Mini Laptop

[lankeela]

On holiday I saw someone using a very small laptop about 8 inches wide. It was not connected to anything, but they were on the internet. In words of one syllable, can you tell me what sort it might have been, how much they cost and whether they would be suitable for me - I work some nights and we have no internet connection at work, although I know someone else uses a laptop and seems to get on to the internet through a neighbours signal. I only want to check emails and browse the net, nothing else. Keep it simple please! (Because if you ask me anything technical about gigerbites or usbs or rams I won't have a clue).

[ChuckFickens]

the Acus Eee pc maybe

http://www.trustedreviews.com/notebooks/review /2007/10/30/Asus-Eee-PC-4G-701/p1

[Ethel]

Lots of these small laptops around - Sony Vaio have been doing them for years but are horribly expensive.

The new breed of ultra portable laptops are often called webbooks, or netbooks, because they are perfect for browsing the web on the move. They often don't have the hard drive as we know it, but a solid drive as found in a flash drive or memory stick.

Very often they use Linux instead of XP - it helps keep the costs down, but most manufacturers offer a choice of user system.

Currently, Asus, Acer One, MSI Wind all have good reviews but LG, Toshiba and Dell are due to release theirs on to the market soon.

[lankeela]

So could I use one by buying a memory stick without having to pay a monthly fee?

And would Linux allow me to get on to my emails with BT Yahoo? I have XP on my home computer, what would I need this for on the laptop?

[Ethel]

Memory stick - monthly fee? I'm confused.

If you want to get online away from home, you will either need to find a free wifi hotspot or use a mobile broadband dongle, either on pay as you go or monthly exactly the same as with any laptop.

Yes, you can access Yahoo with one.

XP is an operating system - all pcs and laptops need an operating system to make them work. Currently the favourites are XP and Vista, both quite expensive. The free version is Linux, which is totally different to both XP and Vista but is reasonably easy to get to grips with.

[chrisrob]

I have been using a Dell inspiron mini 9 for a month now and am very pleased with it. Keyboards on these 9 inch models are a bit smaller than "ordinary" laptops but I find no problems. The battery lasts for ages. It is lightweight and rugged. If within range of wi-fi you need no extras, otherwise, like me, you'll need a mobile broadband stick. It costs just under �300 directly from dell.co.uk but if you sign a �25 or �30 pm 24 month contract with Vodafone you get one "free" with built-in mobile broadband - the full works. (The �25 deal gives only a small monthly usage allowance - it may be worth paying the �5 extra).

[chrisrob]

Another tip. On a six week stqay in France last year I used an "ordinary" laptop with wi-fi and used to park in McDonald's car parks to use their free wi-fi hubs.

[ACtheTROLL]

I have the BT broadband anywhere phone
http://www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumer Products/displayTopic.do?topicId=24561&s_cid=c on_FURL_broadbandanywhere

if it's just e-mail a smartphone is probably easiest - but they are absolutely rubbish for general surfing ...
bbc weather and traffic news is ok - google maps are OK
but AB is impossible

GPS software is OK - everything else - rubbish.

(although you can use them as a modem and link to a proper laptop - however small)

also BT are part of the fon network which gives you access to free connections all over the world
http://www.bt.com/static/wa/wifi/pages/findhot spots.html

add costa coffe on the motorway services to the freebie list

ethel - you are very cool about the eee this time - is the love affair with it over? Or have you treated yourself and kept quitet??

http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?moduleno=2 25532