Who has a netbook?

desertgrandma · 05-23-2009, 10:04 AM

Why, I don't know, but I want one so bad. They are so danged cute! I could sell one of my Kindles and buy one, but first I have to know.........

Do you like/love it?

Do you read your books on it? How is that experience?

What are the downsides? (Besides the obvious lack of storage/memory)

Which one do you have? Why did you get that particular one?

what is your power source, do you have to find a 'hot spot' for free internet access when you are out an about?

What am I not understanding about them?

I wouldn't be doing anything that required security on one, no banking or anything.

I"m just thinking this would be a great way to store Calibre and all my treasures..

Tell me about yours, and thanks in advance for all the responses.....!

zelda_pinwheel · 05-23-2009, 10:06 AM

hm, nice timing dg ! i've been thinking about getting one too, for client meetings. if things keep going this way it will soon become indispensable. i just have to find one that's small and light enough to carry around without annoying me too much, but still has a decent sized screen and keyboard. and is not too expensive. hm...

suggestions are welcome.

desertgrandma · 05-23-2009, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

hm, nice timing dg ! i've been thinking about getting one too, for client meetings. if things keep going this way it will soon become indispensable. i just have to find one that's small and light enough to carry around without annoying me too much, but still has a decent sized screen and keyboard. and is not too expensive. hm...

suggestions are welcome.

Does this mean great minds think alike, or that sometimes even tiny minds (mine) hit the spot?

HarryT · 05-23-2009, 10:10 AM

I have one - a Dell Mini 9 with a 16GB SD drive (ie no hard disk). Absolutely superb machine for mobile e-mail, web browsing, etc. I take it away with me whenever I go away; it's about the size and weight of a hardback book.

Takes a while to get used to not having a hard disk. The machine is totally silent, which is a bit "spooky" at first.

16GB may not sound like much, but it's perfectly adequate for a "travel" machine. I have all my eBook creation tools on it, so I can create books "on the go", and I still have about 9GB free on it.

Makes a lousy bookreader - the "letterbox" format screen is just the wrong "shape", and if you turn it on its side, the keyboard gets in the way.

Some netbooks have a full-featured but very small keyboard. Dell go the other way, and have a restricted, but pretty-much full-size keyboard. Eg, there's no function key row - to get a function key you press a special "Fn" key together with one of the alphabet keys.

I'm very happy indeed with mine. Great little machine for mobile use.

desertgrandma · 05-23-2009, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Makes a lousy bookreader - the "letterbox" format screen is just the wrong "shape", and if you turn it on its side, the keyboard gets in the way.

Some netbooks have a full-featured but very small keyboard. Dell go the other way, and have a restricted, but pretty-much full-size keyboard. Eg, there's no function key row - to get a function key you press a special "Fn" key together with one of the alphabet keys.

I'm very happy indeed with mine. Great little machine for mobile use.

Two really important points here. Thanks HarryT for your imput.

mtravellerh · 05-23-2009, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

Two really important points here. Thanks HarryT for your imput.

I have an Acer Aspire One with one gb of memory, 160 gb HD, XP, and a decent sized keyboard. Yes; I read on it (like it, too), but it's just that tiny bit too big too be entirely portable, screen glares, too. This netbook doubles as laptop as I am on the move all the time and need a handy tool. It's perfect for what I use it for, except for the glaring screen.

columbus · 05-23-2009, 10:50 AM

I also have a Dell mini 9 and agree with Harry's comments.

IMHO, unless you enjoy reading books on a computer screen, with the associated glare and eye strain, they are a total waste of time as an ebook reader.

Where they score is portability, fits in my jacket pocket! I have quite large hands so I do find the keyboard a little small (abt 60% of fs.) & often hit wrong keys. (This should not be a problem for dainty ladies hands).

With no Hdd battery life is a good 3hrs, as long as you disable the WiFi & blue tooth when you don't need them. About half that without.

Mine also has the 16GB SD drive which comes with the Win XP version, (8GB with Linux), I also have an 8GB SD card doubling the available storage.

Overall a great little machine if you need portability - but don't swap your E-ink device for it.

notsure · 05-23-2009, 10:51 AM

If anyone is interested in the Lenovo Ideapad, I can dig up a friends and family code. At least for Canada, and possibly the US. Not too sure about Europe but I could check.

I've actually been looking at one of these for myself.

Feel free to PM if you are interested.

Cheers.

desertgrandma · 05-23-2009, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by columbus

Overall a great little machine if you need portability - but don't swap your E-ink device for it.

Wouldn't think of it. I have two K1's..........

lilac_jive · 05-23-2009, 10:52 AM

I've been thinking about getting one too. I see them on woot occasionally for around $200, refurbished.

yvanleterrible · 05-23-2009, 11:00 AM

I have an Asus EEEpc 4g. I'm writing on it right now. In fact I'm on MR through it most of the time.

It's setup with Linux so it does not have to carry a huge Microsoft elephant on its back, that makes it quick and agile for surfing and writing; which is my major occupation on a computer anyway. For this type of activity it is faster than the base computer and I can bring it anywhere through the house and shop, with the aid of its built in wifi.

It has a measly 4gb flah based hard drive but it proved its usefulness when I dropped the device from the kitchen table. No harm done.

The screen is only 7" . Fortunately I don't yet need glasses for narrow sight and if the computer is close enough, it's perfect for me.

After a year with it, I'm still happy and it gained a dedicated place in the living room on a side coffee table as a readily accessed wiki. It starts on a dime (thanks to Linux) when it has to be put to use.

zelda_pinwheel · 05-23-2009, 11:11 AM

cnet did a comparison of the "top 10" netbooks, their number one choice is the Asus Eee PC 1000HE. any thoughts on this model ?

i'm also wondering whether i should consider an "ultra portable" instead of a netbook... weight is important (the lighter the better or i really won't feel like dragging the thing around with me) but since i'll mostly use it for client meetings i have to have a decently-sized screen for showing maquettes and i need a keyboard i can actually type on as well. on the other hand, i don't necessarily need it to be a fully-functional work station (unless i think of it as a backup post just in case my main pc dies in the middle of a project, which is generally when that happens), and i don't want to spend too much money on it.

rgeorg · 05-23-2009, 11:26 AM

I have two netbooks, a 9" tablet classmate purchased from work, and an original Asus Eee PC 7" with 4GB Ram and the celeron processor (before the current generation of Atom and only runs at about 633 MHz). I haven't used the classmate much as I just got it.

But, I love my Eee! I just came back from a business trip and the Eee was a great traveling companion, light and easy to carry. I have a 5-hour battery to use when traveling. It has wonderful connectivity, plays movies, and I find the form factor convenient for reading txt and HTML books. I turn it to portrait-mode, make the display full-screen, turn the backlight down as low as possible, and hold it like a book. It's so comfortable that sometimes my hand automatically starts to try to turn the page! For evening reading in bed it is perfect - no extra lighting needed and quite silent.

That being said, I think the 10" is probably the best general netbook size as it is easier to browse the WWW and read PDF business documents. Some come with a 9-10 hour battery and most have a hard disk option. Asus has announced a 10" Eee tablet for the end of the year (if I remember correctly). That might be interesting if there is a page-turn button on the frame.

Cons:
Netbooks are not pocket-portable the way that the current ereader devices are and nowhere near the battery life. Even with the backlight turned down, the LCD is probably harsher on the eyes than eink (but I am not certain as I can go 2-3 hours with my 50's eyes in comfort which is fine for my needs). It seems that the classmate tablet display is not as comfortable as the Eee - don't know why, perhaps the tablet layer makes it brighter? I can't seem to lower the brightness as much even at the lowest setting.

Pros:
Netbooks are fully-functional PCs, with Internet access, dictionaries, video playing, and run programs including office applications such as a word processor and spreadsheet. Don't have to care about book formats and re-formating PDF to fit a tiny screen. Book page turns are instantaneous and without the flashing effect.

I am rambling a bit, but I've given it some thought since I'm in the opposite position from you: with 2 netbooks and a mp3 player with audiobooks for my purse, do I also need a dedicated reader device? I decided to go ahead and give it a try and am now waiting for my jetbook to arrive. So, my two-cents-worth is to get the netbook AND keep one of your Kindles for when you need the portability.

P.S. - I found out a side-benefit of a netbook-as-book-reader: no one can tell that you're reading a novel during a boring business meeting!

RickyMaveety · 05-23-2009, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

cnet did a comparison of the "top 10" netbooks, their number one choice is the Asus Eee PC 1000HE. any thoughts on this model ?

i'm also wondering whether i should consider an "ultra portable" instead of a netbook... weight is important (the lighter the better or i really won't feel like dragging the thing around with me) but since i'll mostly use it for client meetings i have to have a decently-sized screen for showing maquettes and i need a keyboard i can actually type on as well. on the other hand, i don't necessarily need it to be a fully-functional work station (unless i think of it as a backup post just in case my main pc dies in the middle of a project, which is generally when that happens), and i don't want to spend too much money on it.

The Asus Eee PC 1000 HE is the one I have. I LOVE IT!! I stuck an additional stick of RAM in it, so it's got 2 gigs (really easy to do .... took about 15 seconds). I have rather large hands, so the keyboard is a little tight for me, but I can still pop out a document on the run if I need to.

I don't like it for reading, but then eink has sort of spoiled me, and I don't like looking at a lit screen for too long.

I also picked up a 500 GB Free Agent drive, so I have effectively 660GB of HD space. The combination is just plain great.

=X= · 05-23-2009, 11:43 AM

I bought my wife a pink Acer Aspire One.

It's very nice, the screen resolution is very nice. My wife uses it to surf the net for hours, and I've done the taxes on the device.

The device is small and light. My wife bought a larger purse to put the netbook and and it fits fine.
It comes with WindowsXP and is a full fledged PC. First thing I did though is install firefox and openoffice.

One recommendation is I would buy a DVD/CD-ROM USB drive and the 6 cell battery over the 3 cell this will double your batter life from 2.5 to 5 hrs.

The screen is small for a PC but bigger than most eInk. I've yet to read a book on the device but I would imaging the expereince would be like reading on any laptop.

=X=
A couple of recomendat

05-23-2009, 10:04 AM	#1
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462843 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	Who has a netbook? Why, I don't know, but I want one so bad. They are so danged cute! I could sell one of my Kindles and buy one, but first I have to know......... Do you like/love it? Do you read your books on it? How is that experience? What are the downsides? (Besides the obvious lack of storage/memory) Which one do you have? Why did you get that particular one? what is your power source, do you have to find a 'hot spot' for free internet access when you are out an about? What am I not understanding about them? I wouldn't be doing anything that required security on one, no banking or anything. I"m just thinking this would be a great way to store Calibre and all my treasures.. Tell me about yours, and thanks in advance for all the responses.....!

05-23-2009, 11:26 AM	#13
rgeorg Guru Posts: 675 Karma: 3314796 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Europe & USA Device: K3/3G(2x), Glo HD, Amazon Voyage	Love my netbook! I have two netbooks, a 9" tablet classmate purchased from work, and an original Asus Eee PC 7" with 4GB Ram and the celeron processor (before the current generation of Atom and only runs at about 633 MHz). I haven't used the classmate much as I just got it. But, I love my Eee! I just came back from a business trip and the Eee was a great traveling companion, light and easy to carry. I have a 5-hour battery to use when traveling. It has wonderful connectivity, plays movies, and I find the form factor convenient for reading txt and HTML books. I turn it to portrait-mode, make the display full-screen, turn the backlight down as low as possible, and hold it like a book. It's so comfortable that sometimes my hand automatically starts to try to turn the page! For evening reading in bed it is perfect - no extra lighting needed and quite silent. That being said, I think the 10" is probably the best general netbook size as it is easier to browse the WWW and read PDF business documents. Some come with a 9-10 hour battery and most have a hard disk option. Asus has announced a 10" Eee tablet for the end of the year (if I remember correctly). That might be interesting if there is a page-turn button on the frame. Cons: Netbooks are not pocket-portable the way that the current ereader devices are and nowhere near the battery life. Even with the backlight turned down, the LCD is probably harsher on the eyes than eink (but I am not certain as I can go 2-3 hours with my 50's eyes in comfort which is fine for my needs). It seems that the classmate tablet display is not as comfortable as the Eee - don't know why, perhaps the tablet layer makes it brighter? I can't seem to lower the brightness as much even at the lowest setting. Pros: Netbooks are fully-functional PCs, with Internet access, dictionaries, video playing, and run programs including office applications such as a word processor and spreadsheet. Don't have to care about book formats and re-formating PDF to fit a tiny screen. Book page turns are instantaneous and without the flashing effect. I am rambling a bit, but I've given it some thought since I'm in the opposite position from you: with 2 netbooks and a mp3 player with audiobooks for my purse, do I also need a dedicated reader device? I decided to go ahead and give it a try and am now waiting for my jetbook to arrive. So, my two-cents-worth is to get the netbook AND keep one of your Kindles for when you need the portability. P.S. - I found out a side-benefit of a netbook-as-book-reader: no one can tell that you're reading a novel during a boring business meeting!

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05-23-2009, 10:06 AM	#2
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	hm, nice timing dg ! i've been thinking about getting one too, for client meetings. if things keep going this way it will soon become indispensable. i just have to find one that's small and light enough to carry around without annoying me too much, but still has a decent sized screen and keyboard. and is not too expensive. hm... suggestions are welcome.

05-23-2009, 10:10 AM	#4
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I have one - a Dell Mini 9 with a 16GB SD drive (ie no hard disk). Absolutely superb machine for mobile e-mail, web browsing, etc. I take it away with me whenever I go away; it's about the size and weight of a hardback book. Takes a while to get used to not having a hard disk. The machine is totally silent, which is a bit "spooky" at first. 16GB may not sound like much, but it's perfectly adequate for a "travel" machine. I have all my eBook creation tools on it, so I can create books "on the go", and I still have about 9GB free on it. Makes a lousy bookreader - the "letterbox" format screen is just the wrong "shape", and if you turn it on its side, the keyboard gets in the way. Some netbooks have a full-featured but very small keyboard. Dell go the other way, and have a restricted, but pretty-much full-size keyboard. Eg, there's no function key row - to get a function key you press a special "Fn" key together with one of the alphabet keys. I'm very happy indeed with mine. Great little machine for mobile use.

05-23-2009, 10:50 AM	#7
columbus Wizard Posts: 999 Karma: 5487540 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: In my own imagination. Device: Sony Prs 650, 505	I also have a Dell mini 9 and agree with Harry's comments. IMHO, unless you enjoy reading books on a computer screen, with the associated glare and eye strain, they are a total waste of time as an ebook reader. Where they score is portability, fits in my jacket pocket! I have quite large hands so I do find the keyboard a little small (abt 60% of fs.) & often hit wrong keys. (This should not be a problem for dainty ladies hands). With no Hdd battery life is a good 3hrs, as long as you disable the WiFi & blue tooth when you don't need them. About half that without. Mine also has the 16GB SD drive which comes with the Win XP version, (8GB with Linux), I also have an 8GB SD card doubling the available storage. Overall a great little machine if you need portability - but don't swap your E-ink device for it.

05-23-2009, 10:51 AM	#8
notsure Zealot Posts: 123 Karma: 76 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Sony PRS-505, PRS-350	If anyone is interested in the Lenovo Ideapad, I can dig up a friends and family code. At least for Canada, and possibly the US. Not too sure about Europe but I could check. I've actually been looking at one of these for myself. Feel free to PM if you are interested. Cheers.

05-23-2009, 10:52 AM	#10
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	I've been thinking about getting one too. I see them on woot occasionally for around $200, refurbished.

05-23-2009, 11:00 AM	#11
yvanleterrible Reborn Paper User Posts: 8,616 Karma: 15446734 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Que Nada Device: iPhone8, iPad Air	I have an Asus EEEpc 4g. I'm writing on it right now. In fact I'm on MR through it most of the time. It's setup with Linux so it does not have to carry a huge Microsoft elephant on its back, that makes it quick and agile for surfing and writing; which is my major occupation on a computer anyway. For this type of activity it is faster than the base computer and I can bring it anywhere through the house and shop, with the aid of its built in wifi. It has a measly 4gb flah based hard drive but it proved its usefulness when I dropped the device from the kitchen table. No harm done. The screen is only 7" . Fortunately I don't yet need glasses for narrow sight and if the computer is close enough, it's perfect for me. After a year with it, I'm still happy and it gained a dedicated place in the living room on a side coffee table as a readily accessed wiki. It starts on a dime (thanks to Linux) when it has to be put to use.

05-23-2009, 11:11 AM	#12
zelda_pinwheel zeldinha zippy zeldissima Posts: 27,827 Karma: 921169 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Paris, France Device: eb1150 & is that a nook in her pocket, or she just happy to see you?	cnet did a comparison of the "top 10" netbooks, their number one choice is the Asus Eee PC 1000HE. any thoughts on this model ? i'm also wondering whether i should consider an "ultra portable" instead of a netbook... weight is important (the lighter the better or i really won't feel like dragging the thing around with me) but since i'll mostly use it for client meetings i have to have a decently-sized screen for showing maquettes and i need a keyboard i can actually type on as well. on the other hand, i don't necessarily need it to be a fully-functional work station (unless i think of it as a backup post just in case my main pc dies in the middle of a project, which is generally when that happens), and i don't want to spend too much money on it.

05-23-2009, 11:43 AM	#15
=X= Wizard Posts: 3,671 Karma: 12205348 Join Date: Mar 2008 Device: Galaxy S, Nook w/CM7	I bought my wife a pink Acer Aspire One. It's very nice, the screen resolution is very nice. My wife uses it to surf the net for hours, and I've done the taxes on the device. The device is small and light. My wife bought a larger purse to put the netbook and and it fits fine. It comes with WindowsXP and is a full fledged PC. First thing I did though is install firefox and openoffice. One recommendation is I would buy a DVD/CD-ROM USB drive and the 6 cell battery over the 3 cell this will double your batter life from 2.5 to 5 hrs. The screen is small for a PC but bigger than most eInk. I've yet to read a book on the device but I would imaging the expereince would be like reading on any laptop. =X= A couple of recomendat

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