Help the lo-tek!!

I want to buy a netbook this week. What do I need in terms of memory, processing speed, connectivity? I want it for ILXing and internets, watching streaming movies & DVDs, and possibly music storage.

The 10.1" screen size seems to be standard -- there are some 11" models, but does it really make a difference?

I have never bought/owned my own computer in my life, so I know nothing of this magic you call "teknowlegee".

Have seen suggested that you get AT LEAST:

An Intel Atom N270 CPU (what is this?)

1 GB RAM

160 GB hard drive (my ipod is 80GB and I've never even HALF filled it, even with 4 movies + podcasts dumped on it)

Does this seem accurate? What else should I look for?

i'm really, really not an expert, given that i don't own a netbook, but i don't know if they generally are powerful enough for streaming movies & dvds. i've been surprised trying them out and finding that even checking email can be a lot slower than on a regular laptop, but i may have also not tried out any on the more high-powered end.

This is the kind of stuff I need to know -- I can't afford a real computer (if I could, I'd never buy a Windows-based machine) but I want basic entertainment options.

Ed answered some questions for me on an electronics thread somewhere but I can't remember what it was called and can't find it.

I was actually looking at netbooks myself a few weeks ago because I can't afford to repair or replace my seriously ailing Mac (parents bought it for me for college, I'm spoiled) and came to the conclusion that a cheap Windows-based laptop would have significantly more capacity than a netbook for not much more - there are decent ones for $300-350 on sale from reputable brands at Best Buy, for instance, compared to $280-300 for netbooks. More memory and screen space for watching movies, as well as storage space and possibility of running more programs (although also a lot bulkier if you were planning on carrying your computer around).

Hm yes, I was just looking at the Acer Aspire 1410, which has (I think) good graphics and processing options but is $450, at which point, just buy a whole computer.

Hmmmmmmmmm.

(ok and i know you JUST SAID you wouldn't buy a windows-based machine, didn't mean to ignore that, sorry! i was just writing from the perspective that i also don't like windows but think it's the best option for a low budget)

xpost - yeah, at that point why not just go for the computer?

yeah, laurel, i have the acer netbook with specs listed above - i bought it primarily because it's so light and can be taken anywhere without causing severe shoulder pain - it fits in a purse and i appreciate this fact.
it streams video and downloads just fine. but overall, it's a bit laggier than a 'real' laptop, yeah. it hasn't bothered me though.
a cheaper full size laptop might be what you want though if you don't intend to haul it around everywhere. netbook doesn't have dvd/cd player either, if that's important to you. or a bigger screen, obv.

If I go for a normal notebook/laptop, Dan M's friend suggested Dell -- something like this this?

The Dell mini 10 seems to be well liked and can come with linux although if netflix matters to you it doesn't currently work with linux. It's $279 right now. My only worry is 1GB of RAM but that seems to be standard with all these machines.

Thanks, Ed!! My quick reading this morning says that for home media use, you need at least 2GB of RAM. To make things even more confusing, now there's something called DDR2 SDRAM? Or something like that?

there's a DDR3 as well but I wouldn't worry about that the 2GB is a sensible minimum I think.

Also what is this "wireless N router" business? If we're paying for internet from the local cable company, do I need anything other than basic wireless capability? How much better is a "802.11g/n (1510) Mini Card" than a "802.11g (1397)" one?

Hmmm, is RAM not upgradeable? You're right, the mini 10 only comes with 1GB and I thought adding more would be in the "customization" options but it's not.

Do netbooks require the same phalanx of self-crippling virus protection measures that a WIndows machine does? Cause I could see that tipping the balance in favor of netbook if the answer is no...

the dell seems stuck at 1GB however lenovo, HP and Samsung all seem to have upgradeable netbooks.

If it is linux you will be less susceptible to viruses, if it is windows, you still need it.

OK! So I'm still on the fence between netbook and notebook, but my top price is around $500 so that's cutting down my options to a manageable level.

That dratted extra MB of RAM is hard to come by on a lot of otherwise desirable machines. Grrr.

how about this:

http://www.jr.com/hp/pe/HP_DV21110US/

only downside seems to be it is vista out of the box and you have to send in for a windows 7 upgrade.

That's one of my picks, thanks for the reminder! I'm getting a little bogged down here.

HP Pavilion dv2-1110us Entertainment Notebook at $450
Acer Aspire 1410 at $450 (no dvd drive, doesn't come in white)
Dell Inspiron 15 at $519 (has everything but kind of ugly, and the priciest option)
Lenovo IdeaPad S12 at $430 (only 1 GB RAM)

Pavilion & Dell currently winning on "extra features offered for close to the same price". Pavilion better looking, so it's currently ahead by a nice glossy finish.

that looks pretty nice, ed! i am trying to see if my current computer will last a few more months but will bookmark it just in case.

laurel have you checked out any gateway ones? they make a few small, under $500, different color models. think you need external dvd drives but that is the case for most computers under 4-5 lbs.

I don't hate the peripheral DVD drive as long as it's included in the price, which J&R seems to be saying it is.

that's good. i am a little annoyed by that feature but the only notebook i can find that's as light as i want but also has that and the other features i want is this one, but it's on the more expensive side, which is why i'm putting off purchasing one.

throwing another option into your plethora of choices, but I bought my wife a compaq presario laptop last valentine's day, she has been pretty happy with that. got it on sale at best buy for $350. given the season and the economy, you might be able to find a comparable offer.

these nuts are good at locating/recommending laptop deals btw: http://slickdeals.net/forums/

I should wait until after Christmas to buy this thing, shouldn't I. I kind of want it now but it could be massively on sale-er later.

You know, I'd actually suggest that the most important thing is to go look at a few in a store somewhere and figure out which line feels/looks best to you -- my experience was that once you've gotten down to netbook size, anything that bugs you about the trackpad, buttons, screen, or overall shape winds up feeling like a constant annoyance. A less-powerful netbook that feels right in your hands is way more valuable than a more-powerful one that drives you crazy and makes you want to hurl it against the wall.

I got an Asus EEE PC, which I carry around for writing and day-to-day stuff and am totally happy with. It sounds like your available budget is actually up at the top of the netbook range, though, so whatever brand or line you go with, you'll have good choices within it. (You could almost get one of these flashy/designy "litl" models: http://asia.cnet.com/crave/2009/11/18/the-litl-is-a-netbook-with-a-twist/ )

^^ I actually left KEYBOARD out of the list of things that might bug you, and it's the most important -- if the trackpad's annoying you can just cart a mouse around, but the keyboard requires attention

Yeah I was thinking of going and bugging people at J&R and doing just that. Just had to get a grip on the tech specs first, otherwise afraid they could tell me pretty much anything.

Good advice, definitely, for enjoyment of use!

If you can write it off your taxes that's always a good self-justification for buying a computer in December...

If you are going to be doing any serious writing then an external keyboard for use at home and maybe an external monitor might be good future accessories, no need to get everything all at once. A half decent external widescreen monitor is not pricey and if you are going to use it for watching movies and the like a nice addition.