Best netbook/tablet advice - thicky needs help!

Bettie

I have a small netbook NC10 which comes in handy for when I go away or visit family and want to get on the internet whilst there. It is a bit too small for me and I find it hard work up to my big laptop however the big one is too big really to take away so stays home. I don't use the small one when in my home as the big one is easier.
I am wondering if I should get an Ipad as they seem popular with all my family.
Maybe best Mum tries a few things out first if possible.

prowla

Figment wrote: »

Bear in mind that netbooks particularly have smaller screens than laptops, so it's a good idea to let Mum try one instore first.

IMHO netbook screens are too small for almost any use you could think of, and that effectively means that a netbook is a very limited offering.

You will also find that they are slow, and curiously they may not have great battery life either.

TakeThis

My Netbook together with a 3G modem, goes with me when I travel abroad.

For email etc, I simply use my BlackBerry. That way I am always connected and it is something that you can take 'out and about'. I certainly wouldn't be lugging a Tablet or Netbook just around and about.

That's why it would be interesting to understand the likely usage patterns. 'Out and about' doesn't tell much.

interstellaflyer

prowla wrote: »

IMHO netbook screens are too small for almost any use you could think of, and that effectively means that a netbook is a very limited offering.

You will also find that they are slow, and curiously they may not have great battery life either.

Ok the screens are smaller but I've never had a problem with that, I bought a netbook 3 years ago for my daughter to use and for taking on holiday, it's no slower than my laptop which is similar age and to be honest, unless you spend a fair bit of money on a laptop then the battery life ain't great anyway and £225 ain't gonna buy you a laptop but it'll buy you a decent netbook. We've found our Netbook very usefull, down side is that because it has no CD/DVD drive, I've had to transfer software, drivers etc onto a memory stick and install them onto the netbook that way.

TakeThis

interstellaflyer wrote: »

Ok the screens are smaller but I've never had a problem with that, I bought a netbook 3 years ago for my daughter to use and for taking on holiday, it's no slower than my laptop which is similar age and to be honest, unless you spend a fair bit of money on a laptop then the battery life ain't great anyway and £225 ain't gonna buy you a laptop but it'll buy you a decent netbook. We've found our Netbook very usefull, down side is that because it has no CD/DVD drive, I've had to transfer software, drivers etc onto a memory stick and install them onto the netbook that way.

I say otherwise...

As new with an up to 6.5 hour battery life.


..for a few pounds more...
Correct specs

DABS had a new ACER for £250 yesterday.

So it's definitely do-able.

prowla

I've got a netbook and I just plain don't use it.
I've got an old Lenovo X41 sub-notebook and it is just about the same speed and it is usable.

TakeThis

Even cheaper is this Toshiba Satellite C660D-1CV for £203.98.
Obviously not good for taking 'out and about' in one's handbag.

bluesnake

Probably a tablet like the Asus Nexus 7 will probably do all she wishes. Sounds like general use, the odd email, no large or memory hungry apps, no real speed is needed, no storage needed for file sharing or loads of heavy data file, Plus she could use on-line storage if she wished.

She can even save stuff to sd cards. The whole thing is light weight and will fit in her handbag.

fatbelly

I bought a netbook like this at Tesco (using clubcard vochers when they had a double-up deal) and use it a lot.

I'm using it now.

prowla

My netbook is a Compaq Mini 110, and the only time I've used it this year was to check if the OS was up to date and to see if I could use a mobile internet dongle with it.