Forget the Eee: check out Dells "$300" netbook!

[han]

I'd definitely consider getting this - I'm looking for an uber-cheap/small notebook pc, and personally I've found Dells to be very very reliable on the hardware side and their tech support is excellent (it used to be dire about 8 years ago but then they sorted it all out).

They're v good value for money - when you consider that you get a 3 year warranty and all.....I've bought scores of them for work over the years and they very rarely conk out (except when the warranty runs out, of course but then that's all technology, innit?).

 

[paolo]

Yeah I've seen similar - big deployment of Dells and they seemed fine.

Not bombproof like the compaq servers, but fine for regular PC use.

 

[Hocus Eye.]

Will nobody think of the keyboards?

Most of these notebook type computers come with a reduced size keyboard. I touch type. You can't touch type properly on a cramped keyboard. There is no reason to reduce the width of the computer to make it smaller. Reduce all of the other dimensions by all means, and get the weight down of course, but leave the letters part of the keyboard alone.

I would love to buy a really portable mini laptop but no matter how cheap they make it a cramped keyboard will always stop me buying it.

 

[revol68]

Will nobody think of the keyboards?

Most of these notebook type computers come with a reduced size keyboard. I touch type. You can't touch type properly on a cramped keyboard. There is no reason to reduce the width of the computer to make it smaller. Reduce all of the other dimensions by all means, and get the weight down of course, but leave the letters part of the keyboard alone.

I would love to buy a really portable mini laptop but no matter how cheap they make it a cramped keyboard will always stop me buying it.

don't be daft, no one wants to carry something the length of a full size keyboard.

 

[FridgeMagnet]

"Has a teeny keyboard" is a bit of a given really. Though the Palm fold-out keyboards can be a reasonable size.

You do get used to it; I touch-type and it's a slight struggle adjusting when I've been using a full-sized keyboard, some of the key placement trips you up, but the main problem is having fat fingers and dainty keys. It's certainly comfortable enough to take notes and do board posts and so on - they're never going to be ideal for writing a novel, or at least not all at once.

 

[jæd]

Will nobody think of the keyboards?

Most of these notebook type computers come with a reduced size keyboard. I touch type. You can't touch type properly on a cramped keyboard. There is no reason to reduce the width of the computer to make it smaller. Reduce all of the other dimensions by all means, and get the weight down of course, but leave the letters part of the keyboard alone.

Yep. this is mostly my opinion... Together with the tiny screen, I tend to see these type of computers as useful toys...

Disclaimer: Other people have different opinions, these are mine, mostly based on my experiences and how I get things done.

I would love to buy a really portable mini laptop but no matter how cheap they make it a cramped keyboard will always stop me buying it.

Well, again, based on my experience, I'd rather go for something like the Mac Book Air if I wanted something ultra-portable.

Disclaimer: Yes, I know, its a lot more expensive, but there's no way I'd be able to do anything productive on a teeny-tiny screen. And unless I'm productive, I may as well use an iPhone... Different people have different needs for different things.

 

[Hocus Eye.]

don't be daft, no one wants to carry something the length of a full size keyboard.

You are getting confused with the keyboard of a PC which has a separate number pad built in on the right adding unnecessarily to its length. That is why I referred to "the letters part".

My computer is a laptop, a Sony Vaio VGN FS something or other. The letters part of the keyboard is full size. The whole keyboard is only half a centimeter longer than a sheet of A4 paper. Some of the letter keys - I, K, and M and those to their right double as the number pad. This machine extends to about 3 cms wider than the keyboard and is fairly portable. It has a 15.4" screen so it is not one of the notebooks types that this thread is about but the keyboard could be set into a smaller machine but with obviously a smaller screen.

 

[revol68]

You are getting confused with the keyboard of a PC which has a separate number pad built in on the right adding unnecessarily to its length. That is why I referred to "the letters part".

My computer is a laptop, a Sony Vaio VGN FS something or other. The letters part of the keyboard is full size. The whole keyboard is only half a centimeter longer than a sheet of A4 paper. Some of the letter keys - I, K, and M and those to their right double as the number pad. This machine extends to about 3 cms wider than the keyboard and is fairly portable. It has a 15.4" screen so it is not one of the notebooks types that this thread is about but the keyboard could be set into a smaller machine but with obviously a smaller screen.

it still won't be anywhere near as compact or portable as those wee netbooks.

 

[editor]

Well, again, based on my experience, I'd rather go for something like the Mac Book Air if I wanted something ultra-portable.

If you're that bothered by productivity, surely the Lenovo X300 would be a far better choice seeing as it outperforms the Air in every department (save for "looks").

 

[jæd]

If you're that bothered by productivity, surely the Lenovo X300 would be a far better choice seeing as it outperforms the Air in every department (save for "looks").

Since it would be seen with me, yep, the look would be important as well.

Its also a hassle to install Ubuntu Hardy on it : http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2008/04/22/the-x300-review-part-2-running-ubuntu-hardy/

 

[Divisive Cotton]

The quality of the LCD screen though must be shite

 

[editor]

Since it would be een with me, yep, the look would be important as well.

Looks won't help you when you run out of battery and can't swap it out, or burn a CD, watch a DVD, plug in a full range of USB peiperherals etc etc.

The Air has less features than some netbooks.

 

[jæd]

Looks won't help you when you run out of battery and can't swap it out, or burn a CD, watch a DVD, plug in a full range of USB peiperherals etc etc.

I think we've been through this all before. The Thinkpad is a nice laptop for some, but not for me. It would too much hassle to get Ubuntu working correctly (at least for Hardy).

And the monitor output appears to be analogue only...

 

[editor]

I though Ubuntu was fine on the X300 (with a few tweaks):
http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2008/04/19/the-x300-review-part-1-hardware-windows-and-more/

 

[jæd]

I though Ubuntu was fine on the X300 (with a few tweaks):
http://redmonk.com/sogrady/2008/04/19/the-x300-review-part-1-hardware-windows-and-more/

If you check out Part 2 (linked in my reply) above, there appeared to be an issue with the sound. This may be solved now, and this thread has more fixes : http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=726055&page=5

Thing is, if I'm going to spend $ 3,100 on a laptop, I'd rather everything worked out of the box on it, then spend my time tweaking...

 

[editor]

Thing is, if I'm going to spend $ 3,100 on a laptop, I'd rather everything worked out of the box on it, then spend my time tweaking...

If I'm going to spend $3,100 on a laptop, I'd like it to have enough USB ports to make it useful, a built in DVD/CD recorder and a removable battery so it doesn't conk out miles from home!

If I just wanted something small and light, I'd get a netbook which is about a zillion times cheaper than the Air.

 

[jæd]

If I'm going to spend $3,100 on a laptop, I'd like it to have enough USB ports to make it useful, a built in DVD/CD recorder and a removable battery so it doesn't conk out miles from home!

If I just wanted something small and light, I'd get a netbook which is about a zillion times cheaper than the Air.

Yes, because that probably suits you better...

 

[Iam]

Here's an SFF Dell laptop story...

I have on my desk a Latitude X1.

3 months ago, it had a new motherboard, under warranty. This morning, the power supply on that new motherboard has died.

Quality kit.

 

[editor]

Yes, because that probably suits you better...

Yes. And what's the title of this thread?

 

[Sweetpea]

Little Dell laptops are traditionally not great.

I'm thinking Latitude X1, D400 series etc.

Still, if price and size are your primary buying points, could well be worth a look.

Oh I've just been offered a D400. What sort of problems can I expect?

 

[joustmaster]

Oh I've just been offered a D400. What sort of problems can I expect?

i use a old d400 at home. i bought some more ram for it and have been using it for a couple of years after i became surplus at work.
no problems with it at all.