I'm looking to buy a netbook. Any ideas what's what out there? There seems to be dozens.

I want to use it for internet, music, must have good battery life, reasonable price.

The Samsung 10.1 looks good.

Col

I'm looking to buy a netbook. Any ideas what's what out there? There seems to be dozens.

I want to use it for internet, music, must have good battery life, reasonable price.

The Samsung 10.1 looks good.

Col

I'm looking as well... :)

I'll check the Samsung...

I'm looking as well... :)

I'll check the Samsung...

Find something it can do that your IPad can't? :p

There are many netbooks and all of them will do what you ask. I noticed you mentioned music. Two things you must realize is that most netbooks will not have a dvd burner build in, so you must purchase one with usb ports and use an external burner if you plan on burning the music. The second thing is that you'll want one with a larger hard drive. Many netbooks have small or no hard drives at all, relying on internal memory to run the basic applications.

I think you should skip the netbooks and just get an iPad unless it is purely for work. You do not need to pile on any memory or bigger drives and other non essentials. Streaming music video games and books online make discs obsolete for entertainment, just about everything is available online.
Get an iPad and an iPhone and you can leave all sorts of crap behind at the office.

Find something it can do that your IPad can't? :p

There are many netbooks and all of them will do what you ask. I noticed you mentioned music. Two things you must realize is that most netbooks will not have a dvd burner build in, so you must purchase one with usb ports and use an external burner if you plan on burning the music. The second thing is that you'll want one with a larger hard drive. Many netbooks have small or no hard drives at all, relying on internal memory to run the basic applications.

My netbook cost about 1/4 of an iPad (Acer) and has a battery life of 6 to 8 hours depending on what you are doing. It has 1Gb RAM, 160GB hard drive, webcam, built-in microphone, and I am running Windows 7 on it.

$125 for a netbook.. Not bad.

$125 for a netbook.. Not bad.
Okay, about 1/3 ($189) if the price is $500 but the prices I'm seeing are at least $600 to $1000.

Okay, about 1/3 ($189) if the price is $500 but the prices I'm seeing are at least $600 to $1000.

That's what I thought...:rolleyes:

That's what I thought...:rolleyes:

Yeah, so... Where are you finding an iPad for $500? There are none to be found in my searches on the web and most range closer to $1000. Mine still is a lot less than a piece of junk which lets you do one thing at a time and not much at that. And my netbook will do everything a normal desktop computer can while it is with me AND can even watch videos, listen to music, and do much, much more all while doing other things.

The iPad is way over priced for what you get.

Hmmmmmmm.....


http://www.access-programmers.co.uk/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=32396&stc=1&d=1275580460


http://downloads.btabdevelopment.com/smiletongueout.jpg












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Only if you're dumb enough to compare it to netbook. It's ok, all you had to say is you can't afford a iPad. Speaking of prices, where did you find a new Acer for $189?

Only if you're dumb enough to campare it to netbook. It's ok, all you had to say is you can't afford a iPad.
Not that I couldn't afford one, but that I have better things to do with my money than to spend it on something too limited for my taste. If you like it and it works for you, that's great. I just want more from my money.

Speaking of prices, where did you find a new Acer for $189?

Got it at NewEgg.com in November and at the time it included free shipping.

Hmmmmmmm.....


http://www.access-programmers.co.uk/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=32396&stc=1&d=1275580460


http://downloads.btabdevelopment.com/smiletongueout.jpg











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You're so brillant Bob. Your creativity is inspiring...:rolleyes:

Not that I couldn't afford one, but that I have better things to do with my money than to spend it on something too limited for my taste. If you like it and it works for you, that's great. I just want more from my money.


Got it at NewEgg.com in November and at the time it included free shipping.

That's ok, we all know of your financial situation ;)

Looking at the newegg.com all I see is around $300 range...:confused:

Ken, check out Slickdeals.net. You'll find the best netbook deals posted there on either the mainpage or the forums under the Hot Deals section.

It's good for more than just netbooks too.

Will do... I'm looking for someone I can trust to tell me how long their batteries actually last. ;)

Just like with any hardware, it depends on usage (just reading, listening to music, internet, movies, etc...) as every task will require different battery levels, just like with an Ipad, and if you actually hibernate it while not in use like you should. I've found I can make my battery last all day with proper usage. But I use my phone for basic internet, reading, music, email, even document writing in office, etc because it's much easier to carry around than a laptop or Ipad and has Windows Mobile (which still allows more than one app to run at a time, :D )

From what I read maybe a SSD and 6 cell battery for max life... ?

Apples claim of UP TO 10 hours on a charge is only a little generous, unless I am not taxing on its reserves enough.

YES there is a lot of differences when compared to a netbook, but I feel that comparing a MS based machine to a Mac is like comparing a boat to a car. I would not do actual work on a Mac and definately do not use my PC for its entertainment value. Just because one machine 'can' do a certain task does not mean it is best at doing it.

My netbook cost about 1/4 of an iPad (Acer) and has a battery life of 6 to 8 hours depending on what you are doing. It has 1Gb RAM, 160GB hard drive, webcam, built-in microphone, and I am running Windows 7 on it.

Thanks Bob, a reasonable netbook in the UK costs around £500 (? $600 or $700) that includes the separate CD, a wi-fi jobbie for the house, virus software and a mouse.

A netbook of substance on it's own costs about £300 ($400) ish.

An ipad sells now for around £500.

Col

Thanks Bob, a reasonable netbook in the UK costs around £500 (? $600 or $700) that includes the separate CD, a wi-fi jobbie for the house, virus software and a mouse.

Col

That price seems steep for all of that. That's also assuming that you would need all of that. Most people today have wireless routers at home. Most people also have no need for a separate mouse for their netbook as the touchpad works just fine. You could also go the route of using a completely wireless system using cell phone towers, just like with the Ipad.

Ultimately you should probably do some actual testing of them at some retail locations and see what you LIKE better. Buy what you will like to use. If it is an iPad then buy an iPad. A lot of it is personal preference - just like guitars. You can get a lot of input from different people around which guitar you buy but when it comes down to it, you really need to play them in order to find which fits you personally. What is good for one person isn't necessarily good for you.

The adverts on this page has 'em for $1.99 :eek::p

The adverts on this page has 'em for $1.99 :eek::p

Oooh! I want one! :p

I love my Gateway netbook. Nice sized keyboard and screen. Great battery life, etc. As for an iPad, I would love to have one of those as well and probably will when the next generation comes out. But it is not a netbook. There are things that each can do that the other cannot or is just not good at doing. Right now I think of the iPad as just an iPhoneMax. That will change I am sure...

Ultimately you should probably do some actual testing of them at some retail locations and see what you LIKE better. Buy what you will like to use. If it is an iPad then buy an iPad. A lot of it is personal preference - just like guitars. You can get a lot of input from different people around which guitar you buy but when it comes down to it, you really need to play them in order to find which fits you personally. What is good for one person isn't necessarily good for you.

Yes good advice.

Vass, I don't have a home router. I have priced up several, and £400 to £500 is about the rate for all the stuff in the UK.

Col

Whatever you get you should buy it before the arse falls out of the British economy. From what I hear the collapse of BP due to the Gulf debarcle isn't going to be pretty for the UK or Europe.

I don't think I could put up with anything short of the Asus Eee.

Whatever you get you should buy it before the arse falls out of the British economy.

It's none to special now.:rolleyes:

Col

As Bob eluded, I guess it comes down to YOUR requirements. I bought the Samsung NC10 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-10-2-inch-Netbook-1-6GHz-Windows/dp/B001HB3E9U) about a year ago partly on looks and partly on overall reviews and battery life. The battery life really is good. i can easily go 2-3 days sporadic use without a re-charge just by closing the lid (thus putting it to sleep) when not is use.

It does start to groan with more than a couple of apps open at once. This isn't an issue to me as I just want it for hols where I don't multi task. I guess it's not the lightest netbook but suits me fine for holiday travel. General build quality is pretty good. There's no optical drive but then I've never needed one. So I would certainly recommend the latest incarnation of the NC10 providing you have similar requirements to mine.

Our local PC World has been re-modelled and really does make it easy to try equipment without having a sales boy welded to your shoulder. Hopefully yours does too.

Chris