Shopping for a netbook
Nov. 3rd, 2008 02:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rhuI'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?
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?