Favorite netbook?

[bascule]

Re: Favorite netbook?

I just got a Mini 9. It ran me ~$260 for 1.6GHz Atom, 1GB RAM, 16GB SSD. I have it running OS X. It's pretty pimp.

[charliex]

Re: Favorite netbook?

I picked up the Viliv X70 Ex, enjoying it so far.

[Melesse]

Re: Favorite netbook?

I ended up getting the Toshiba NB205. I like it, reasonably, but the networking has kind of been a pain in the ass. The wireless chipset isn't supported in the Linux Kernel Ubuntu uses, so I had to use some backports. Which works. Kind of. For short periods of time. In addition, the ethernet went wonky when I installed the backports.

I'm wiping and reinstalling this weekend anyways, since it's the computer I brought to Defcon, and am going to install a version of linux that includes the newest kernel. *shrugs*

Other than that bit, it's been pretty good. Nice battery life, pretty colors. The 600 pixel tall screen is irritating, especially when trying to check out photographs I took on the trip, but that's mostly a limitation of the form factor, and something I would have to deal with in most netbooks.

I just got an email that says they dropped the price of it to 330$ too. Shame. It only came out a month ago!

Mel

[Nickolaus]

Re: Favorite netbook?

I am using the Asus N10J. I thought I would like it more, but its a little weak for me. I knew what I was getting into but I think I am going to pick up the N20 or something comparable. The 9300M card is nice, but I use it maybe 5% of the time. I will probably just end up waiting a bit longer for something as what I want is pricey.

[abyssknight]

Re: Favorite netbook?

I just picked up a 1000HA for the trip the other day. Only ran me about $300 with the 6 cell battery. For a netbook it certainly is built well, and the upgrade process is dead simple. 2 screws and a little tug on the back panel and you're into the RAM & HDD. Popped the 1 GB DIMM out and replaced it with a 2 GB I ordered with the book. Trackpad buttons are where they belong, and the keyboard seems sturdy enough though a little small. Planning on dual booting for DC17. Thankfully the partition scheme is friendly out of the box.

[Club81]

Re: Favorite netbook?

We have a couple HP 2140s around with 2GB RAM and the 6-cell battery. We get about 6 hours of battery with wireless on.

We run Debian Lenny as the base O/S and can push two VMs no problem.

HP just killed off the 2140, we are buying 5101s now. Basically the same machine......

[makumozo]

Re: Favorite netbook?

I will be packing my AspireOne with an extended battery and an external USB 5 dbi wifi antenna. That combo packs quite a punch. I got the one with the 160 gig HD and it came preloaded with XP (I run *nix off my flashdrives.)

Those little machines are amazing. I love em.

[[Syntax]]

Re: Favorite netbook?

Ive got the Asus eeepc 1000ha bought from Frys. 6cell battery, but there's 12 cell 13000mah and 12000mah batteries available on eBay.. but they claim 7 hours battery on the stock one.
10.1" screen. Ive used it a few times at the local DC meeting. Its nice to carry a notebook
and a projector in a single shoulder bag.

$89 touch screen kits available on eBay.. Haven't had the time to look into gps for it yet.

Theres about 5 versions of the 1000ha, not sure what all the differences are, I just know they offered a rebate for the 1000ha, but mine
was a 1000ham-blkam1x and 2 digits didnt match the rebate forms..

[Melesse]

Re: Favorite netbook?

lately i've been getting seriously interested in learning more about the new Toshiba 205...

10" netbook

< 3 lbs, even with 6-cell battery

said battery providing 9 hours of life, allegedly

3 USB ports, including one that is "sleep and charge" capable

regular (but shock-resistant) HDD, not solid state... meaning low cost 160 GB standard

$349 starting price tag

I got the $399 version with the colored top, nicer keyboard. I'll let you play with it if you can wait ooooo, three weeks and a bit lol.

M.

[barry99705]

Re: Favorite netbook?

When does it cease to be a "Netbook"? is the question I pose. And the answer is the same one I gave to the original post, it all depends on the person using it, what they feel comfortable with and what they intend to use it for. The way I see it, most of these machines on the market today are simply small notebooks. Similar to the line of "ultramobile" notebooks that Sony, for one example, has been putting out for years.

"Netbooks" have merged into the range of small laptops is my point. Hell, I have an HP DV2 that's a 12 inch with phenomenal spec's, and is substantially thinner than any netbook ever made (no, the Macbook Air is not a netbook, although I can see where some might consider it to be), and is only about 1lb. heavier on average.

Don't get me wrong, I love my EEE, and I get that most consumers want larger keyboards, and screens, etc. But the modern "netbook" is truly nothing more than an underpowered, slightly smaller than average, cheap laptop. That's my rant and my 2¢.

EDIT: And who in the hell thought it would be a good idea to put mouse buttons on either side of the touchpad?!

I consider it a netbook when it costs less than $250. My eee does pretty much everything I wanted to use it for. I do wish it had a slightly larger keyboard though. I'm still waiting to see how the reviews of the new Latitude 2100 go.

[Deviant Ollam]

Re: Favorite netbook?

lately i've been getting seriously interested in learning more about the new Toshiba 205...

10" netbook

< 3 lbs, even with 6-cell battery

said battery providing 9 hours of life, allegedly

3 USB ports, including one that is "sleep and charge" capable

regular (but shock-resistant) HDD, not solid state... meaning low cost 160 GB standard

$349 starting price tag

[xor]

Re: Favorite netbook?

The specs for the ten inchers are mostly the same at this point. It's the battery life, aesthetics, keyboards, and ports that differentiate them.

I ended up getting the Toshiba, though the wireless doesn't work out of the box with Ubuntu's kernel (2.6.28 I think). Apparently 2.6.30 has support for the Aetheros chipset. There are workarounds, but people seem to be having trouble maintaining association with them. I'll just end up putting a different distro on it for now.

I like the keyboard alright, haven't really tested the battery. It's pretty enough, but the thing gets pretty hot after about half an hour. I noticed some people were returning theirs b/c of the heat. Haven't really had the opportunity to do much with it other than installing Ubuntu and screwing around with the wireless for a couple hours.

M.

Yes my HP is like a flame thrower at the vent sometimes but the components seem to be able to take it. If it starts getting too hot I switch from performance to dynamic/balanced. It's a tablet so I run Opersuse and every works on both Linux and Windows including the BroadCRAP 4322 wireless card.

xor

[Melesse]

Re: Favorite netbook?

They all get stellar reviews, don't always believe the hype. Spec's speak volumes.


xor

The specs for the ten inchers are mostly the same at this point. It's the battery life, aesthetics, keyboards, and ports that differentiate them.

I ended up getting the Toshiba, though the wireless doesn't work out of the box with Ubuntu's kernel (2.6.28 I think). Apparently 2.6.30 has support for the Aetheros chipset. There are workarounds, but people seem to be having trouble maintaining association with them. I'll just end up putting a different distro on it for now.

I like the keyboard alright, haven't really tested the battery. It's pretty enough, but the thing gets pretty hot after about half an hour. I noticed some people were returning theirs b/c of the heat. Haven't really had the opportunity to do much with it other than installing Ubuntu and screwing around with the wireless for a couple hours.

M.

[sintax_error]

Re: Favorite netbook?

When does it cease to be a "Netbook"? is the question I pose. And the answer is the same one I gave to the original post, it all depends on the person using it, what they feel comfortable with and what they intend to use it for. The way I see it, most of these machines on the market today are simply small notebooks. Similar to the line of "ultramobile" notebooks that Sony, for one example, has been putting out for years.

"Netbooks" have merged into the range of small laptops is my point. Hell, I have an HP DV2 that's a 12 inch with phenomenal spec's, and is substantially thinner than any netbook ever made (no, the Macbook Air is not a netbook, although I can see where some might consider it to be), and is only about 1lb. heavier on average.

Don't get me wrong, I love my EEE, and I get that most consumers want larger keyboards, and screens, etc. But the modern "netbook" is truly nothing more than an underpowered, slightly smaller than average, cheap laptop. That's my rant and my 2¢.

EDIT: And who in the hell thought it would be a good idea to put mouse buttons on either side of the touchpad?!

[xor]

Re: Favorite netbook?

The Toshiba NB205 just got a stellar review from Laptop (http://www.laptopmag.com/review/lapt...ni-nb-205.aspx). Phenomenal battery life and a full sized, very nice keyboard and touch pad.

M.

They all get stellar reviews, don't always believe the hype. Spec's speak volumes.


xor