[kingu]

It never ceases to amaze me how much technology editors just don't get it. The average user wants to be able to type out a letter and print it, store or edit some pictures from their digital cameras before printing them, and handle e-mail and surfing. Not only do most netbooks excel at such tasks, their tiny format, super efficient batteries, and the many that come with various wireless features mean that you can take then anywhere, replacing the bulky desktops and laptops with a very functional machine.

There is one person in my family who hates her netbook, that's my daughter because she can't play her graphics intensive games on it. And admittedly, a lot of Linux games really need to become more friendly to the 10" screen format.

But a day doesn't go by when I'm using my netbook somewhere where someone doesn't stop, ask me what the heck I'm using, and where they too can get one, and when they hear the pricepoint (netbooks typically sell for under $300), they go rush out and buy one.

[dblshot]

What about reading e-books on a 10 inch screen? It seems a better deal than a Kindle if content is available.

[TurtleUp]

I would consider one in a different economy (actually, I almost purchased one in October, but the election convinced me to wait four years). I’ll probably get one just after Election Day, 2012, assuming we vote for freedom. Otherwise, I’m not buying a new computer until 2016 if I can hold out that long.

[perfect_rovian_storm]

They’ll pry my Mini 1000 from my cold dead hands!

Seriously, netbooks are a no-brainer. I have no idea why so many execs and ‘tech writers’ don’t get it.

I bought a full size Toshiba laptop about 5 years ago. To this day, it still does everything I need and I’m what one would consider a power user in every way except gaming.

My netbook has more power than that laptop and it weighs 1/3 what the full size one does. The netbook is more powerful than my desktop was in 2001 and back then I ran Photoshop and Flash and all kinds of stuff and it worked just fine.

I’d never give up my quad core desktop, but, IMHO, those who think you’re ‘giving up’ something by going for a netbook are misguided.

[NativeSon]

I'm looking to get one for my fiance (birthday this Friday). She's interested because it is light and does what she needs when she's on the go.

Leaning to the cheaper end, any you'd suggest?

[jiggyboy]

Nope I gotta disagree. The screen is just too damn small even for reading FR. I had one for about four hours before I took it back.

The wi-fi only worked for a couple of minutes out of that time as well but that might have been a problem just with that unit.

I got a brand-new full-sized loss-leader (Compaq) for under $400 and I’m much happier with it.

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

My son just got one for his ninth birthday. We haven’t checked out everything on it yet, but we’ve been pretty impressed so far. The keyboard is quite a bit smaller than I am used to, but it’s perfect for my son.

[razorboy]

As I get older and my eyes get worse mini-gadgets become less and less appealing. I want bigger screens, not smaller. Just got a 26”er for the home beast, I can actually use it for an hour without my glasses on before my eyes start getting tired.

[txroadkill]

I got an Acer Aspire One for Christmas. I thought it was novel but had no idea what I would do with it. About a week later I bought Microsoft's GPS attachment and tried it out on my netbook. by the end of the week I ordered a laptop mount for my truck and I can't figure out how I ever survived without it. I get real time traffic from traffic.com, check my e-mails on the go, etc. I was actually surprised by how useful Google is when you're on the go, like I said, I don't know how I got anything done without it.

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

Does yours have a built in optical drive?

[ShadowAce]

[JMJJR]

I love my Dell Mini 9, running Ubuntu.

I got the Mini to take along on the mc, I’d trashed a few hard drives (and I work for a HD manufacturer) on the bike, so I opted for a SSDD, no moving parts.

I get email, FR, offload my camera and load maps into my GPS. What else is there?

3d finite element modeling ?

I have desktops and notebooks for that, and don’t do it on vacation

I haul a 15.4” Sony, dual core, 2G, 120.........on business trips. Which beats the 17” Dell notebook I used to drag around.

[antiRepublicrat]

While there will be people who love netbooks, and for good reasons, even Apple said they aren’t going into that market any time soon because on average too many people are disappointed with netbooks after the initial glow fades. They won’t go there unless they can make one “right” so that more people stay happy with them for longer.