Netbook or low-end laptop?

ben_j_davis

ben_j_davis

ben_j_davis

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Hi,

Really want something a light pc for under £300.

I don't want to watch HD video or play high-end games, just playback DVD quality videos smoothly.

Perform basic multi-tasking like listening to music with one or two other programs open (thinking Word.)

What is an Atom processor compared to a really low-end Celeron?


Any help would be great.

Thanks,
Ben
 
From what you've just described, you're not going to have a problem in terms of performance. You mention Word - if you're going to be typing for extended lengths of time it's worth seeing if you can cope on a netbook keyboard - if not then you've answered your own question. Likewise, the screen size may make your decision for you.

If you're playing videos etc then maybe you need to look closely at the sort of hard drive space you'll require too.
 
Maybe look at a netbook with the new N550 processor. Its Dual Core and the netbook i am using can cope brilliantly with multiple tabs and programs running in the background without strain or lack of performance

I bought this netbook with the same frame of mind, something small and portable, and can be used for web browsing, emails, word and some skype here and there. i am currently writing a review on it, maybe you can have a brief look at it, its nothing flash as its my first review so it might be a little simple and not as much in depth as other reviews can be.

As for the low end laptops, there are many out there for £300 or just over. The Acer TravelMate 8371 is a good little laptop, at 13.3" its ideal for what you want it for. there is a thread in this section, you might want to look at that.

If you want something portable but below £300 mark youcan find the HP Mini 311 out and about which has an Atom N270 processor but with an nVidia LE Ion Chip which is a step up on graphics compared to many other small netbooks. The Mini 311 is an 11.6" netbook with the same resolution as the Acer 8371 but with the Acer, you can get dedicated ATI graphics, i think its the ATI Mobility HD4330 or something close to that, which will be better than the ION of the HP Mini 311. But then again, the processor inside the Acer TM 8371 is a 1.4GHz Dual Core i think so it might be the better choice.

There are many netbooks and small laptops out in the market, its a case of finding deals and looking at reviews, which you probably already know :) just keep an eye out and try and get hands on with netbooks and small laptops at local computer retailers, something which you have again probably already looked into.

Goodluck and Happy New Year!
 
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DefiantAsh was pretty much spot on. I was in the same dilemma and I went for the lenovo s12. Pretty much the same as the HP mini recommended however at £200 made me go for it. Especially when the acer 3810 is £390.

Hopefully it will arrive tomorrow so I can let you know about it if you want.
 
I looked at the Lenovo's like the S10-3 and the S12 but decided to go with the Acer D255 because it was a 10.1" netbook, ultra portable and a Dual Core CPU, which most certainly caught my eye.

And could you take some piccies of the S12? would be great :) Tarr.

My pics of this will be put on here tomorrow sometime so ill have to see what i can do
 
Thanks a lot for the advise :)

I check thos laptops out.

Should have mentioned I mainly wanted to use it on the train or on the sofa :)
 
ben_j_davis said:
Thanks a lot for the advise :)

I check thos laptops out.

Should have mentioned I mainly wanted to use it on the train or on the sofa :)
Click to expand...

incase of using it on the train, a small netbook would be ideal, where as a small laptop would be a little bulky? i dont really know. One thing you would want to look at would be 3G availability? something like a SIM ready netbook, i think the lenovo series have these :) little 3G SIM card and your sorted for on the move browsing :)
 
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