Looking For Uber Netbook

[CrankyCarrot]

Hi,

I want to invest wisely in a netbook I can carry around with me all day on cafe-hopping expeditions and on trips overseas. Compactness, durability and long, long battery life will be crucial factors in my decision on which to buy. Outdoor screen visibility would be a bonus - I've been reading that a lot of netbook screens are hard to view in bright conditions due to shininess (for lack of a better word).

My budget is slightly flexible, but I'm looking to spend around 8500 - 10, 000.

I saw an Acer Aspire One 522 on sale for 8500 yesterday, and was very tempted to pick it up until I read that it's batter life is fairly poor, like between 2-3 hours. The review I read didn't specify whether it had a 3 or 6 cell battery though, and the one I was going to buy has 6.

Does anyone have any idea how long the battery holds out on average for a 6 cell Aspire One 522?

Any recommendations for long life netbooks in general?

I'll mostly be using it for running simple apps like Word, browsing the net and watching movies. Not expecting to play anything more gpu-taxing than Angry Birds.

[Jiu-Jitsu]

Samsung N150P Unfortunately, you are in Thailand, so it might cost more.

[manarak]

Outdoor visibility is a problem on all notebooks that are optimized for battery life.

I got a Acer 1005PE and it works for over 10 hours without wifi and about 7 hours with wifi enabled.

Bought it 2 years ago, I guess there are better options now.

[CrankyCarrot]

@manarak - I didn't realise battery life and screen visibility were so tied in. I know having a higher brightness will drain faster, but I was more talking about how some screens seem shinier -- ie the surface is designed in a way that's more reflective than it needs to be.

PS 2 years old and with 7-10 hrs of battery life? Sounds like you picked a good one.

@Jiu Jitsu - I might be able to buy one of those Samsungs on eBay and have it shipped, or pick one up when I'm abroad from Thailand. Where did you get yours?

[Spoonman]

Samsung N150P Unfortunately, you are in Thailand, so it might cost more.

I have the Sammy N220, its claimed to have upto 12hrs of battery life but in reality it is more like 7hr.

[manarak]

@manarak - I didn't realise battery life and screen visibility were so tied in. I know having a higher brightness will drain faster, but I was more talking about how some screens seem shinier -- ie the surface is designed in a way that's more reflective than it needs to be.

PS 2 years old and with 7-10 hrs of battery life? Sounds like you picked a good one.

@Jiu Jitsu - I might be able to buy one of those Samsungs on eBay and have it shipped, or pick one up when I'm abroad from Thailand. Where did you get yours?

The screen is the number one battery drainer.

Some screens seem shiny, but outdoors you will not want a reflective screen.

My screen is matte and non-reflective, but still no chance to work in sunlight or slight shadow.

[Spoonman]

Some screens seem shiny, but outdoors you will not want a reflective screen.

My screen is matte and non-reflective, but still no chance to work in sunlight or slight shadow.

That was the sole reason for my choice in the Samsung N220, the matte screen, outdoor veiwing performance whilst not 100% is still perfectly fine unless in direct sunlight.

[CrankyCarrot]

@Spoonman - where did you buy your Sammy N220 and how much was it?

[Spoonman]

@Spoonman - where did you buy your Sammy N220 and how much was it?

I actually purchased it in the UK August last year, was a forced purchase due to my laptop dying and as I was working had little choice, it cost me £360.00 at the time which pissed me off as I had been intending to buy one and infact had nearly done so before I left here, It was Bt.3000 cheaper here.

[CrankyCarrot]

Well I've just spent the last couple of days scouring almost every IT department store from Power Buy in Jungceylon to the lower ground level of Big C at Central. Took a lot of pics of various netbooks and their specs. Plan on looking up reviews on CNET and Toms Hardware etc of the models I'm considering. The current pricing ranges from about 8000 to 12,000 from what I saw. Having done all this running around, I guess I can probably justify spending anything in that price bracket.

Keeping my eye out for those Samsung's mentioned above.

[CrankyCarrot]

Re this link (3rd par)

"Designed to let you express yourself even when you’re not logged on, the N220’s ultra-stylish, fashion-forward looks accentuate your on-the-go lifestyle. Not only is it available in both green and red, it boasts a chrome decoration on its sideline. The N220’s unique, sophisticated crystal finish and refined, distinctive pattern enhances its uncommonly cool appearance. Designed so you stand out. Even when you’re sitting down."

Man is that some puffy piece of writing. I want to get paid to come up with copy like that, lol! Could this really be a serious selling point for anybody?

[Jiu-Jitsu]

@manarak - I didn't realise battery life and screen visibility were so tied in. I know having a higher brightness will drain faster, but I was more talking about how some screens seem shinier -- ie the surface is designed in a way that's more reflective than it needs to be.

PS 2 years old and with 7-10 hrs of battery life? Sounds like you picked a good one.

@Jiu Jitsu - I might be able to buy one of those Samsungs on eBay and have it shipped, or pick one up when I'm abroad from Thailand. Where did you get yours?

Italy. Around 270 euros at the time. Bluetooth option.

Wasn't for me. I bought another MSI U135DX with a 5.5 hr actual battery life for £130(6500 baht).

[CrankyCarrot]

@Jiu - 6500?! Wow, that's super cheap. Where'd you get that? Was it 2nd hand?

[damole]

I was thinking of getting the Acer 522, here is great thread about what it can actually do. Best get the more expensive AOD522-C58 version which comes with a 500GB HD, 2GB RAM and Windows 7. I've also been looking at the Asus 1015B, another great netbook, matte screen, also uses the same AMD C-50 chipset, 1350 Bt for a copy of Windows 7 Starter. Doesn't have the 1280x768 screen just the normal 1024x600. Shame they are not selling the USB 3.0 version in Thailand yet.

-damole

[Jiu-Jitsu]

@Jiu - 6500?! Wow, that's super cheap. Where'd you get that? Was it 2nd hand?

Was one of these but was a little cheaper at the time. Bargain, as it was supplied with a Windows 7 licence as well. 12 month warranty.

Says 'refurb' but was brand new with the sticky plastic still covering the lid. Bought it for girlfriend. She's happy.

[CrankyCarrot]

I was close to buying an Acer 522 for b 8500 from Banana IT, and it seems like the gpu and cpu processing performance is it's strong suit, along with the 720p display. I saw a youtube review (can't find it now, sorry) that had a guy running Street Fighter 4 on it too, albeit in slow-mo.

The problem is, all that performance renders itsbattery life to about 3hrs at best, even with a 6 cell. I'm looking for something that can give me a minimum of 5 or 6 hours unplugged.

[CrankyCarrot]

@Jiu - looks pretty sweet. If I see one I might pick it up

[CrankyCarrot]

Regardless of which operating system a netbook comes with, you can always install another one like Win 7 onto it instead from a flash drive, right?

Some netbooks are sold with just DOS on them for goodnessakes

[CrankyCarrot]

Strongly considering this one:

asus eee netbook 1015b whi012w

for about 9000 at Banana IT. So many different model numbers though - having difficulty finding a review of this specific one. I suppose that one Eee 1015 would be comparable to another, except in terms of things I can see for myself from the box like extra RAM, right?

[Spoonman]

Regardless of which operating system a netbook comes with, you can always install another one like Win 7 onto it instead from a flash drive, right?

Some netbooks are sold with just DOS on them for goodnessakes

Correct, the Acer Aspire one D55e I purchased for my missus only had DOS on it, I installed win7 from a USB.

Installing Windows 7 From USB Drive 3 Steps Easy Process

[CrankyCarrot]

Cool - that's one less thing to worry about

[CrankyCarrot]

I'd be correct in assuming 99% of netbooks have a built in mic, right? Especially if they have a webcam.

It would suck if I went to skype home with my new netbook and found no one could hear me.

[CrankyCarrot]

This is about the cheapest netbook I've seen on sale in Phuket - at the lower ground section of Big C near Central Festival:

http://twitpic.com/5w24q6

Anyone know anything about these?

[Spoonman]

This is about the cheapest netbook I've seen on sale in Phuket - at the lower ground section of Big C near Central Festival:

http://twitpic.com/5w24q6

Anyone know anything about these?

Thats the same one as I got for my missus, its an acer aspire one D255E (I made a boo boo in my post and forgot the 2), at 7,990 it will only have 1gb of ram and a small battery which wont last more than a few hours before its flat.

[CrankyCarrot]

Oh... that sounds cr- ... like it's not for me.

[Spoonman]

Oh... that sounds cr- ... like it's not for me.

They are actually decent netbooks, just need to get the version with 2gb of ram and the larger battery.

[CrankyCarrot]

Oh... that sounds cr- ... like it's not for me.

They are actually decent netbooks, just need to get the version with 2gb of ram and the larger battery.

I guess I could always look at upgrading one. Also, the current series might come with a little extra grunt, if it's been something like 6 months since you bought that one for your wife.

[Spoonman]

Oh... that sounds cr- ... like it's not for me.

They are actually decent netbooks, just need to get the version with 2gb of ram and the larger battery.

I guess I could always look at upgrading one. Also, the current series might come with a little extra grunt, if it's been something like 6 months since you bought that one for your wife.

it was 10500b with 2gb of ram, larger battery and 500gb HDD, purchased it 3 months ago.

[CrankyCarrot]

Right. Just have to read through about fifty different reviews on CNET and Toms Hardware and I'll be able to make a sound decision. Seems like a lot of the models selling in Thailand are slightly dif in terms of number and spec to the ones being reviewed on the big sites.

[CrankyCarrot]

Is there much/any difference between an Asus Eee 1015B (commonly sold here) and an Asus Eee 1015PEM or 1015PM? (latter 2 models have reviews online everywhere, but the 1015B does not)