wife wants a netbook...

[jdport]

My wife would like to have a netbook for Christmas. I don't think she'd be doing a whole lot more than email/web/facebook.... maybe downloading pics from her camera or whatever. I don't know what else she'd use it for. Unfortunately, I've never really paid much attention to netbooks because they are too underpowered for the applications I use and for gaming... so I don't know anything about them.

Does anybody have any good recommendations? I don't want to spend a fortune, but I'm not looking for the cheapest available either. I don't want to buy her something junky, even if chances are she wouldn't know the difference 🙂

Any thoughts, or suggestions, or pointers on what to look for in netbooks would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[metalmania]

As you said do not expect much on netbooks.
Target has an Acer N450 netbook for only $180 with is good enough in the netbook category. The Toshiba brand with similar specs will cost $100 more.
But my suggestion is do not buy Atom netbooks. Go with Intel SU7300/4100 or AMD Neo X2 instead.

I used and fixed some Atom netbooks for coworkers and friends. Here are some observations:

1. Asus: feels and looks like a cheap plastic toy. Touchpad and keyboard suck, battery is good.

2. Acer: Toy-like, bad touchpad, 3-cell battery died after one year.

3. Toshiba: Feels and looks better, bad touchpad.

Lenovo Thinkpad X100e is definitely better with the keyboard. IMO the keyboard is the second most important factor for a laptop or netbook.

 

[JWade]

i would recommend the dell 1018, you can get it with the broadcom decoder chip and 1366x766 screen. the broadcom chip plays hulu and youtube smooth with no skipping online.

my wife just got the m101z, it has the single core amd 1.7ghz chip and the 1366x766 screen and has alot more horsepower. she likes that alot. the better screen resolution is the big thing she likes, seeing more on the screen.

for either, iwould recommend delloutlet.com

 

[Zap]

my suggestion is do not buy Atom netbooks. Go with Intel SU7300/4100 or AMD Neo X2 instead.

That would be my recommendation also, especially if she's coming off a normal computer or if she will be using it the majority of the time.

Get a dual core.

AMD Nile platform if you think she might need a bit of graphics oomph.

Intel if you think she might need more battery life.

What physical aspects of a netbook does she value most? Thinness? Size? Weight? My Dell Latitude 13 (similar to Dell Vostro v13) is super thin and weights around 3.5 pounds, but uses a 13.3" screen and is a bit bigger. There are a number of options on the market using 11.6"-12.1" screens that are physically really small, but are thicker than the Dell systems I listed. Acers with 11.6" screens are super lightweight at around 3 pounds but the keyboard and touchpad are kind of crappy for those who care (some aren't bothered by them at all, some hate them).

 

[Lanyap]

Make sure she actually tries one out at a store. Many don't like the small screens and keyboards.

 

[Bateluer]

Make sure she actually tries one out at a store. Many don't like the small screens and keyboards.

This.

Unless she's interested in one of the 11.6 or 12.1in 'super netbook' models. Different ballgame.