Is a Netbook good enough for photo viewing and backup?

mfeller2

Member
Dec 28, 2006
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I am considering purchase of a netbook for travel. In addition to checking email and web browsing, I would like to use it for backing up photos from camera memory cards and just browsing through those photos. I don't need to edit the photos.

Questions:
1. For just simply copying photos from an SD card to the hard drive for backup, I would guess this would be a mostly IO-bound task, that the processor doesn't really matter, and that a Netbook will be up to the task. Am I right here?
2. For viewing photos--15 MP JPGs or RAW files, will the Netbook CPU be up to the task? (Resizing the photos to fit the small screen, or generating and scrolling through thumbnails)

Thanks!
 

MJinZ

Diamond Member
Nov 4, 2009
8,192
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A Netbook is perfect for what you are describing. It can be stowed away close at hand while you keep your camera on you for the on fly photo organization, backup, and sending.

The fact that they are cheap is the best part :)

The Acer is a great choice if battery life isn't critical. If you are looking for 10 hours more or less, you're looking at Atom Netbooks.
 

Rottie

Diamond Member
Feb 10, 2002
4,795
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when i am away from home I bring my netbook to bookstore and transfer from my cellphone with so many photos on it for quick edit for use facebook and small video clip to youtube. Netbook is fun to bring with you.
 

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
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Absolutely! The Atom-based netbooks are small, have good battery life and are small and easy to carry. Did I mention "small and easy to carry?" :D

Just be advised; the MSI Wind has a hinge reliability problem. The plastic mounts that hold the screen hinges are cheap and break easy. Mine just broke this week after just 7 months of light use. The "PC" part of the Wind has been nothing but reliable; the case just sucks.

I'll be buying another netbook to replace my Wind. After lugging a full-size (albiet much more powerful) laptop on business trips for the past 16 years, a netbook is a welcome relief. It's got a webcam/mic built in, WiFi, card reader and real HD. For email, surfing, quick teleconferencing it can't be beat.
 

hans007

Lifer
Feb 1, 2000
20,212
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1. Yes, that would most likely be limited by the read speed of your SD card.

2. Probably, but a CULV Celeron would be a much better deal and can be had for as low as $400.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834115656

an atom should be plenty.

but with the acer as1410 out there, with either the single core core 2 1.4 ghz, or even better the dual core celeron 1.3 ghz version both for $399... its hard to recommend a netbook.

though sometimes you can get a netbook for 199- or 249 (i thinkt he acer atom 1.33ghz netbook with 11.6" was this cheap at some east coast chain last weekened) in which case, it might be worththe $200 savings.