Help me chose a netbook

[damocles]

I have been posting madly on forums lately, trying to work out what laptop/netbook to get before I head overseas.

I will use this laptop for surfing the net, typing notes and playing the odd game (games that will run on netbooks that is), running my squeezebox (with the files stored on an external HD).

The (only) Models available to me currently are as follows (I can also get a Lenovo 10se but this model doesn't seem popular)

• 
  The Acer Aspire One (with 160GB drive) 10? screen
  HP Mini 1000 (8GB SSD) 10? screen
  HP Mini 1000 (60GB hard drive) 10? screen
  Asus 1000HA (160GB hard drive) 10? screen

I have had a look at the HP mini and I really like the keyboard. It is also a fair bit cheaper than the Asus but the 8GB drive worries me. I don't need a lot of HD space but I think 8GB wouldn't be enough (how much space would the OS take up?).

Which would you chose?

 

[IlllI]

i think xp takes up under 2gb, so it doesnt give you that much room if you get the ssd. then again i think the 60gb version would be slower than the ssd and use more battery life. i think the HA is the newer version. i think i remember some people here got one and have said good things about it. out of those 3 i'd put the acer last

 

[EarthwormJim]

I'd go with the 1000HA, which happens to be the netbook I actually bought.

I do not like the HP Mini series, the 10" screens are for some odd reason lower resolution than the 8.9" screens (unless you're getting a model with the high res screen).
The keyboard was nice, but I couldn't stand the oddly proportioned mouse pad. The lack of a real VGA port is a real annoyance.
The SSD drive that HP uses is quite slow, and 8gb is rather anemic. I realize a netbook is not a workhouse laptop, but I do more things than surf the web on mine and need more than 8gb of space.

The 1000HA also has a 6-cell battery; most Acer aspires have a 3-cell battery as do most HP Mini netbooks.

I really like the touchpad on my 1000HA, it has gesture functions, and you can simulate middle clicks by tapping the pad with two fingers (open in new tab hello!!).

The Lenovo netbook is a nice netbook, but the price seems rather high for the specs it has.


IlllI, the 1000HE is the newer version of the 1000HA.

 

[IlllI]

oh its the HE? asus spits out so many different models its hard to keep track of them all
i dont really follow them much for that reason, unless its something 'different' from them like that t101

 

[boomhower]

I have an HP Mini on the way now. I went with a 16GB SSD version. The better keyboard in a smaller form factor than the Asus was the clincher for me.

Earthworm: You are comparing it to the 2100 series 9" screen, which is in a completely price bracket. The resolution is the same, or very very similar, to the Asus.

 

[Krynj]

I'm writing from an HE right now. The thing I absolutely love about this thing, is its battery. I had a 1000H before this, and the larger battery is such a welcome improvement. It hasn't touched its charger since yesterday morning. I was working on a computer in another room of the house, and I had my 1000HE with me to get drivers, etc, etc. Used it for a few hours, and when I was done, put it into hibernate until just a bit ago. Got it back in the other room, finishing up the work I was doing yesterday. Right now, on super high performance, brightness all the way up, I got 4:30 left on this battery. And that was after 3 or so hours of use yesterday. If you can find a 1000HE somewhere, I definitely recommend it.

 

[EarthwormJim]

Originally posted by: boomhower
I have an HP Mini on the way now. I went with a 16GB SSD version. The better keyboard in a smaller form factor than the Asus was the clincher for me.

Earthworm: You are comparing it to the 2100 series 9" screen, which is in a completely price bracket. The resolution is the same, or very very similar, to the Asus.

The mini 1000 8.9" screen is 1024x600, if you get the 10.1" screen it's 1024x576.

On a screen that's already rather low resolution, every little bit counts.

 

[IlllI]

i've read that HP should be offering a higher definition 1366 x 768 display option around mid March. probably come at an additional cost though

 

[SickBeast]

OP, the Asus 1000HE is the best netbook to get right now.

It's the only one with the newer version of the Atom processor, and it gets 9.5h on a battery charge.

It looks great to me. Asus is a better name than Acer any day of the week, and they bost cost the same so it's a no-brainer in this case.

 

[damocles]

Thanks everyone. I ended up with the HP Min (8GB version).

The 1000HE isn't available in NZ at the moment, so I had a look at the 1000HA. I'd probably have bought it but the HP keyboard was nice and I don't need the battery life (also it was quite a lot cheaper).

I have the HP going now and it seems fine. It only has 1.5GB free which is a bit of a pain (edit - have reduced the page file). I do wish the 16GB version was sold here. Is the drive easily upgradeable?

I will put a 2GB Sodimm in it tomorrow.

I'm pretty happy, though I will upgrade it next year I am sure

 

[EarthwormJim]

Originally posted by: damocles
Thanks everyone. I ended up with the HP Min (8GB version).

The 1000HE isn't available in NZ at the moment, so I had a look at the 1000HA. I'd probably have bought it but the HP keyboard was nice and I don't need the battery life (also it was quite a lot cheaper).

I have the HP going now and it seems fine. It only has 1.5GB free which is a bit of a pain (edit - have reduced the page file). I do wish the 16GB version was sold here. Is the drive easily upgradeable?

I will put a 2GB Sodimm in it tomorrow.

I'm pretty happy, though I will upgrade it next year I am sure

The SSD uses a zif connector, so compatible drives are harder to find.

I would suggest installing an nlited XP to free up some space.

 

[SickBeast]

Can't you just pop in an 8gb SD card or something?