Best/good netbook

Hello all,

Thinking about getting a netbook for my girls for Christmas.

Any advice? Any ones to avoid?

I've heard get Windows 7 over XP.

Do they normally come with a CD/DVD Drive?

I guess I don't need/want an expensive powerhouse of a computer, but I'm not looking for the cheapest Black Friday special either.

Primary use will be to keep the kids off my laptop. Basic web exploration. I'd like them to be able to watch a movie on it if possible.

Thanks,

James

Don't usually have a disc drive.

My Acer is still running strong after over 3 years.

When I was shopping for netbooks, I found that most had about the same specs, so my biggest decision was between the price and which one looked pretty. I like my Acer Aspire One with Win7. It has a 6-cell battery pack, and the life is just outstanding. It handles watching movies well enough, but you'll have to download the files or hook up an external DVD player. The speakers also suck, so use headphones or external speakers.

I've been using my msi wind for 2 years now without trouble. I'm on xp and haven't had a problem, but for one of the newer computers get windows 7. All the netbooks DO NOT have a cd/dvd drive installed, thus why they are a net book, used only for surfing the net really.

Mine has 2gb of ram, more then enough, It came with a 120gb hard drive and its filled to capacity. I use a shelf unit 2tb backup, for anything I really want to store, movies, pictures, etc. The atom processor is ok, not alot of processing power, if your girls want to run simple games that are not graphic intense a netbook will work, but if they want to play world of warcraft or something with any kind of graphics it'll crap out on you, either fragment the display or won't play at all.

Will they be using it for school work or entertainment?

Laptop Magazine's editors choices for netbooks.

Your notice that they go from the $299 range to the $500 range, getting into $500 you can get them a regular albeit slower laptop.

Here is a comprehensive overview of the Black Friday specials if you are so inclined to fight that battle.
http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?sduid=0&t=2333885

Personally, I would get up reasonably early the next couple of Sunday mornings and review the ads in the Sunday paper (or online.) The good deals should start this weekend.

PS: written from my one year old Acer netbook running XP. One year of trouble free service. Bought for $189 at Target around Christmas (but not Black Friday) Sure, it is the Acer with the small 3 cell battery that only lasts 2 hrs but that is fine for me.

Thanks for the replies guys, and the link jrw.

-James

Glad to help.
As noted, the name netbook means that there is no CD/DVD drive in the machine. You can buy external versions from many companies and these have gotten really cheap.
Here is a CD/DVD burner for only $33
http://www.amazon.com/External-Burner-Drive-Acer-Aspire/dp/B001UDVUNW
Here is a CD, read only for $17
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0027C8M8G/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B001UDVUNW&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0C0MZR8FXPJCVT00M9H9
Note: this is not an endorsement of these model but rather just examples.

... read up on some of the limitations of win7 starter edition (what comes on all win7 netbook)... the biggest that would matter to most people is that you can't change the background... although i know the asus has some sort of program to get around that....

my dad works with computers all day, every day... and he recommends acer time and time again... I questioned that with netbooks (being that they are all pretty much the same hardware) and he said they sell more of them then anything else and see fewer of them then any other brand....

friend recently got the newer ones with the 6 cell battery and win7... the keyboards have gotten bigger with newer models and the touch pads are bigger/better as well... new ones also are built around having a 6 cell (they add a little thickness but they don't stick out the back)...

with win7 the big thing is wanting 2gig of ram...

and no they won't come with a cd/dvd rom... you can get usb players for about $20 or a burner for $50 (i got mine refurbed for $20)

now is a good time to buy... :)

digdug18 wrote: I've been using my msi wind for 2 years now without trouble. I'm on xp and haven't had a problem, but for one of the newer computers get windows 7. All the netbooks DO NOT have a cd/dvd drive installed, thus why they are a net book, used only for surfing the net really. Mine has 2gb of ram, more then enough, It came with a 120gb hard drive and its filled to capacity. I use a shelf unit 2tb backup, for anything I really want to store, movies, pictures, etc. The atom processor is ok, not alot of processing power, if your girls want to run simple games that are not graphic intense a netbook will work, but if they want to play world of warcraft or something with any kind of graphics it'll crap out on you, either fragment the display or won't play at all. Will they be using it for school work or entertainment? Laptop Magazine's editors choices for netbooks. Your notice that they go from the $299 range to the $500 range, getting into $500 you can get them a regular albeit slower laptop.

My netbook actually runs World of Warcraft just fine, and it's only one of the $299 ones.

Do netbooks generally have built-in pointers? (pad mice? mouse pads? whatever you call 'em)

I was thinking about getting a refurb for tuning work, since it seems like everyone locally thinks their old laptop is still worth something just because they paid $2k for it five years ago. Bleh.

editation: If Win7 is mandatory, I'll just overpay for a used laptop... I can't get Megatune and MegaLog to work correctly on 7 for the life of me.

I just picked up a refurb asus Eee(eeee??) for the little lady for her B-day, big hit, she loves it... i went with the older XP version(seems most of the lower price 7 models are trial only, when it runs out, you pay more) and 1 gig ram, 160 gig hd. thats plenty for what she uses a pc for(mostly internet, pictures, and music), and its eons ahead of the r31 i built for her a few years ago, literally out of a stack of parts in the garage. very nice machine for the $$. itll take a bit to get used to the touch pad, this is the first non ibm machine ive bought in a very long time, were used to the trackpoint button.

next on my list is a nas with a couple of tb's to back up all the data on the bunches of pcs and laptops in the house, were definitely a digital family. I need to consolidate all the data and slim it down to three laptops and one mother ship (the old twin 2.4 ghz zeons, 4 gig ram, dual 250 gig hd's still runs circles around everything else performance wise) plus a nas. but the asus is the newest by far of all the machines, and that little thing is impressive...

Asus.

Asus actually manufacturers the boards for these little computers and was the first to release a Net-book. their EEE pc is the line you want to look at. I would go with XP over Win 7 because while Win7 is better it takes up more resources and XP is reliable and stable. The processors in these computers are the real bottle neck. Any faster and it would be too hot and suck up too much power.

My EEE PC has been going strong for 3 years and i just recently put a 2 gig ram chip in.

For the pointer/trackpad issue, I like using a more full size wireless mouse with my netbook. I can use the mouse on the armrest of the recliner while the netbook is on my lap.

It's hard to use an external mouse while driving... I mean, while sitting in the passenger seat while a responsible person is driving.

HERE IS THE BIG DEAL FROM TARGET
This is the same deal I got last year but now $10 cheaper and like last year it still comes with a free case.
http://weeklyad.target.com/target/default.aspx?ref=nav_weeklyad&action=entryflash

Acer netbook $179.99
This looks to be a real stripper model but that may be good

Features

* Computer Features: Touchpad, Standard Keyboard  
* Processor Type: Intel Atom N450  
* Processor Speed: Up to 1.66 Ghz  
* Battery Life: Up to 4 Hours    
* Hard Drive Capacity: 160GB Hard Drive Capacity     
* Hard Drive Speed: 5400 RPM  
* Hard Drive Interface: SATA  
* System Bus Speed: Up to 667 Mhz  
* System RAM: 1024 MB  
* Memory RAM Type: DDR2  
* RAM Configuration: 1x1024MB  
* RAM Maximum Expandable To: 2 GB  
* Cache Memory Installed Capacity: 512KB L2 Cache  
* Operating System: Windows XP Home    
* Electronic Display Features: WSVGA, LED Display, Crystal Brite  
* Maximum Resolution: 1024 x 600   
* Input Type: VGA, RJ-45, USB, Microphone, Headphone Jack  
* HDMI Inputs: 1  
* IEEE 1394 (Firewire) Ports: 0  
* USB 2.0 Ports: 3  
* VGA Inputs: 1  
* Built-In Card Reader Type: 5-in-1 Card Reader  
* Built-In Graphics Card Type: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3150  
* Built-In Webcam Features: Built-In 1.3 Megapixel Webcam  
* Wired Standard: 10/100 Ethernet LAN  
* Wireless Technology: Wi-Fi Enabled  
* Wireless Standard: IEEE 802.11b/g/n  
* Audio Features: Built-In Speakers  
* Includes: Power Adapter, WebCam with Integrated Microphone  
* Software Included: Acer eRecovery Management, WildTangent,

Adobe Flash Player, McAfee Internet Security Suite (60 Day Trial)

This version is low on software which may be a good thing. No mention of a Microsoft Office Suite but even those typically end up being just trial version that nag you forever to upgrade. I would bet it does have Microsoft Works loaded so there is basic word processing and spreadsheet. Just load Open Office and be happy. The most amazing is that this unit claims to be XP, not the resource hogging Win7. It does mention the 60 day version of McAfee but dump that immediately. I run the free version of Avast with no issues and others swear by the free version of AVG.
At 4 hrs, this is likely the small 3 cell battery (not the 6 cell at 8 hrs) and the hard drive is 160GB not the 250GB option. Clearly, it is a stripper model but that seems to be reflected in the price.

Another thing to note, I think that Target does not have a restocking fee like the 15% that has become popular at places like Best Buy. My advice then may be to get your hands on one of these today, do not open it or break the seal and then return it if you are so inclined to get your hands on a Black Friday deal.

Target stores open at 8am today.

Seems also that Besy Buy has a similar price on a Gateway Netbook today, but...
The Best Buy deal shows a couple of options like a $50 Geek squad package and a $20 bag with external mouse pack. When you get to the store, do not expect these to be presented as options but more as a required $70 bull E36 M3 add-on of high profit items which then sour the deal. Advantage to Target.

If you are in Indiana or a neighboring state, Meijer's has a Thursday 6am special posted (yeah, open on the holiday)
Acer $189.99
Win7, 160GB, 8hr battery
10 per store
http://meijer.shoplocal.com/meijer/default.aspx?action=entryflash&storeref=142

I got the with an HP for her birthday from Best Buy. She never puts it down. For the computer, mouse and case it was about $300. And it came in pink which was a bigger deal than I thought.