Want to buy 4 netbooks

sharonace

Thought I would pick all your brains about this !!:rotfl: A friend is looking at purchasing 4 netbooks for her kids (age range 11 to 18), for them to be able to do their school/college coursework and basic online use ie:- msn messaging,email etc., and was looking at this one in Maplins for £129.99
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=257308
Having had a quick look the 'Office' pack installed says - Including SpreadCE Spreadsheet, WordPad, Foxit Pro Adobe reader, Core Video Player, am I right in thinking that this isn't a Windows based system as I am sure they will need Microsoft Office for their coursework and don't know if it would be compatible.
I would appreciate it if you clever people out there could let me know your honest opinion on this and/or recommend a netbook for under £200

iamadave

Its not Windows like XP its a different version CE, you should be able to install OpenOffice which is a free office suite and is very similar to Office.
I have a Dell Mini, and have seen them doing a 10v Dell Mini for 199. I would suggest a flick through the pc mags or pcro etc online see if they have a recent netbook roundup.

John_Gray

It uses Windows CE, which isn't Windows as we know it, but intended for things like mobile phones. Nickname is Wince, for good reasons. (CE=Consumer Electronics.)
I suspect her children would spurn them utterly.

You might suggest she looks at refurbished laptops/netbooks, say from LaptopsDirect. With a budget of £200 per device she isn't likely to get much new.

Don't forget that "Office 2007 Home and Student" is about £58 from Amazon - but can be installed on only three computers... The free Open Office is a possibility.

inmypocketnottheirs

In Asda yesterday and saw Archos Netbook with 2gb Ram, 160 HD, XP, Intel Atom processor, 10.2" screen for £197.

sharonace

Thanks inmypocketnottheirs, just had a quick look at Asda online but it is showing as out of stock. We have a local store so will pop in tomorrow and see if they have any of them.

pcombo

i would recommend the samsung NC10 its so amazing for the size it is.

inmypocketnottheirs

pcombo wrote: »

i would recommend the samsung NC10 its so amazing for the size it is.

I have an NC10 and it is a great bit of kit. But when I saw the Archos in a local store at £197 for a comparable spec, I thought it was a bargain.