Please advise me on ultra portable laptops.

Count_Zero99uk

Count_Zero99uk

Count_Zero99uk

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OK i start the Open University in a few months and I like the idea of just carting one of these little things round with me to type my stuff out on.

Im doing computing, the language that is taught is Java. Will these computers support it ok?

These are full computers arnt they?

Im wanting a long battery life enough storage to store some tunes and papers. I us external storage for most things now and have a desktop for gaming.

I belive they use the Netbeans softwear for JAVA.

I know these wont have full size keyboards, but i dont want to have to use a pen to type with.

I should be getting around £255 grant in my first year so i can increase that by another £100. Id sooner use XP over Vista, and ive never used Linux.

Oh the course starts September so id probly want it in my sweaty paws by around the last week in august if anything else is due out then :)

OK any comments on my ramble would be good.
 
You'll need to learn linux for your course, might as well start now.

They're real computers, they'll run java and ides fine. Most can do atleast 4 hours and they come in various sizes so you don't need a pen.
 
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I think they're about the best right now, there's also the Gigabyte's M912 which is a tablet as well. There's also going to be a Dell netbook in the near future.
 
The main three to look at are the Acer One, MSI Wind and the Asus EEE PC.

There are others as Raikiri mentioned, but they're not quite in the same league as those three.

Personally I'd set the One and the EEE on similar levels, with the Wind just behind.

I don't think anyone can honestly tell you to by the One or an EEE over the other because they're pretty darn evenly matched.

My own preference is that the One edges it over the EEE right now.

The One comes in at around £220, priced to go up against the EEE PC 701.
It has a larger SSD, an extra SD card slot, and a larger screen with better resolution (it's competing with the 901 on specs really).

Your choice in OS on all of them is either XP or a custom version of Linux (Xandros for the EEE's and Linpus for the One's).

Of course if you buy an XP version you'll be adding to the cost, and losing some features (smaller HDD/SSD to reduce the cost).

Then of course, there's the question on which one looks better :)
For me, it's the One. The lower end EEE's that it's priced against just look like a child's laptop.... I think one review said it best when they said that the One is a netbook you wouldn't mind putting on the table in a coffee shop, while the EEE PC looks like a laptop that your kid-sister would own :)

My choice was the One over the EEE, but stock is very scarce at the moment so you may be waiting until mid August in some cases.

Dig around and watch/read some reviews on the net, dalepearson from these forums managed to get his hands on an Acer Aspire One not too long ago and the One thread is full of his videos (boot times for linux and xp, how to upgrade it, performance of full screen BBC iPlayer and Youtube etc).
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17882268 (look through the last few pages to find them)
 
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Thanks for that nikebee. I think ill be going for the Wind/Advent the screen size and keyboard size being what has pushed me to it.

Having not programmed in Java im not sure of the requirements of its IDE but they dont tend to be too strenuous (sp) so i think it would be ok.

My next concern would be is there any accidental insurance cover you can get on portables to cover you outside your house. Id hate for someone to spill something on it.

Thanks again.
 
i would advise against a ultra small laptop for programing.

A 15.4 would be much better imho, nicer screen and much better keyboard. These laptops are toys for reading the web and *****ing about on not serious bits of equipment.
 
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