Netbook for college?

mdaudioguy

My stepdaughter needs a "laptop" for college. We're not talking about a heavy-duty computing requirement here. We're talking Facebook, email, and document creation/editing (probably Word and maybe Powerpoint). It seems to me that she'd prefer something small and convenient, like the netbooks that are out there. Would there be any drawbacks or limitations to this?

Anybody using a netbook who can comment? I'm just thinking that a full-blown laptop would be overkill.

bigaudiofanatic

Honestly I have tried them. Unless she has the hands of a 5th grader she needs a real one. No way you can sit there and type documents on a netbook you need a full keyboard at normal size. If she ever needed to reinstall the OS it is PITA for a lot of them. They have gotten better but unless you know what you are doing you would have to take it to someone and even than it can be tough. No cd drive is another thing if she has a ipod and wants to store her music no matter what mp3 player she has and rips from regular cd's she needs a drive.

punk-roc

There are some pretty lightweight laptop computers for reasonable prices now-a-days.. I would echo BAF's comments about the small keyboard size and OS installation is complicated unless you are computer/tech savvy - it is really difficult/painful to type papers/assignments with most netbooks.

I would recommend looking into an actual laptop. I love my netbook(s), but I have a Desktop-based PC for actual work

Jason

steveinaz

I just bought an ASUS K50IJ-BBZ5 at BestBuy for $549. I really like the large, well spaced keys.

mdaudioguy

Thanks guys! Thinking of it that way (from an actual user perspective), you're probably dead on. A 13" laptop or a lightweight 15" is probably the way to go.
Thanks!

sucks2beme

I've come accross a lot of cheap dell laptops with the smaller footprints.
I'd take any of them over a netbook. There isn't enough space savings to make
them worthwhile. It drives me crazy they started super sizing the screens, and
then came out with netbooks, so they can try selling you both.

mdaudioguy

steveinaz wrote: »

I just bought an ASUS K50IJ-BBZ5 at BestBuy for $549. I really like the large, well spaced keys.

Yes, I remember your thread on that, and have been leaning toward that same laptop, based on your experience - then got slightly derailed by my netbook thought. I'll be going to check that out later today. I too, have used ASUS products in my desktop builds and have always been satisfied with their quality.

mdaudioguy

sucks2beme wrote: »

I've come accross a lot of cheap dell laptops with the smaller footprints.
I'd take any of them over a netbook. There isn't enough space savings to make them worthwhile. It drives me crazy they started super sizing
the screens, and then came out with netbooks, so they can try selling you
both.

I know I could never deal with a small keyboard... I thought maybe the younger generation didn't mind. But, I guess if you're actually using it for extended periods, a full-size keyboard is the way to go.

Serendipity

I have a Lenovo netbook and love it. Yes, the keyboard is small - but it's used only for taking notes and checking email.

For everything else, I have a full-sized HP laptop that has all the RAM and processing power I need.

I find I use the netbook on trains, buses, etc. and the laptop when sitting in front of a desk. There are pros and cons to each.

mdaudioguy

Serendipity wrote: »

I have a Lenovo netbook and love it. Yes, the keyboard is small - but it's used only for taking notes and checking email.

For everything else, I have a full-sized HP laptop that has all the RAM and processing power I need.

I find I use the netbook on trains, buses, etc. and the laptop when sitting in front of a desk. There are pros and cons to each.

I'm sure. I think this is going to be more of a dorm room device, not something she'll carry around.

bigaudiofanatic

I do not want to try and start something but if you are really worried about lightweight look at a macbook air even though there is no cd drive it comes with a program so you can wirelessly use and cd drive from another computer.

Or just take a look at some 400 dollar laptops like the asus ones.

mdaudioguy

bigaudiofanatic wrote: »

I do not want to try and start something but if you are really worried about lightweight look at a macbook air even though there is no cd drive it comes with a program so you can wirelessly use and cd drive from another computer.

Or just take a look at some 400 dollar laptops like the asus ones.

My son got a macbook pro for college last year and he is now probably a lifetime mac fan, but there's no benefit in getting her one (all she's ever used is Windows, and she's just not much of a "computer person", except for the aforementioned Facebook), although I agree with you - that's a fantastic product for the right person.

I'm going with the second option.

exalted512

If she doesn't already have a personal desktop or laptop for college, I would just look at getting her a laptop, not a netbook.


If she has a desktop already, a netbook but would be a wise choice. I certainly dont have the hands of a 5th grader and i get along just fine on my dell mini9 netbook, but if I'm doing actual school work rather than just writing a paper about something off the top of my head, the small screen would kill me.

Woot.com deals all the time on laptops. I just saw a HP one with great specs go for $550 when similar models were going for $1100 on best buy. Even came with a bluray player. If shes living in a dorm or a small apartment, space saving is great...and if your laptop acts like a dvd player for your tv as well, thats one less thing you have to buy...and one less thing to have cluttered in the room.

My next laptop will def. have blu ray so I dont have to buy another blu ray player for the bedroom.
-Cody

mshan242700

13.3 or 14.1 inch regular laptop is what I would recommend if she thinks she might carry it around in back pack; 15.4 inch widescreen laptop is bulkier and is much more of a desktop replacement.

Business class HP or Dell Vostro would probably work fine, as would a Lenovo (usually 15% off coupon floating around internet). You could check Apple refurb store for previous edition Macbooks too.

I would guess at least $500, probably closer to $600 - $700 with tax, is target price range for quality laptop that should take her through all of her college years.

I think you can often get printer rebate also if you buy on same day (not sure if it has to be on same receipt).

tech bargains dot com is nice place to start, as is slick deals dot net.

Good luck.




edit: if you can, I recommend finding screen with better resolution than 1280 x 800 (e. g. 1440 x 900) so she isn't always scrolling around screen to get things done.

markmarc

Just get here a basic model that feels, looks and is known to be durable. Buy the extended service plan, so you don't get any sobbing phone calls about it being dead. Finally, max out the ram, and make sure it has a good anti-virus because you know she will be sharing files.

bigaudiofanatic

Anti malware "Free download and avg anti virus free is all I use and install on all computers I work on. Both free and work great.

Sherardp

MSI makes a nice netbook with full size kybd. Very nice, quite fast with 2gb mem and running Windows 7. I would even recommend Ipad too afterall that's what they're made for. I have both, my MSI is couple months old and in the box, my Ipad gets more use.

Gadabout

I got a net book as I was looking for something small to haul around with me. I had it for a couple days and took it back. The Atom processors just aren't up to the task for much else than email and web browsing. Word and power point will choke them.

Since you ask the question about which one to get, I'm assuming price and / or weight are the considerations. You can get a decent older laptop (running slower processor) that is still new for a decent price.

For Example:
http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/cdetland.to?poid=485064

HP Pavilion dm1z series

Dell Inspiron 15

If you don't mind refurbished with a square trade warranty you could always try Buy.com or Overstock.com

Scott

bigaudiofanatic

Stay away from HP with my dads failing MB my friends failing MB girl friends failed compaq and others I hear about stay away. Look at asus, gateway, acer, dell.

mdaudioguy

bigaudiofanatic wrote: »

Stay away from HP with my dads failing MB my friends failing MB girl friends failed compaq and others I hear about stay away. Look at asus, gateway, acer, dell.

Whew! Glad you included Gateway on that list. I went to BB looking to pick up the aforementioned Asus, and ended up with this:

Gateway ID series
14" screen
4GB Memory
500GB Hard Drive
Intel® Core™ i3 Processor
Windows 7 premium

A fair deal for $579, I think.

bigaudiofanatic

Good deal, the 4 gb of ram should help with the hungry OS.

Gadabout

I have had a Gateway before and never really had any issues with it. Lasted almost 6 years beofre I upgraded it and this was one of those 17" laptops with a desktop pentium processor in it. (Always ran hot). I travel alot for work and this thing was always with me.

I also prefer Intel in laptops. That isn't saying AMD makes a bad processor, just they run a bit hotter than the Intel's.

Sounds like you got a good deal on a decent computer.

As far as HP goes, they are hit and miss. I have had a an older refurb compaq around since 2002 and it still runs pretty well for what it is. I have also had a friend that his work buys HP laptops for them and his will barely last 3 years. I agree sometimes it is easier not to tempt fate with buying one.

Scott

mshan242700

http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/17/laptop-reliability-survey-asus-and-toshiba-win-hp-fails/

I would guess you really have to look at specific models (probably price points) to get a better idea of reliability of a particular brand.