HELP---looking for new computer for dd

[blessedby3]

Our dd says she wants a small netbook for college- so that she can carry it to classes. She has a dell now, but is a bit heavy and bulky. We are going to keep the laptop she has and get her another computer. My dh was talking to my bil and he said that the netbooks are limited in what they can do. We decided that maybe we should get a thin, smaller, lightweight computer for her that she carry to class. Any suggestions on a good brand, reasonable priced computer for us that meets these criteria? Thanks for any help

 

[firsttimer2007]

I just got a great price on dell laptops today. They were the 15 inch ones though.

I called Dell and told them what I wanted and they helped me.

Good Luck! Happy Shopping!

 

[bridget]

I got a toshiba last fall and LOVE it. I got it at Office Depot. I know right now they are doing a special trade-in and you can get extra $75 off.

It was a great price and I love it!

 

[BCV2003]

I received a new netbook for my birthday last year and I don't feel restricted with it at all. I consider myself a pretty heavy user too. I use all MS Office apps, Internet, Photo/video editing software, Netflix to watch movies, Quicken, etc.

The only thing I couldn't do with my netbook was used DVD or CD media since because of the size there is no CD/DVD drive. That issue was solved by purchasing a small external CD/DVD drive which I rarely use anyways.

Mine is an Asus eee PC with an 11" screen. I have had it for about ten months and have been very happy with it.

 

[blessedby3]

I received a new netbook for my birthday last year and I don't feel restricted with it at all. I consider myself a pretty heavy user too. I use all MS Office apps, Internet, Photo/video editing software, Netflix to watch movies, Quicken, etc.

The only thing I couldn't do with my netbook was used DVD or CD media since because of the size there is no CD/DVD drive. That issue was solved by purchasing a small external CD/DVD drive which I rarely use anyways.

Mine is an Asus eee PC with an 11" screen. I have had it for about ten months and have been very happy with it.

Can you do more than one thing on it at a time? Like, if my dd wanted to have facebook up and be chatting off and on, but at the same time be typing a paper, can you do both at once (multiple browsers)? She also loads lots of pictures onto her computer and then edits them with picnic. Can you do that kind of stuff? My DH was looking at an Asus, but didnt know anything about the company. Glad to hear that you have had a good experience with yours.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

At DD college orientation that specifically told the parents that NETBOOKs are a waste of money. There is not enough room to run the programs to even write a paper. We are told they are only good to surf the internet and check emails. It would be better to get her an inexpensive laptop and pay for the warranty. Good luck on your decision.

 

[BCV2003]

Can you do more than one thing on it at a time? Like, if my dd wanted to have facebook up and be chatting off and on, but at the same time be typing a paper, can you do both at once (multiple browsers)? She also loads lots of pictures onto her computer and then edits them with picnic. Can you do that kind of stuff? My DH was looking at an Asus, but didnt know anything about the company. Glad to hear that you have had a good experience with yours.

Yes, I do multitask quite a bit. I typically used tabbing browsing while using other applications like chat programs and others. I use Photoshop for photo editing and have a ton of pictures on my computer as well because I am into scrapbooking.

I didn't know much about Asus either by my BF who is a techie researched them before he bought it for my birthday and this is what he chose. He did choose one that was probably more powerful than others. I previously had a Dell laptop with a 15" screen and I don't feel that I lost any functionality at all.

He purchased it from Newegg who had the best price at the time on this model but again, that was ten months ago. They also offer Bing Cashback occasionally also but that program will be ended at the end of July.

 

[blessedby3]

Any more suggestions??

 

[love2disney]

If u do buy a netbook make sure you dont get one with a Windows 7 starter edition becoz the software is severely restricted. Get one with the whole windows 7 or reinstall it with Win 7 if needed.

If she already has a laptop she can take that for her papers and for quick note taking or checking emails and research you can buy her a inexpensive netbook. If you have the budget the Ipad is a awesome productivity tool for note taking and education. I have had it for 2 months now and it has made my life so much easiser.

 

[LilyWDW]

At DD college orientation that specifically told the parents that NETBOOKs are a waste of money. There is not enough room to run the programs to even write a paper. We are told they are only good to surf the internet and check emails. It would be better to get her an inexpensive laptop and pay for the warranty. Good luck on your decision.

Oh wow... are they wrong! Netbooks can EASILY run the programs needed to write a paper. Got to love people who don't know a dang thing about technology, but yet make claims like that. That is simply ridicules! I mean, that may have been the case with the first netbook, but the technology is way beyond that now.

Asus is one of the few companies I trust when it comes to buying a premade system.

 

[BCV2003]

Oh wow... are they wrong! Netbooks can EASILY run the programs needed to write a paper. Got to love people who don't know a dang thing about technology, but yet make claims like that. That is simply ridicules! I mean, that may have been the case with the first netbook, but the technology is way beyond that now.

Asus is one of the few companies I trust when it comes to buying a premade system.

I completely agree with you! I even just upgraded my MS Office to 2010. My Netbook at home can do anything that my Dell Latitude E6400 for work can do!

There were some Netbooks that were made initially just to access the internet but I don't even know if they make that kind anymore! That was years ago!

 

[blessedby3]

This is good to hear. I wouldnt want to buy anything that wouldnt be useful for my dd. She has a laptop now, but will be leaving that at home for us as our desktop has died. Thats why we want to buy her something new. She really wants a netbook, but if we go that route I just want to make sure we get something that will meet every need she would have at school. Do they sell Asus in stores, or just over the internet? Thanks

 

[BCV2003]

Yes, you can find them in stores. I know, specifically, that Best Buy sells them.

 

[blessedby3]

If u do buy a netbook make sure you dont get one with a Windows 7 starter edition becoz the software is severely restricted. Get one with the whole windows 7 or reinstall it with Win 7 if needed.
QUOTE]

What brands make one with Windows 7? I was just checking into this and Asus, Dell, HP all have the starter.

 

[pintamino]

At DD college orientation that specifically told the parents that NETBOOKs are a waste of money. There is not enough room to run the programs to even write a paper. We are told they are only good to surf the internet and check emails. It would be better to get her an inexpensive laptop and pay for the warranty. Good luck on your decision.

Maybe the netbooks of yesteryear would have had that issue, but certainly not the ones of today!

Penn State communications dean's list student here who bought a netbook last fall. Used it for email, Facebook, photo uploading, iTunes and video/YouTube, running word and MS OneNote... Often more than one at the same time!! Would I have taken it to school as my only computer? No. But as an easy, portable, cheap alternative to hauling around my expensive computer and running down my main laptop's battery, I love it ! I had a month when my Dell was in for repairs and I used the netbook as my main PC and it did great. I have a Samsung NC10.

For the OP -- the MacBook is a nice lightweight slim computer. Whatever you get watch the battery life and charge hold -- that's the biggest issue for me in a long day of class where I might not be near an outlet!

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Oh wow... are they wrong! Netbooks can EASILY run the programs needed to write a paper. Got to love people who don't know a dang thing about technology, but yet make claims like that. That is simply ridicules! I mean, that may have been the case with the first netbook, but the technology is way beyond that now.

Asus is one of the few companies I trust when it comes to buying a premade system.

It may be that here college requires specific programs for them to run on their laptop/netbooks. Even if it is pre-loaded only the versions approved by the college and be used. I should have noted that in my first post, but I was doing a quick post-by.

 

[firsttimer2007]

I just got a wal-mart ad that has a computer for $298.

I do not know if it is a good brand or not. I know nothing about electronics but I thought someone would like this info.

Acer 15.6" Laptop Computer
AMD-V Series V-120 Processor, 2.20 GHz
Wireless b/g/n
Webcam, HDMI out
Windows 7
AMD
250 GB hard drive
# AS5251-1513
Available online
$298

As I said earlier, I know nothing about computers. I just copied the ad. But this seems like a great price.

 

[momof1princess]

I just got a wal-mart ad that has a computer for $298.

I do not know if it is a good brand or not. I know nothing about electronics but I thought someone would like this info.

Acer 15.6" Laptop Computer
AMD-V Series V-120 Processor, 2.20 GHz
Wireless b/g/n
Webcam, HDMI out
Windows 7
AMD
250 GB hard drive
# AS5251-1513
Available online
$298

As I said earlier, I know nothing about computers. I just copied the ad. But this seems like a great price.

man this must be a regional ad, b/c i can't find it on the website. would love to have this for my DD's birthday. her computer died a couple of weeks ago.

 

[LilyWDW]

If u do buy a netbook make sure you dont get one with a Windows 7 starter edition becoz the software is severely restricted. Get one with the whole windows 7 or reinstall it with Win 7 if needed.
QUOTE]

What brands make one with Windows 7? I was just checking into this and Asus, Dell, HP all have the starter.

There are some that have it... just matters where you look. I know for a fact I have seen full windows 7 on an Asus through Newegg in the past.

Even though I stand up for netbooks, I would not use one as my ONLY access to a computer. I will be purchasing one this Fall for school, but I also have a brand new (well, 6 months old) desktop that I bought in the spring. I don't need too much out of another system so I refuse to spend the ridicules amounts to buy a laptop when I can get a netbook.

Acer is a good company when it comes to hardware. However, they do cut corners in the physical system. You may find it doesn't stand up to abuse very well and may scratch or have hinge issues.

 

[karmutt]

I have a Samsung netbook (Samsung NC10) and I love it. It's made my desktop pretty much obsolete. I use it for writing and surfing, for the most part, but I haven't found any real limitations terms of what programs it can handle and such. The screen is small (albeit the same size as on my first laptop...), so if I'm doing some heavy work I hook it up to a monitor and use a wireless keyboard and mouse so the netbook is sort of acting like a desktop. I can move this setup to wherever I feel like working (usually outside or in front of the TV). It doesn't have a CD/DVD drive, but I networked one of the drives on my desktop and can load software using that. I got it from Amazon about a year and a half ago. The newer model (N150) is running at about $300.