What software needed for NC10?

pandora205

Techie experts who know their stuff about netbooks, can you help pleasee?

I've finally taken the plunge and ordered a refurbished Samsung NC10 from Argos Clearance today. Now I'm thinking about what else I need, not least as I am going away in less than two weeks and want to take it with me.

I'm going to buy a sleeve and mouse (small usb?). I'll download the freebie antivirus, spyware etc. What about other stuff? I'll need Office (at least Word and maybe Powerpoint). How do I get it - download?
Will I be able to view my photos as it is or do I need something for that too? And what about my Creative Vado (mini camcorder) will that work with it?

Advice gratefully received thanks.

Pandora

Fonz_2

I may be wrong but I think Office is only available to download if you purchase via the student route.

Pete*G_4

Download Open Office (http://www.openoffice.org/) as it's completely free and is fully MS Office compatible.

With a netbook I'd doubt you'd be looking to do any image editing, but if you do then try Gimp (http://www.gimp.org/) again it's free, and is compatible with Photoshop.

What else you'll need will depend on what you intend to use the Netbook for.

You could try iTunes if you want iPod connectivity and don't mind all the foibles that come with it?

Your camcorder should be useable, if you've got Windows XP on the netbook and the device is Plug&Play, then it'll connect alright. If not then I'm sure there's a driver out there that you can download, just google the word "driver" and the model number of the Camcorder.

Bikertov

I've got an NC10, and love it !!

How much did you pay ? Prices are dropping all the time - look at this Samsung N130 for £209 from eBuyer http://www.ebuyer.com/product/172831

The original NC10 comes with a neoprene sleeve (not sure about a refurbed one). Also, check what you have got has a 6-cell battery - it lasts much longer than a 3-cell. Argos did the 3-cell to keep prices down.

Consider the following software:

MS Office (if you have a valid license)
Open Office http://www.openoffice.org/ if you don't

Imaging / basic editing :
irfanview - http://www.irfanview.net/

Audio / Video playback :
Winamp - http://www.winamp.com/
VideoLAN - http://wiki.videolan.org/Main_Page

Audio editor / recorder
Audacity - http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Backup DVD's to play on netbook
DVDSmith - http://www.dvdsmith.com/

Simple text editor
SciTE - http://www.scintilla.org

PDF Writer
Cute PDF - http://www.cutepdf.com/products/cutepdf/Writer.asp

System Managment / reporter
Belarc Advisor - http://www.belarc.com

I'm sure others may disagree with or add to the above ...

Donnie

pandora205 wrote: »

Techie experts who know their stuff about netbooks, can you help pleasee?

I've finally taken the plunge and ordered a refurbished Samsung NC10 from Argos Clearance today. Now I'm thinking about what else I need, not least as I am going away in less than two weeks and want to take it with me.

I'm going to buy a sleeve and mouse (small usb?). I'll download the freebie antivirus, spyware etc. What about other stuff? I'll need Office (at least Word and maybe Powerpoint). How do I get it - download?
Will I be able to view my photos as it is or do I need something for that too? And what about my Creative Vado (mini camcorder) will that work with it?

Advice gratefully received thanks.

Pandora

Normal USB connection. Every fitting is standard. All the usual software will work. The only differences are there is no optical drive and the performance is underpowered compared to a laptop. But you'll be able to surf, watch films, listen to music etc

pandora205

Mine is a refurbished ('as new') white NC10 of the 6 cell battery version, bought from Argos Clearance on Ebay (as recommended on the best netbook thread). It was £250 + postage) so a pretty good deal I think. It comes with 12 month guarantee.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I'm not planning to edit my photos of videos, just to look at them, so I probably won't need anything for them. I'll investigate the Office downloads when I have it. I'll wait to see if it comes with a sleeve - I don't think this was mentioned in the spec although it does come in the original packaging etc. so maybe there will be one.

Sorry to be dense, but just what is an optical drive and what difference will it make? I know that CD/DVD players have them but that's about all.

Thanks

PS Another question - is Openoffice word processing compatible with Word (etc.) as I may at some time use the NC10 for documents that I'd transfer to my laptop or PC? Thanks

Bikertov

Donnie wrote: »

Not bad, but not quite the replacement for a NC10.

They did both 3 cell and 6 cell versions, at differing price points. Check facts before making such definitive statements.

Agreed about the N130, and I am not sure the exact difference between them, but just showing what is available.

Yes they did both 3- and 6-cell - I wasn't suggesting they didn't. My point was they sold the 3-cell model to keep the price down, so to be aware which model is being purchaed for the price.

basill

pandora205 wrote: »

I'm going to buy a sleeve and mouse (small usb?).

I have an NC10 and would like to recommend the Logitech V450 nano mouse, it has a tiny receiver that only sticks out about 5mm so is small enough to just leave in a usb slot,although there is a storage slot insde the mouse.Its small but not too small and has very good battery life. My two AA batteries are still good after 8 months of quite heavy use). The laser works very well on all surfaces and it is shiny black so matches a black NC10 perfectly.
You could lose the receiver and go with a bluetooth mouse but for me reports of connection problems and the higher cost put me off..


And yes Openoffice is compatible with MS Office, just make sure you choose the correct MS Office format when you save your work


B

Bikertov

Donnie wrote: »

Normal USB connection. Every fitting is standard. All the usual software will work. The only differences are there is no optical drive and the performance is underpowered compared to a laptop. But you'll be able to surf, watch films, listen to music etc

I think pandora meant a small USB mouse, not a small USB connector

Donnie

Bikertov wrote: »

I've got an NC10, and love it !!

How much did you pay ? Prices are dropping all the time - look at this Samsung N130 for £209 from eBuyer http://www.ebuyer.com/product/172831

Argos did the 3-cell to keep prices down.

Not bad, but not quite the replacement for a NC10.

Strange to ask "How much did you pay?" only to list a different machine.

They have the NC10 3 Cell version on their Returns site for £208

They didn't sell it to keep the price down. Some people may be happier paying less if they don't need a 7 hour battery life. It's called choice.

I think pandora meant a small USB mouse, not a small USB connector

I hope so

Bikertov

pandora205 wrote: »

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I'm not planning to edit my photos of videos, just to look at them, so I probably won't need anything for them.

irfanview will allow you to do simple displaying, cropping, resizing and printing, so is very useful. It is a very small program, and very easy to use.

pandora205 wrote: »

Sorry to be dense, but just what is an optical drive and what difference will it make? I know that CD/DVD players have them but that's about all.

An optical drive IS a CD or DVD player. The small netbooks don't have these, so you need to use another method to install software, and get music onto the machine, play DVDs etc.

See this thread for more details ... http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=2128275

pandora205 wrote: »

PS Another question - is Openoffice word processing compatible with Word (etc.) as I may at some time use the NC10 for documents that I'd transfer to my laptop or PC? Thanks

Yes, Open Office is compatible.