New netbook really slow/freezing etc

Winjackie

Hi all

I'm not sure whether I should post this in here or in the Consumer Rights forum as I would like to know if I have a case for returning this Asus Netbook that I purchased just after xmas.

I bought it for my young daughter (who is autistic) purely for her to watch her favourite programmes online (youtube etc). However, as soon as I got it up and running for her, I noticed how slow (and I mean really slow) it is. It also keeps freezing to the point where you just have to turn it off and turn it on again. The only thing installed on it is Norton Gold internet security (apart from the software that comes pre-installed).

Although my daughter is very competent on computers, due to her autism she cannot understand why it isn't responding as quickly as our old laptop (which is now broken beyond repair) and obviously sometimes thinks that she hasn't pressed buttons and presses them again, which adds to the problem of it freezing/not responding etc.

I really would like to take this back for a refund and buy something more suitable for her but am unsure as to my rights. Obviously I know that the speed may have something to do with the processor (although I'm not techie minded so not sure) but really feel that it should be faster/performing better than it is.

Any help appreciated. TIA.

starrybee

Winjackie wrote: »

. Obviously I know that the speed may have something to do with the processor (although I'm not techie minded so not sure) but really feel that it should be faster/performing better than it is.

Pretty much.

Netbooks are notoriously slow, youtube can be a struggle for the one I have as well - is she running multiple tabs/programs? This adds to the problem.

Obviously it shouldn't be freezing, but like you say it could be down to your daughter getting impatient and pressing too many buttons, giving the netbook too much to think about!

I don't know what rights you will have about the refund - it does depend on whether the netbook is actually faulty or whether it's freezing due to misuse I guess.

If you are lucky and get the refund I would say next time - buy a laptop.

neilwoods

I have a netbook from over 6 years ago and lower specs than this, but works flawlessly.

Did look at some reviews for this Asus and they are pretty bad, most conclusions were the same, ideal for basic browsing, some documents open, and that is it. Very poor for playing video back. So would say it is down to the netbook.

Did you buy it from Currys. Did you ask the sale people for specific requirements, ie to play back video and so forth. If you did, then could try that you were mis-sold the netbook and point out that most reviews state it is very bad for video playback. (worth a try)

Winjackie

Thank you both for your replies.

My daughter only usually has one tab open so I don't think that is causing a problem.

I did buy it from Currys/PC World and, although I told the salesman what it would be used for, I didn't actually ask for his opinion as I had already decided on it (stupid of me I know!)

I realise that I should have done a bit more research but was just looking to get a cheapish netbook for her to watch stuff on so I suppose it's my own fault really. I may just take it back and explain that I'm a bit concerned that it's not working as I think it should and see what they say

Thanks again.

closed

was it slow the first time you switched it on

does it go slow after a hibernate

what's going on in task manager, processors when it's slow

is it slow in safe mode

what was wrong with the old one

Winjackie

Yes, it's been slow since first use. It doesn't appear to be any different at any time ..... just really slow.

The only thing I know about task manager (I think it's that) is when I have tried "control, alt, delete" when it has frozen where it says it is not responding. (Apologies if this is not what you are referring to, as I said I'm not techie minded ).

Prior to this, she had been using my other daughter's old Dell laptop but that really is knackered, the brackets holding the screen to the base are broken, some of the keys don't work, it has been fixed more times than I can remember :eek:

closed

not responding suggests a piece of software may have crash, look in task manager, processes to see whats hogging the cpu

if it doesn't do the same in safe mode, F8 at boot, then it's not a limitation of the hardware.

tyllwyd

Winjackie wrote: »

.... The only thing installed on it is Norton Gold internet security (apart from the software that comes pre-installed). ...

I am not a software expert but this jumped out at me. My OH (who is a software engineer) hates anti-virus programmes and they are notorious for causing problems with computers running slow - that is the most obvious suspect for your problems.

NiftyDigits

The unfortunate thing with some of the ASUS models is that you can't just upgrade the RAM module in order to eliminate the problem. Your particular model looks like one of those.

So un-installing unnecessary software may be your next port of call.

Im_just_careful

I would look at removing Norton and replacing it with Microsoft Security Essentials.

My netbook was OK with Microsoft Security Essentials, Windows 7 (Starter Edition) and 1GB of RAM.