Looking for a new netbook... Need advice

Discussion in 'Tech Talk' started by Fikusan, Aug 28, 2009.

  1. Fikusan
    Veteran Final Fantasy Member

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    Well, seeing as my laptop crapped out on me last quarter (and i had to resort to using my palm pilot with its portable keyboard in its place), I think it is about time I get myself to replace it. Only problem is, I hated the lack of portability of my 17" laptop, so I'm looking for something smaller (and more afordable)... I was walking around in costco today when i saw this. Now I'm not 100% thrilled with the specs, but it at least got me thinking that I should be looking for something like. So I guess I'm looking for something similar, something tiny (under 12" over 7") that will at a bare minimum play Guildwars. I don't need a super fast processor, but hopefully above 1.5 GHz+ (dual core, or 2.2 GHz+ single core). Also I'm looking to pay no more than $500 (if i really like it), but more preferably around $300. Another thing I'm worried about is battery life, my old laptop only lasted about 1 hour... which quickly died down to about 10 minutes (one of the reasons I'm kinda leaning away from said Acer i saw at Costco). I figured, with all the super smart XoO people, at least a few people might be able to help me.
    Thanks,
    Fiku <3
     
  2. Diranged
    Guest

    I'm not sure that you'll find a 'netbook' with a dual core processor at all. Any that I've seen usually have the Intel Atom cpu or the VIA cpu. A guy I work with has an Asus 1000H.

    He did a few upgrades afterward tho, more RAM, also soldered a USB transmitter for a wireless mouse to an internal USB slot. It worked pretty good for him, he's able to play wow, albeit on really low graphic settings. I think he gets around 5-6 hours of battery life surfin the web, or 3-4 playing games on it.

    http://www.teamdub.com/2009/04/eeeve-my-laptop/
     
  3. Fikusan
    Veteran Final Fantasy Member

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    oh, all of the netbooks i was looking at had 2 cores xD that specific one i had in my first post had a 1.6GHz and a 1GHz when i looked up the specs in the store... Then again, maybe that was just my lack of computer knowledge xP

    Edit: also as far as the brands go, what are everyone's feelings on all of the major companies out there? My last laptop was an Acer, and though all the extra features the shoved into it were awesome, I just really didn't like how quickly it died on me. I've heard some good things about HP, and my dad keeps pushing Asus (its all he has ever gotten for as long as i can remember)
     
    Last edited: Aug 30, 2009
  4. Fikusan
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    I've done a bit of research for myself... I read up somewhere that the acer Eee series (1000+) does a fairly decent job of playing well... these games:
    Code:
    1nsane
    1NSANE
    3D Ultra Cool Pool
    7th guest
    Abes Oddysey
    Advanced Tactics
    Age of Empires
    Age of Empires 2
    Age of Empires 3
    Age of Mythology
    Age of Wonders 2
    Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic
    Air Strike 3D
    Albatross 18 season 3
    Alien VS predator
    Aliens vs Predator 2
    Alpha Centauri
    American Mcgees Alice
    Anachronox
    Anarchy Online
    Aquaria
    Armadillo Run
    Armageddon Empires
    Army Men RTS
    Arx Fatalis
    Audiosurf
    Axis and Allies
    Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amin & Throne of Bhaal
    Battlefield 1942
    Battlezone 2
    Beer Tycoon
    Beetle Crazy Cup
    Birth of America
    Black & White 2
    Blade Runner
    Blood 2
    Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain
    Boarderzone
    Bookworm Adventures
    Broken Sword
    c&c 3 tiberium wars
    C&C Generals + Zero Hour
    C&C Gold
    C&C Red Alert
    C&C Red Alert 2
    C&C Renegade
    C&C Tiberian Sun
    Cabal
    Call Of Duty
    Call Of The Cthulhu: Dark Corners Of The Earth
    Captain Claw
    Carmageddon
    Carmageddon 2 - Carpocalypse Now
    Cesar 3
    Championship Manager 01
    Championship Manager 02
    City of Heroes
    Civcity Rome
    Civilization 2
    Civilization 3
    Civilization 4
    Close combat
    Codename Panzers Phase 1
    Colin Mcrae 2005
    Colin McRae Rally 2.0
    Comanche 4
    Combat Mission: Berlin to Barbarossa
    Commandos : Behind Enemy Lines
    Conflict Desert Storm
    Conquers Online
    Conquest of the Aegean
    Counter Strike Source
    Counterstrike 1.6, Condition Zero
    Crazy Taxi
    Crisis Z
    Crusader: No Remors
    Crusaders of Might and Magic
    Cube 2 (Sauerbraten)
    Daemon Vector
    Dark Age of Camelot
    Dawn of War
    Day of the Tentacle
    Dead Man's Hand
    DEFCON
    Delta Force 2
    Delta Force: Land Warrior
    Deus Ex
    Diablo
    Diablo 2
    Disciples 2
    Discworld 1 + 2
    Doom
    Doom 1
    Duke Nukem
    Dune 2000
    Dungeon Keeper 2
    Dungeon Runners
    Dungeon Seige 1
    Dungeon Seige 2
    Elastomainia
    Emperor - Rise Of The Middle Kingdom
    Enigma
    Escape Velocity Nova
    Etherlords 2
    EuDemon Online
    EVE Online
    Everquest
    Evil Genius
    EXULT - Ultima VII
    F22 - ADF + TAW
    F-22 Raptor
    Fable: The Lost Chapters
    Fallout
    Fallout 2
    FarCry
    Fate
    Fate UR
    Fear Combat
    Fifa 2003
    Final Fanstay VII
    Final Fantasy 11
    Fishsim2
    Flatout
    Flatout 2
    Flyff
    Football Manager 08
    Ford Off Road
    Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone
    Formula 1 grand prix 4
    Freeciv
    Freedom Fighters
    Freedom Force Vs the Third Reich
    Freelancer
    Fury 3
    Galactic Civilisation 2
    Geof Crammond Grand Prix Four
    Ghost Recon: Island Thunder
    Global
    Gothic 1
    Gothic 2
    Grand prix 2
    Grid Wars
    Grid Wars 2.
    Grim Fandango
    Ground Control
    GTA
    GTA 2
    GTA 3
    GTA San Andreas
    GTA Vice City
    Guild Wars Prophecies
    Guild Wars: Eye of the North
    Guild Wars: Factions
    Guild Wars: Nightfall
    Guild Wars: Prophecies
    Guilty Gear XX
    Gunz The Duel
    GZDoom.
    Hacker's Elite.
    Half-Life 1
    Half-Life 2
    Half-Life 2: Episode 2
    Halo Combat Evolved
    Halo Custom Edition
    Hardwar
    Harry Potter and the philosopher's Stone
    Heavy Metall: F.A.K.K. 2
    Hegemonia: Legions of Iron
    Heretic
    Heretic 2
    Heroes of Might and Magic
    Heroes of Might and Magic 2
    Heroes of Might and Magic 4
    Hexen
    Hidden And Dangerous Deluxe
    Highway to the Reich
    Hitman
    Hitman Contracts
    Homeworld
    Homeworld 2
    Homeworld Catalysm
    Hostile Waters
    House of the Dead 2
    Icewind Dale 1
    Icewind Dale 2
    Il2 Forgotten BattlesLegacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2
    Independence War 2
    Infantry
    Jagged Alliance 2
    Jedi Knight
    Jedi Knight 2
    Jedi Knight: Academy
    King Pin
    Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2 Survival
    Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
    Leisure Suit Larry
    light Simulator 2004
    Lineage II
    Live for Speed
    Lord of the Rings Online
    LOTR: Online
    Lunar Magic
    Luxor 3
    M.A.X 2
    Mabinogi
    Mafia
    Magic the Gathering
    Manhunt
    Maplestory
    Marathon
    Master Of Orion III
    Max Payne 1
    Max Payne 2
    MDK2
    Mechcommander
    Mechwarrior 3
    Medal of Honour: Allied Assult
    Messiah
    Metal gear solid
    midtown madness 2
    Might & Magic 6
    Might & Magic 7
    Might & Magic 8
    MOO2urban terror
    Moonbase Commander
    Motocross madness
    Mount&Blade
    MS Flight Simulator 95 & 98
    MS pinball demo
    MUGEN
    Myth II
    Mythos, System Shock 2
    Navy Field
    Need for Speed 3 Hot Pursuit
    Need for Speed 4 High Stakes
    Need for Speed Hot Pursuit 2
    Need for speed Most Wanted
    Need for speed porsche
    Need for speed underground
    Nethack
    NetPanzer
    Neverwinter Nights
    Neverwinter Nights 2
    NHL2002
    No One Lives for Ever 1
    No One Lives for Ever 2
    No One Lives Forever
    Nox
    Openarena
    OpenTTD
    Operation Flashpoint
    Operations
    Pac-Man Adventures in Time
    Pangya
    Peggle
    phantasmagoria
    Phantasy Star Online Blue Burst
    Pharaoh and Cleopatra
    Pharaoh Gold
    Pirates
    Planescape Torment
    Planetside
    Populous 3 : the begining
    Port Royal 2
    Postal2
    Prince of Persia - Sands of Time
    Project IGI
    Psychonauts
    Quake
    Quake 2
    Quake 3 Arena
    Race driver 1
    Rage rally
    Rage's E-racer
    Ragnarok Online
    Rainbow Six
    Rainbow Six 3
    Rally Masters
    Rally2000
    Rayman 2
    Rayman 3
    Recoil
    Red Alert 2
    RED FACTION
    Resident Evil
    Resident Evil 2
    Resident Evil 3
    Return to Castle Wolfenstein
    Return to castle Wolfenstein
    Revenge
    Revolt
    RF Online
    Rise of Rome
    Road To Rome
    RollerCoaster Tycoon 2
    RollerCoaster Tycoon 3
    Rome Total War
    Rubies of eventide
    RUNE
    Saga
    Sam & Max
    Sam & Max season 1
    Scourge
    Screamer 4x4
    Sea Dogs
    Second Life
    Sega Rally
    Serious Sam: First Encounter
    Serious Sam: Second Encounter
    Settlers 3 Gold edition
    SFC2: Orion Pirates
    Shadow Warrior
    Shogo: Mobile Armor Division
    Shogun TotalWar
    Silent Storm
    Sim City 3000
    Sim City 4
    Simpsons hit and run
    Sims
    SimTower
    Sins of a Solar Empire
    Soldat!
    Soldier of Fortune
    Soldier Of Fortune 2
    Sonic Adventure DX
    Space Empires 5
    Space Empires IV
    Splinter Cell
    Spore
    STALKER
    Star Ocean 2 PCSX
    Star Trek DS9 The Fallen
    Star Trek Klingon Academy
    Star Trek VoyagerComanche 4
    Star Trek: Birth of the Federation
    Star Wars : Republic Commando
    Star Wars Galactic Battlegrounds
    Star Wars Jedi Knight 1
    Star Wars Jedi Knight 2
    Star Wars Jedi Outcast
    Star Wars KotOR
    star wars pod racer
    Star Wars Rebellion
    Starcraft
    Starfleet Command 2
    Starlancer
    Startopia
    Startrek Voyager: Elite Force
    Steel Panthers
    StepMania
    Street Racing Syndicate
    Stronghold
    Survival Crisis Z
    SWAT 4
    System Shock 2
    Tachyon The Fringe
    Talisman Online
    Team Fortress 2
    TES: Daggerfall
    TES:Morrowind
    TES:Oblivion
    The Curse of Monkey Island
    The Longest Journey
    The Movies
    The Secret of Monkey Island
    The settlers IV
    The Witcher
    Theme Hospital
    Thief
    Thief : The Dark Project
    Thief Deadly Shadows
    Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Raven Sheild
    Tomb Raider: Anniversary
    Tony Hawk 2
    Top Spin 1
    Total Annihilation
    Trackmania
    Trackmania Nations
    Transport tycoon
    Tremulous
    Tribes 1
    Tribes 2
    Trickstyle
    Turok: dinosaur hunter
    Tux racer
    Unreal II The Awakening
    Unreal Tournament
    Unreal Tournament 2003
    Unreal Tournament 2004
    Uplink
    Urban Terro
    Vampire the Masquerade: Redemption
    Virtua Fighter 1
    Virtua Tennis
    Virtua Tennis 3
    Virtual Boy Advance
    Virtual Pool 3
    Wall-E
    Warcraft 2: Tides of Darkness
    Warcraft 3
    WarCraft 3: The Frozen Throne
    Warsow
    Warzone 2001
    Warzone 2100
    Wild Metal Country
    Wizardry 8
    Wolfeinsten: ennemy territory
    World Of Goo
    World of Warcraft
    worms 3D
    Worms Armageddon
    Worms world party
    X: Beyond The Frontier
    X: Tension
    Xcom Apocalypse
    Xcom Terror
    Xcom UFO
    XIII
    X-Men Legends II
    ZDaemon
    Zombie Shooter
    Zoo tycoon 2
    ZQuest
    And seeing as GW is on that list, its more than enough for me to like said series... I was somewhat fond of the ASUS Eee PC 1005HA netbook, It's battery life... is well 4 or so hours more than what i expected, its price is decent, its speed is okay, everything else is basically at standard quality, what do you all think?
     
  5. Areli
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    my wife and I both have the Acer that you linked in your original post (yes, from costco here too) and we love them. lightweight, wireless connectivity, you can upgrade through your cellular company to a 3g connection if you wish(I believe.) anyways, not much for gaming, but I do a lot of field work and it's just not practical for me to bring my gaming laptop everywhere. heh, now I leave it in the office...MWUAHAHA.

    we've had no problems with them at all so far, and we've had them about 4 months now.
     
  6. Areli
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    ps. battery life on the acer netbook is ridiculous. I can go for days before I need to recharge the battery. just fyi.
     
  7. Powerdrunkfiend
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    I have an MSI 120 and it's awesome. I've even managed to play WoW on it. . .

    Last night I finally took the plunge and installed Ubuntu Netbook Remix and it truly does zip along like a very zippy thing now.
     
  8. chrisbeebops
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    If you are looking for a gaming laptop, a netbook is most certainly not the way to go. A netbook may play Guild Wars, but on the lowest setting and resolution. You'll want a laptop with a real video card to do gaming... and that means lots more money or lots less battery life.
     
  9. Lime
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    You get what you pay for