Netbook recommendations please?

[stevenrw]

HID has been dropping heavy hints about getting a netbook for Xmas - so I need help guys.
1. If I have a wireless n router (the disappointing and costly) Billion 7800N will that be backwards compatible if the chosen netbook only has a g adapter?
2. I'm specifically looking at the Acer Aspire One D255 - any views?

As always I'm confident that you guys will help dig me out of the hole I find myself in this time

[Lance]

I've no experience myself but Rik was a samsung model he is pleased with.

[Rik]

I don't like Acer much, Steven, following my experience of their notebooks. As Lance says, I'm very pleased with my Samsung (it's an NC10, now superseded), battery life up to 7 hours, reasonably fast, very convenient, good screen. An N router will be backwards compatible to b & g.

The other brand to check is HP, they were no good for me due to dexterity problems, but in other respects it was a nice machine.

[dudwell]

For what it's worth (not very much because I've no experience with anything else) I'm pleased with my very neat Asus 1008HA in white. In black reviewers complain that it shows every finger print. It may no longer be easy to find at the £249 price I paid though.

[Simon]

I've no experience myself but Rik was a samsung model he is pleased with.

He called his netbook Rik?   

[Rik]

 

[JB]

I have had a Samsung NC10 for nearly a year. I take it backward and forward to my property in Spain. It has never glitched and connects to whatever WiFi network I need. It came with Windows XP installed which I removed and replaced with Windows 7. I have also run Ubuntu Linux on it and all facilities appeared to work OK.

I find it very useful especially the battery life as previously mentioned. My brother has had an Acer laptop for a couple of years and in that time has had to replace the charger and the battery. Having said that, I don't know how well he 'cares' for his battery, in terms of letting it run flat before recharging. One thing I do like about the Samsung is that for home use it will work with the battery removed, which avoids constant mini top ups which I don't consider good for battery longevity.

The NC10 is obsolete now but there are similar models that have superceded it.

Good luck with whatever you choose! 

[Rik]

Two happy NC10 users, then.

[JB]

Two happy NC10 users, then.

TBH, it's one of the best portable computers I have owned, if not the best, and I've had a few.

[Rik]

Same here. Definitely on my list for the next lappy.

[gizmo71]

I had an NC20 but I got really fed up with the wierd keyboard layout (backslash in totally the wrong place).

I've got an Aspire One A750h which I liked but I've recently bought an Acer Ferrari One which is every bit as small and light as the Aspire One (it's almost identically packaged) but massively more capable (being a proper dual core Athlon and not an Atom or VIA based machine). Battery life isn't as good but I still get 3+ hours which is good enough for my uses.

The only realy problem with the Acers is the slightly flimsy keyboard, which can take a bit of getting used to - but at least the keys are all in sensible places.

[ST Driver]

I have the acer one netbook and find it to very good.
Just all the rubbish acer supply with it once removed the acer is a very good netbook.

Steve

[MisterW]

I have the one of the earlier 9" acer aspire one netbooks and find it to be pretty good.
As ST above, I removed the OS ( Linpus Lite ) that came with it and installed Ubuntu Netbook Edition.
Works a treat now, together with a 3g dongle its a go anywhere device.

[stevenrw]

Thanks for all the input guys - you always come up with useful views and I really appreciate it.
Surprisingly, it seems that the only retailer with half decent prices and choice is PC World/Currys, unless you have far deeper pockets than I do.
I'll take a look at the Asus@£199 and the Acer@£229. Sadly I'm sure the W7 Starter they try to flog with the Acer will be a waste of space so that might push me towards the cheaper XP Home loaded Asus. Being a secondary machine I can't see the sense in paying for extra hdd size - 160gb should be plenty.

[Rik]

You're not going to do huge quantities of work on a netbook, 160GB should easily cope.

[Glenn]

My Mini9 only has a 32Gb SSD it's plenty big enough.

[Lance]

I'd do some research on the Windows 7 starter - I thought I'd heard people were suprisingly pleased with it.

[DorsetBoy]

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/190776

http://direct.tesco.com/q/N.2000100/Nr.99.aspx?Ns=P_HIDDEN_Stock_Available|1||P_SORT_Price|1&btnResultSort.x=18&btnResultSort.y=8


http://www.comet.co.uk/c/Laptops/Netbooks/1959


http://www.amazon.co.uk/b?ie=UTF8&node=429887031

[ST Driver]

I have windows 7 starter on acer it has its limitations but it works well enough for what I want.
I use my netbook when I'm not at home or if just surfing whilst keeping her indoors company.
I had a look at a number of netbooks with different OS's in the shops and had a play with them all
and found w7 starter the best for me. I would say go have a go with a few and make your chose then.
I found Comet most acomadating for this

Steve

[stevenrw]

OK guys, thanks again for taking the time. Bearing in mind the positive(ish) views on W7 Starter, I found this

http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/sol/shop/technology/computing/laptops_and_netbooks/121093637_hp_1103102sa_intel_atom_1gb_160gb_101_netbook_blue.html?hnav=4294960188

Being HP, if its as good as it ought to be (and with a quick Google I found a £10 discount voucher code), @ £189 with free delivery it seemed too good to miss.
And wireless N to boot!

I'll report back on it in the New Year after HID has played with it a while.

[Rik]

Let me know what she thinks of the Quickweb, Steven.

[stevenrw]

Will do Rik - I was thinking it looks interesting.....
I hope it has some customisability, but for a netbook it looks just the job.
I'll get back to you all in the NY with a report on the machine.

[JB]

According to the spec it doesn't have a sound card. Is that a mistake?

Edit: It must be because it has built in speakers.

[Glenn]

Quickweb Introduction

[Rik]

Will do Rik - I was thinking it looks interesting.....

It seems to be Linux-based, the thing that counted against it for me is that I couldn't use a mouse.