are netbooks any good?

[mickey10]

We already have laptops galore but with the carry on limits so low these days we're thinking about getting a netbook or even two to take to orlando.

Has anyone got one of the netbooks ? are they too small or do you get used to them?

[foreverducky]

I have a netbook, which I used for graduate school classes. It does not have a disc drive, but has a place for sd cards. I love it and would definitely take it to Orlando. The keyboard is small, but that is expected. Mine runs on Windows.

[Wendy]

We were thinking about one for me, as my laptop is too heavy (DH's words not mine ) for me to carry (he's probably right, but I'm not going to tell him that )

I wasn't keen on it being so small and also that I might find it too slow, so we are now looking for a 13" or 14" light weight one.

I think it depends on what you want to use it for, if it's just surfing the internet, checking facebook and emails, I guess it isn't too bad. I think all you can do is look at them and then make a decision, but be careful of the spec, netbooks can be very slow.

I'm sure Keith will be along soon with his excellent advice, he knows what he's talking about more than me

[foreverducky]

I don't 'do' anything major with mine. Surf the net, send emails and utilize the note taking abilities. But they are not made to do much more than that.

[catrancher]

Another thing you may want to consider is an Apple iPad. A number of us here on Secrets have them and they're perfect for the kind of things you're describing.

Tom (... iPad aficionado!)

[Keith]

I'm not a netbook fan I'm really not.

I firstly acknowledge of course that everyone's use is different so for some they may be perfect.

My main problem is that they're so tiny. The keyboards are icky for me to type on, the screens are painful and they're dreadfully slow sometimes.

Everyone knows how mad I am on new tech, and even though I am, I'm yet to buy a netbook. Friends who have one, have all ebayed them after a while.

Now, could I see that they would work for a few weeks away as a web browser, email platform? yeah I guess I could I wouldn't enjoy the experience but they're cheap, light and would work.

Like Tom, I would much rather spend the money on an ipad. Even non-Apple maniacs love the ipad. They're thin, light and designed for exactly this type of use. They make excellent ebook readers and are great for lounging around reading the web, researching, emailing and so on. Until you've tried one a while, it's hard to understand quite how it changes things. No more do you sit at a desk and type, or have something on your lap, you just hold it in your hand and browse around and the touch screen makes everything so much more direct and easy.

The only thing I'd say is that typing on the ipad is an acquired taste ;-) Of course you can add a simple bluetooth keyboard and some ipad cases even have one built in which completely fixes that problem (if you cant get used to the onscreen).

a 13" laptop is an alternative if you dont like the ipad and I'd far rather a 13" laptop to a netbook particularly if you're used to a nice large, powerful laptop

[josh.p.]

In general, netbooks are just so cheaply made that I don't appreciate them at all Like Keith, I usually get most new tech and I've yet to buy one of these. They are too hard to enjoy and it would probably make me want to hunt out an internet cafe

[foreverducky]

I have been out numbered.

[josh.p.]

I have been out numbered.

Hey, your opinion is probably worth more than mine since you've actually used one quite a lot of times! I have only ever used friends and seen ones in the shop and they've all felt cheaply made to me

[Keith]

I have been out numbered.

to each their own though It's always good that there are alternative technologies so we can each find our own way