My netbook is dead. What should I get now?

TLAM Strike · 09-09-12, 05:36 PM

My almost two year old Asus Eee PC 10FSPED is in its death spiral. The service desk at the store I purchased it from says its mobo failure, and all I can do its take off my files before it's unserviceable.

So I guess I have to replace it. I want something that I can take notes in class with, write and edit papers with, and maybe use programs like photoshop.

Would a tablet computer be the thing?

Is there a laptop computer that will last longer than that Asus while still being a budget item?

CCIP · 09-09-12, 06:58 PM

Depends on your priorities I suppose. Tablets are becoming a viable choice, and I predict that by the Christmas season this year they'll get especially competitive pricing-wise. But they're not the greatest thing for working on papers and typing on, although typically you can plug USB keyboards into them. Laptops are not very expensive these days, and if you have no real demands on them gaming-wise, then you can get a perfectly decent one for somewhere in the $300 range. You can also go for a direct replacement and get a netbook. They are dying out because of tablets, but are still around and pretty cheap and more reliable than yours was.

I think you should decide on whether you really want a tablet, or a laptop, or a netbook first. All of those have viable choices within them.

antikristuseke · 09-09-12, 07:45 PM

Acers tend to be good value for money, at least here, have had my 7750g for a little over a year now. Though for your use a 17" might be a bit too much to lug around.

the_tyrant · 09-10-12, 06:23 AM

If you haven't seen it yet, check out the Microsoft surface, coming soon to a Microsoft store near you: http://www.microsoft.com/surface/en/us/default.aspx (get the pro edition with an x86 CPU)

I would seriously recommend waiting, since windows 8 comes out in a month, by than you can choose between a windows 8 computer, or a heavily discounted windows 7 computer

Penguin · 09-10-12, 08:09 AM

Timber and rope.
Build a catapult and hurl the netbook right into their US hq!

Am I the only one who finds it an insolence when an electronic device doesn't even last 2 years? Do we really have adopted this buy-cheap and throw-away mentality?

I would at least try to write a polite mail to Asus' customer support, to get it repaired on their costs. Asus still give a crap about their customers - well at least here in Europe, but we also have these socialist consumer protection laws that give us a 2 year warranty on all devices.

Sorry, can't help you on the choice of a new device, still got my 7 year old notebook as a mobile comp.

Skybird · 09-10-12, 09:09 AM

Tablets: for reading ebooks docs and pdfs, surfing, making quick notes, typical smartphone purposes on a bigger screen. Not for photoediting, precise excel tables handling, much typing, gaming.

My choice for your described purpose: thin notebook.

Skybird · 09-10-12, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Penguin

Am I the only one who finds it an insolence when an electronic device doesn't even last 2 years?

No.

I think 24 months in the EU is even a legally binding minimum warranty, isn't it.

Correction: I'm sure it is like that - since I just have made use of that when my keyboard broke down after 20 months only. Amazon forst said I should contact Logitech. Logitech said they do not repair it, Amazon has to replace it, due to EU laws. Told that Amazon, they then asked me to send it back, and I got a refund. Bought a new one.

TLAM Strike · 09-10-12, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Penguin

I would at least try to write a polite mail to Asus' customer support, to get it repaired on their costs. Asus still give a crap about their customers - well at least here in Europe, but we also have these socialist consumer protection laws that give us a 2 year warranty on all devices.

We don't have such a law, the 12 month warranty which has since expired did cover the replacement of the defective LCD it had. But to extended it I would have needed to buy another warranty that would have cost about half of what I payed for the darn thing.

Quote:

Sorry, can't help you on the choice of a new device, still got my 7 year old notebook as a mobile comp.

May I ask what brand it is?

PeriscopeDepth · 09-12-12, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

So I guess I have to replace it. I want something that I can take notes in class with, write and edit papers with, and maybe use programs like photoshop

Take notes and run photoshop are two very different things.

You probably want something with one of the higher end Intel processors (a half decent integrated GPU) for any sort of photoshop, 4 gigs of RAM, and SSD.

Not really a netbook at that point, I guess?

PD

CCIP · 09-13-12, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeriscopeDepth

Take notes and run photoshop are two very different things.

You probably want something with one of the higher end Intel processors (a half decent integrated GPU) for any sort of photoshop, 4 gigs of RAM, and SSD.

Not really a netbook at that point, I guess?

PD

I wouldn't say those are a requirement. They're nice to have and will improve your photoshop experience, especially if you're doing high-level work there (like actually using it for painting), but it's not something you actually need. Photoshop isn't something that requires that much real-time beef, especially with more basic things, which a netbook can do with relative ease. I've tried Photoshop on 4-year-old dual-core netbooks, and while it's not exactly something I would do serious work on, if you wanted to throw some quick layers together or color-correct a few photos, it will do.

Herr-Berbunch · 09-14-12, 02:09 AM

I know the_tyrant is a big fan but try Windows 8 before you potentially get it. I tried it at work yesterday and didn't particularly like it's child-like 'start' screen, although once you get past that to the desktop it at least looks more normal.

the_tyrant · 09-14-12, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

I know the_tyrant is a big fan but try Windows 8 before you potentially get it. I tried it at work yesterday and didn't particularly like it's child-like 'start' screen, although once you get past that to the desktop it at least looks more normal.

Even if you don't like the os, you have to admit, there are quite a few new innovative models coming out with windows 8. You can downgrade I believe

Even if you don't like the new models, windows 7 computers will be getting a huge price cut. So unless you really need a computer NOW, I suggest waiting a bit

09-09-12, 05:36 PM	#1
TLAM Strike Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Rochester, New York Posts: 8,633 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 6	My netbook is dead. What should I get now? My almost two year old Asus Eee PC 10FSPED is in its death spiral. The service desk at the store I purchased it from says its mobo failure, and all I can do its take off my files before it's unserviceable. So I guess I have to replace it. I want something that I can take notes in class with, write and edit papers with, and maybe use programs like photoshop. Would a tablet computer be the thing? Is there a laptop computer that will last longer than that Asus while still being a budget item? __________________

09-09-12, 06:58 PM	#2
CCIP Navy Seal Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Waterloo, Canada Posts: 8,700 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 2	Depends on your priorities I suppose. Tablets are becoming a viable choice, and I predict that by the Christmas season this year they'll get especially competitive pricing-wise. But they're not the greatest thing for working on papers and typing on, although typically you can plug USB keyboards into them. Laptops are not very expensive these days, and if you have no real demands on them gaming-wise, then you can get a perfectly decent one for somewhere in the $300 range. You can also go for a direct replacement and get a netbook. They are dying out because of tablets, but are still around and pretty cheap and more reliable than yours was. I think you should decide on whether you really want a tablet, or a laptop, or a netbook first. All of those have viable choices within them. __________________ There are only forty people in the world and five of them are hamburgers. -Don Van Vliet (aka Captain Beefheart)

09-10-12, 06:23 AM	#4
the_tyrant Admiral Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 2,272 Downloads: 58 Uploads: 0	If you haven't seen it yet, check out the Microsoft surface, coming soon to a Microsoft store near you: http://www.microsoft.com/surface/en/us/default.aspx (get the pro edition with an x86 CPU) I would seriously recommend waiting, since windows 8 comes out in a month, by than you can choose between a windows 8 computer, or a heavily discounted windows 7 computer __________________ My own open source project on Sourceforge OTP.net KGB grade encryption for the rest of us

09-10-12, 09:09 AM	#6
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,709 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Tablets: for reading ebooks docs and pdfs, surfing, making quick notes, typical smartphone purposes on a bigger screen. Not for photoediting, precise excel tables handling, much typing, gaming. My choice for your described purpose: thin notebook. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

09-14-12, 02:09 AM	#11
Herr-Berbunch Kaiser Bill's batman Join Date: May 2010 Location: AN72 Posts: 13,203 Downloads: 76 Uploads: 0	I know the_tyrant is a big fan but try Windows 8 before you potentially get it. I tried it at work yesterday and didn't particularly like it's child-like 'start' screen, although once you get past that to the desktop it at least looks more normal. __________________

09-09-12, 07:45 PM	#3
antikristuseke Silent Hunter Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Estland Posts: 4,330 Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	Acers tend to be good value for money, at least here, have had my 7750g for a little over a year now. Though for your use a 17" might be a bit too much to lug around.

09-10-12, 08:09 AM	#5
Penguin Ocean Warrior Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Rheinische Republik Posts: 3,322 Downloads: 92 Uploads: 0	Timber and rope. Build a catapult and hurl the netbook right into their US hq! Am I the only one who finds it an insolence when an electronic device doesn't even last 2 years? Do we really have adopted this buy-cheap and throw-away mentality? I would at least try to write a polite mail to Asus' customer support, to get it repaired on their costs. Asus still give a crap about their customers - well at least here in Europe, but we also have these socialist consumer protection laws that give us a 2 year warranty on all devices. Sorry, can't help you on the choice of a new device, still got my 7 year old notebook as a mobile comp.