Netbook recommendations

[DaddyHoggy]

For my 40th birthday in September I have promised myself a shiny new netbook (as long as I also finish my novel by then - I need an incentive) - principally I plan on using it for writing, so a nice keyboard and a good screen with a decent battery life are my priorities. However, if it could also play decent video and cope with Oolite without some of the OTT oxps then I'd also be quite happy.

I'm planning on spending up to about £400 (a tenner a year - I reckon I'm worth that - and it's what my Amiga cost me when I was 18).

Personal recommendations welcome, hints on what might be available by September and/or decent review sites of the tech would be much appreciated.

Cheers,

DH

[drew]

Can't help, but would like exactly the same machine!

Cheers,

Drew.

[Smivs]

That's all you youngsters ever want isn't it? Tech, tech, Tech.

What's wrong with a nice pair of slippers?

[Kaks]

I've used the compaq/hp mini 311 and it worked a treat: screen bigger than most and Oolite running smoothly on it, with shaders. It's not for sale anymore, afaik, but
the Asus 1201NL has got similar specs!
Any netbook with nvidia ion graphics - as opposed to the integrated intel chipset - will do, though!

Edit: apparently amazon is selling a Lenovo IdeaPad S12 (another ION netbook, but quite 'old' already - came out 1 yr ago) for £267!

[DaddyHoggy]

Thanks Kaks - I remember you praising your HP - but couldn't find it for sale - now I know why!

[Micha]

Why netbook?

For £400 you should be able to get a semi-decent laptop which will have better CPU/Graphics built in.

[DaddyHoggy]

Why netbook?

For £400 you should be able to get a semi-decent laptop which will have better CPU/Graphics built in.

Why a netbook? because I want something at isn't much bigger than a book, very light and tons of battery life - I'm tired of carrying a laptop around. The reason I put £400 is that a little bit of me would like a completely impractical Galaxy Tab! (and gfx isn't my main concern - being to write wherever and whenever I want is my priority, the chance to perhaps play Oolite a nice-to-have bonus)

[Commander McLane]

being to write wherever and whenever I want is my priority

Have you considered something along the lines of this?

Depending on design and material I'm sure you can get at least close to spending 400£.

[DaddyHoggy]

being to write wherever and whenever I want is my priority

Have you considered something along the lines of this?

Depending on design and material I'm sure you can get at least close to spending 400£.

I carry one of those at all times! Still have to type it all up again at some point though - and it's a little difficult to get it to connect to the internet for research purposes...

[OneoftheLost]

I can see what you mean about the netbook. I'll have to hunt mine down and give you the specs. Personal warning, mine has a GMA graphics card, which is utter poo-poo. You really want a netbook with a good graphics card and processor. Just so things arn't slow when you are writing, AND when you are taking a break in Oolite.

Also, be sure to check if its upgradeable! My netbook came with a measly 512 ram stick. I upgraded it to 2 gigs and it runs alot smoother.

Ive also seen netbooks without USB ports! Be warned. You never know when you want to transfer a text file or Oolite save.

http://bestnetbookreviewz.com/2010/01/t ... w-roundup/ - Looks pretty good in my book, but I havn't kept up with the netbook scene.

One of the reviewers mentions upgrading the ram.

Also, anything by Asus is USUALLY pretty darn spiffy.

Sorry I can't be of much use, I have an older netbook, so I can't help out too much.

[DaddyHoggy]

Thanks for the info OotL!

[drew]

being to write wherever and whenever I want is my priority

Have you considered something along the lines of this?

Depending on design and material I'm sure you can get at least close to spending 400£.

You can play Oolite on those? Cool!

Cheers,

Drew.

[DaddyHoggy]

I guess you'd have to do a little flip book animation in each corner of the book - spinning cobra in one corner - docking/hyperspace rings in another, ejecting in another, approaching docking station in another.

[JensAyton]

You can play Oolite on those? Cool!

Sure you can, if you’re meticulous.

Dear diary: frame 36, Δt = 0.05 s.

• Entity 100 (PlayerEntity “Cobra Mark III”):
  • Status: docked.
  • Position: (-49515.3, 60769.4, 427622) – unchanged.
    …

[Smivs]

You can play Oolite on those? Cool!

Sure you can, if you’re meticulous.

Dear diary: frame 36, Δt = 0.05 s.

• Entity 100 (PlayerEntity “Cobra Mark III”):
  • Status: docked.
  • Position: (-49515.3, 60769.4, 427622) – unchanged.
    …