Net Book Computers?
- Thread starter MaineMan
- Start date
- 11,474
I've been considering one of these myself. I'm pretty sure that a standard netbook would work just fine.
They work on the XP platform. I think you'd need to subscribe to a wireless data plan. I would think they have wifi built-in though.
There are deals with AT&T right now for netbooks.
If all you need is internet, basic word processing & excel it should work out fine.
But if you were using complex planning software, I'd stick to a standard notebook PC.
They work on the XP platform. I think you'd need to subscribe to a wireless data plan. I would think they have wifi built-in though.
There are deals with AT&T right now for netbooks.
If all you need is internet, basic word processing & excel it should work out fine.
But if you were using complex planning software, I'd stick to a standard notebook PC.
- 11,997
I have one of the higher end ones and it's great for what it is, but they're always going to be slower than a regular laptop because they usually use a slower processor. If you're really going to be using this for work you'll want to pony up the extra $50-$100 and get a full sized laptop. TigerDirect.com usually has some pretty good deals.
Unless you're going to be doing a significant amount of business in locations you know wont have internet, spending $50-$60/month for a mobile broadband plan probably wont be that much better than using free wi-fi available in lots of places. If after a few weeks the wi-fi thing isn't working you can always pony up for the mobilebroadband devices. My wife has a sprint one and I've used verizon for a few years, both work well but I like the verizon service and functionality better.
Unless you're going to be doing a significant amount of business in locations you know wont have internet, spending $50-$60/month for a mobile broadband plan probably wont be that much better than using free wi-fi available in lots of places. If after a few weeks the wi-fi thing isn't working you can always pony up for the mobilebroadband devices. My wife has a sprint one and I've used verizon for a few years, both work well but I like the verizon service and functionality better.
- 8,707
I bought one of these netbooks for my wife and use it sometimes as well...I would never think to use it for more than basic internet, word processing email and such however as I am now converting to a paperless office by which I mean I do apps on paper and scan them for my file I have been thinking about using a netbook for my client review out of the office just copying the clients folder to the netbook and being able to refer to his apps and such while at the appointment without having to lug a full sized notebook around.
Also MaineMan where in Maine are you located, There are not to many of us on this forum.
I bought my daughter one to take to Europe this summer. She wanted the Dell, I wanted her to get an Acer for about the same price.
She got the Dell.
The keyboard is small as is the screen (8.9"). It uses a flash drive with 8G storage and runs on XP.
You can also get Ubuntu but I would not recommend that.
For what she uses it for, mostly internet, it serves her purposes. The small drive makes it impossible to have much of anything on it.
Acer has an 11" screen and a larger keyboard for about the same price. It also comes with a 160G HD.
WiFi is giving way to WiMax in many cities. Personally, I would not lock into a mobile plan like Verizon or AT&T if you are in a major area. Clear just came to Atlanta. I don't do that much away from home so I just opted for the home plan.
They have a mobile plan for $45/mo with 4G that works like a dream based on what friends have said. Coverage is good and expanding but won't match up with the cell companies, at least for a while.
Sprint & now Comcast have joined the fray and offering 4G WiMax as well with the plus of using 3G in other markets.
The netbooks don't come with DVD drives which may affect your decision.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I bought my daughter one to take to Europe this summer. She wanted the Dell, I wanted her to get an Acer for about the same price.
She got the Dell.
The keyboard is small as is the screen (8.9"). It uses a flash drive with 8G storage and runs on XP.
You can also get Ubuntu but I would not recommend that.
For what she uses it for, mostly internet, it serves her purposes. The small drive makes it impossible to have much of anything on it.
Acer has an 11" screen and a larger keyboard for about the same price. It also comes with a 160G HD.
WiFi is giving way to WiMax in many cities. Personally, I would not lock into a mobile plan like Verizon or AT&T if you are in a major area. Clear just came to Atlanta. I don't do that much away from home so I just opted for the home plan.
They have a mobile plan for $45/mo with 4G that works like a dream based on what friends have said. Coverage is good and expanding but won't match up with the cell companies, at least for a while.
Sprint & now Comcast have joined the fray and offering 4G WiMax as well with the plus of using 3G in other markets.
The netbooks don't come with DVD drives which may affect your decision.
She got the Dell.
The keyboard is small as is the screen (8.9"). It uses a flash drive with 8G storage and runs on XP.
You can also get Ubuntu but I would not recommend that.
For what she uses it for, mostly internet, it serves her purposes. The small drive makes it impossible to have much of anything on it.
Acer has an 11" screen and a larger keyboard for about the same price. It also comes with a 160G HD.
WiFi is giving way to WiMax in many cities. Personally, I would not lock into a mobile plan like Verizon or AT&T if you are in a major area. Clear just came to Atlanta. I don't do that much away from home so I just opted for the home plan.
They have a mobile plan for $45/mo with 4G that works like a dream based on what friends have said. Coverage is good and expanding but won't match up with the cell companies, at least for a while.
Sprint & now Comcast have joined the fray and offering 4G WiMax as well with the plus of using 3G in other markets.
The netbooks don't come with DVD drives which may affect your decision.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I bought my daughter one to take to Europe this summer. She wanted the Dell, I wanted her to get an Acer for about the same price.
She got the Dell.
The keyboard is small as is the screen (8.9"). It uses a flash drive with 8G storage and runs on XP.
You can also get Ubuntu but I would not recommend that.
For what she uses it for, mostly internet, it serves her purposes. The small drive makes it impossible to have much of anything on it.
Acer has an 11" screen and a larger keyboard for about the same price. It also comes with a 160G HD.
WiFi is giving way to WiMax in many cities. Personally, I would not lock into a mobile plan like Verizon or AT&T if you are in a major area. Clear just came to Atlanta. I don't do that much away from home so I just opted for the home plan.
They have a mobile plan for $45/mo with 4G that works like a dream based on what friends have said. Coverage is good and expanding but won't match up with the cell companies, at least for a while.
Sprint & now Comcast have joined the fray and offering 4G WiMax as well with the plus of using 3G in other markets.
The netbooks don't come with DVD drives which may affect your decision.
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- 11,997
WiFi and WiMax are two very different things. The speed difference between WiMax and a mobile broadband card like Verizon is substantial, but if you can watch streaming video on either one I think being able to use a sprint or verizon card when you travel is more of an advantage than the extra speed. It's like using a ferrari to go to the grocery store down the block, sure it's faster, but if it takes literally an extra few seconds to connect then I'm not sure it's worth fussing over.
Doesn't everyone?
The 4G is a plus where available.
I understand the difference in the two. Biggest difference (to me at least) is the pricing.
Flat rate pricing for WiMax with unlimited usage around $50 vs $90 or so for Verizon or AT&T and limits on usage with overage fees.
- 15,319
I bought an 11" Acer because I got tired of lugging my large laptop to appointments and on trips. Except for a very weird placing of the right shift key, I love it. 1.6 is fast enough for what I do and it has built in wi-fi.
I can always tether it to my blackberry using a program called tetherberry ($49) if I need to connect to the internet where there is no wi-fi.
This is no different than what I tell my wife. Large size doesn't make it better.
Rick
I can always tether it to my blackberry using a program called tetherberry ($49) if I need to connect to the internet where there is no wi-fi.
This is no different than what I tell my wife. Large size doesn't make it better.
Rick
- 11,997
The real problem with the 1.6 is it's not really 1.6, it's closer to 800mhz because it's the Atom processor. Even at that, it's a heck of a lot easier than trying to do stuff on your phone.
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