Need a new netbook

[Odin Bravo One]

Alright computer guru's, thanks to my little man and his newly found ability to self-propel from a vertical position, I am in need of a new Netbook.

Don't want a tablet.
Don't want a Mac.

My requirements are pretty standard for a Netbook, as well straight forward, so just looking for recommended model/brand/vendor. I don't even know what is what in terms of RAM, Hard drive size, etc., so would prefer a make/model/vendor recommendation, since comparing won't do me any good. My current (broken) is an Acer Aspire One with 40GB hard drive, and that is all I know about it. Would like to have a capability increase over this, and the following:

10-11" screen size.
3/4 or full keyboard.
Plenty of storage for music, videos, pictures, and large Microsoft Office type files
Windows 7 OS
USB, SD, & HDMI ports
Enough memory it doesn't bog down trying to open a simple picture while I am on the internet
Wireless capability
6-8 battery life
Camera (Skype)
Under $350.

Thanks. Appreciate the help!

[JodyH]

Look in into a Chromebook if you think you can get by with using cloud storage and Chrome office apps.

[BaiHu]

Love my chromebooks. Perfectly compatible with my SGS3 phone and I love the convenience of google drive.

ETA: The chrome office apps learning curve from OpenOffice or Excel, etc was a piece of cake. Although there are some things it can't do, it'll do the core things you'd expect.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

[SeriousStudent]

I'm not familiar with any Chromebooks that run the Windows 7 operating system. If you are listing that as a definite requirement, then a Chromebook will not work for you. And will the Internet always be available where you are located?

Sean, do you want for this to be an off-the-shelf purchase, or are you willing to have something built for you?

How "rugged" does this need to be? Sturdy enough to handle the young'uns or sturdy enough for a deployment?

I have honestly had very good luck building up used Lenovo T60 or T61 laptops with an solid-state drive (SSD) and fresh RAM (memory). They are built very solidly, and have specs you require on the budget you listed. If you wish some followup on that, I will be happy to assist. I just built one for my daughter that had a 128-GB SSD, plus a 1TB hard drive for all her music, movies, games, etc. I got it done for just under $350.

If you are looking to hit the nearest Worst Try and walk out with one, I can help with that as well.

Good luck on whatever you choose, and stay safe.

[JodyH]

The best Windows 7 "Ultrabook" I own is my Macbook Air running Win7 in Bootcamp. But it blows your budget.
For your specs and price range go to Costco and pick something. There are no hidden gems in sub-$350 laptops.

[Tamara]

Buying new now, you might be boned on a Win7 machine. They were already getting thin on the ground when I bought this desktop last year.

If you're stuck with buying a Win8 machine, try and get one that has a touch screen; the Win8 interface doesn't really make sense without one.

[TORCH2J]

I'd hit a pawn shop. You can get some crazy deals now on Win7 machines. Wipe everything and reinstall and you should be GTG for much less than $350.

[JV_]

For security reasons, I wouldn't buy a used laptop, especially one from a pawn shop.
http://www.extremetech.com/computing/133773-rakshasa-the-hardware-backdoor-that-china-could-embed-in-every-computer

It's almost a 0% chance he'd run in to something like this, for many folks almost isn't good enough.

[Sheep Have Wool]

For your specs and price range go to Costco and pick something. There are no hidden gems in sub-$350 laptops.

This is generally a true statement, and if you need something right now, this is the way to do it. If you can hold off a bit, you can monitor Slickdeals (http://slickdeals.net/deals/computers/)(or a similar site) and check out the stuff that comes up there on sale.

You can get a look at some stuff that meets your specs here. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100006740%20600059503%20600004921&IsNodeId=1&PriceMin=100&PriceMax=415&ScreenMin=9.4&ScreenMax=12.8&name=Yes)

I don't recommend a Chromebook unless you'll always have internet access, but if you're comfortable with that limitation, they're great.

[ranger]

How about a refurbished unit from a dealer like TIGERDIRECT. I have bought multiple used, refurb PCs from TIGERDIRECT with no issues. You may be able to get WIN7 that way.

[SeriousStudent]

For security reasons, I wouldn't buy a used laptop, especially one from a pawn shop.
http://www.extremetech.com/computing/133773-rakshasa-the-hardware-backdoor-that-china-could-embed-in-every-computer

It's almost a 0% chance he'd run in to something like this, for many folks almost isn't good enough.

I never reuse the hard drives or even the memory from a used laptop. I do update the BIOS and all the firmware on every machine I buy. Then add fresh memory and an SSD from Crucial.

And the Lenovo's I use are the ones made when IBM still owned Lenovo.

We have a large industrial shredder at work that I feed old hard drives into. It's very, very loud. But no hard drive ever leaves our organization without at least a DOD-wipe with 7 passes. If it had sensitive or higher information on it, it gets turned into metallic snowflakes with two witnesses.

Sorry for the sidetrack, JV had a good point.

[Tuesday]

http://www.amazon.com/Acer-Aspire-NX-M89AA-009-V5-131-2680-11-6-Inch/dp/B00IF0QIAI/


http://us.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/model/NX.M89AA.009

[Odin Bravo One]

Look in into a Chromebook if you think you can get by with using cloud storage and Chrome office apps.

Cloud storage is a non-starter.

Microsoft Office is a requirement. "Compatibility" versions won't cut it due to lack of actual compatibility I see with the guys using other than M.O.



I'm not familiar with any Chromebooks that run the Windows 7 operating system. If you are listing that as a definite requirement, then a Chromebook will not work for you. And will the Internet always be available where you are located?

Sean, do you want for this to be an off-the-shelf purchase, or are you willing to have something built for you?

How "rugged" does this need to be? Sturdy enough to handle the young'uns or sturdy enough for a deployment?

I have honestly had very good luck building up used Lenovo T60 or T61 laptops with an solid-state drive (SSD) and fresh RAM (memory). They are built very solidly, and have specs you require on the budget you listed. If you wish some followup on that, I will be happy to assist. I just built one for my daughter that had a 128-GB SSD, plus a 1TB hard drive for all her music, movies, games, etc. I got it done for just under $350.

If you are looking to hit the nearest Worst Try and walk out with one, I can help with that as well.

Good luck on whatever you choose, and stay safe.


I'd like it to be able to withstand some abuse........that said, I fell in love with the netbooks because they are compact, and for the price, mostly disposable. If I can get 2-3 years out of one, I consider it a win. I hand carry it everywhere in a backpack. But no intention of jumping it, or diving it, but it will on occasion find itself in austere conditions. A "Toughbook" is a bit much, and not user friendly enough for me to justify the extra protection.

Not opposed to having one built. Probably something you would have to talk me through though, as I am only the second generation of my family to walk upright. Shoot me a message, and I'll get you my digits.

Thanks for all of the input............

[LittleLebowski]

I myself am not a fan of Microsoft but folks I respect like the Surface RT (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AA04LUA/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00AA04LUA&linkCode=as2&tag=ratio07-20) a lot and the newer and more expensive (keyboard sold separately) Surface Pro 2 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IGNCXNU/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00IGNCXNU&linkCode=as2&tag=ratio07-20) is out. I believe that Tam is using a Surface?

[SeriousStudent]

Sean - PM inbound.

I'll agree with LL on the tablet. I have three different ones, and find them useful. The current ones I use the most are a Dell Venue 8 Pro and Google Nexus 7 (2013 model). Even with the detachable keyboard and stylus, the Venue 8 Pro about the size of a Dell Mini 9 netbook. I'm hunting the right size Pelican case for it, so I can take it to the range to record drills, ammo expenditures, etc.

And come to think of it, I think I do have a Mini 9 somewhere with Ubuntu on it, I need to hunt that down.

[cclaxton]

You want a $2000 netbook for $350?
Get a Sony notebook before they run out. They really are the best.
You get what you pay for.
Cody

[Tamara]

I believe that Tam is using a Surface?

Buying that refurb Surface RT is one of the smarter things I've done. It was Marko who pointed out that, at the price, it was like buying a copy of Office and getting the free tablet thrown in. I use the "Type" cover which turns it into a pretty fair jackleg netbook. It's survived clattering around Broad Ripple in a wire bike basket without needing any special cases or anything; the magnesium chassis seems pretty rugged.

I just need it to run Office and surf the net and run Kindle. The new Pros are actual notebook replacements that run full-on Win 8 and can play regular games and all, but I don't need to be playing Medal of Duty when I'm supposed to be writing a column.

I haven't decided if it's a real iPad replacement for traveling and such; I may wind up in the same boat as Marko, using the Surface for production and the iPad for consumption...

[LittleLebowski]

Buying that refurb Surface RT is one of the smarter things I've done. It was Marko who pointed out that, at the price, it was like buying a copy of Office and getting the free tablet thrown in. I use the "Type" cover which turns it into a pretty fair jackleg netbook. It's survived clattering around Broad Ripple in a wire bike basket without needing any special cases or anything; the magnesium chassis seems pretty rugged.

I just need it to run Office and surf the net and run Kindle. The new Pros are actual notebook replacements that run full-on Win 8 and can play regular games and all, but I don't need to be playing Medal of Duty when I'm supposed to be writing a column.

I haven't decided if it's a real iPad replacement for traveling and such; I may wind up in the same boat as Marko, using the Surface for production and the iPad for consumption...

Sean, sounds like we've narrowed it down a bit.

[Tamara]

The only real beef I've had with it is that initial setup was classic Microsoft. Turn it on, make an account with Winders.com, and then wait for it to download eleventeen critical upgrades, get frustrated, unplug it, do a hard reset, worry that you've bricked your new toy, have to start the whole process over again... and then it works fine.

If I had the option of paying an IT gnome an extra fitty bucks to take the setup bullet for me, I would have. :D

[SeriousStudent]

If I may be so bold?

One thing to be careful about on the refurb'ed Surface tablets: watch out for the warranty. Two of my minions at work have them, one has been stellar, the other one has issues with the fan. They both bought the 10.6-inch tablet.

If the person(s) that sold the tablet to the refurb company did NOT release the registration, the folks in the warranty department at Microsoft will try and contact them via email to get them to release the registration. If Bubba ignores that email "I don't own me no tablet no mores", then they make you wait 30 days before they essentially declare the warranty abandoned. Then you get to mail that puppy in and they will fix it for ya.

I was on the phone with him, trying to use my connections at Microsquish to get it waived. No joy. In the meanwhile, we've been debating doing some silicon neurosurgery. The lad is a wee bit squeamish, and has yet to consent to it. Apparently a Dremel is not a fine enough instrument.

I've got a Surface Pro 3 (256GB/i7) in the lab right now for an eval, and love it. We'll probably cut a PO for that, and never give it back. But it definitely does not fit Sean's parameters. It's running Windows 8.1 Pro with Update 1 and costs about $1400 the way I have it configured. It is, however, quite the impressive doodad.

Sorry for the threadjack.

[zacbol]

If you're okay with slightly less than new technology, the original Surface Pro is a decent choice. It looks like Best Buy has the original Surface Pro with 256GB storage for only $650 (Keep in mind you'd need to buy a keyboard separately)
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/microsoft-surface-pro-256gb-black/1659485.p?id=1219108875818&skuId=1659485&st=surface%20pro&cp=1&lp=7

I'm a little confused since I thought they came with a max of 128GB SSD which is what I have. The main issue you might have is lower battery life relative to the Pro 2/3 and a bit slower processor. But I still use my Pro as a my personal computer and it runs everything quite well--just not spectacular battery life, but I can deal with that. I guess it depends on your use case if it's tolerable.

Full disclosure, though, I work at Microsoft. Try out Win 8/8.1 first,though, to make sure you can deal with it. I never quite got the uproar but already went down that path on TPI so not anxious to retread. For the record, I'm a peon and was at Amazon when they were releasing Win 8 anyway. Lol.

[Tamara]

If I may be so bold?

One thing to be careful about on the refurb'ed Surface tablets: watch out for the warranty. Two of my minions at work have them, one has been stellar, the other one has issues with the fan. They both bought the 10.6-inch tablet.

If the person(s) that sold the tablet to the refurb company...My RT doesn't have any fans. Also, I bought the refurb unit straight from Microsoft's online store.
:)

[JodyH]

If I used my computer for actual work instead of Internet por....err surfing I'd be looking hard at the new Surface 3. But for my current computer debauchery the 13" Mac Book Air with bootcamped Win 7 (because sometimes you gotta have Windows) works splendidly.

[Tamara]

One big difference between the RT and the Pros is that the former have tablet-like battery life and the latter have notebook-type battery life. I throw mine on the charger once or twice a week.

[LittleLebowski]

If I used my computer for actual work instead of Internet por....err surfing I'd be looking hard at the new Surface 3. But for my current computer debauchery the 13" Mac Book Air with bootcamped Win 7 (because sometimes you gotta have Windows) works splendidly.

Jody, Sean has stated a budget of $350.

[JodyH]

Refurbished 11"MBA or refurbished Surface RT can both be found close to that budget from resellers.

[LittleLebowski]

Refurbished 11"MBA or refurbished Surface RT can both be found close to that budget from resellers.

Copy on the MBA but I'm fairly certain Sean doesn't want to mess around with VMs/dual boot on the MBA (I can do that for you if you do buy an MBA, Sean). Agreed on the Surface RT; I posted a link to those earlier.