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Designing The Ultimate Netbook
Harden writes "TrustedReviews has an interesting take on what the 'Ultimate Netbook' ought to be. From the article: 'How to solve a problem like the netbook? To my mind, despite nearly every manufacturer taking a stab at the thing, none has yet quite distilled my idea of what the Ultimate Netbook would be. This is partly because, until recently, not everyone had a clear understanding of what a netbook was meant to do, but also because manufacturers have all been far too busy jostling for market share to put a lot of thought into the finer details.' What would your Ultimate Netbook include?"
one that can transform into either a Decepticon or a Hooker bot, and is smart enough to know when to turn into each of those.
Monstar L
Windows Ultimate of course.
The Netbook needs to be cheap. Preferably in the $150-250 range. It should have a low to medium-end CPU, at least 256 MB of RAM and should run Linux (or if it has a high-end CPU at at least 512 MB of RAM, XP). It should have Wi-Fi out of the box, and a decent video card. It should have a minimum of 3 USB ports, and should be relatively shock resistant.
Taxation is legalized theft, no more, no less.
A Macbook nano. $699, 10" screen, dual-core Atom, 2 GB of RAM, 64 GB flash drive, 6-cell removable battery, Airport/Bluetooth, Snow Leopard; no CD/DVD drive. Many manufacturers already have models similar to this; with subnotebook sales at an all-time high it's only a matter of time before Apple jumps onboard.
Take off every sig. For great justice.
Why is it that the 'original' netbook - the XO1 - can get 9-10 hours of battery life, even with a basic NiMH (rather than Li-ion) battery, and yet all the followup netbooks seem stuck at 4 hours tops? Even with the new ultra-efficient Atom processor, most new netbooks seem to have a relatively heavy power draw. I wish somebody would sort that out.
"I bless every day that I continue to live, for every day is pure profit."
it would include a price tag of below $300... And linux please.
1) Gentoo 2) A quantum processor
Everyone has different needs and tastes. Some want a smaller package at the cost of features and screen size. Some of us want a little more hardware available and can't see a 7" screen anyhow. Many Japanese would be happy with a 4" netbook even if it had a 200Mhz arm processor. Most Americans would complain. This is why Asus etc have so many models and sizes. Trying to jam everyone into one model is like Henry Ford with the model T. He lost market share because he thought one car would be enough choice for everyone.
Even those who arrange and design shrubberies are under considerable economic stress at this period in history.
I'd say the ultimate netbook would be a slightly ruggedized version of the Lenovo X61s I already own, plus the built-in 3G that I wish I had ordered. (not that 3G via a USB 'modem' is bad)
For that matter, how about an X200s? Starting weight of 2.5 pounds, but a 'real' computer. The only disadvantage here is that they are expensive, but the article said 'ultimate', not 'ultimate when compromised to make it cheap'.
ERROR: Null
The Psion clamshells seemed pretty popular in their day. I don't understand why that form factor went away and didn't come back! One of these with a color screen, a modern processor, WiFi and running Linux would definitely appeal to me.
Netbooks at the moment seem like the worst of both worlds - too large to be conveniently portable, too underpowered to do serious work, too small to be productive for heavily keyboard oriented stuff. They're light at least - but I don't really follow why that's a big deal. Obviously I'm wrong because Netbooks are popular. I just don't quite understand it.
--- These are not words: wierd, genious, rediculous
The good things about the netbook market are affordability, GNU/Linux and free software. Microsoft and Apple do not really have systems for that range.
An Apple Netbook wouldn't be affordable and it would include the usual Apple restrictions and digital rights violations. No, thanks.
Lightweight (under 1.5kg including the power supply), 12h+ REAL battery life, built-in 3G modem, trackpoint or a *properly* calibrated touchpad, a sturdy case - steel hinges (but NOT steel fastened with screws to a plastic frame), titanium alloy or carbon fiber underside and cover - and proper space utilization (if there's space for a full-sized keyboard because the notebook is widescreen, then put this goddamned full-sized keyboard there, not a "normal" laptop keyboard and 10cm of padding on each side). Oh, and a matte screen. Glossy is OK for desktop monitors in a controller environment, laptops are being used where it's often impossible to eliminate direct, bright sources of light that make using a glossy screen almost impossible.
Actually, I think I've just described something similar to my X60, which is a very good design as far as mobility is concerned, but could be improved anyway. Sadly, I couldn't find anything better yet - Eee is nice but underpowered for my needs (no, not gaming) and too small (12.1" is optimal for me), Vaio feels too delicate and too easy to break, while HP subnotebooks are fine at first, but there's something about them that puts me off.
Disclaimer: this has nothing to do with the "desktop replacement" kind of notebook, which definitely has its place (small apartments, dorm rooms etc.), but is, in my opinion, out of scope of this discussion.
This is Slashdot. Common sense is futile. You will be modded down.
I read the article. I got about 2 paragraphs in and read this little gem:
Since when the hell was the iPhone the definitive Phone? I'm honestly not trying to troll here, but it's widely documented that although it's great for web browsing and such, the actual phone aspect of it fails on nearly all points. It doesn't do MMS, it doesn't have bluetooth for anything other than headsets - hell, the shitty Windows Smartphone I had 4 years ago did everything the iPhone does today (and more), with the only exceptions of a multi-touch screen and 3G (Because it wasn't widespread back then). Honestly, what am I missing here?
+1 IDisagreeSoHeMustBeATrollOrAnAstroturferOrAShill
The categories are fuzzy, of course, but I see two main ones:
1) What I call a netbook, which is a reduced-functionality, super tiny notebook, with emphasis on wireless connectivity, startup time, and battery life, to give you a minimal terminal to access your online life from anywhere. It's cheap enough that you'd likely buy it in addition to a normal notebook, and between being rugged (SSD) and cheap, you wouldn't worry about banging it around as you take it everywhere. It doesn't apologize for not starting OpenOffice quickly, or other traditional things you'd do with a notebook (let alone gaming)... That's not its purpose, and if you miss those things, look at #2. The original Eee nailed it.
2) Sub-sub-notebooks. These are the "larger" ones, which work as super light notebook for people who travel away from their main PC a lot. More CPU, a little heavier, a much bigger screen, somewhat less battery life, and you get a tiny, convenient notebook. It costs more. It's more about "running applications" than "hop online for a second". See: Dell, or the new Eee.
For me, the perfect netbook starts with #1, and keeps going in the direction of small, light, power efficient, instant-on, connectivity everywhere, and feels no shame about its limitations. To improve, try adding one of those trick transflective flip-around displays from the OLPC, and an ultra-low-power display-only mode to make it a usuable ebook... Or just put an e-ink display on the lid. Some are adding cell data interfaces... Good move, though plan pricing will probably render it useless.
I'd like to see a brand that positions itself as the "under $100" Notebook and delivers at least the same specs as the EEE PC 4G.
In other words, instead of trying to replicate a laptop, just cram everything you can for the price. They could then update the product every year; at that price you can afford the upgrade often.
Probably not going to happen, as it would kill margins. But all the current machines will be available second-hand sooner or later and should reach that price point.
The ENIAC Demo Competition
An Apple Netbook wouldn't be affordable and it would include the usual Apple restrictions and digital rights violations.
You're talking about Apple circa 1992. The MacBook is quite affordable and doesn't have any "digital rights violations" that I can see.
But I would be very happy with the following:
an Atom based machine, with
a USB host port, and an
SD card slot,
GPS,
Wifi,
Bluetooth etc,
5 hour battery life
All in the form factor of an A4 sized(maybe even A5) iphone like device. Ie Glass screen, solid build, slim design.
If i need a keyboard for the thing i can use a bt one. It would be perfect for reading books, maps, basic games, browsing. And fit into a pack or bag nicely
Oh, and finally, it would run Linux of course
(if the price was around the 500AUD mark, it would be fantastic, but twice that would also be tolerable :)
Software
easy access to more software and large repositories already activated.
All for £100-£150 ($200-$300)
Most Damage is done by people who are AWAKE
Ultimate netbook: Second hand IBM ThinkPad X40.
* Full size keyboard vs eeePC's absurdly unsable plastic thing.
* Very good screen quality vs eeePC's wristwatch reject.
* Over 4h battery time running Xubuntu (I timed this with average use, this is *not* with the notebook sitting idle).
* Not much bigger than the eeePC, and still very light at 1.2kg.
* Super durable vs eeePC's plastic trashy case.
* Half the price of an eeePC.
I wish people would cut out this rubbish Netbook phase. Netbooks, at the moment, are overpriced reject hardware.
Until a netbook is at least as powerful as a 3 year old laptop, has usable input/output peripherals and is durable enough to take anywhere (after all, that's the point of the size, right?) then netbooks will be in my mind a total waste of time and money.
I hate printers.
I thought the point was to be small and portable with long battery life. Get a Nintendo DS if you want to play games. The most "serious" graphics I expect are some desktop effects, and maybe watching a movie.
Yeah, pretty much. I just bought a netbook for school, and there's really not a whole lot I could or would improve on. The article has some interesting ideas, but nothing groundbreaking. Yes, I too would like my car to come with a 3.5L, 300 horsepower engine with a turbocharger and get 40 miles to the gallon! But you know what? I drive a Honda. I have a 2.0L naturally aspirated engine with 210 horsepower, and I get 27mpg local/36 highway. That's frikkin' good enough. Yes, I know the technology is out there to get all those extra fancy doodads, but what I have now satifies everything that I really need in a car. Much like my Acer Aspire One.
The only thing that I've changed on my Aspire One is operating system. I switched from Windows XP to Ubuntu, and that was a fairly straightforward install for even a computer noob like me. I'm even happy about the price - I paid $350 for my Acer Aspire One with the 120GB harddrive and 1gb RAM. I haven't quite jumped on the SSD bandwagon yet - my brother works for a company who manfucturers SSDs, and in his opinion, the technology isn't sufficiently mature yet.
The build quality of this is great - I throw it in my backpack, and have been lugging back and forth from school almost every day. The hinges are stiff enough to feel sturdy, and there's no wobble, unlike my $1600 Fujitsu S-series laptop that I bought 4 years ago. I daresay that this is a much better purchase, and the specs aren't too different either. Granted, there Fujitsu is 4 years old, but this laptop is literally a quarter of the price, and yet the harddrive is 3x bigger! If we continue to compare my Aspire One to my old Fujitsu, it seems that even the keyboard on the Aspire One has a better tactile feel. Nothing I would change there.
People stop me to tell me "... that is the TINIEST laptop I've ever seen!" and girls squeal about how cute it is.
So based on the suggestions from the article, would a trackpoint mouse be all that much more awesomer? Not really. (It's a take it or leave it kinda thing.) 1280 x 800 resolution? Again, meh. Everything on my screen is already tiny enough with 1024 x 600. 1GB RAM, Atom processor, wifi, ethernet, usb ports, blah blah blah? Got that already, minus Bluetooth connectivity. Those are like "standard features" on a car. 6-cell battery? Already an option, and one I don't really find that I need. Last but not least, HSPDA? Dude, I don't even know what that IS, and I don't think I really even need it anyway. And the price of course - we would all like to buy a new Subaru STi for the price of Honda Civic - but dude... you know it just ain't happening.
Oh, and I LOL'd at the "Apple iPhone of netbooks" analogy. The Apple iPhone didn't blow anything out of the water. It just had a better marketing campaign. Considering most people at my school have never seen a net top before (they gawk at mine, and their eyes bug out when I tell them it was only $350), I suspect that the first company to really aggressively market the low-price net top will be hailed as the "the iPhone of net tops."
They have. It is called the Air. Just because it is large, doesn't mean it is not a netbook. I think the definition of netbook is wrong in that it requires something under a certain size screen (9-11 inches depending on who is talking).
Fits in nicely with average price range too...
The closest Apple has come to having a lightweight notebook was the MacBook Air. Yea... I'm sure they can somehow get that price down to be competitive by cutting out the whole slew of extra features the Air has... oh wait... it barely has any...
I have an Asus EeePC 901.
It *is* the ultimate netbook.
It has a 1.8Ghz Atom processor, faster than my desktop's AthlonXP 1800+. It has no problem crunching numbers or playing highly compressed high-quality video.
The 1GB of standard RAM is fine. I'd rather 2GB in dual-channel, especially since ram only costs 12$/GB or so, but I also have no troubles running Windows 200 Server, Firefox with 50+ open tabs, thunderbird, Apache2 with 10 concurrent users, Trillian, Winamp, Filezilla, and a dozen other services on a local server with an AthlonXP 1800+ with 640MB RAM, so 1GB is fine.
It's 12GB of space, spanned over two internal solid state drives, plus a 16GB SD-card means I have all the space I want (and with the three USB2.0 ports, unlimited room for expansion) and can also simply leave it on all day while moving from room to room and place to place - just stuff it in my briefcase and go - as there are no moving parts (pick it up and shake it while it's running - no damage, no headcrashes).
Speaking of leaving it on all day, it averages 8h:30mins of actual use per charge. Longer when in self-initiated standby half of the day.
The screen is nice, clear, and not a glare screen. It has a slightly imperfect resolution of 1024x600, but that has not yet caused a problem in any application. The graphics card is fast enough to handle UnrealTournament comfortably, giving ~30fps @ 800x600, 32-bit color, all settings "High", dynamic lighting, etc. Since I've only installed a few LAN-games like GTA2, Starcraft, ete it works perfectly for everything I've thrown at it.
The wireless network card is not only "N"-compatible, but AiroPeek drivers exist for it, and it can put into passive mode and can be used for wardriving/wireless network analysis.
The webcam is fairly good quality, sharp, and clear.
With a 20$/month contract, I have a USB2.0 stick that provides wireless internet (3G/UMTS) flatrate between 2,000 to 7,000 kbps.
The only thing that could be better would be to use an NVIDIA Quadro 280 graphic chip instead of the silly Intel chip (compatibility and quality reasons) and to use a dual-core Atom processor (that will soon be available), and both I would consider a luxury.
Also the thing is so cheap I got it for free with a dirt cheap (15$/month) mobile phone contract.
But..But... It would be... environmentally friendly! Yeah, that's it! How can you not see that whatever Apple does is ultimately good for all of us?
Heh, I was just going to write this, but you beat me to it. Writing this on my X40 here. I have 7 hours of batterytime if I stretch it (no wifi, just coding and playing simple games).
c++;
Something I am longing for is a cheap 9-10 inch tablet PC. Is it so hard to make a tactile screen and a hinge that will allow the screen to hide the keyboard? How about no keyboard at all? B/W screen is ok and e-paper would extend the battery life.
My ideal notebook would not be Intel architecture.
Let's face it, designing a notebook around an Intel processor is like designing a bicycle around a V8 truck engine. Even recent attempts to make them low-power are laughable; the Intel Atom may draw an unheard-of 4 watts, but the new generation of ARM chips have about the same processing capabilities and draw *0.3* watts (plus you get a DSP and a PowerVR 3D accelerator for free).
The only possible reason for wanting an IA32 processor is if you're going to run Windows; which is fine, if you want to do that, but I don't. So why should I, and all the people like me, be restricted to having to using hardware that's crippled by the need by a ludicrously power-hungry processor and all the heat-dissipation hardware necessary to make it go? I have an Asus eee 701; it has a *fan* in it. That's simply absurd in a machine that size.
Lose the Intel processor, and it'll be cheaper, lighter and you're probably quadruple the battery life...
[Buy more Ovaltine]
has too many ads.
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-Dave
The majority of the comments are focusing on the "book" part; and mostly ignoring the "net" part. Current wifi, proprietary cellular, or true-high speed wired network are not pervasive or interoperable enough to provide effectively for the "net" part.
The "netbook" is just smoke so far. No real fire.
Every mans' island needs an ocean; choose your ocean carefully.
So, he says he wants:
all day battery life
HSDPA (and a contract is okay) so he can surf the web anywhere
bluetooth
He says he doesn't need:
ability to play games
great sound quality
a lot of RAM or storage
It sounds like he just wants a web-enabled cell phone. Google's/T-Mobile's Android G1 should be perfect for him.
As for me, I'd like more memory, because I know I'll use it. I don't care about HSDPA, because I'm not about to enter into yet another cell phone contract. I don't care about bluetooth, because I'm not going to use an external mouse. I want pre-N wireless, because I'm going to be using it sometime in the next couple of years.
I hope they enter this field
You mean like the Apple eMate from 1997?
Ok, its hardly a "netbook" - but ubiquitous WiFi and mobile internet weren't really on the menu in 1997. Actually, the failure of this, and also the Psion Series 7 might suggest that mobile web browsing was the missing ingredient needed to get the "small, cheap laptop" market off the ground.
As for the MacBook Air, I think Apple were a bit unlucky with the timing: it was clearly intended to compete with other "premium" ultra-compact laptops from Sony et. al. - instead, everybody seemed to put it head-to-head with the (brilliant, but more Fischer Price than Jonathan Ive) EEE PC 701.
In a survey of 100 programmers, 111111 thought that duck-typing was a good idea.
1. They need to be cheap. Very cheap. They should be cheap enough that they could be given away much like USB memory sticks are today. A high-end netbook should cost no more than $20. Lower-end models should cost no more than a few dollars.
2. They need to be powerful to run all the new whiz-bang Web 2.0 stuff and any other application that someone might want to run. The Atom processor may be fine for now, but newer netbooks will need four- or eight-core processors to handle loading web pages. When I press the power button, I want to be ready to go instantly. My first computer booted up in five seconds and it had a 1 MHz (that's megahertz, not gigahertz) processor. With the processors we have now, a computer should be ready to go before I take my finger off the power button.
3. They need connectivity. Cheap or free Wi-Fi or WiMax so that they can perform their primary function -- loading web pages.
4. They need to be small. Very small. I should be able to fit one comfortably in my shirt pocket.
5. They need a large screen to view websites without having to scroll all the time. A 17-inch screen should be minimal with a 19- or 21-inch screen preferred.
6. The battery needs to last a long time. Even using the wireless connectivity continuously, these things should run for a year or more on two AA batteries.
7. They need to be durable, yet stylish. I should be able to take it from the job site to the coffee shop. They need to be dust- and water-proof. Maintenance should only consist of a wipe-down with a wet rag to clean off any dust or dirt. I should be able to stick it in the dishwasher to clean it and it should be able to survive being washed and dried with my clothes if it gets forgotten in a pocket.
8. They need to be dead simple to operate. Someone operating one of these things should not need a CS degree. The interface should be navigable by a 3-year-old. It should not require an easily-lost external mouse or keyboard, but it should have expansion ports (preferably USB) to add one or both if desired.
If components are interchangeable, they can be mass produced, and the price of them would fall.
If you can buy cheap, interchangeable components, and build your own, fat profit margins for laptops for Dell, Lenovo, Apple, etc. would disappear.
Buy building their own, non-modular laptops, they can sell products that differentiate their features from other companies: lighted keyboards, extremely thin, whatever.
Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
An Apple Netbook wouldn't be affordable and it would include the usual Apple restrictions and digital rights violations. No, thanks.
That would depend whether His Steveness envisioned it as a cut-down MacBook (i.e. a general purpose computer) or a souped-up iPod/iPhone (i.e. an appliance). The vast majority of those "restrictions and digital rights violations" bones of contention arise from the latter.
The only such issue I can think of with Macs is the restriction of OSX to Apple hardware - which nobody seemed worried about until the Intel switch and, IMHO, removing that would simply kill OS X.
In a survey of 100 programmers, 111111 thought that duck-typing was a good idea.
Bingo. On top of what the parent said, it should also be small (less than 12.1" screen) and lightweight with a battery life of at least 3 hours.
Bingo. On top of what the parent said, it should be small (less than 7.2" screen) and lightweight with a battery life of at least three hours...
Seriously, the best laptop I've ever had was a Toshiba Libretto 100CT. It had a screen resolution of (if I remember correctly) 1024x600, a perfectly usable (though small) keyboard, and mine ran Debian. It did everything I wanted of it, well - it even ran a full Oracle 8 database - and it fit easily into a coat pocket.
If I was designing a netbook now I'd start with the Libretto form factor, use solid state memory for backing store (definitely no hard disk) and finish it with about 2mm of rubber all round, for splash proofing and increased shock protection. It would run Ubuntu (possibly the netbook special build) and weigh not more than the Libretto - which is to say 910 grammes.
If Toshiba could build that machine in 1996, it shouldn't be difficult to do the same now, with solid state storage and better battey life. A Netbook - or a Libretto - is not meant to be your main computer. It's meant to be something you have with you virtually all the time. It needs to be robust because it's going to take knocks. It needs to be small, otherwise it's awkward to carry. It needs to be light for the same reason. If it doesn't have the graphics or the horsepower to run Crysis, well, frankly, I can live without.
I'm old enough to remember when discussions on Slashdot were well informed.
An Apple Netbook wouldn't be affordable and it would include the usual Apple restrictions and digital rights violations.
You're talking about Apple circa 1992. The MacBook is quite affordable and doesn't have any "digital rights violations" that I can see.
$1000+ isn't "affordable" in the sub $400 netbook category.
Couldn't disagree more. A full size notebook is not good enough for people who want a netbook. If you've ever flown coach, the reasons are obvious. With a typical laptop, if you place it on your tray table and open the screen to a comfortable viewing angle, the edge of the screen neatly tucks in where the tray table was with very little extra space. This becomes a problem only when the person in front of you leans back and your screen gets compressed between the back of the seat and the tray table. In a panic, you have to yank the computer out of there or risk the screen breaking.
I desperately want a laptop that is about 1.5 inches shorter off the table when fully open so that it isn't at risk when using it on a tray table. A netbook would be perfect for that. Here's what I want in a netbook:
There's my list as a frequent traveler. In other words, a size-reduced (screen-border-reduced) MacBook with ExpressCard, no optical drive, and an Atom CPU instead of a Core 2 Duo CPU.
Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.
Apple has entered this field; it's called the MacBook Air. It's expensive, it's heavy, and it has limited connectivity options.
For heaven's sake folks, the Air isn't a Netbook - its a regular 13.3" widescreen form-factor laptop (which is about the minimum size for a full-sized keyboard and better-than-XGA display) that's been made super-slim, and then made to look even slimmer by clever design. Its aimed squarely at well-off Mac users who want a small laptop to supplement their iMac, don't want a MacBook Pro (pretty, but relatively hefty) but fancy something a bit more "executive" than the regular MacBook. Its no power-house, but it has considerably more grunt than most netbooks. The connectivity is stripped out because it is assumed that you'll use WiFi and Bluetooth (there's a clue in the name). The seriously expensive SSD option is intended to give HD-equivalent capacity. Its main competitors would have been smaller, sexy and equally expensive ultra-compacts, and the killer features would have been the keyboard, and that it slipped into a briefcase designed for A4/Letter documents better than a smaller-but-thicker computer. Yet, somehow, the reviews always put the Air head-to-head with the $300 EEE PC 701, rather than $3000 worth of carbon-fibre bonsai from Sony.
Just for the record, I own 0 (zero) MacBook Airs and 1 (one) EEE PC 701 (and am tempted to upgrade to a 901) - but I just find the comparison bizzarre.
In a survey of 100 programmers, 111111 thought that duck-typing was a good idea.
Is a tablet with SSD, touchscreen and a pretty design... Pretty much like the internet tablet techcrunch wanted to design...
But I think the keyword for a successful netbook is to have a pretty design, drop x86, and tightly integration software!
Everybody seems to be forgetting the most important thing software... Make a netbook that will be remotely administered by manufacturer... Screw customers freedom, unless they ask for it, and let the manufacture own the root account... Don't give users a root account!
A pretty design and a system supported, as in remotely administered by manufacture, promoted through capabilities not system specs, is the key to success...
Tell the user that the browser will open in 0.5 sec and the wordprocessor in 0.8 sec... And that the system will boot in 10 sec... And that they don't have to worry about updating software and installing applications, because they can't do that it will be remotely administered by the manufacturer...
Okay, I'm not sure about the "remotely administered" which means not root access for user... But for the average Joe it might be good... One might allow root access but tell users that it breaks software support warranty.
Nevertheless, the key to sucess which I think everybody is forgetting is that lowering system specs requires serious software/hardware integration in order to work good...
the USB dongles look ugly sticking out of the side.
I always wonder at this when people bring it up. When I got my 3G modem from Verizon, I specifically got the USB720 USB dongle for the specific reason that it is what it is. An easy way to get any computer on the internet that has nothing more than a USB port to stick it in. I can't tell you how many times I've run different desktops and laptops with it while troubleshooting to get them on the net for drivers, software, etc. Most modern Linux distro's have drivers for it built right in. I believe OSX does too. Of course, Windows doesn't but, I just boot a live CD to work with those. In fact, my Intrepid CD is zero config. You just load it up on the Live CD, plug in the modem and click connect. You don't have to tell it /dev/usbtty0 or whatever it is, you don't have to type in #777 or anything, it just works. I have no interest in a built in 3G modem that can only be used on the particular hardware it came on. Just added expense in my (net)book.
The soylentnews experiment has been a dismal failure.
I am a frequent traveler. I use my ThinkPad X40 for when I'm on flights, going to conferences etc, and my ThinkPad T61p for heavy lifting such as long coding sessions, graphics work etc.
My X40 gives 4 - 5 hours on a charge.
Check.
Check, hence I travel with two laptops, one in my carry on (X40) and the workhorse in check baggage. I'm a pro at packing my stuff around the laptop, 10 long haul flights and no damage to it yet. Helped also by the fact that ThinkPad's are built like tanks.
The X40 is no MacBook Air, but were I spending that budget I'd get a X300.
No idea how big a MacBook is, but the X40 is pretty small so I doubt it'll not meet this.
Hey, I thought we were talking netbooks here? The X40 doesn't have firewire, but since when is that a concern on a small and light aircraft companion? For reading CF cards, get a $5 card reader, they're diminuitive these days, and weigt in at about 20g. The X40 has a built in SD/MMC reader, the T61p can also do the MemoryStick range IIRC.
You're having a different discussion here. No netbook will do this.
Dude. NETBOOKS.
Check.
Check. Both ThinkPads have RJ45 ethernet and RJ12 modems built in.
Check, the X40 runs quite cool, and is dead silent.
NETBOOKS! But yes, it does. What are you doing that requires >2gb of ram that also doesn't thrash the battery life?
Dunno about this one,
Stop smoking crack.
I said stop it with the crack already. MacBook Air is your only option for a small netbook here, and I think everyone agrees at this stage that the MBA is a product birthed from pure stupidity.
Your wants are not met by the current crop of products. You seem to want desktop performance in a netbook size unit, with the full flotilla of ports and no compromise in battery life when doing heavy duty work. Even if I were willing to pay big dollars for a netbook, which by definition is a *secondary* machine, there is no product that solves the absurd mix of wants in your list.
The X40 is a good tradeoff given the niche that the netbook is supposed to fill. When you're asking for does not exist, and if it did, I doubt it'd be anywhere NEAR the price range we're talking about here with netbooks.
I hate printers.
It's still pointless to compare new to used though. Give it time and you'll be able to pick up used eeepc's for cheap too.
Size is still a major issue in that device class (probably in any really). The eeepc can easily and safely be held in one hand, fits into a small bag, and doesn't take up space you'd use otherwise.
Price is also very important. We had very small subnotebooks for years before, but they were expensive as hell. People expect smaller but less powerful equipment to be cheaper, quite rightly IMO.
Apple netbook would own. I'd like to see something that was almost the resurrection of the Newton eMate, but with a more modern Mac OS X derivative OS, 802.11n, and an option for Mobile Phone Company-provided bandwidth. However...and this is a big HOWEVER...this Apple netbook would be more expensive than any of the other netbooks. It just comes with the territory of machines with better "fit and finish" than the average computer.
I would say such a machine would be sort of like the offspring of an iPhone and a MacBook. Considerably less powerful than the MacBook, but with more versatility -- and no tie-ins to a single mobile phone company -- than an iPhone.
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