I have recently returned to school to get a masters degree and am shopping for a "netbook" computer. The brands and models seem to be multiplying faster than rabbits in a warm hutch so I thought I would throw my needs out to you here to help me.
Here are my requirements:
Strongly prefer (must???): 10" screen - I am 48 yo and wear bifocals. I need all the help I can get here.
Must: Keyboard as large as possible and comfy for hours of typing. I have looked at some of the earlier EEE's and they are not good machines to be typing on for extended time. My hands are not fat by any means but are still a bit bigger than would be comfortable on the older EEE's. I don't know about the newer ones.
Must: have a 6 cell battery option.
Must: have built in webcam, prefer 1.3 mp
Must: have built in nic, wifi, USB 2.0 ports, prefer a built in sd card reader.
Prefer: 4 or 8 (or more) gb of solid state ram - this seems to help the boot up time dramatically, and probably helps with battery life. It would also help with netbook weight.
Prefer: Linux partly to help with the cost of the system and to help me learn this OS. I am assuming that the mobo's on these systems have an option to boot from an external hd. I have a 160 gb hard drive that I would like to install XP on for some apps but while I am in the classroom that will not be necessary.
Prefer: Built in bluetooth option, though a USB dongle would work also.
The wind is almost ideal but I have not found one that comes with an SSD. If I bought one could I replace the hard drive with this kind of device? : http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?Inv...=TS32GSSD25S-M
Here are my requirements:
Strongly prefer (must???): 10" screen - I am 48 yo and wear bifocals. I need all the help I can get here.
Must: Keyboard as large as possible and comfy for hours of typing. I have looked at some of the earlier EEE's and they are not good machines to be typing on for extended time. My hands are not fat by any means but are still a bit bigger than would be comfortable on the older EEE's. I don't know about the newer ones.
Must: have a 6 cell battery option.
Must: have built in webcam, prefer 1.3 mp
Must: have built in nic, wifi, USB 2.0 ports, prefer a built in sd card reader.
Prefer: 4 or 8 (or more) gb of solid state ram - this seems to help the boot up time dramatically, and probably helps with battery life. It would also help with netbook weight.
Prefer: Linux partly to help with the cost of the system and to help me learn this OS. I am assuming that the mobo's on these systems have an option to boot from an external hd. I have a 160 gb hard drive that I would like to install XP on for some apps but while I am in the classroom that will not be necessary.
Prefer: Built in bluetooth option, though a USB dongle would work also.
The wind is almost ideal but I have not found one that comes with an SSD. If I bought one could I replace the hard drive with this kind of device? : http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?Inv...=TS32GSSD25S-M
