Netbook Advice

[jamiesalter]

I currently don't own any sort of laptop/netbook after my old one packed it in and I have since been living with just a desktop. However I'm now beginning to sense a need for one and since I'm about to go to America, I figure I'll get one out there. The question is, which one?

This thread has been incredibly useful (http://forums.hexus.net/small-form-f...ml#post1892873), but I still haven't quite narrowed it down.

My needs:
Good battery life - I intend to use it on long train journey's etc.
Decent keyboard - will be doing lots of typing
1080p video - just because. (although I won't be gaming at all, just want decent video)

My wants:
HDMI connection - not necessary but would be nice to be able to connect to home cinema system.

Screen size doesn't matter so much, but if I want a decent keyboard I imagine I need 10" or larger.
Budget = around £300-£400, but considering I'll be buying in America, lets say £400 (maybe max £450 if its justifiable).

Any help choosing appreciated. I've been trawling websites for about two hours now with little success on getting anywhere.

Cheers.

[MadduckUK]

Dell 11z, one of the SU4100 ones.

[0iD]

If you're buying in the US, make sure it's 110v/240v compatible, or you'll need a new UK power supply once you get back

[Pob255]

You'll have couple of major issues trying to fill thoes requirements.

1080p video - no netbook has a 1080p screen, although I'm guessing that's more for when connected via hdmi to a monitor/tv
main issue here is the gpu/cpu power required, one of the netbooks with the ion gpu would be your best bet, however that does eat into battery life quite a bit.

Also how light weight is light weight? The issue here is bigger screens and higher capasity batteries (needed for longer life) add quite a bit of weight.
Just checked my asus 901, total weight is just over 1kg and of that the battery is a third, at over 300g
I know from taking laptops apart, that once you've removed the battery and screen what's left is very light.

[jamiesalter]

Yeah I'm looking for 1080p for outputting over HDMI (if it has HDMI, can VGA do 1080p?).

I'm really having to rethink what I actually want. Basically, the use of it will be for train/plane journey's and just generally if I'm on holiday etc for a number of days. Considering this, and ignoring minor price differences, I reckon I can either:

• go for a lightweight netbook that doesn't do video very well, but is small enough to whip in a little bag for even short train journeys.
• go for a slightly heavier (and bigger) ultra-portable that does do video well and does nearly all of what a normal notebook does.

Weight doesn't bother me a huge amount, although I think what is important is battery life. Actually with this in mind I guess what I'm really looking for isn't a netbook at all, but a subnotebook with decent battery life and that isn't too heavy.

I've seen notebooks that have the ability to switch off various components (ie a graphics card) to improve battery life. Are these actually useful? I would only need the graphics power with high quality video, so would be nice to be able to turn it off otherwise.

Dell 11z, one of the SU4100 ones.

The Dell 11z looks decent for my needs and seems to fit the bill nicely. Although comes with Vista which is not ideal - I'm either going to do Windows 7 or Ubuntu.

Thanks for the help.

[oolon]

If you want ultraportable get a Sony Vaio P series. 1600x768 display 10 inch size (over pfrice and budget but lovely)! If you want good playback get an ion(2) based netbook, don't forget however most (all?) netbooks do not have an BluRay drive.

[killie99]

If you want ultraportable get a Sony Vaio P series. 1600x768 display 10 inch size (over pfrice and budget but lovely)! If you want good playback get an ion(2) based netbook, don't forget however most (all?) netbooks do not have an BluRay drive.

weird screen size .......

[pp05]

I currently don't own any sort of laptop/netbook after my old one packed it in and I have since been living with just a desktop. However I'm now beginning to sense a need for one and since I'm about to go to America, I figure I'll get one out there. The question is, which one?

This thread has been incredibly useful (http://forums.hexus.net/small-form-f...ml#post1892873), but I still haven't quite narrowed it down.

My needs:
Good battery life - I intend to use it on long train journey's etc.
Decent keyboard - will be doing lots of typing
1080p video - just because. (although I won't be gaming at all, just want decent video)

My wants:
HDMI connection - not necessary but would be nice to be able to connect to home cinema system.

Screen size doesn't matter so much, but if I want a decent keyboard I imagine I need 10" or larger.
Budget = around £300-£400, but considering I'll be buying in America, lets say £400 (maybe max £450 if its justifiable).

Any help choosing appreciated. I've been trawling websites for about two hours now with little success on getting anywhere.

Cheers.

battery life > look at acer timeline series e.g. 1810tz.

1080p isn't important on a netbook let alone a laptop. Especially if one needs good battery life per charge.

[oolon]

battery life > look at acer timeline series e.g. 1810tz.

1080p isn't important on a netbook let alone a laptop. Especially if one needs good battery life per charge.

After all 1080p is 1920x1080 the 1080 is the number of lines not the number of columns, only really big laptops have that size screen, which are not in the OPs price range.

I would +1 on the acer timeline, though I am waiting to find out what the 1830T comes out like, the UK does not have a good selection of the timelines unlike the US and Germany.

Don't forget a foreign laptop will have a different keyboard, however you should be able to swap it out.

[pp05]

After all 1080p is 1920x1080 the 1080 is the number of lines not the number of columns, only really big laptops have that size screen, which are not in the OPs price range.

I would +1 on the acer timeline, though I am waiting to find out what the 1830T comes out like, the UK does not have a good selection of the timelines unlike the US and Germany.

Don't forget a foreign laptop will have a different keyboard, however you should be able to swap it out.

I read on a review website they were updating the series with core i3/i5 in the near future. Price point would be interesting. At £450- £500 - they would be an awesome proposition given their battery life.

[jamiesalter]

Thanks for the Acer Timeline 1810tz suggestion. That is pretty much exactly what I'm looking for. My only problem is that I just have an inherent distrust for Acer - have been through/seen a number of broken Acer's (which isn't necessarily their fault, it'll happen to most laptops) but I find their support awful . That being said the 1810tz looks very good for the money. Just read a review here: http://www.trustedreviews.com/laptop...CULV-Laptop/p1 that's praising it.

Are there any alternatives to the 1810tz from manufacturers other than Acer?

And thanks for all the help. (Again .)

[oolon]

Are there any alternatives to the 1810tz from manufacturers other than Acer?

And thanks for all the help. (Again .)

Actually Acer make may companies laptops, if they don't Asus do. I believe the small Dell laptops are infact Acer ones.

BTW Packard Bell, e-machines and gateway are all now brands of Acer.

Few offer the resolution that the acer ones do normally they do the "netbook" 1024x600 rubbish. My Topshiba libretto does better than that at 1280x768 its also smaller (9 inches) but 4 years old...

Samsung are a good choice but the resolution is lacking likewise with thinkpads (Levono). Acer are the best on spec I have seen.

[Antagram]

Remember a lot of prices listed don't included sales tax, depending on which state you are going to. So comparing prices can be misleading, and offer a shock once you get to the cash till.

With an Asus I bought I was lucky the power brick allowed for the plug end lead to be disconnected so I could use a UK plug lead. This worked out better than a power brick with permanent attached lead at both ends, and then using a U.K. plug adaptor.

Due to U.S. keyboard characters I don't have a working \ character after changing Windows to English UK layout. So have to bring up onscreen keyboard when needed. The U.S. layout has \ above enter, but after changing it to U.K. I haven't found a key or combination to get \ working.

[jamiesalter]

Thanks for the help guys.

Whilst I think that the Acer 1810tz fits my needs perfectly, I've decided I won't be buying in the US due to minimal savings and alot more effort. Will probably be purchasing an Acer when I get back though.

Cheers.

[Pob255]

I would of thought that with the exchange rates and such it would be far cheaper to buy one in the US