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The Netbook Thread
thorgot
there is special providencein the fall of a sparrowRegistered User regular
there is special providencein the fall of a sparrowRegistered User regular
Just quote Smart Hero's post from the SE++ thread.
Smart Hero wrote: »EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT NETBOOKS BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK
Netbooks! They're a new class of personal computers designed to work as an accessory to a main laptop or desktop computer. Ranging from 7" to 12" screens, they're typically underpowered when compared to a standard laptop, but can run common programs and operating systems well enough to surf the net, hammer out a quick email, watch a Youtube vid and chat with your friends. Some use a traditional HD, while some of the newer ones use a solid state drive. One of the advantages of a SSD is improved battery life and less chance of wear-and-tear as there are no moving parts. However, SSD prices and capacity are way higher and lower, respectively, than a physical hard disk in the current market. Speaking of price, most models are dirt cheap, roughly $300, though more often than not you can track down some of the older eeePCs and Dell Minis on the cheap. I've seen some of the original eeePCs on sale for as little as $150.
So who makes these things?
A number of different companies have jumped into the netbook market, the biggest being Asus with their eeePC line of netbooks, with more than a dozen different flavors and varieties for sale. Dell has four different netbooks available right now, the Dell Mini line, including 9", 10", 11", and 12" models for sale. There's also smaller companies releasing their own unique netbooks, like Always Innovating, with their TouchBook.
So, what kind of operating systems can be run on a netbook, anyway?
Damn near anything you want to throw onto it, though some are easier to install than others, with the biggest hurdle being that most netbooks lack a optical drive. An external drive will make things easier, but most OSes can be installed from a decent-sized thumbdrive (~8GB is preferred.) A majority come with Windows XP already installed on them. Programs like UNetbootin make it easy, automatically downloading the proper CD Images and configuring them for you. In addition a number of guides have been put together by folks from Gizmodo and Lifehacker to get your preferred OS onto your tiny computer.MICROSOFT WINDOWS
As stated above, most netbooks have XP on them by default, as it's suited to their lower-end specs. In addition, Microsoft's latest OS, Windows 7 has been tailored for use on netbooks, with the Windows 7 Release Candidate available, free to use until mid-next year. Here's an excellent guide on how to install Windows 7 on damn near any netbook on the market today (provided you have the space on your HD for it.)Apple OSX
"Whaaaah?" You say to yourself. Yes OSX can and will run on several different netbooks, with the Dell Mini 9 being the most OSX-friendly one available as of now, according to several reviewers (at least until Apple releases their own device.) Be warned, however, that the installation of OSX on a netbook violates the EULA of the software. If you don't mind the bending of the law, Gizmodo put together another great guide for installing it on the Mini 9, as well as one for the eeePC.Linux
It's free! However, Linux is not for the faint of heart. Oftentimes it requires a number of additional bits of configuration and tweaking to run how you want it to. The most popular Linux distribution is Ubuntu, a community-supported desktop OS with a slick layout and prides itself on being a bit snappier than other OSes. Fair warning, however, that some software isn't supported by it, though there are often free user-created alternatives. Ubuntu itself has spawned several alternatives, each with it's own pros and cons.
Ubuntu 9.04 codename: Jaunty Jackalope: released just last month, Jaunty is the newest edition of the Ubuntu operating system. There haven't been huge changes from the previous version, Intrepid Ibex, but enough that it's worth updating. Ubuntu has a 6-month development cycle, with the next update to be released this October, codename Karmic Koala; Karmic has been touted as 'extremely netbook friendly, with an emphasis on speedy boot times, reliability, and cloud-oriented computing services'
- Ubuntu 9.04: the standard OS, usable on desktops and portable computers alike.
- Ubuntu Netbook Remix: designed with netbooks in mind, UNR provides an icon-based GUI for your netbook.
Linux Mint: Developed concurrently with Ubuntu on a slightly different release schedule, Mint provides a clean, friendly desktop environment good for the first-time Linux user.
Jolicloud:Smart Hero wrote: »Staleghoti wrote: »Someone sell me on this Jolicloud thing.
Without linking me to somewhere else
Jolicloud is a very lightweight (600MB install) customized configuration of the Ubuntu Netbook Remix, a netbook-friendly interface for the Ubuntu Linux OS. It features a short on/off time (~40 seconds) so it's quick to load and shut down, can be installed next to, or in place of, other OSes like Windows XP or Ubuntu (I have all three.)
Where Jolicloud separates itself from UNR is with it's My Jolicloud service, which combines a pseudo-social network aspect with the ability to install various applications and programs quickly and easily, without having to know much about Ubuntu or the Linux OS. Jolicloud, as it's name implies, embraces the vision of many day-to-day programs and services making the leap into 'the cloud' and showcases apps like Google Docs, Gmail, Meebo, and Dropbox for use with the service. In addition it has multimedia programs like Boxee, VLC, Songbird, and several graphics programs.
Here's a few screenshots of my Mini 9 running Jolicloud.
The Favorites Panel, where you can add your most often-used programs for easy access. The other panels help to separate apps into defined categories, like OpenOffice Writer and Calc would go into the 'Office' Panel.
Here's a shot of the My Jolicloud homepage, where it shows me the applications other people I'm following (similarly to Twitter) are installing on their instances of Jolicloud, in case something they're using might appeal to me.
Here's the Applications page, where you can install and update apps. Many apps are not programs in the true sense, but rather instances of Mozilla's Prism project, where webpages are treated just as native applications are, with their own windows, processes, and features.
Oh yeah, and it's free. You don't even have to install it to try it out, you can run it from a thumbdrive or a CD.
Useful programs and utilities designed for netbooks:
GMABooster [Windows and Linux]- overclocks the processor of netbooks, allowing them to run some games and apps they wouldn't normally be capable of running. CAUTION: there is a chance it could lead to burning out your processor or bricking your netbook. Remember to turn it off when you don't need the extra processing power.
GNOME-Do [Linux]: inspired by OSX's Quicksilver launcher, some folks created Do. Do works as an app launcher, but includes a growing number of plugins allowing you to add events to your Google Calendar, generate searches from the desktop, create emails, post to Twitter, upload photos to Flickr, and control your media player.
Dell Mini 9 BIOS Flash Utility [Dell Systems Only, need at least one machine running Windows]: Some folks have had trouble upgrading the BIOS on their Dell Mini systems; this utility helps with that process. *USE AT YOUR OWN RISK*
Rocketdock [Windows Only]: A dock program designed to make navigating your system easier, and it looks snazzy to boot.
Launchy [Linux, Windows]: Launchy is another application launcher that had a number of configurable plugins and skins.
Useful Websites For the Netbook User
UbuntuForums : great for support for anyone using Ubuntu on their system, plenty of people who will help you out, albeit with an air of snootyness.
ubuntumini : great site for folks using Ubuntu on the Dell Mini 9, with tips, guides and suggestions on how to get it running smoothly. While tailored to Mini users, a number of the tips and suggestions will work on any system running Ubuntu.
mydellmini : another great resource for folks using the Dell system, using any OS.
eeeuser : Forum community for eeePC users with guides and tips.
How's that for a guide, folks? I'll probably add to it as I think of new stuff. Any suggestions as to what else to include?
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1. SAMSUNG NC20-21GBK VIA Nano U2250(1.3+GHz) 12.1" WXGA 1GB Memory 160GB HDD Netbook - Retail
2. SAMSUNG USB 2.0 External Slim CD/DVD Burner Model SE-S084B - Retail
Basically buy the Samsung NC 20 for $509 and get the external DVD burner for FREE! I was going to get an external DVD drive anyway, so this combo would only be around $50 more than buying an Eee PC 1000HE and a seperate external DVD drive. I've read many reviews about the NC 20, and it supposedly performs just as well as any other Netbook out there; add in the 12" screen, full size keyboard, and a free external DVD burner...well, I'm sold.
What does it weigh?
I made a game, it has penguins in it. It's pay what you like on Gumroad.
Currently Ebaying Nothing at all but I might do in the future.
3.4 pounds, not that bad, around half a pound heavier than 10" Netbooks.
I could have lived with a 10" Netbook, I'm use to working with 800x600 resolution CRTs. The Samsung NC 20 Newegg deal was too hard to pass up though, considering I was going to buy an external DVD drive anyway if I had purchased the 1000HE.
I can see myself using the Samsung NC 20 a lot longer because of the 12" screen, especially since I plan to run office suites (spreadsheets) on the machine. With a 10" Netbook, I'd probably spring for a larger Laptop later on; with the NC 20 I don't ever see the need for a laptop in the foreseable future. The NC 20's 6-7 hour battery life is just enough imo, who needs 9 continuous hours of portable computing each day anyway?
And me. It's about choices, damn it!
I love mine.
Both my laptop and my wifes are on their last legs and I imagine when we dump them we'll pick up a netbook because it's all we really need as far as portable computing goes. I'm trying to move all the PC's in the house to a standard OS which will be Win7 (just preordered 3 copies), and am just curious if I'll need to get another upgrade or if they'll likely start coming with it.
Origin: Galedrid - Nintendo: Galedrid/3222-6858-1045
Blizzard: Galedrid#1367 - FFXIV: Galedrid Kingshand
Windows 7 runs great on my Samsung NC 20, as well as XP as far as I can tell anyway (still need to upgrade to 2GB RAM). If you can wait till next year or so, dual-core Atom Netbooks will probably be hitting the markets by then. If you don't need your Netbook to be streaming HD videos over the internet or playing videogames, any of the ubiquitous 1.6ghz Atom processor Netbooks will suit your needs.
Can't say when Netbooks with Windows 7 will be hitting the market, since none have been announced; count on a slew of them to be installed with the crappy starter version to save on cost. You should just go ahead and get a Netbook now, and upgrade later with the Home premium version, especially since they can be pre-ordered for $50.
It'll probably be after the new year before we look into one anyway, so there's no rush.
EDIT: Besides, I'll just use the copy of win7 I've ordered for my laptop after I get rid of it for the netbook if it doesn't come with it.
Origin: Galedrid - Nintendo: Galedrid/3222-6858-1045
Blizzard: Galedrid#1367 - FFXIV: Galedrid Kingshand
That would suck.
That's only starter, which is what is designed to compete with linux on netbooks. you'll still find home premium on netbooks, but not the $300 ones.
This is also old news.
on some netbooks. I've read that cheaper netbooks will have starter, and some of the "higher end" netbooks will have home premium.
It's just that if a "higher end" netbook has home premium then the price between that and a lower end regular laptop starts to get real close. Then you have to weigh the benefits of the netbook against a standard laptop.
well, I think you'll see starter on the $300 netbooks, where Home Premium will probably be on the $400+ netbooks.
the Win7 equivalent of teh 1000HE, or the seashell series, which are billed as "high end" netbooks, but not necessarily expensive, will probably get Home Premium. Where netbooks like the low end Acer Aspire One netbooks will get Starter.
I would do a $400-450 netbook with win7 home premium if it were available and ran it ok. On the other hand if Starter ran better (smoother/quicker) on a cheaper netbook then Home Premium did on said "high end" netbook I might opt for overall performance over the richer features of Home Premium.
Movie Collection
Foody Things
Holy shit! Sony's new techno toy!
Wii Friend code: 1445 3205 3057 5295
Basically, it is a super-light netbook, designed almost exclusively for web browsing and documents.
The kicker is that it has a touchscreen, and a custom Linux OS they designed themselves and intend to keep updating.
The extra kicker is that the screen and keyboard are detachable. You can pull the keyboard off and use it like a tablet, turn the keyboard around 180 degrees and set it up like a picture frame, etc. There's a second battery in the keyboard, giving you 10+ hours of power.
additionally:
ARM processor; it's like a cell-phone, basically, so the boot time is negligible
the tablet is magnetized; it will work as a fridge magnet
it has accelerometers; you'll be able to play a few iPhone games on it
comes with wifi & bluetooth
internal USB slots; you can have up to four USB dongles held internally, so you never have to fool around with the key for your wireless mouse
here's the final specs:
# 8.9 inches 1024x600 A+ screen
# Main storage: 8GB SD card — we decided to change from Micro SD to standard SD, so that you can easily upgrade it
# Internal USB wifi 802.11 b/g/n powered by a Ralink 3070 chipset
# Internal USB bluetooth class 2.1
# FCC, CE, UL-certified, 5V, 3.5A power adapter
# 8.9 inches pressure sensitive touch screen
# US Qwerty 24cm-large keyboard — around 95% of the size of a standard keyboard
# Cirque Touchpad
# Two Owolff high-quality internal stereo speakers
# 3D accelerometer
# Two internal batteries 6000 and 12000mAh — it can be replaced with a screw driver
# 7 USB ports: three external, four internal, three of them may be reserved for wifi, bluetooth and keyboard
# Bi-color silver/black case — see photos — with a beautiful dark-red back cover (we decided to go only for red for the first batch as it really jumps out, you won't regret it).
# Secured attachment system of tablet into keyboard
# Independent magnet system for the tablet — we don't want your Touch Book to un-magnetize all your credit cards while carrying it in your bag!
they start shipping preorders next month and oh I so hope one of them is mine
oh yeah
the whole thing is $399, or $299 if you just want the tablet and don't care about the keyboard
This is a step in the right direction.
Might not have W7 support due to ARM processor and whatever Microsoft is doing with that. Would definitely love to hear about the build quality and software functionality when you get yours.
I will eagerly await several reviews, and delay my purchase of a netbook until then.
I have a 1000HE I upgraded with a 320GB 7200RPM drive. I run Fedora 11 (full version) without any issues. I love the thing. The smaller keyboard took some getting used too, but after a couple of weeks of acclimation, it feels natural. I honestly would be hard pressed to spend $1500+ on a "full power" laptop again when I could just pick up a good netbook for about $400 that does 95% of what I need to do (100% after you add an external DVD/CD drive and a big external hard drive).
Gonna take the plunge this weekend then I think. Just sold my broken macbook for enough money to buy this and a memory upgrade.
For starters, is the integrated Intel GMA 500 graphics chip going to be gimped forever? It seems like games that support only OpenGL just fail to work right now. It looks like they're updating it sporadically but I'm worried that they're going to just drop it altogether. If that's the case, should I try to get this thing returned and get behind something with more of a future?
Also are there any good deals on 6 cell batteries? Mine only came with a 3 cell so maybe I will pick up a 6 cell at some point, I think the standard price is about $100 but was just curious if anyone knew of something better. Thanks for all your help!
Acer Aspire One A0751h is a pretty weak Netbook performance wise, it trades power (weak Atom Z520 processor) for a larger screen and good battery life (for 6-cell, anyway); don't expect to do anything more than browse the internet and run light office apps...which is what a Netbook is for in the first place.
If you want more of a gaming/HD Netbook, you should wait for the Lenovo S12 with Nvidia Ion GPU. If I was less impatient, I probably would have not bought my Samsung NC 20 and waited for the S12 instead. It's powerful enough to stream 720p videos, and can supposedly run most games today, no doubt would be a great Netbook to have when Starcraft II releases.
Alas, I love my Samsung NC 20, does what a Netbook is supposed to do, in glorious 1280x800 resolution. I have my desktop for gaming anyway...
I decided to just refund it today, I'll keep my eyes peeled for something new. Thanks for your help!
I've had my 1000HE for quite some time now, bought it almost immediately after they launched. I love it, upgraded it to 2 gigs of ram and have been running a fairly minimal version of XP Home (with a new awesome theme) to great success. Battery life is amazing.
I don't think I could ever fly on a plane again without it.
As long as it doesn't explode on you, get the cheapest one possible. There's no point of an external DVD drive for Netbooks, other than to install software on. They don't have the power to play DVD movies from the drive, and unless you don't have a main computer, I can't imagine how long it'll actually take to burn a full DVD movie using a Netbook.
About the cheapest ones you can find is around $40 (generic no brand drives from chinese ebayer kinds), but as long as it does the job, who cares what you get? I got a pretty sweet Samsung external DVD burner for free with my NC 20 when Newegg had a special going on, so I'm happy about that :P
I use mine to backup data as well, which is a good thing. You backup your data, right? But yeah, go to Walmart and buy the cheapest one they have there. My requirements were something that can burn CDs/DVDs and something that won't catch on fire within the first year of use.
USB thumb drives are practically given away these days.
Seriously. I cant remember the last time I used any optical media for backup.
Yeah, but thumb drives aren't nearly as good/cheap when you get into incremental backups or archiving information. Also, from a security standpoint, people tend to be less worried about throwing a CD/DVD into their system then letting you plug a thumb drive into their box.
What I would like to know is are they easy to modify/ install a new OS? and well are they any good/ worth the contract?
Which is why(assuming you have a desktop) you use a large thumbdrive, or online storage, to transfer the data from the netbook to the desktop and burn from there.
Assuming you have a desktop...
It all depends on the type of information you want to backup and/or archive, I suppose. There is plenty of information that I do not want to store on a remote backup service (for a variety of reasons), or even temporarily store on a thumb drive (most definitely) or desktop, to burn onto a CD/DVD. It simply creates an increased chance of exposure of the information in question (even more so with a thumb drive that you may carry around).
I'm not trying to be difficult. I do security work for a living and am paid to be paranoid.
If you feel retarded using a "fun sized" mouse than you're going to feel retarded using that "fun sized" keyboard on the netbook. :P Go to your local electronics store and give the mice a go if they have a display. A mouse (and keyboard) really are a personal choice and different ergonomics fit everyone differently. With that said, I've always like Microsoft branded mice. Don't know what it is about 'em, but they've always worked great for me. I can't say the same about their OS, however. Ha!