Upgrading netbooks

[tzirtzi]

Hi

I'm considering buying a netbook or laptop to use while travelling - I won't have another computer, so I want something that'll replace a desktop while I'm away. However, I also want something that'll still be useful to me when I get back - for which purpose I want something extremely portable.

So I was considering getting a netbook and upgrading the RAM and harddrive. The two netbooks I've been considering are the Dell Inspiron Mini 10 and the Samsung N110. As far as I can find out it would be possible to upgrade both to 2gb of RAM, but I can't find anything out about harddrive upgrades. Could I just replace their HDs with normal 2.5" laptop harddrives or would I need something specific and more expensive? And am I right that I could upgrade the RAM?

Thanks in advance,
tzirtzi

[staffsMike]

as long as the notebook in question has a 2.5" drive it's not problem especially with something like the MSi wind If it has a 1,8" drive it will be more expensive.

[tzirtzi]

cool, thanks As far as I can tell from manuals and such, they both have 2.5" harddrives and straightforward SO DIMM ram.

is there any chance that theyl have been designed so that you can't get in to replace the harddrive without breaking the case? I've been reading up on the MSI Wind, where it's obviously possible, but haven't been able to find much written about people doing anything to the two I've been looking at..

[Grey M@a]

Get yourself the Samsung NC10 and forget the N110 as the NC10 is the better of the two. Grab 2GB of memory and then if you are feeling really adventurous then you can take the case apart (something like 10 screws and the case pops apart) and do what I did and strip out the 160gb hd you get in it and stick a 320gb hd in there. It's got to the point now where I use the nc10 99% of the time for work and just hook it up to a big monitor if I need the screen space

Actually this will help you see how its done

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB9D5aTgOgw

You also have the option of stick a SSD in there instead of a 160GB HD. From what I have seen the samsung seems to like the SSD option but SSD's aren't cheap.

[staffsMike]

You tube has answers on how to do it for most. Acers are by far the most difficult I've seen. Asus aren't too bad from memory. The MSI as I said is a piece of cake but you do void the warranty I will add..

[Grey M@a]

Best thing about the Samsung, no warranty stickers or seals anywhere near when pulling the case apart

[tzirtzi]

Thanks for your replies It's good to hear that there are other people around doing exactly what I had in mind!

The Samsung continues to sound like a good option - Out of interest, what are the differences between the N110 and the NC10? Specs lists make them sound nearly identical..

The MSI sounds like a good option - especially the price, but let down a bit by the battery life compared to the Samsung.

Does anyone have any experience of the Dell Mini Inspiron?

I'll take a look at that youtube video when im next on a computer (on a mobile right now)

Thanks again for your help!

[Grey M@a]

The samsung there are 9 cell batteries out now for them on amazon and ebay etc so you can get bigger batteries again if you need the extra battery time

From memory the difference is the n110 has a cardbus in there and also the looks were brought into line with their current models with the red/rose band around the middle. Other than that they are almost identical but the NC10 being the older model is cheaper these days over the N110 so the NC10 is the one to go for