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Question about netbooks
- Thread starter BigCiX
- Start date
1) XP, thats if you can still find a new netbook with XP. Windows 7 starter is quite crippled. Alternatively try Ubuntu Netbook Remix.
2) Yes.
3) Yes.
4) Of course.
2) Yes.
3) Yes.
4) Of course.
bikeandestroyx
Member
You are better off buying him a full on laptop. You caan get ones for very cheap, around 400 which is going to have much more power than a netbook. Your paying for size in netbooks, they only have atom processors 1gb-2gb ram not big harddrives and theres no disc drive.
SoulTerror
Android Enthusiast
A netbook is just smaller laptop without a disk drive. It can do all the same things as a desktop or laptop, just not as powerful.
Isthmus
Android Expert
If you must get a netbook then get him something with with plenty of USB ports (3 is the most I've seen), bluetooth and a higher resolution screen. Also get him something with an extended battery (8 or more cells). That will give you a truly portable computer.
As for the operating system, I agree that Linux is the way to go. For the kind of use you described, it is as powerful as the commercial OSs, but is generally more secure and MUCH lighter on system resources. That said, you don't have to go with the netbook variants of the more popular linux distributions if you don't want to. Newer netbooks can easily handle mainline distributions (though graphic intensive kde based ones don't tend to run as well). Personally I would advice you to check out Linux Mint 10. It is probably the easiest distribution for newbies and if you're familiar with mac or windows, this will be intuitive. it should also work right out of the box with the overwhelming majority of modern hardware.
As for the operating system, I agree that Linux is the way to go. For the kind of use you described, it is as powerful as the commercial OSs, but is generally more secure and MUCH lighter on system resources. That said, you don't have to go with the netbook variants of the more popular linux distributions if you don't want to. Newer netbooks can easily handle mainline distributions (though graphic intensive kde based ones don't tend to run as well). Personally I would advice you to check out Linux Mint 10. It is probably the easiest distribution for newbies and if you're familiar with mac or windows, this will be intuitive. it should also work right out of the box with the overwhelming majority of modern hardware.
SoulTerror
Android Enthusiast
My work netbook has XP Home. On my wife's netbook I installed Ubuntu Netbook Remix and it works great for her and she's not an advanced computer user.
Snow_Fox
Android Expert
Well first
is this for college? is he gunna be carrying it all day or something?
If this is for college and typing of notes in class, yes go notebook!
If this is going to set on a desk and function as a desktop 90% of the time and he may take it off that desk once.. or you only want a netbook so he can walk around the house with it. Just go for a desktop!
The only reason I am mentioning this is because, (and this is my opinion I am not denying it) but, laptops are way oversold.
You get far less power than a desktop of the same cost, and everyone gets a laptop because its "mobile" when I know a lot of people (I am guilty of this too!) who just leave their laptop on their desk and it never moves once.
Plus the problem with laptops is they suffer a lot of wear and tear because, if you *are* moving them, the plastic heats up, then you move it while its warm and it becomes brittle quickly.
You could probably get a good 5 years out of a desktop or more. The problem with laptops are they can physically tear up long before they are obsolete.
*edit*
And I know not everyone agree's with this.. but, you may as well get the most powerful machine you can for your money. Just because all he does is watch wwe flicks now.. doesn't mean he won't have need for a more powerful device in the future.
So, if it is for college.. save his back and get a netbook.. if it is going to just be in the same place most of the time anyway.. skip the laptop and get a decent desktop.
is this for college? is he gunna be carrying it all day or something?
If this is for college and typing of notes in class, yes go notebook!
If this is going to set on a desk and function as a desktop 90% of the time and he may take it off that desk once.. or you only want a netbook so he can walk around the house with it. Just go for a desktop!
The only reason I am mentioning this is because, (and this is my opinion I am not denying it) but, laptops are way oversold.
You get far less power than a desktop of the same cost, and everyone gets a laptop because its "mobile" when I know a lot of people (I am guilty of this too!) who just leave their laptop on their desk and it never moves once.
Plus the problem with laptops is they suffer a lot of wear and tear because, if you *are* moving them, the plastic heats up, then you move it while its warm and it becomes brittle quickly.
You could probably get a good 5 years out of a desktop or more. The problem with laptops are they can physically tear up long before they are obsolete.
*edit*
And I know not everyone agree's with this.. but, you may as well get the most powerful machine you can for your money. Just because all he does is watch wwe flicks now.. doesn't mean he won't have need for a more powerful device in the future.
So, if it is for college.. save his back and get a netbook.. if it is going to just be in the same place most of the time anyway.. skip the laptop and get a decent desktop.
I use a 9inch Atom 1.6GHz CPU netbook with 2GB RAM and 160GB HDD running Ubuntu Linux and Windows 7 Ultimate, for all my work computing needs now. Runs Office, Powerpoint presentations on a projector, Skype, QQ international, Chrome browser plus it plays all my videos and music just fine. I've found this netbook plenty powerful enough for all these tasks. Plus it's so small, light and easy to carry round, I don't consider I need anything more powerful, costly, heavy and bulky for work (although I do have a 15inch Macbook Pro at my apartment).