Decided on a Netbook - Page 2

calvin-c · 11-27-2009, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dylrob

Battery life was a factor for me. Though some netbooks now can run for up to 10 hours, which is quite adequate.

A consideration for me, at least, isn't just battery life but also 'life of battery'. I have a 2-year old laptop whose battery would run for 3+ hours when new, and now runs for about 45 mins. My Palm Treo, which I use as an ereader as well as a phone, has a battery that would last for about 10 hours (reading) when new. It's now 2 years old and only lasts about 4 hours.

Of course in electronics, a 2-year old device is ancient, but I'm trying to break the expensive upgrade habit. I haven't decided on a dedicated ereader yet (still leaning towards a multi-function device for 'pocket carry' and a notebook/netbooks for traveling) but if I do I'd want one with a battery that would last, when new, at least 50 hours. Or that had a rep of not degrading as quickly as the current ones do. (Note: I'm not running down the current batteries-they're a *lot* better than the ones I used 10 years ago, but still not quite what I'd like.)

dmaul1114 · 11-27-2009, 02:46 PM

For me I went with a Kindle mainly because of the form factor. E-readers you can curl up with just like a book--can't do that with a netbook or laptop.

Battery life and screen are nice, but I honestly don't care much about those as I hardly ever read for more than an hour or two at a time (and seldom more than that a day period). I'm on a PC all the time and LCDs don't really bother my eyes.

As I've said many times, I am interested in some letter sized tablet though, as I'd like a color screen for magazines and net surfing and video etc., and need something with lag-free stylus mark up for highlighting and jotting notes on academic PDFs.

TallMomof2 · 11-27-2009, 03:35 PM

When I get time I'm going to install Win 7 on my Samsung Q1 and see how well it works as a tablet. It currently has Vista and is a hog but Win 7 is supposed to work better. Downsides to the Q1 are weight (heavy), battery life (3 hours) and heat. Other than that is has a nice size screen for reading indoors.

phenomshel · 11-27-2009, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HansTWN

How do you hold a netbook to read comfortably? A tablet might work, if it is very light and doesn't get hot. Two very big "if's".

I don't have nearly as much trouble with holding it comfortably as I thought I would. It's not as good to curl up in bed with, but it is still doable if I put it on the other pillow and turn on my side. That's the main reason I want a tablet form factor, though, is bed reading. The netbook works, but it isn't ideal.

DaleDe · 11-27-2009, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

LED screen? What device is that? I've not seen an LED screen in, it must be at least 20 years!

today the term LED refers to the backlight on an LCD screen. Using LED backlighting improves the battery life.

Dale

HansTWN · 11-27-2009, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calvin-c

A consideration for me, at least, isn't just battery life but also 'life of battery'. I have a 2-year old laptop whose battery would run for 3+ hours when new, and now runs for about 45 mins. My Palm Treo, which I use as an ereader as well as a phone, has a battery that would last for about 10 hours (reading) when new. It's now 2 years old and only lasts about 4 hours.

Of course in electronics, a 2-year old device is ancient, but I'm trying to break the expensive upgrade habit. I haven't decided on a dedicated ereader yet (still leaning towards a multi-function device for 'pocket carry' and a notebook/netbooks for traveling) but if I do I'd want one with a battery that would last, when new, at least 50 hours. Or that had a rep of not degrading as quickly as the current ones do. (Note: I'm not running down the current batteries-they're a *lot* better than the ones I used 10 years ago, but still not quite what I'd like.)

I fully agree -- if battery technology had advanced at the same pace as other technology then every laptop would be running for weeks on a single charge. And I rarely find one that lasts more than 2 years.

cvkemp · 11-28-2009, 01:48 PM

Yes battery life for the netbook is still not there. But I can say with the newer LED backlight screens reading out doors is not a problem. At this time I am on my front porch reading this forum and sending this update.

Chuck

kennyc · 11-28-2009, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaleDe

today the term LED refers to the backlight on an LCD screen. Using LED backlighting improves the battery life.

Dale

I thought LCD's had always had LED backlighting.....apparently not.

I can't imagine that having much if anything to do with it's ability to be read in bright sunlight. The technology is completely different - reflective (for eInk) vs transmissive for LCD/CRT

dmaul1114 · 11-28-2009, 02:32 PM

Battery life is the main advantage for LED backlighting.

Though I will say my Lenova Thinkpad that has LED backlighting is MUCH brighter than my older Dell laptop from my old job.

Completely moot for me in any case as I never use my laptop or e-readers outside anyway. So I couldn't care less about visibility in sunlight.

kennyc · 11-28-2009, 02:50 PM

Were they florescent before white leds? Or what?

bossfan2000 · 11-28-2009, 03:35 PM

I too recently decided on a Netbook. I had pre-ordered a nook (which was going to ship Nov 30, as I got in early), but decided to try a netbook while I was waiting. I found a new Gateway netbook that is around 3lbs, with an extended battery. With the screen brightness on low, I can get 10 hours of reading time..pretty good! I can't seem to get iRotate to work on it, though I am guessing it might be a restriction in Windows 7 Starter Edition (or its my graphics card). I don't have any problems with a backlit screen, especially when I use a black background, off white text, and low screen brightness..this happens to be pretty easy on my eyes. The thing that sold me, other than the versatility a netbook offers vs an e-reader, is FBReader. I know FBReader started as a mobile reader, but there is a PC version that works great on Windows. And it lets you rotate the text within the app itself, so I can hold the netbook like a real book. It also lets you customize colors, text, and key bindings. You can even customize key-bindings that are specific to the screen orientation. And since it seems to handle epub (non-DRM) pretty well, it has become my primary reader software. FBReader was the biggest factor that caused me to keep the netbook and cancel the nook.

dmaul1114 · 11-28-2009, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

Were they florescent before white leds? Or what?

Never really looked into it, but here's some info from Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backlig...t_source_types

kennyc · 11-28-2009, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

Never really looked into it, but here's some info from Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backlig...t_source_types

Duh!

I should have done that myself.

Thank you!

neilmarr · 11-29-2009, 03:37 AM

I have a wee Samsung, similar to Kenny's Acer (bought one of those for my old mother-in-law). Great machines, but in no way book specific or convenient for recreational reading. Had the netbook been suited to the job, I wouldn't have bought a 505. It's a case of horses for courses. Cheers. Neil

cvkemp · 11-29-2009, 09:18 AM

What you use to read on is personal. I have a EZreader that I will continue to use to read novels in bed at night. But I have to read a lot of tech. docs that are PDFs that just do not reflow and format well on the ereader for that I am using the netbook. Of course I do not see as much at a time as I would on a desktop or larger notebook but at least I can spend more time with my family in the living room and not in my office. There is no way I am going to have my big laptop on my lap and have it burn my legs again.

Chuck

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11-27-2009, 02:46 PM	#17
dmaul1114 Wizard Posts: 2,300 Karma: 1121709 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Amazon Kindle 1	For me I went with a Kindle mainly because of the form factor. E-readers you can curl up with just like a book--can't do that with a netbook or laptop. Battery life and screen are nice, but I honestly don't care much about those as I hardly ever read for more than an hour or two at a time (and seldom more than that a day period). I'm on a PC all the time and LCDs don't really bother my eyes. As I've said many times, I am interested in some letter sized tablet though, as I'd like a color screen for magazines and net surfing and video etc., and need something with lag-free stylus mark up for highlighting and jotting notes on academic PDFs.

11-27-2009, 03:35 PM	#18
TallMomof2 Kindlephilia Posts: 2,017 Karma: 1139255 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Snowpacolypse 2010 Device: Too many to count	When I get time I'm going to install Win 7 on my Samsung Q1 and see how well it works as a tablet. It currently has Vista and is a hog but Win 7 is supposed to work better. Downsides to the Q1 are weight (heavy), battery life (3 hours) and heat. Other than that is has a nice size screen for reading indoors.

11-28-2009, 01:48 PM	#22
cvkemp Loving life Posts: 1,431 Karma: 7991496 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Hot Springs Village, Arkansas Device: PaperWhite 6 SE, Fire HD8	Yes battery life for the netbook is still not there. But I can say with the newer LED backlight screens reading out doors is not a problem. At this time I am on my front porch reading this forum and sending this update. Chuck

11-28-2009, 02:32 PM	#24
dmaul1114 Wizard Posts: 2,300 Karma: 1121709 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Amazon Kindle 1	Battery life is the main advantage for LED backlighting. Though I will say my Lenova Thinkpad that has LED backlighting is MUCH brighter than my older Dell laptop from my old job. Completely moot for me in any case as I never use my laptop or e-readers outside anyway. So I couldn't care less about visibility in sunlight.

11-28-2009, 02:50 PM	#25
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,930 Karma: 119747553 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2 & PW, Onyx Boox Go6	Were they florescent before white leds? Or what?

11-28-2009, 03:35 PM	#26
bossfan2000 Connoisseur Posts: 58 Karma: 504579 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Nashville, TN Device: Kobo Aura HD, Kobo Mini, iPhone 6+, Kindle Voyage	I too recently decided on a Netbook. I had pre-ordered a nook (which was going to ship Nov 30, as I got in early), but decided to try a netbook while I was waiting. I found a new Gateway netbook that is around 3lbs, with an extended battery. With the screen brightness on low, I can get 10 hours of reading time..pretty good! I can't seem to get iRotate to work on it, though I am guessing it might be a restriction in Windows 7 Starter Edition (or its my graphics card). I don't have any problems with a backlit screen, especially when I use a black background, off white text, and low screen brightness..this happens to be pretty easy on my eyes. The thing that sold me, other than the versatility a netbook offers vs an e-reader, is FBReader. I know FBReader started as a mobile reader, but there is a PC version that works great on Windows. And it lets you rotate the text within the app itself, so I can hold the netbook like a real book. It also lets you customize colors, text, and key bindings. You can even customize key-bindings that are specific to the screen orientation. And since it seems to handle epub (non-DRM) pretty well, it has become my primary reader software. FBReader was the biggest factor that caused me to keep the netbook and cancel the nook.

11-29-2009, 03:37 AM	#29
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	I have a wee Samsung, similar to Kenny's Acer (bought one of those for my old mother-in-law). Great machines, but in no way book specific or convenient for recreational reading. Had the netbook been suited to the job, I wouldn't have bought a 505. It's a case of horses for courses. Cheers. Neil

11-29-2009, 09:18 AM	#30
cvkemp Loving life Posts: 1,431 Karma: 7991496 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Hot Springs Village, Arkansas Device: PaperWhite 6 SE, Fire HD8	What you use to read on is personal. I have a EZreader that I will continue to use to read novels in bed at night. But I have to read a lot of tech. docs that are PDFs that just do not reflow and format well on the ereader for that I am using the netbook. Of course I do not see as much at a time as I would on a desktop or larger notebook but at least I can spend more time with my family in the living room and not in my office. There is no way I am going to have my big laptop on my lap and have it burn my legs again. Chuck