by Matthew on November 19, 2009
We have mentioned the ASUS Eee 1201N a couple of times in the last few months. We now see that it is ready for pre-order.
The Eee 1201N has a 12.1 inch screen running with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. It has an Intel Atom 330 dual core processor along with NVIDIA ION graphics. Priced at just under $500 it comes at a fairly decent price. The netbook is also ASUS’s first ION netbook to be released.
The ASUS 1201N is part of the Seashell line of laptops and looks similar in some ways to various other models from that range such as the best selling Eee 1005HA. [click to continue…]
by Matthew on November 16, 2009
Samsung announced today that they are launching the Samsung Go on to the AT&T network on November 22.
The Samsung Go is a netbook that has access to the AT&T network and runs the Windows 7 Starter Edition operating system. The Samsung netbook it’s self weighs 2.8lbs making it fairly light weight. The screen is backlit by LED and measures 10.1″ and has a WSVGA format displaying 1024 x 600 pixels. [click to continue…]
by Matthew on October 20, 2009
A new ASUS Eee 1005HA netbook is launching this week, and it’s not the Windows 7 version we mentioned last night. This new version will still run Windows XP but rather than the traditional Home version of the OS that we see running on many netbooks, the business edition will run Windows XP Professional.
Along with using the older pro version of the XP operating system the netbook will also get a bump up in RAM taking it to a capacity of 2GB as standard. The XP Pro will not be supplied as is, but instead will be supplied as a Windows Vista downgrade. [click to continue…]
by Matthew on October 19, 2009
With the launch of Windows 7 being right around the corner, ie, this Thursday, Amazon is quickly building up a list of netbooks that will run the new operating system when launched. Each of the 28 (28 are featured, but there are more listed on the site) netbooks can be pre-ordered now. Included in the list are some of the best netbooks that are currently selling with Windows XP including the Asus Eee 1005HA that we reviewed a few weeks ago. That particular Eee PC is to be made available this Thursday costing $399 and will run Windows 7 Starter.
Other netbooks included in the list are the Acer Aspire One, Sony Vaio, HP Mini and Toshiba models to name a few. Prices range from $299 for the cheapest (the Gateway 10.1″ netbook) up to $499 for the most expensive. [click to continue…]
by Matthew on October 5, 2009
The Asus Eee 1005HA has been top of the best netbooks list for a few months now. For this reason we decided to take a look at the netbook to see exactly why it sits up the top there on Amazon’s list and what makes it such a good seller.
The Asus 1005HA comes with a 10.1″ LED backlit screen with a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels, it has 1GB of RAM, a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N280 processor and a 160GB hard drive. It’s most impressive feature is the 6 cell 63Wh battery that is capable of keeping the 1005HA powered for 10.5 hours on a full charge.
The netbook measures 1.4 inches at the thickest point and shrinks down a fair bit up to the front of the device. The reason that the netbook is larger at the back is due to the high capacity battery that has been included. However, on the whole, the netbook isn’t badly proportioned at all and the extra size at the back really isn’t noticed. On the back of the device you’ll find a similar hinge to what Dell uses on their Mini series of netbooks where the screen slides back behind the device giving you a little extra space. [click to continue…]
by Matthew on September 30, 2009
A new Asus Eee PC was spotted recently. It is named the Asus Eee 1001HA and first impressions show that it is similar to the very popular and best selling Asus 1005HA.
The Eee 1001HA has a 10.1 inch display along with a 160GB hard drive, 801.11n wireless connectivity and the keyboard measures 92% from full size.
Asus has uploaded a user manual for the netbook to its support site, and the first page reads “Eee PC User Manual Windows XP Edition Eee PC 1005 / 1001 Series.”
[click to continue…]
by Matthew on September 21, 2009
Asus have launched a new netbook named the Asus Eee 1201N. It uses the NVIDIA Ion graphics chipset making a good improvement for graphics capabilities on the small netbook. The Eee 1201N also has 2GB of RAM built in and runs the usual Atom N270 1.6GHz processor that we commonly see in netbooks.
For storage the Asus netbook uses a 250GB SATA drive that spins at 5,400 RPM. As of now it is listed at a Chinese retailer site for the equivalent of $513. [click to continue…]
by Matthew on September 1, 2009
A roadmap of upcoming Asus Eee netbook products has been leaked. It shows an impressive line of netbooks that will be appearing which includes a new 12″ netbook that uses the NVIDIA Ion graphics chip along with a tablet PC that will feature a multi-touch display.
Prices for these new netbooks and tablets are in the $300 – $500 price range too making them very affordable. [click to continue…]
by Matthew on August 29, 2009
There are a good number of netbooks out there. We have put together this netbook comparison to help you choose the best netbook for your needs. This particular page gives an overview of all netbooks currently available and will help guide you in the right direction to choosing the best device for your needs.
Windows XP Netbooks
Currently the most popular operating system running on netbooks is Windows XP Home edition. Estimated numbers show that at least 90% of them shipped in the US are pre-installed with Windows XP. The reason for this is that most people are familiar with the Windows XP layout as they have been using it for several years on their home and office computers. A Windows XP netbook usually has 1GB of RAM although you can see some smaller amounts on other netbooks. To get the most from Windows XP make sure you have at least 1GB to keep things running smoothly.
Linux Netbooks
With Windows XP netbooks dominating the market it shows that less than 10% of netbooks ship with Linux installed. If you want to purchase a linux netbook then you need to look in to what distribution of linux you want to run. Several new versions of linux have been created thanks to netbooks. These include Easy Peasey, Ubuntu netbook remix and mobin to name a few. Benefits of linux netbooks can be found in the netbook distribution list found here.
Windows 7 Netbooks
Although Windows 7 netbooks are not available at the time of writing this, it is possible to install Windows 7 on a netbook. If you desire to do this I recommend you proceed with caution and follow tutorials found on the web till official netbooks running Windows 7 are launched.
Google Android Netbooks
As of writing this there are currently no netbooks that run the Android OS although a few manufacturers such as Dell and Asus have shown interest.
What netbook to choose
For the majority of you reading this, I’d suggest Windows XP for now as the operating system works well on a netbook. Amazon have a list of the best netbooks and those that sell the most. Ones to look out for are the Asus 1005HA that has a 10.1 inch screen and a very good battery life. Other close contenders include the Samsung NC10 that works very well. Both of these are Windows XP based. Finally the Acer Aspire One is a top selling netbook and one well worth looking out for.
by Matthew on August 29, 2009
Welcome to the GadgetVenue Netbook Guide. We have created this guide to help you find the best netbook for your needs. Lets first start by giving an overview of exactly what a netbook is and why they are becoming so popular over this last year.
Netbook – General Details
Netbooks are small, lightweight and generally inexpensive devices that work just like a laptop or desktop PC. Due to their small size they are easy to carry around and very convenient for leisure, work and travel. They generally have screens between 7 and 11 inches with the 10 inch screens being quite popular. Power wise they are not the most powerful of machines and usually run up to an Intel Atom 1.6GHz processor. While this is enough to run Windows XP or even Windows 7, it’s not going to allow you to run full detail on a game of Quake III. However, 1.6GHz is ample for most people’s needs and they work excellent for web browsing, email and some basic photo editing. Battery wise they vary and you see some that achieve around 3 hours of usage while others like the Asus Eee 1005HA can achieve an impressive 10+ hours on a single charge.
Due to the small size of netbooks, they tend to not weigh much and usually they vary from 2 – 3 lbs depending on screen and general size. Optical drives are not included on the majority of netbooks to cut down weight and size. If you need to transfer files on to a netbook then the easiest option is just inserting a cheaply available USB flash drive or transferring files over a network.
Netbook Connectivity
All netbooks have wireless networking built in usually at b/g speeds which again, is ample for home usage. Some of the newer models support 802.11n if you really want fast file transfers. Netbooks often have bluetooth connectivity too allowing you to connect a plethora of devices over the air to them. Likewise, a handful of them have built in 3G cards allowing users to sign up to a data-plan and surf the net anywhere you can pick up a mobile phone signal. For this reason, netbooks are very connected to the internet. Other features that sometimes are included are GPS allowing your netbook to work as a decent satellite navigation device.
Netbook Operating Systems and Storage
The majority of netbooks run Windows XP home edition with a few starting to appear with Windows 7 installed that was just released. They normally come with about 1GB of RAM that allows some room for several programs to be loaded. Other operating systems that can be found are Linux (Ubuntu or Suse distributions) and an upcoming netbook supports the Google Android OS with an even further upcoming netbook supporting Google Chrome OS. If you are unsure what Linux, Android or Chrome is then stick to the popular Windows XP or Windows 7 installations as they will be the same as what you have used previously on a desktop or laptop.
Storage wise netbooks either have solid state drives (SSD) that are more rugged due to no moving parts, or hard disk drives (HDD) that is like your home computer (but smaller). The SSD’s tend to be more expensive and have a lot less storage capacity. HDD’s tend to have capacities up to 160GB with a couple going above that.
Netbook Keyboard Size and Screen Size
When choosing a netbook, screen size and keyboard size are very important as they are what you look at and what you type on. If the screen is too small you struggle to see it, and like wise, a smaller screen generally means a smaller netbook and that leads on to a smaller keyboard. But, on the opposite side of the scale you also don’t want to go too big as you might as well choose a laptop. The sweet spot with netbooks tends to be a 10 inch screen and these generally have a keyboard that’s about 92-95% the size of a full size keyboard. A 10 inch screen is easy to see with a good set of eyes and the 92-95% keyboard size is easy to get to grips with.
Netbook Summary
When choosing a netbook it is important to first know what you will be using it for. If it’s going to get light usage and your not familiar with a Linux netbook then choose a Windows XP or Windows 7 netbook. If you want something with a little more kick for graphics then choose something with a dedicated graphics chip.
by Matthew on July 29, 2009
< !-no-adsense-->If you are wanting to find the best netbook computer then 1 way of hunting them down is to see what’s currently selling. Amazon have a list that’s updated regularly to let you know what the best netbook is to buy. Just looking over the list we see that the Asus Eee range hold 2 of the top 5 spots which is quite impressive. When looking for the best netbook that suits your needs it is important to list exactly what you are looking for. Will you be travelling a lot and be away from a power source? Pick one that has a decent battery life. Will you be carrying a lot of files around like photos and using the netbook as a primary computer? Pick one with decent storage. Are you looking at using the web while out and about? Look for one that has built in 3G connectivity. The netbook comparison covers September 2009’s best netbooks and the features that makes them stand out. [click to continue…]
by Matthew on July 9, 2009
Asus are launching the Eee PC tablet that’s numbered the T101H. The Eee T101H is a step up from the slightly smaller Asus Eee T91 in that it has a larger screen that measures 10.1 inches. The screen is LED backlit.
The new netbook is powered by an Intel Atom Z520 1.33GHz processor and has 1GB of RAM (which can be bumped up to 2GB). It has a 16GB SSD as well as an included 16GB SD card and the touchscreen is resistive rather then capacitive. [click to continue…]
by Matthew on July 3, 2009
The Asus Eee 1005HA is now the best selling netbook on Amazon. Previously the Eee 1000HE held that title for a number of months.
The reason for the new netbook taking top position is probably related to what you get when you buy it. The battery life is astonishing at 10.5 hours. It has a 92% scaled keyboard, a 10.1 inch LED backlit screen and costs less then $400 which is not a bad price at all. [click to continue…]
