We're thinking of getting a Note-Book...

[AllThingsTrivial]

(If that's what they're called), a mini-laptop.
You know the one I mean?
I'm asking for my Mum, AyaBrea38, because we want one, but a laptop would bee too bulky.
So does anyone know anything much about the alternative?
My main points of concern are:
1. The price - Is it cheaper? And generally by how much?
2. The name - They are called NoteBooks, right?
3. Disks - Am I correct in believing that these are so small and do not come with a CD tray?
4. USB drives - Do they take USB drives? And do they read the information off them, such as watching films off a USB pen?
5. Internet - Will they connect wirelessly to a router, and will they also connect to a mobile-broadband dongle (Like the ones offered by Three)?
6. Programs - Can you upload programs from a USB stick, for example if you had an executable file (.exe) would this be able to run the program?
7. Any other issues I should know about?

Regards,
John :)

[VHG]

I think you mean a NETBOOK.

A Notebook is the same as a laptop.

Netbooks usually dont come with CD/DVD tray, but you can buy external ones that plug into the USB port.

Yes they will all be wi fi enabled (thats the whole point of them) to connect to a wireles router.

[VHG]

Yes they will all have USB slots to plug in USB devices.

Yes you can install programs off a USB stick.

>>>>Any other issues

Yes, the screens and keyboards are very small so can be difficult to use.

[ChuckFickens]

You can use a mobile dongle with them, as long as it's a netbook with windows installed it's no different to using a dongle with a full size laptop. If it's one with linux installed the dongle can still be used but setting it up is a fair bit trickier.

[AB Editor]

Yes, you can use a dongle with them - assuming it has USB ports.

Or, if you want to keep it really "clean" (i.e. few dangly bits) have a look at this: http://www.nokia.co.u...tops/nokia-booklet-3g

It has a space for a sim card - like the ones found in your Three dongle - inside the machine.

VHG may have a point about the keyboard size, it can feel a little fiddly.

[daffy654]

My daughter uses a Vodafone dongle on her netbook, so yes they do work. She can also wirelessly connect to my network when she visits.

[mccfluff]

can use a dongle, i do

but the screen is small

[ChuckFickens]

I personally find the 10inch screen ones perfectly usable when it comes to screen and keyboard size (and I've got huge hands!) The 7 inch ones (not so common now) are a little too small to be usable for anything other than typing a few lines.

[gingejbee]

And if you need any more info (like which one to buy), look here:


http://www.computerac...query=netbook+reviews

[AllThingsTrivial]

Thanks everyone, so right now I know everything I need to, which is that it can run programs, should run the dongle, there's a good few out there, you can get external drives (Great! XD) and that they're a bit small.
That right?

[gingejbee]

One last point - don't go for the cheapest one you can find because it will be the cheapest for a reason. Look at the Computeractive site I have given - it will point you in the right direction.

[RAV1D]

I tried a cheap one with windows C E on it. and it wasn't worth the bother. It was so slow and took ages on the net for a simple page to load up. Id recomend if you did get one to find one with a better windows on it than C E, I guess it means compact edition but known as Crap edition! It will be worth paying Id guess over 150quid at least for one, these 100quid ones just seem more trouble than there worth.

[VHG]

Buy a netbook with Windows 7 Starter on it.