Computer Science Canada

Looking for a Netbook Powerhouse
Author:  chrisbrown [ Sun Jan 24, 2010 12:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Looking for a Netbook Powerhouse
Does anyone have any recommendations for a powerful netbook? I'm looking for (relatively, of course) a big screen and keyboard with a decent cpu and graphics. Battery life/environmental concerns not an issue.
Author:  rdrake [ Sun Jan 24, 2010 3:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Looking for a Netbook Powerhouse
methodoxx @ Sun Jan 24, 2010 12:17 pm wrote:
...for a powerful netbook?.
I'm not sure any exist. All I've seen are Atom powered.

If you want decent graphics, try to find one based on Nvidia's ION.
Author:  andrew. [ Sun Jan 24, 2010 4:07 pm ]
Post subject:  RE:Looking for a Netbook Powerhouse
If you want a big screen and keyboard with decent CPU and GPU, why not just get a regular laptop? They sell decent 13-14" ones now.
Author:  Dan [ Sun Jan 24, 2010 4:41 pm ]
Post subject:  RE:Looking for a Netbook Powerhouse
I am a bit confused as to how it would be a netbook if it had a big screen and keyboard. The main idea behind netbooks as i understand them is that they provide a cheap lightweight (in terms of specs) and minimalistic platform for basic tasks such as surfing the web, word processing, etc.

It may help if you define what you mean by a powerful cpu and gpu, as well as what your idea of a big screen is.

If you are looking for a powerful laptop there are many of those, up to about the same specs as desktop. However you will pay for it in both cost, weight, size and battery life.
Author:  chrisbrown [ Sun Jan 24, 2010 5:44 pm ]
Post subject:  RE:Looking for a Netbook Powerhouse
Let me rephrase my question: in the scope of netbooks, can anyone recommend one that favours any of {screen size, keyboard size, processing power} over battery life. Essentially I'm looking for opposite of a "green" netbook.
Author:  Euphoracle [ Sun Jan 24, 2010 9:54 pm ]
Post subject:  RE:Looking for a Netbook Powerhouse
Something with ion or you can be sane and get a regular 13" notebook like a macbook or something.
Author:  andrew. [ Sun Jan 24, 2010 10:20 pm ]
Post subject:  RE:Looking for a Netbook Powerhouse
From what it sounds like, I think you would be better off with a 13" MacBook or MB Pro. It's powerful, small, and has a decent battery life.
Author:  chrisbrown [ Sun Jan 24, 2010 10:23 pm ]
Post subject:  RE:Looking for a Netbook Powerhouse
Sorry, I forgot to mention the reason i want a netbook is the price, I'm limited to about $500.
Author:  Euphoracle [ Sun Jan 24, 2010 10:36 pm ]
Post subject:  RE:Looking for a Netbook Powerhouse
You can't get a powerful portable computer for $500.
Author:  rdrake [ Sun Jan 24, 2010 10:42 pm ]
Post subject:  RE:Looking for a Netbook Powerhouse
Looks like the best you're going to be able to do is the ASUS Eee PC Seashell 1201N. It can do 1080p video and apparently has a battery life of over 5 hours. Couple of bucks over your budget, but whatever.
Author:  wtd [ Mon Jan 25, 2010 12:30 am ]
Post subject:  RE:Looking for a Netbook Powerhouse
You want a powerful laptop that's cheap?

You can likely find something more powerful than a netbook in your budget. You can likely find something, but quality will be lacking.
Author:  [Gandalf] [ Mon Jan 25, 2010 2:30 am ]
Post subject:  RE:Looking for a Netbook Powerhouse
Are you sure you wouldn't be better off waiting till you have a few hundred more dollars and buying something you will be truly satisfied with?
Author:  chrisbrown [ Mon Jan 25, 2010 10:40 am ]
Post subject:  RE:Looking for a Netbook Powerhouse
Thanks for the suggestions. After thinking about it, I realize all I want it for is to remote into my home pc (which I spent way too much money on) so I will probably end up going for the cheapest thing I can find.

@wtd: Thanks, but I would rather carve notes into my hand than use an HP laptop.
Author:  btiffin [ Mon Jan 25, 2010 8:18 pm ]
Post subject:  RE:Looking for a Netbook Powerhouse
Visit a few refurb shops. I scored (not super nice, but good enough is good enough) a sub $200 Aspire. I had to ask and wait before a GNU/Linux based machine was refurbished.

And really, good enough is good enough. It's not a main machine, but, along with a USB stick, gets work done.

Cheers
Author:  Euphoracle [ Mon Jan 25, 2010 8:50 pm ]
Post subject:  RE:Looking for a Netbook Powerhouse
Or dropbox. Dropbox is awesome. I use it to sync my notes/projects between computers.

https://www.dropbox.com/
Author:  andrew. [ Tue Jan 26, 2010 5:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: RE:Looking for a Netbook Powerhouse
btiffin @ Mon Jan 25, 2010 8:18 pm wrote:
Visit a few refurb shops. I scored (not super nice, but good enough is good enough) a sub $200 Aspire. I had to ask and wait before a GNU/Linux based machine was refurbished.

And really, good enough is good enough. It's not a main machine, but, along with a USB stick, gets work done.

Cheers
Why did you have to wait for a Linux machine? Why didn't you just get a cheap Windows one and install Linux on it?
Author:  Dan [ Tue Jan 26, 2010 6:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: RE:Looking for a Netbook Powerhouse
andrew. @ 26th January 2010, 5:03 pm wrote:
Why did you have to wait for a Linux machine? Why didn't you just get a cheap Windows one and install Linux on it?


Not sure what his reasoning was but i know it can be a pain to get Linux on a netbook as most do not have CD drives. Normally you would use a bootable usb stick but it can be a pain to make one if the distribution does not support it.
Author:  chrisbrown [ Tue Jan 26, 2010 9:48 pm ]
Post subject:  RE:Looking for a Netbook Powerhouse
In case anyone's interested, I ended up going with a Lenovo G550, a budget notebook that does enough for my purposes.
Author:  btiffin [ Thu Jan 28, 2010 12:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Looking for a Netbook Powerhouse
andrew; Dan is partly right. Less hassle, more happy. Smile

b) A netbook without MS price adjustment
c) I didn't get treated like a pirate going on the net with a refurb.

old guy rant bit I live in a government town and there are a LOT of V-keys (volume license product keys). You eventually fail Genuine tests with these refurbs when the volume key expires (or gets rolled over, I can't say I know the details). Then you have to muck about and beg to a company that wants to treat me like I and others ripped them off after they did us the "favour" of allowing the peons to run the ever so technically inspiring and expensive Windows.

Cheers,
Brian
Author:  wtd [ Thu Jan 28, 2010 12:27 pm ]
Post subject:  RE:Looking for a Netbook Powerhouse
See, here's an example of why you need to be careful in your use of language. You wanted a cheap notebook, but used the term netbook. This caused confusion.

I see it all the time, so it's understandable, but you also need to work on it.
Author:  chrisbrown [ Thu Jan 28, 2010 2:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: RE:Looking for a Netbook Powerhouse
wtd @ Thu Jan 28, 2010 12:27 pm wrote:
You wanted a cheap notebook
Actually, I was originally looking for a netbook, but the G550 caught my eye and I realized then that a netbook wasn't going to cut it. Although I will admit I should have done some more research into what I wanted first.

:


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