View Full Version : what's the deal with these mini laptops
SorrowsWinter
February 26th, 2009, 10:22 AM
I dont know why everyone is obsessed with these cheaply built $300 chinese Acer/Lenovo mini laptops now, get a real laptop or something.
I know someone here has one! Defend yourself. They're turning chic like Macbooks used to be.
drtoker
February 26th, 2009, 10:28 AM
People can actually afford them, so they are becomming popular. Sad though, for an extra 1-300 bucks, you can have a pretty good new laptop these days.
MoonMan
February 26th, 2009, 10:38 AM
I haven't known of these. I have noticed small, miniature sized laptops while at school. Could those be them?
I would have been interested in buying one had I known of it and wasn't able to get my toshiba satellite when I did.
thelastfreeman
February 26th, 2009, 11:13 AM
There's a hot spanish blond in my class that uses one of these. She's like 6 feet tall hunching over the tiny thing. So hot.
Potato
February 26th, 2009, 11:23 AM
microcenter had them for super cheap not long ago... not a bad little machine
Mucci Man
February 26th, 2009, 12:52 PM
There's a hot spanish blond in my class that uses one of these. She's like 6 feet tall hunching over the tiny thing. So hot.
hmmm Spanish blonds are rare.
mountain_rage
February 26th, 2009, 01:05 PM
Don't have one, but was considering it when I was shopping for a laptop. It fit the needs I wanted, since I didn't want to luge around a big laptop to school. Ended up buying a HP pavilion media tablet instead.
At 2 to 3 pounds netbooks are great for students that don't want to lug around a heavy bag. If you don't have a desktop at home I wouldn't suggest them, but as a 2nd machine they are good. If you were to get one you want the ones with close to full size keys. Thankfully most new ones have the bigger keyboard.
1cooldude
February 26th, 2009, 03:41 PM
It's worth mentioning that all are void of optical drives and there are now those that use solid-state drives which makes them very quiet and energy efficient. The weight and size are the two key factors to their popularity.
Boomer The Dog
February 26th, 2009, 07:30 PM
I first heard about the sub-laptops when the Eee-PC came out last year and thought it was a great idea, something to use on the train or in the car to find directions. Have a little idle time? Pull out the tiny computer.
The Eee came with Linux only at first, but then it seems that Microsoft must have customized a version of XP for small laptops, and other companies started to come out with them, all using the low power Atom processor and even with real hard drives now.
I was at Best Buy this past weekend and saw an Eee there for $200, but its display wasn't working, though I have tried one at Micro Center and it was okay.. I need to find a friend with one to really try it out to see how good they really are.
shawners
February 26th, 2009, 08:37 PM
Netbook < Mini laptop <Laptop
DEA < Mallcop < Security Guard <Police
SorrowsWinter
February 28th, 2009, 08:45 AM
I recently was shopping for a laptop on CompUSA, ended up with a heavy one.. and I have a desktop at home. I tried them out at a big box store.. I just do not think I would be able to stand the keyboard size for one thing.
But I see the affordability aspect.
MeKnows
March 1st, 2009, 01:08 AM
There are a few issues with these micro laptops, i know someone who has one:
- the screen is so damn small you need to sit 6inches from the screen to read it.
- No matter how much you mess with resolutions somes apps just don't fit the screen
- They are really fragile, slightest bump and bits fall off
- Any reasonable size person looks like they are using a kids toy.
I would stick in the extra $100 and get a proper lappy.
mountain_rage
March 1st, 2009, 10:05 AM
I recently was shopping for a laptop on CompUSA, ended up with a heavy one.. and I have a desktop at home. I tried them out at a big box store.. I just do not think I would be able to stand the keyboard size for one thing.
But I see the affordability aspect.
Not all of them have tiny useless keyboards. The Hp's mini note and the Acer Aspire One both have keyboards 90% the size of a fullsize key board. Unlike the EEE's or the Toshiba's they are actually useful for typing up documents. Also if you don't like the 8.9 inch screen, there are models on the market with 10 inch screens. Basically the 10 inch almost full sized keyboard models are the only worth while machines on the market.