Netbook Lineup - Help me choose?

[Zephik]

Here is the list of netbooks (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Productcompare.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2004940772%204019%201724345056%201722845068&StoreType=-1&CompareItemList=N82E16834220442,N82E16834152074&bop=And) that I have narrowed down from a much larger original list.

I don't want to spend over $400, but if you know of a better netbook than the ones listed, let me know! Thats pretty much why I created this thread, I like to get the best deal possible, but sometimes I miss something or am unaware of a certain deal somewhere else or whatever. But I'm also just curious to see what you guys are into netbook wise since I'm sure everyone takes brand and aesthetics into account.

Just as a side note/rant; I was going to get the Dell Studio 17 laptop, but I got turned down for credit from both Dell and my bank. Not sure how I'm supposed to build credit if nobody will give me any! ><

[progbuddy]

I think the MSI Wind is pretty neat, although I have an EeePC myself. I've had the 701 for over a whole year, and it hasn't let me down :] I would go with the 904HA.

[BuzzKillington]

The 904HA is the ugliest IMO but also the most equipped.

[Zephik]

I think the MSI Wind is pretty neat, although I have an EeePC myself. I've had the 701 for over a whole year, and it hasn't let me down :] I would go with the 904HA.

Thats irritating. I actually decided that I like the Wind quite a bit after looking into it. Except for one thing. It only comes with a 3 cell battery. (2 hours with everything on. ouch.)

The 6 cell is available though, with the 160GB HDD instead of the 120GB and its wireless N capable. The only problem is that its $430 compared to $350 for the 3 cell. Then its like, well, for $50 more I could get the netbook that I actually wanted all along, which is the sexified Eee 1002HA (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220480). (actually the netbook that I REALLY want is the Asus S101 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220472), but thats WAY beyond what I would ever pay for a netbook.)

[Zephik]

Added Poll.

Question: Do you think any of these netbooks will play WoW? I've played WoW with an old 2.2GHz celeron with onboard graphics and only 512mb of DDR ram, but I don't really know how these netbooks stack up performance wise.

[Omega]

i don't know, but I do know how to find out! =p

1gb ram, 1.60ghz cpu, onboard graphics, who knows.

[NightrainSrt4]

It may run it at the very lowest settings. When I played my macbook ran it at the lower settings fine, but I couldn't deal with it for anything more than leveling up toons. Raiding, and even the new expansion, would more than likely be off limits if it did run the base game.

[Omega]

my Eee is running WoW right now (albeit, very, very slowly, in dalaran right now, I don't get very good fps at all), so yes. It'll do it, but not well.

[TheGreatSatan]

Not sure how I'm supposed to build credit if nobody will give me any! ><

Sears. They're the best place to start building your credit.

I voted Asus, but I don't like any of them. The Acer One is pretty nice.

[Zephik]

Thanks for the input everyone!

I wonder if adding another gig of ram will help it run WoW better at all? Couldn't hurt I suppose. Anyways...

I like the Wind, its a very nice looking netbook. The extra inch of screen space and at just about a pound lighter is nice, but overall not really that persuasive.

So I think I'm going to go with the Eee. It's not as pretty as the wind, but with 40GB more of HDD, multi-touch touchpad and that sweet 7 hours of battery life (I think 5 with everything turned on?), its just too tempting to pass up. That, and c'mon, just look at all the mods going on with Eee's! I need to get in on some of that action! Maybe make it less ugly looking? :p

Does anyone know what graphics processor its running? It's kind of funny that they don't list it. Not that it really matters or anything, just curious.

[nevermind1534]

Does anyone know what graphics processor its running? It's kind of funny that they don't list it. Not that it really matters or anything, just curious.

If it's the one with the atom,I believe it has the same chipset and integrated graphics as the desktop version. The desktop version has the Intel GMA 950. My friend had that on his laptop, and it would play games ok, but not great.

[Jabyaeye]

I don't think you can go wrong with either, but I love my little EEE. It is a 701 running Linux. The keys are a bit cramped, but it is perfect as a second computer for use on the go.

Just my two cents... :)

[BuzzKillington]

Just as a side note/rant; I was going to get the Dell Studio 17 laptop, but I got turned down for credit from both Dell and my bank. Not sure how I'm supposed to build credit if nobody will give me any! ><



Buy a car or get a 500 dollar credit card. Interest for a car loan will rape you though but if you pay it off quickly everything is peachy.

[nevermind1534]

Or you could get a store credit card, like what Kohl's has. I'm not sure about the mastercards or Visas that you can use anywhere, though.

[Xpirate]

I would squirrel the money up and pay cash.

You do not have to get some kind of credit card to gain a credit score. You are building your credit score every time you pay your bills on time.

I just had a talk with my boy-in-law who helped my sister go into over 80,000 dollars into credit card debt. He filed for bankruptcy because he would never be able to pay that off with his income. This is why I preach to everyone to pay cash. The boy-in-law lacks the level of discipline required to manage his money.

I have never owed more than $8,000. Most of the time I have been completely debt free. But I had no problem qualifying for a home lone when the time came because of all the rent and bills I've paid.

Back on the main topic: I like both netbooks. One of them has a larger screen and the other one has a larger battery and more hard space.

[Zephik]

Thanks for the advice everyone!

Good news, my friend bought a new laptop (dell studio 17, its freaking sweet!) so I get to "keep" his old laptop for now. So I've decided to save the money up and buy a studio 17 as well. Once I get my tax returns I'll only need about a hundred bucks for the basic model ($700), but I want a dedicated gpu and a backlit keyboard so I might have to save up a little longer to get what I want ($900).

Maybe I'll ask for an Eee for my bday in may. :P

[crenn]

Maybe there will be an Asus EEE Ion by then.

[progbuddy]

There already is an Asus N10 with nVidia 9300M graphics, and around the same size as the EeePC.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220385

[Zephik]

There already is an Asus N10 with nVidia 9300M graphics, and around the same size as the EeePC.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220385

Very nice, although a bit on the pricey end for a netbook with an Atom processor. I'd rather get the Dell M1330 with the 2.0Ghz C2D. Its a bit larger (13" screen vs 10" screen) but its also technically a bit thinner (1.3" vs 1.4").

Then again, with matched specs, the M1330 is like $400 more than the N10. So if you look at it price wise then the N10 is a good deal. Although the M1330 could run circles around it. So I guess if you have no budget, then get the M1330. But if you are on a budget then get the N10. ...and if you aren't looking for a desktop replacement, then I'd say go for one of the cheaper netbooks.

Anyways, I don't really like where they put the fingerprint reader. To me that just seems like a really stupid place to put it? I also don't really like how the battery sticks out the back, it kind of ruins the sexiness factor for me, but thats pretty minor considering the battery life you are getting.

Otherwise, the specs on that netbook look great aside from the Atom processor. For the price I would of liked to see something a bit more powerful in the cpu department. To me It seems like it would kind of bottleneck the point in having a dedicated gpu. Then again, maybe not? or maybe only slightly? Hmm.

[Vexxx_2007]

I recently bouht an Acer Aspire One (The pearl white one! :D) It never ceases to impress me. It's wicked fast, and on sale at Newegg or TigerDirect for $320. (I think) t has a 6-cell battery, and has given me about 3 hours of on-time.
lso has very little to no bloatware and i wouldn't change my mind if i could've done it again

[Zephik]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220480

You know, I think I actually might buy that with my tax returns. Then I could use the money I save from not buying the Dell Studio 17 to build a custom desktop!

:think: