Sub Notebook Recommendation: Eee? Mini-Note?

[thudstaff]

This is my first post here in forever. I had an account at least a decade ago but forgot my login info.

Here's my situation:
I'm heading back to school in the Fall to get my doctoral degree. I work full-time at a college, am 42 years old (if that matters), and am surrounded by computers both at home and work.

I'm looking for an inexpensive, lightweight notebook to take to class with me and also on the train to/from school. My uses for the laptop are for taking notes in classes, writing my dissertation, and surfing the web. This is not a desktop replacement. I have a really nice home/office computer for anything heavy-duty.

I'd like to keep the cost as far under $850 as possible as I'm also a dad and husband and the sole income source for my family.

The ASUS Eee 900 PC came recommended as has the HP Mini-Note. I've also had a few people suggest a Lenovo X61 used/refurb. I'm not really sure what I want or need but am hoping some of you here can help.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: thudstaff
I'm not really sure what I want or need but am hoping some of you here can help.

Start by describing what you need the system to be able to do.

What's the most processor or memory intensive tasks you will ask of it?

How much storage space will you need for your files? (just documents? music? video?)

How much battery life do you want?

What's the heaviest weight you'd want to carry with you? (you can test by weighing and carrying some extra books)

What's the smallest screen you'd be comfortable using?

 

[DaveSimmons]

The eee 900 and HP are similar except the Asus is faster and cheaper but has much less storage. Both have smaller than normal keyboards so typing a dissertation might be a little harder. The eee have solid-state flash drives for storage so they're a little less likely to lose your data from being dropped.

The main anandtech.com site has 3 articles on the 7" asus, the main difference is the 800x480 screen instead of 1024x600. If the 7" screen doesn't bother you they start at $300 for the linux version.

There is an MSI subnotebook out in a couple of weeks, you might wait and see how it's priced in the US.

 

[preslove]

Wait till august (assuming you are starting in the fall). By then there will be more options in stores and online. The atom will be out, and you should consider a system with it because it gives much better battery life. Since you want to do a lot of writing with it, the eee probably isn't your best bet because it has a very very small keyboard. The mininote has a better keyboards, but so will other netbooks that are coming out in or a little bit after June.

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: thudstaff
This is my first post here in forever. I had an account at least a decade ago but forgot my login info.

Here's my situation:
I'm heading back to school in the Fall to get my doctoral degree. I work full-time at a college, am 42 years old (if that matters), and am surrounded by computers both at home and work.

I'm looking for an inexpensive, lightweight notebook to take to class with me and also on the train to/from school. My uses for the laptop are for taking notes in classes, writing my dissertation, and surfing the web. This is not a desktop replacement. I have a really nice home/office computer for anything heavy-duty.

I'd like to keep the cost as far under $850 as possible as I'm also a dad and husband and the sole income source for my family.

The ASUS Eee 900 PC came recommended as has the HP Mini-Note. I've also had a few people suggest a Lenovo X61 used/refurb. I'm not really sure what I want or need but am hoping some of you here can help.

you know, if youre going to consider used slashdot had a great thread about sub notebooks the other day:
Text

the Eee, Wind, Mininote, refurb/used X61, X40 arent bad ideas. the latitude d400 used is cheap.

thing is, you can get a 7" Eee for what, $300? The new Wind, 10" and with linux, is supposed to start at $400

a new Atom based Eee should be out soon, and iirc Dell mentioned they wanted to create a similar subnotebook. you have a lot of options, new and used, in that price range. be a little more specific on what kind of power, portability/size and battery life you want.

 

[thudstaff]

Originally posted by: Zap
Start by describing what you need the system to be able to do.

I'd like to be able to run a word processor and spreadsheet at the same time. It could be Office 2007 or even OpenOffice. I'd also like to be able to surf the web wirelessly.

What's the most processor or memory intensive tasks you will ask of it?

See above.

How much storage space will you need for your files? (just documents? music? video?)

I can't imagine needing more than 80 - 100GB max.

How much battery life do you want?

As much as possible. On the low end, I'd say about 3 hours.

What's the heaviest weight you'd want to carry with you? (you can test by weighing and carrying some extra books)

~6lbs for the computer.

What's the smallest screen you'd be comfortable using?

~9"

 

[DaveSimmons]

For Office 2007 with Word and Excel open I'd rather have a 5-6 pound core 2 / 2 GB / HD laptop than a slow, low-RAM eee, MSI or HP.

The Dell D600-series is a little over 5 pounds, has a good keyboard and a nice 14" screen. See if you can find a decently priced one from outlet.dell.com

 

[runawayprisoner]

Then get MSI Wind with the 10" screen at $400, or if you want to go even lower with your budget, hit up eeeuser.com and find a used Eee PC 4G or 2G. They go for around 200 - 300 now.

Evidently, you don't need a powerhouse. And something with a few hundred megs of storage space is quite enough for word documents, anyway.

 

[thudstaff]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
For Office 2007 with Word and Excel open I'd rather have a 5-6 pound core 2 / 2 GB / HD laptop than a slow, low-RAM eee, MSI or HP.

The Dell D600-series is a little over 5 pounds, has a good keyboard and a nice 14" screen. See if you can find a decently priced one from outlet.dell.com

I've purchased outlet laptops from Dell in the past. This is definitely a possibility.

 

[thudstaff]

Originally posted by: runawayprisoner
Then get MSI Wind with the 10" screen at $400, or if you want to go even lower with your budget, hit up eeeuser.com and find a used Eee PC 4G or 2G. They go for around 200 - 300 now.

Evidently, you don't need a powerhouse. And something with a few hundred megs of storage space is quite enough for word documents, anyway.

You had to post this didn't you?!?

This seems to be the Mini-Note killer. I just read that it will employ the Atom processor. The stock unit will have Windows XP with 80GB, 1GB of RAM, and 802.11a/b/g and Bluetooth for $549. They're saying six hours of battery life with the standard six-cell battery.

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: thudstaff

Originally posted by: runawayprisoner
Then get MSI Wind with the 10" screen at $400, or if you want to go even lower with your budget, hit up eeeuser.com and find a used Eee PC 4G or 2G. They go for around 200 - 300 now.

Evidently, you don't need a powerhouse. And something with a few hundred megs of storage space is quite enough for word documents, anyway.

You had to post this didn't you?!?

This seems to be the Mini-Note killer. I just read that it will employ the Atom processor. The stock unit will have Windows XP with 80GB, 1GB of RAM, and 802.11a/b/g and Bluetooth for $549. They're saying six hours of battery life with the standard six-cell battery.

im half-tempted to sell off my T40 and get one.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: thudstaff

Originally posted by: runawayprisoner
Then get MSI Wind

The stock unit will have Windows XP with 80GB, 1GB of RAM, and 802.11a/b/g and Bluetooth for $549. They're saying six hours of battery life with the standard six-cell battery.

This sounds like a winner for you.

My other thought would be a Dell Vostro 1310, if you're wanting something closer to a "normal" notebook. It is a smallish notebook and lightweight at around 4 pounds (I think). This would top out your budget though, but here's a configuration that seems reasonably nice:
Vostro 1310 $914
Core 2 Duo
2GB RAM
80GB HDD
DVDRW
87WHr 9 cell battery

Unless you're a gamer, this notebook is powerful enough to be your only computer.

You stated that you'd be okay with 6 pounds, which is quite a bit. Personally if I were to carry a notebook around all day, I'd go with one of the 2 pounders and live with the limitations (small screen, limited storage).

 

[thudstaff]

Originally posted by: Zap

This sounds like a winner for you.

My other thought would be a Dell Vostro 1310, if you're wanting something closer to a "normal" notebook. It is a smallish notebook and lightweight at around 4 pounds (I think). This would top out your budget though, but here's a configuration that seems reasonably nice:
Vostro 1310 $914
Core 2 Duo
2GB RAM
80GB HDD
DVDRW
87WHr 9 cell battery

Unless you're a gamer, this notebook is powerful enough to be your only computer.

You stated that you'd be okay with 6 pounds, which is quite a bit. Personally if I were to carry a notebook around all day, I'd go with one of the 2 pounders and live with the limitations (small screen, limited storage).

While I'm okay with 6 lbs, I'd prefer something smaller. I guess it's a balance of cost versus configuration. As stated, I don't need a desktop replacement. I've got a great Dell Core 2 Quad with dual 19" widescreen panels in my home office. My work computer is also just fine. The laptop will see limited use...light web surfing...taking notes in school...working on my dissertation.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: thudstaff
The laptop will see limited use...light web surfing...taking notes in school...working on my dissertation.

I'd go with a Cloudbook or Eee. Don't know what the Cloudbook has as an AC adaptor, but I think the one that comes with the Eee is really small/light. After carrying it a whole day, you'll probably appreciate the 2½ pound mini notebook with AC adaptor over a 7 pound 6 pound notebook with 1 pound AC adaptor.

^^ that's just what I'd do.

 

[runawayprisoner]

I'll second that. I'm very satisfied with my Eee PC 701 right now.

 

[preslove]

Buying a subnotebook in May would be the WORST POSSIBLE TECH PURCHASE OF THE YEAR. Wait till all the competitors come out and look hard at the wind or 2nd generation cloudbook. The 8.9" eee is way too expensive & I'm sure there will be price cuts once all the different units have been in the store for a month or two. Really, if you are starting school in mid to late August, you shouldn't make a purchase until then because of this.

 

[thudstaff]

Originally posted by: presloveReally, if you are starting school in mid to late August, you shouldn't make a purchase until then because of this.

The start date has been moved up to July 19 (yes, it's a Saturday). I'm going to hold off as long as I can. I'd like to get more info on what Gateway and Dell likely have planned.

 

[preslove]

Originally posted by: thudstaff

Originally posted by: presloveReally, if you are starting school in mid to late August, you shouldn't make a purchase until then because of this.

The start date has been moved up to July 19 (yes, it's a Saturday). I'm going to hold off as long as I can. I'd like to get more info on what Gateway and Dell likely have planned.

I doubt that Dell or Gateway will have anything by then, but the Wind, at the very least, the ECS iteration, and the 8.9" atom eee all should be out by early July because they are waiting on the atom, which is released in June. Hopefully the Cloudbook Max should be out by then, too.

Personally, I'm probably going to wait till the Via Isaiah processor comes out, as that will probably put in the mininote and cloudbook max. It looks like the Isaiah will be more powerful than the atom, but still be low wattage. I can't find a release date for the Isaiah, though.

 

[thudstaff]

Originally posted by: preslove
I doubt that Dell or Gateway will have anything by then, but the Wind, at the very least, the ECS iteration, and the 8.9" atom eee all should be out by early July because they are waiting on the atom, which is released in June. Hopefully the Cloudbook Max should be out by then, too.

The buzz on the net is early June for release of the Wind. Specifically, I read June 3. Of course I realize that that's just internet hype but still. I would think that they already have their hands on the Atom if they're ready to bring the unit to market.

 

[preslove]

Originally posted by: thudstaff

Originally posted by: preslove
I doubt that Dell or Gateway will have anything by then, but the Wind, at the very least, the ECS iteration, and the 8.9" atom eee all should be out by early July because they are waiting on the atom, which is released in June. Hopefully the Cloudbook Max should be out by then, too.

The buzz on the net is early June for release of the Wind. Specifically, I read June 3. Of course I realize that that's just internet hype but still. I would think that they already have their hands on the Atom if they're ready to bring the unit to market.

Yeah, but I haven't heard when the ECS subnotebook is coming out & that one looks really promising.