Netbook advice appreciated

D

dotVIBE

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Hey guys,

doing the travelling thing soon, and would like to take a netbook along for keeping in contact with emails and storing and sorting DSLR shots until i can get back to my PC.

2x requirements:
Compact & light as possible
Max budget of R5k, the cheaper the better as always.

Any ideas? It's a bit of a new field for me, i'm not really up to speed on Atom procs & netbook tech. And don't say "get an Ipad". I need some drivespace for offloading DSLR shots, and a 64GB ipad is a bit pricey.
 
Asus Eee Pc 1201N , Black , seashell , nvidia ion platform with full HD , with 6-cell battery , multi-touch pad of easily zoom in/out , built-in 0.3MP webcam , SRS Premium Sound 5.1 audio , 286x196x21.8mm , 1.38kg, intel Atom 330 1.6Ghz dual core with hyper threading ( 4 threads ) / 8watts ( 45nm, 533mhz fsb ; L1 : 64k , L2 : 1mb , EDB ) , 2Gb DDR2-800 , Intel G945SE chipset , GMA950 on-board VGA with HDMi+D-sub out , 12.1" full-HD wide Lcd ( 1366x768 WXGA+ ) , HDMi TV-out , 250gb 5400rpm HDD + 500GB online WebStorage , SD/MMC card reader , bluetooth V2.1 + WiFi + 10/100 lan - with windows 7 Home premium + Office 2007 Ready ( professional with 60 day free trial ) - 1 year international warranty
 
yeah, that is the one i've been leaning toward. i'm just wondering whether 12" might be a bit too bulky.
 
What is the price on that Asus? You can also look at the Lenovo ThinkPad Edge 11, should be in SA by early December.
 
I would not recommend that model of 1201. I ended up getting it at the beginning of the year. While it has served me well there are a few issues you should be aware of.

It runs very hot. It has an atom330 which is a nettop cpu (desktop version of netbooks.. kinda like htpcs I think) it was not meant to go into such a small space. as a result it runs around 80 degrees on idle with me... getting all the way up to 93 if I do anything intensive... play age of empires 2 or impossible creatures.

Mine has has also started giving hard drive issues. I think this may be just mine though, and due to me lugging it about to lectures and just generally abusing it.

It's glossy shell picks up scratches like no tomorrow especially on my silver model (no one had a black one ins stock), and it's glossy screen can be used as a mirror.

On the plus side the 500gb Asus webstorage is awesome! Especially for you if you going to be storing a lot of photos, I think all Asuses come with it these days.
The screen quality is also really amazing for a netbook. It's LED backlit, but then I think most nettbooks are these days, but if you look at a lot of laptop reviews you can see colour reproduction and the like on this is up there with a lot of more expensive mid-large size laptops.

I would suggest the new Asus 1215n nettbook, but it doesn't seem like it's available in the country yet. That thinkpad edge 11 looks awesome from reviews and if you can get hold of it I would definitely go with it.

If you are going to stick with the 1201n you can get it here for slightly cheaper, though not sure if it includes insurance like the other link:
http://www.landmarkpc.co.za/store/asus-1201n-intel-atom-16ghz-nvidia-6cell-battery-black-p-3786.html

I would also upgrade to win7 64bit and put an extra 2gb ram in it.
 
dotVIBE, import the 1215N. It comes with the same global one year warranty and it costs about R4500 with delivery and customs. You can order one from Amazon and use MyUS.com to get it imported.
 
Any advice on where to buy an affordable Nettop/MiniPC/Netbbook and what brand would be suitable for HD viewing and internet browsing?
 
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