Buying an entry-level laptop

km2 said:
Not mentioned is the price of Netbooks, which can start from R1999:

http://www.incredible.co.za/services/catalog/moreinfo.asp?sku=68353&FromHome=true

Bought one yesterday and with Ubuntu Netbook Remix, it's really great for just getting people hooked up to email, web browsing, and word processing for one low cost. (add an external mouse, because that built in touchpad will drive you nuts)
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Netbooks are arguably not laptops.

Although netbooks are all the rage at the moment there is still good value in the entry-level laptop market.
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Tomo3000 said:
Netbooks are arguably not laptops.
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Sure, but the article brings up netbooks as the competition, but then doesn't show just what a big difference in price you're looking at. If you're using your portable computer as your primary point of doing work, then get a laptop. Otherwise if you've already got a desktop/laptop and just want to sit on the couch or bed and browse the net without setting the duvet alight, and you're a bit cheap, then go for a netbook.
 
km2 said:
Sure, but the article brings up netbooks as the competition, but then doesn't show just what a big difference in price you're looking at. If you're using your portable computer as your primary point of doing work, then get a laptop. Otherwise if you've already got a desktop/laptop and just want to sit on the couch or bed and browse the net without setting the duvet alight, and you're a bit cheap, then go for a netbook.
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Yeah I tend to agree
 
The prob I see with entry level notebooks is that its normally a celeron 2Ghz with Vista which is IMO not good. There should be more builds with Linux as your OS and it will be cheaper as well.
 
When buying entry level laptops you should always look for AMD powered ones - they are all 64bit and runs like a dream when you load Windows 7 on them. I recently bought a 2.1Ghz Dual Core Athlon for my wife and it absolutely flies with Windows 7. It was on a special for R5000.
 
My netbook is one the best purchases I ever made ;)

Granted - it was a little pricey, but I use it daily for the reasons above : browsing on the couch, in bed etc.

In fact, I bought a Quad core desktop, 22" screen and fancy speakers a month earlier which just sit there collecting dust since I got this ....
 
I am quite comfortable using my Smartphone for most of the functions people seem to be using a netbook, i.e. email, internet access, Googling and even doing some word processing and Spreadsheets while out on the move, waiting at the airport - even from the warm comfort of my bed when waking up in the morning. Granted, the screen is smallish - but, it makes calls too!
 
Why not give a list of notebooks to considor... Kind of pointless without it?
 
For R8k you can get a real laptop that will be miles better and last longer than any netbook. For R2k, though, your options are somewhat more limited. Limited to a netbook, that is. :p
 
What I look for in an entry-level laptop:
Size: 14" : I do not like 15.4" or 16", especially @ 1280x800 1366x768. There are cheap/cheapish 14" laptops out there and it makes a difference!
 
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I love my Asus Eee PC 1000, advantages over laptops, VERY portable and most importantly about 7 hours of battery life.
It's perfect for traveling, considering it only weighs about a kilo as opposed to the 2-3 kg a laptop weighs.
Of course it's not meant to be a replacement for a laptop or a desktop, it's for browsing, checking mail etc
Just my 2 cents worth :-)
 
Dolby said:
My netbook is one the best purchases I ever made ;)

Granted - it was a little pricey, but I use it daily for the reasons above : browsing on the couch, in bed etc.

In fact, I bought a Quad core desktop, 22" screen and fancy speakers a month earlier which just sit there collecting dust since I got this ....
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+1. Sold my 17 inch laptop a month ago. Use the MSI Wind for programming, word process, web browsing etc now.
 
matthieup said:
can a netbook easily play videos in divx/xvid format?
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It can handle them with ease. Also plays DVDs perfectly. I have tried an HD quicktime file and it fell over trying to play that but other than that normal quicktime, xvid, dvd, vob etc is fine.
 
Can the 2K linux netbook do 3G/HSDPA (with E220)? Easy for Noobs / Parents (Email & Internet only)?
 
Notebooks in the UK are currently on sale for like under 5k with specs that we usually pay for about 8k here(recession striking i guess).(i know because i was helping a friend there find one) Something to consider i guess.
 
jasweb said:
Can the 2K linux netbook do 3G/HSDPA (with E220)? Easy for Noobs / Parents (Email & Internet only)?
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Easily.... usually mobile internet providers will give you a usb stick modem which takes a sim card.
In Greece they give you a netbook + modem when you sign up for a 3g Mobile connection of course the down side is that you sign a two year contract at 39 Euros per month and you have a 10 gb cap!!!!

Most netbooks run xp with no problem, I would avoid buying one with only a 4Gb hard drive though (they are mostly discontinued in Europe)
 
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