Netbook vs Laptop

[CalifGuy]

Originally Posted by melliedee

The Acer Aspire One netbooks are on sale at Target for 298. I think I am going to get one soon. Two more dumb questions:

1) Will the internet work at home or only where there is a wifi signal?

Actually Wi-Fi is a technical standard issued/maintained by IEEE and owned by the Wi-Fi Alliance. It is named 802.11 and it defines how WLAN (Wireless local area network) devices can talk to each other (via radio waves). For you to use your netbook at home you will have to have a modem for your cable service or your broadband (DSL) phone service and a wireless router, often these are combined in the same device. If you alrady have a broadband modem for you desktop then all you will need to purchase is a wireless router. But check, you may in fact already have both (a combo unit) if your ISP gave you one when you signed up for internet service, I know Verizon provides one with their broadband service and most likely others too.

The latest version of the 802.11 standard is 802.11 N. If you are in the market for a new netbook and wireless router you might as well buy ones that utilize the "N" band, less interferance and faster. Your N band netbook will still communicate with the older G band devices.

On the other hand you can always see if someone in the neighborhood has an unsecured network/router which you can covertly connect to, just be careful, don't do your on-line banking and such when you are on an unsecured network.

[melliedee]

Here are the details of the one I'm thinking of getting at Target, which is still on sale for 298:

• Computer Features: Standard Keyboard
• Processor Type: Intel Atom N450
• Processor Speed: Up to 1.66 Ghz
• Battery Life: Up to 8 Hours
• Hard Drive Capacity: 160GB Hard Drive Capacity
• Hard Drive Speed: 5400 RPM
• Hard Drive Interface: SATA
• System Bus Speed: Up to 667 Mhz
• System RAM: 1024 MB
• Memory RAM Type: DDR2
• RAM Configuration: 1x1GB
• RAM Maximum Expandable To: 2 GB
• Graphics Memory (Dedicated): 64 MB
• Cache Memory Installed Capacity: 512KB L2 Cache
• Operating System: Windows 7 Starter Edition
• Electronic Display Features: LED Display, Backlit Display, WSVGA
• Maximum Resolution: 1024 x 600
• Input Type: Microphone, Headphone Jack
• IEEE 1394 (Firewire) Ports: 0
• USB 2.0 Ports: 3
• VGA Inputs: 1
• Built-In Card Reader Type: 5-in-1 Card Reader
• Built-In Graphics Card Type: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3150
• Built-In Webcam Features: Built-In Webcam
• Wired Standard: 10/100 Ethernet LAN
• Wireless Technology: Wi-Fi Enabled
• Wireless Standard: 802.11b/g/Draft-N
• Audio Features: High Definition Audio Speakers, Built-In Speakers
• Includes: AC Power Adapter, Power Cord
• Software Included: Acer Video Conference Manager 4.0, eSobi, Google Desktop, McAfee Internet Security Suite (60 Day Trial), Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007 Trial, Acer Recovery Management, Microsoft Works 9.0

When they say "Windows 7 Starter Edition" is that like a limited trial? Califguy, does it have the "N" thing?

Acer Aspire One 10.1" Netbook Computer - Onyx Blue (AO532h-2588) : Target=

[Doggiemom]

Originally Posted by melliedee

Here are the details of the one I'm thinking of getting at Target, which is still on sale for 298:



When they say "Windows 7 Starter Edition" is that like a limited trial? Califguy, does it have the "N" thing?

Acer Aspire One 10.1" Netbook Computer - Onyx Blue (AO532h-2588) : Target=

I got my Acer at Office Depot for $299, asked about what Windows 7 Starter actually meant? Not really sure?

[Babaloo]

Originally Posted by melliedee

When they say "Windows 7 Starter Edition" is that like a limited trial? Califguy, does it have the "N" thing?

Windows 7 Starter Edition is not a trial version. It's just a dumbed down version just for netbooks - It's all you need.

[CalifGuy]

Originally Posted by melliedee

Here are the details of the one I'm thinking of getting at Target, which is still on sale for 298:



When they say "Windows 7 Starter Edition" is that like a limited trial? Califguy, does it have the "N" thing?

Acer Aspire One 10.1" Netbook Computer - Onyx Blue (AO532h-2588) : Target=

$300 is a pretty good price for the system defined in your post and yes, you have the "n" thing.

802.11 n was only finalized/released Oct 2009, but there was a draft version released much earlier and your system complies with the draft release. There were probably some miner revisions to the spec after the draft release but I seriously doubt they will have any noticiable effect on performance for the end user.

[syl]

Originally Posted by CalifGuy

$300 is a pretty good price for the system defined in your post and yes, you have the "n" thing.

802.11 n was only finalized/released Oct 2009, but there was a draft version released much earlier and your system complies with the draft release. There were probably some miner revisions to the spec after the draft release but I seriously doubt they will have any noticiable effect on performance for the end user.

will i have the N thing??:0???

[CalifGuy]

Originally Posted by syl

• • Intel® Atom™ Processor N270
    (1.60GHz, 512KB L2 cache, 533MHz FSB)
  • Windows® 7 Starter
  • 10.1" WSVGA Acer CrystalBrite™ LED-backlit Display
  • Mobile Intel® 945GSE Express Chipset
  • Integrated Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950
  • 1024MB DDR2 Single-Channel 667MHz Memory
  • 250GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
  • Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader
  • Acer InviLink™ 802.11b/g Wi-Fi CERTIFIED® <--------
  • Two Built-in Stereo Speakers
  • Dolby® Headphone Technology
  • Multi-gesture Touchpad
  • 3 - USB 2.0 Ports
  • 6-cell Li-ion Battery (5200 mAh); up to 8-hour battery life
  • 2.79 lbs. | 1.27 kg (system unit only)

You have the g thing. Still cool just may not be up to streaming video and such.

IEEE 802.11n-2009 is an amendment to the IEEE 802.11-2007 wireless networking standard to improve network throughput over the two previous standards — 802.11a and 802.11g — with a significant increase in the maximum raw data rate from 54 Mbit/s to 600 Mbit/s with the use of four spatial streams at a channel width of 40 MHz.[1][2]

[syl]

the little blue baby arrived!!! i am so not used to not haveing a mouse..but it seems easy enough...i will spend most of the weekend getting aquainted with my new babe! be prepared for ???? my friends

[Babaloo]

Originally Posted by syl

the little blue baby arrived!!! i am so not used to not haveing a mouse..but it seems easy enough...i will spend most of the weekend getting aquainted with my new babe! be prepared for ???? my friends

Buy a mouse
A nice little blue wireless mouse

[barbj050]

Originally Posted by Babaloo

Buy a mouse
A nice little blue wireless mouse

i have a lap top
but still use a mouse..
can not get used to
the pad ..

[Jacko]

Originally Posted by barbj050

i have a lap top
but still use a mouse..
can not get used to
the pad ..

Same here...I hate the pad...

[snappysammy]

yep, get a mouse

[syl]

love it so far!!!silly? i want to put a pic as the desktop and it wont do it???i have slide show when idle but i wanted a nice pic as the background???

[Shammy]

I am incapable of using the touch pad, a wireless notebook mouse is a necessity!

[syl]

Originally Posted by Shammy

I am incapable of using the touch pad, a wireless notebook mouse is a necessity!

I am getting the hang of it but its so sensitive i have lost stuff so i am going to shop for a mouse today!!