Buying New Netbooks & Windows 7 Starter

[Mels_Smileys45]

Ive been looking into Netbooks as I hope to one day get one but I notice that almost all of them come with Windows 7 Starter & not the full version of W7. Thats some BS!!!

I saw one Netbook. an eMachine actually, that offered Ubuntu as a replacement to W7!!! I found that shocking and I bet MS is outraged! lol

I don't see me having the spare cash for one for a while as I have many other things like new tires for the car & such that need attention before I buy a frivolous object such as this but I am keen on hearing from people who are using netbooks. The prices seem too high right now & I think the $99 price point should be rolling out some time soon. I saw at least one sale last holiday season that offered netbooks for $99 & that is about right for this type of technology. The industry is only taking advantage of the consumers who have to have the latest device. I love newish technology too but the price is ludicrous right now as full blown laptops are the SAME PRICE as the nice model netbooks.

I have read & I think I may have posted a story here about some companies that are getting to launch SUPER CHEAP models of touch pads equivalent to the iPad for around $39 retail!!! That will be amazingly cool! I hope it happens soon!

[Aaron_Walkhouse]

Netbooks are too weak to hold full versions of any OS newer then Win2000 or a "lite" form of linux.
They are supposed to be internet access devices and not usefuls computer by themselves.

[StormNinja]

Interestingly enough, yesterday's CVS Pharmacy( Sunday, 5, Sept) newspaper sales circular included an ad for a 7in Sylvania Netbok for $99.00. The advertisement does not list a specific OS or system stats. I went to cvs.com and discovered details for the device remain sparse although the picture enlargement displayed a Windows CE Operating System sample desktop screen. I suspect the hardware is similar to model found in this link to Amazon but the construction of the case is different.

http://www.amazon.com/Sylvania-GNET13001-Netbook-Processor-Escape/dp/B001AM7BHC

A Netbook is not "useless" perhaps less useful is a more accurate description and even then based on the installed Operating System that is debatable. Some of the Linux OS shown below can make a Netbook work like a dream.

Ubuntu Netbook Edition
Peppermint OS
Jolicloud OS
gOS
Mint OS
PuppyLinux
Macpup
Igelle

Not an exhaustive list. Visit here for more detailed information--> http://gadgetmix.com/netbook/linux-netbook-os/

Also one of the most extensive listing of Linux systems in general can be found here--> www.distrowatch.com

[Dark Messenger]

I bought one of the new netbooks from cvs. It's pain getting online with a wireless home network using your router as an access point. Scant documentation. Video playback on youtube is low resolution only. Forget about installing codec packs or utorrent; not compatible with the windows ce 6.0 OS. Keyboard is too small to type with. Have to hunt and peck.

Here's a review from youtube for anyone thinking of making the purchase.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0l_79tXqhac

I'd advise passing on this and going with an acer aspire one notebook from bestbuy.

Update: Just tried using a Targus data transfer cable with the new Sylvania pc from CVS and it would not recognise it. Same with my Lexar 4 GB firefly jump drive. Pass on this unless you like wasting time and money.

My verdict? It sucks.

[Mels_Smileys45]

Netbooks are too weak to hold full versions of any OS newer then Win2000 or a "lite" form of linux.
They are supposed to be internet access devices and not usefuls computer by themselves.

Thats not true at all. I have ran Windows XP on very old PC's that run so much slower than even the average netbooks. I have played with some netbooks and the iE is very peppy indeed! A netbook with a 1.6GHz Atom CPU is overkill just to run iE or most other OSystems out there. I am not sure what you meant by your post. I have XP up and running, although slowly on an old PC that was give to me awhile back. I have been meaning to install a Linux distro and use it for a MAME machine but have had ZERO time to do it. I am very behind in my PC duties for other people...anyways. I forget right now how old this PC is but I do know it has a PII...probably 500MGhz or under which has absolutely no multi thread type processing and the onboard graphics are next to nothing & it still does the job. Like I said its not zippy at all but XP runs better on some older setups than others. XP is a legendary masterpiece of programing & I do not mind saying so! I will support it for a long time!


Netbooks are about as powerful as most low end notebooks but without the DVD/CD drives. Thats it.

Netbooks are mostly only good for the on the go - go getter who needs an easy to carry device to do simple office work. Thats about it. Transfer crap from the office PC and take it home or work on it during the ride home. Geeks will load it up with lots of simple EMU gaming programs, movie & music files for entertainment purposes on camping trips or trips to McDonalds with the gang.

I had thought about one of these but I have no use for these devices as of now. I do not think most people will need them either. Netbooks are kinda pricey compared to notebooks which offer a lot more value for the $$$! Netnooks should be $129 at the most and I feel that $89 to $109 is the sweet spot.

[Mels_Smileys45]

@Aaron ---- Oh wait a second! I bet you have seen the devices like I have seen on Ebay that are weak as on old mans bladder. Yeah, those things are not good for anything & are old POS's those dealers are trying to unload as netbooks when in all actuality there are some powerful netbooks out there. There are netbooks with way more umph than the PC I am writing this on, a 2.6Ghz single core PIII I bought at a used PC store. This PC is about all I need although I do think about those awesome new PC's a lot. The new PC's are fun toys to own but 95% os the PC owners do not need anythign better than what I use. When peoples PC gets slow they think its time for a new one. I laugh my ass off at people at work....and then I score their old PC'S!!! COOL!!!! Gamers need the latest CPU but everyone else could make do with a 1.666Ghz PC that zips along at a fast pace as long as its maintained well.