Confused whether to buy a netbook or not...

[silentnight Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close silentnight]

I have been considering to buy a netbook for basic applications like
-web browsing
-typing and editing documents
-watching movies and listening to music
-downloading stuff(download a lot of movies)

I am considering XXXXXXXXXXXXX 10.2" Netbook

Operating System Windows2000/XP/Windows7
Processor Intel Atom D425 1.8GHZ
Display 10.2'' Wide-screen
1280*600 WXGA
Graphic Processor Intel GMA X3150
System Memory DDRII 1G
Max Memory Maximun to 2G
Memory Slot 1×So-DIMM
Hard Drive SATA 160G (250G/320G)
Max Storage Maximun to 320G

My prime concerns are:

-How much of multitasking can it handle?
For instance how comfortably can it pull web browsing (with multiple tabs on),
editing documents,a download in progress while a movie is running simultaneously?

-Would a netbook be able to pull maximum internet speeds?

Please help me decide if netbook is a good choice at all

[ttt Member Find all posts View Profile Close ttt]

My netbook did everything my regular computer does, great for web... only sacrifice was no CD drive.

[jackio Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close jackio]

I'm very un-techie, and I don't have a phone that does anything. So I carry a netbook with me when I travel. I love it.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

I do not believe Netbook s have a lot of memory so downloading movies could be a problem - untechy here!
But if you are able to put the movies on a small memory stick that u bring with you, you should be fine.

[djyamyam Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close djyamyam]

Acer

If you can get this one, this is the one I got.

Acer Aspire One 11.6" AMD Athlon II Neo K125 Laptop (AO721-3858) - Black : 13" Laptops and Smaller - Future Shop

It's got 4GB RAM and a 500 GB hardrive, which should take care of your movies memory because those take up a lot of space. It's got the HDMI output so you could watch your movies on a big screen tv. It's got wireless N capability which is a must for your downloading of movies (assuming you have access to a wireless N router). The extra 1.4' makes a difference with the viewing and the keyboard compared to the 10.1'. The only downside to this unis is the battery life is not as good as the other Atom netbooks.

[bnoble Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bnoble]

Most of my students who bought netbooks later wished they had "regular" laptops. YMMV. But, if it were me, I would get a "regular" laptop, *or* an iPad.

[davhu1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close davhu1]

It will do all you have listed.
I have one and also bought an external cd drive for it ($20 after rebate).
Depend on the movie viewer you use, it may lag. Had problems with one but no problems with VLC Media Player

I also bought another laptop last month because the price has came down a lot. Got one for ~$320 with a lot more memory, storage & cd drive. The newer one is also lighter.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

The next portable device I will buy will have a minimum of a 17 inch screen. My 15.6" laptop has just too darn small a screen. You couldn't give me anything smaller.

[dcwojo Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dcwojo]

I love my aspire netbook. I primarily webbrowse and watch movies direct from netflix. The memory is only 1GB with 160GB HDD but works well for me.

[bluka Member Find all posts View Profile Close bluka]

I'm posting on my hp mini netbook right now. imho it's great to browse and check e mail ect but if you are a heavy comp user not sure if it would work for you. I only have a few programs on it but still find it a bit slow at times (compared to my wifes notebook)

Also the screen size can be an issue at times as some things just dont seem to fit completely on the screen.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Here is one for $69 you have 1 day to buy it Stylish 7" Inch NoteBook PC WiFi Supported

[Laurie Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Laurie]

I love love love my netbook! I thought I'd just use it for travel, but it has become just about the only thing I ever use at home too, even tho we've got a few notebooks w/larger screens and a big ol desktop too.

It's so light, doesn't heat up much, has a 6-hr battery, so it's easily portable to change rooms, seats, use while lying down, etc. I thought screen size would be a problem but it's not, so easy to make type bigger or smaller when needed. It's the Acer Aspire and was cheap.

[Bell30655 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bell30655]

My personal opinion is that laptop/netbook computers are obsolete and will be gone within the next two years.

Everyone will have two computers. A desktop computer and a tablet. I bought my iPad and it has become an extension of me. I find that I either use the iPad or my Mac Pro at home. My MacBook rarely sees any action. It almost feels bulky after using the iPad so much.

The iPad can view/edit/create Excel or Word documents. It plays media (Netflix, ABC Television, podcasts, mp3s), works as a GPS and XM radio in my vehicles, it is a digital picture frame when I'm at work, it sends and receives emails from multiple accounts, book reader... OH yes, 10 hour battery life!

[bnoble Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bnoble]

I find that I either use the iPad or my Mac Pro at home. My MacBook rarely sees any action. It almost feels bulky after using the iPad so much.

I am close to this as well. However, I find the iPad isn't great if I'm doing a *lot* of writing. (I do not have the external keyboard. If I did, perhaps that would change my opinion.)

[Ridewithme38 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ridewithme38]

My personal opinion is that laptop/netbook computers are obsolete and will be gone within the next two years.

Everyone will have two computers. A desktop computer and a tablet. I bought my iPad and it has become an extension of me. I find that I either use the iPad or my Mac Pro at home. My MacBook rarely sees any action. It almost feels bulky after using the iPad so much.

The iPad can view/edit/create Excel or Word documents. It plays media (Netflix, ABC Television, podcasts, mp3s), works as a GPS and XM radio in my vehicles, it is a digital picture frame when I'm at work, it sends and receives emails from multiple accounts, book reader... OH yes, 10 hour battery life!

ALOT of people complain about not have the true tactile feel of a real keyboard...while tablets are fun little gadgets...when it comes down to it...NOTHING beats the feel of a real keyboard

I have a Acer Netbook...i love it i use it for almost everything...but i had to put a little bit of work into it to get it to do what i wanted...i switch the 1gb memory for 2gb installed a SSD instead of a Hard drive for more speed and a Mini-PCI-e Graphics Processor...i get the same performance as a low end laptop....but it weighs next to nothing