Shopping for a netbook

[rhu]

I'm thinking of getting a "netbook" computer to take on vacations and to Hunt.

Use cases: Web-based email and general web surfing; transferring files from an SD card to a remote server (i.e., backing up photos while on vacations); run Pidgin (and possibly GTalk); view PDFs; ssh and vnc to remote servers; svn a plus. Must run perl, python, and emacs. OpenOffice nice but not necessary.

General requirements: Inexpensive (so if it gets damaged or stolen my frustration will be limited), lightweight (so I can toss it in a carry-on bag or grab it to run across campus), good keyboard and screen. Decent battery life, but probably not extraordinary battery life (not going to use it to watch DVDs on a plane, for example).

Technical requirements: Linux is fine (and probably preferred to Windows or MacOS) but should accept either rpms or Debian packages to install software that's been compiled elsewhere. SD slot, wifi, bluetooth. Solid-state disk is fine (and probably better than a true HDD) as long as it's got enough storage.

Right now, the HP Mini-Note and the Acer Aspire are the leading contenders based on web research. Anyone out there have experience with either of these, or anything else to consider?

Comments

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

I've heard good things about the Asus EEE.

[530nm330hz.livejournal.com]

I've heard mixed things about it, especially the screen.

[rubrick.livejournal.com]

Unless things have changed a lot in the last few months, "inexpensive" and "solid-state disk that's got enough storage" are probably mutually exclusive. (Depending, I guess, on your definitions of "inexpensive" and "enough".)

[530nm330hz.livejournal.com]

Looking at the Acer, for example, the $329 model runs Linux with an 8GB SSD, which about 4GB free. The $379 model runs Windows with a 120GB HDD, with about 80GB free.

For Linux, 4GB is probably more than enough for a "netbook." But I'm leaning towards the Windows one, since that would give me more options for third-party software.

[rubrick.livejournal.com]

Ah, see, that's what I get for living in Apple's universe for so long. I think of "enough" as a minimum of maybe 60GB, and "inexpensive" as under $1500 or so. :-)

[530nm330hz.livejournal.com]

Following up, I went to Micro Center tonight and tried them out. The HP's keyboard, although slightly larger than the Acer's, has not enough space between the keys and virtually no key travel, and was therefore harder to type on accurately. So at the moment, the Acer is in the lead, and as I indicate above, I think the extra $50 for Windows and a lot more free storage is probably worth it.