[coachtrip_fan99]

im perfectly happy with my netbook. Im typing on it now if fact. Its a HP Mini.

When I got it, I was going to upgrade to 2gb ram...... but after Id deleted all the pre-installed bloatware (which I do on ANY new pc I get) it seems to run fine for everything I want it to.

I only really use it for emails / browsing... but It can run Itunes to transfer music to ipod, office software, play videos, iplayer, etc, no problem.

I already have a large HP laptop, but I wanted something small and portable, that I could take around with me, fit in my bag, use at work with an internet dongle. etc.

For this it is perfect. And the battery lasts ages compared to my laptop!

[magnauk]

Originally Posted by coachtrip_fan99

im perfectly happy with my netbook. Im typing on it now if fact. Its a HP Mini.

When I got it, I was going to upgrade to 2gb ram...... but after Id deleted all the pre-installed bloatware (which I do on ANY new pc I get) it seems to run fine for everything I want it to.

I only really use it for emails / browsing... but It can run Itunes to transfer music to ipod, office software, play videos, iplayer, etc, no problem.

I already have a large HP laptop, but I wanted something small and portable, that I could take around with me, fit in my bag, use at work with an internet dongle. etc.

For this it is perfect. And the battery lasts ages compared to my laptop!

Can you give me an idea what sort of thing i ought to be removing, i only use the netbook for internet browsing and email. I've received the 2gb memory unit but haven't taken the plunge yet.

[Daedroth]

Originally Posted by magnauk

Can you give me an idea what sort of thing i ought to be removing, i only use the netbook for internet browsing and email. I've received the 2gb memory unit but haven't taken the plunge yet.

Laptops often come with their own bundled software. Just look in Programs & Features, and go through the list. Remove anything you don't need.

[magnauk]

Thanks

[whoever,hey]

Also sort the programs in the Add/Removes by recently used. Also feel free to google the name of software you aren't sure about, or post it here to find out what the software is exactly.

[JohnGeek]

Netbook has one advantage is that is a mobile device.

[magnauk]

I uninstalled several Oberon Media games and a also something to do with Norton which I don't use - I use Kasperky. It's really improved the speed, so I'm checking other programmes I might not need now. Thanks.

[coachtrip_fan99]

delete anything and everything you dont want to use.

all the HP assistant crap (or other maunfacturers equivalent) all the norton junk, skype, all the microsoft office trials..... basically ANYTHING that runs in the background and slows your system down!

It also helps if you go onto "msconfig" and disable any unwanted startup programmes and services.

[Batwing]

Originally Posted by c4rv

Of course nothing can be right for everyone but I have found in my experience that as long as people realise what a netbook is for then they are generally happy.

I won't deny that the market is being squeezed by ultra portable laptops on one side and tablets on the other. But right now the atom based units hold a price advantage over both. Not sure about the AMD units.

The small AMD laptops overall are more powerful because of their superior graphics power. I have an 11.6" Acer with an AMD C60, 4 gigs of ram and it handles and outputs 1080P video with no problems. I also swapped the hard drive for a SSD and this little laptop is quite snappy.

On the CPU side Intel and AMD are not much different in this category of laptops.

[Batwing]

Originally Posted by alanwarwic

Generally people use hibernate or standby for a wait down to seconds. And all the high tech general stuff works.

I have to agree. If he has the new iPad browsing on it is such a pleasure and at least as fast as any of my computers. I have the iPad 1 and I was shocked at the difference. I can see it being the preferred method for browsing for many people. Like reading a book.

Hibernate, and even sleep for many computers, is not going to be anywhere near as quick as an iPad

[Batwing]

Originally Posted by coachtrip_fan99

delete anything and everything you dont want to use.

all the HP assistant crap (or other maunfacturers equivalent) all the norton junk, skype, all the microsoft office trials..... basically ANYTHING that runs in the background and slows your system down!

It also helps if you go onto "msconfig" and disable any unwanted startup programmes and services.

Unfortunately you could be sending a typical user into a minefield as most people are not going to know what to turn off or not.

[Batwing]

Originally Posted by coachtrip_fan99

im perfectly happy with my netbook. Im typing on it now if fact. Its a HP Mini.

When I got it, I was going to upgrade to 2gb ram...... but after Id deleted all the pre-installed bloatware (which I do on ANY new pc I get) it seems to run fine for everything I want it to.

I only really use it for emails / browsing... but It can run Itunes to transfer music to ipod, office software, play videos, iplayer, etc, no problem.

I already have a large HP laptop, but I wanted something small and portable, that I could take around with me, fit in my bag, use at work with an internet dongle. etc.

For this it is perfect. And the battery lasts ages compared to my laptop!

Upgrade to two as you will definitely see quite a difference. It's much less so going from 2 to 4.

[Pretinama]

I rather like the *idea* of netbooks, but to me they should be around £100-£150 as an über portable and basic device. But they seem now to be trying to be fully fledged laptops but a bit smaller. To me that is not what the netbook was for really.

[alan1302]

Originally Posted by Pretinama

I rather like the *idea* of netbooks, but to me they should be around £100-£150 as an über portable and basic device. But they seem now to be trying to be fully fledged laptops but a bit smaller. To me that is not what the netbook was for really.

For that price you can get an Android tablet though - then just geta case with a built in keybaord if required.

[Pretinama]

Originally Posted by alan1302

For that price you can get an Android tablet though - then just geta case with a built in keybaord if required.

Well, quite. That's probably not a bad idea, though I'd imagine a £150 Android tablet is probably running 2.2 or perhaps 2.3. I would like to see a NetBook size device running Ubuntu or Windows 8

[alan1302]

Originally Posted by Pretinama

Well, quite. That's probably not a bad idea, though I'd imagine a £150 Android tablet is probably running 2.2 or perhaps 2.3. I would like to see a NetBook size device running Ubuntu or Windows 8

I’ve a 7” Android tablet running ICS – and if you know what you are doing you can get one to run Ubuntu as well! And it was only £110!

[magnauk]

As I started this thread, and have had so much help and useful advice, I thought I'd let you know that I have now upgraded the memory to 2gb. It was a very simple job, and I couldn't believe my luck when I switched the netbook on and everything seems perfectly fine. I just thought if anyone else is thinking of doing this, it isn't a difficult task (well, I didn't have any problems anyway) and does make a big difference.

[alan1302]

Originally Posted by magnauk

As I started this thread, and have had so much help and useful advice, I thought I'd let you know that I have now upgraded the memory to 2gb. It was a very simple job, and I couldn't believe my luck when I switched the netbook on and everything seems perfectly fine. I just thought if anyone else is thinking of doing this, it isn't a difficult task (well, I didn't have any problems anyway) and does make a big difference.

Glad you have got it all working and found the performance better.

[Batwing]

Originally Posted by alan1302

For that price you can get an Android tablet though - then just geta case with a built in keybaord if required.

Not any good tablets at that price., in my opinion.

[whoever,hey]

Originally Posted by Batwing

Not any good tablets at that price., in my opinion.

Hardware or software wise?

[Superwomble]

Originally Posted by magnauk

NF110

Strange. I have an NF110 and its excellent, original spec too. Mind you, mine has XP not 7, and I never opted for McAfee, I use Avira.

[Batwing]

Originally Posted by whoever,hey

Hardware or software wise?

Actually both because if the hardware is not the latest it can not take advantage of the latest versions of Android.

A big issue with Android, in general, is the likelihood of buying an Android device and never getting an operating system update since Google does not control whether Android devices get them or not. It is one of the things I like about Apple and iOS.

[whoever,hey]

Originally Posted by Batwing

Actually both because if the hardware is not the latest it can not take advantage of the latest versions of Android.

A big issue with Android, in general, is the likelihood of buying an Android device and never getting an operating system update since Google does not control whether Android devices get them or not. It is one of the things I like about Apple and iOS.

Personally i'll wait for Win8 tablets.

[alanwarwic]

It is surely the other way round.
Android tablets get the homebrew operating system updates whilst the budget ARM Windows tablets get restricted or zero updates. Methinks the ARM Windows has no framework bloat so stuff like VLC etc may have to be rewritten.

I still prefer the x86 Windows for the vast software base.

[Batwing]

Originally Posted by alanwarwic

It is surely the other way round.
Android tablets get the homebrew operating system updates whilst the budget ARM Windows tablets get restricted or zero updates. Methinks the ARM Windows has no framework bloat so stuff like VLC etc may have to be rewritten.

I still prefer the x86 Windows for the vast software base.

My comparison was Android to iOS.