or even find one with a web cam built in to thake pictures. I can use my current cell phone to tether it to the laptop and get internet.
But you got me on the pouring beer and GPS.
But you don't need a $90 plan for a netbok =]
We use a version of this (https://shop.delorme.com/OA_HTML/DELibeCCtpSctDspRte.jsp?section=10091&forge_prod=FU1U249IItFmHDhoaEAOUe4l:S&forge_prod_pses=forge_prod%3DFU1U249IItFmHDhoaEAOU e4l%253AS%7E) in our field trucks. It's a USB GPS. Works great.
osupride97
06-18-2009, 08:32 AM
The iPhone is much easier to carry around and use for the GPS, the phone calls, texting, photos, listening to music, etc etc etc
All in one.
But you Apple haters, keep hatin'! :)
ARPoke
06-18-2009, 08:35 AM
It's not about the phone supporting it. It's about Adobe making the damn software. And in all the stories I have read about the iphone 3gs (who came up with that name???) I didn't read anything about flash. I could have missed it though.
It is actually about Apple allowing Adobe to put the software on the iPhone. The nerds at Adobe have been using a flash plugin since the 2.0 upgrade was released last July but Apple has refused to approve it based on supposed stability issues. Apple has been doing their best to avoid answering the question whenever asked during QA sessions...
ahh I had not heard Adobe finished their mobile flash. Very nice. I assumed since the pre isn't getting it until December (report from engadget.com) that it wasn't done yet. I wonder what is holding up the pre getting it. Maybe they want to do their own testing.
Apple would rather have farting apps than flash on the phone.
wickerbill
06-18-2009, 09:36 AM
If flash is anything the resource hog on the phone as it is on a computer, you will be able to watch your battery go down as it runs. I've only had a few instances where I have needed flash on my iphone and it's been because a website was only available in flash and didn't have a non flash version.
FalseGod
06-18-2009, 09:50 AM
Nobody is hating on the iPhone. It is great for what it does, but the point is that there are things that netbooks can do that it cannot. I don't have an iPhone right now, but that is intentional. I already have AT&T, so I cannot get one for cheap for starters. When it came out I was impressed with the interface, but there were some definite shortcomings in the initial version which I could tell then that they would be fixing, so I decided to just get a non-iPhone at the time. When I am eligible for an upgrade in December, I will upgrade then because I see the 2nd gen and 3GS as addressing pretty much all those issues I had originally.
I was hating on the iphone, I do not like apple. I don't like their business model, I know it's their business, but I can still not like it.:bunnyf:
*edit*
Have you guys seen the new iphone commercial, they act like taking video on a phone is something so new. Even though phones have been doing it since 04 (I think). I was actually really surprised that the 1st iphone didn't do video, and shocked that the 2nd one didn't. I guess it takes 3 tries to get all the basic features of the modern phone into it.
Sorry I saw that commecial last night and it cracked me up.
Sorry, carry on =]
wickerbill
06-18-2009, 12:58 PM
I haven't seen a phone before though that lets you edit the video directly on the phone and then upload it to youtube. Maybe other phones have been able to do that, but I just don't know about it.
Whether you like apple or not, you have to agree that the iphone has raised the bar for smartphones and will make them all better in the long run. I had a windows mobile phone before my iphone and that OS is a total piece of crap compared to the iphone. Yeah, MS didn't control it like apple does the iphone, but who cares if it's as hard to use and as clunky as windows mobile?
PokesFanatic
06-18-2009, 01:33 PM
it can make phone calls with skype or other voip apps. You can get a web cam, or even find one with a web cam built in to thake pictures. I can use my current cell phone to tether it to the laptop and get internet.
But you got me on the pouring beer and GPS.
But you don't need a $90 plan for a netbok =]
You can tether one to any cell phone with a data plan and do all of that--and spend less per month than the AT&T 3G plan.
What it won't do is have the kitschy hipster appeal of the iPhone. Apple's got that market cornered.
I agree that the smartpphone sector was more for businesses, not many kids had them. What I don't like is how much at&t charges for the plans, and that it's only on one carrier. And I dont like apple. But it is a nice phone I will not argue that.
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