[aklug] Re: Netbooks...

Hmmm... Looks like I'll have go back to Best Buy and check out the Dell Netbook. I think they have it. The search goes on... By the time I have one picked out something new will be available.

----- Original Message -----
From: "David Prentice" <ak.prentice@gmail.com>
Cc: aklug@aklug.org
Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 7:59:17 PM GMT -09:00 Alaska
Subject: [aklug] Re: Netbooks...

The HP 10" netbook is good, but doesn't get my vote over the Dell Mini-9.

Both are available with customized Ubuntu. Dell is up front about
theirs being sold with Ubuntu. HP calls it "Mobile Internet OS" and
hides the Ubuntu behind an interface built out of harbour-launcher
like they're embarassed about linux. But its there.

The keyboards on the 10" netbooks are easier to adapt to. True. There
is an alternate keyboard available for the Mini-9 which, while no
larger, has a slightly modified layout which preserves the [{ ]} \|
and ~ keys. The Mini-10 keyboard looks pretty nice, but I'm not
convinced a Mini-10 or HP-1000 is an "up"grade from what I have.

For me, the tradeoff with the 10" netbooks is that they're heavier and
consume more power while packing smaller batteries and thus shorter
untethered life. The HP packs a 3-cell battery. Dell's new Mini-10
packs a 3-cell battery, with the promise of a 6-cell battery in the
future. The Ubuntu version of the Mini-10 won't be available for
another couple of months; Dell's history is they release a new netbook
with XP only for a few months for the sake of the early adopters but a
2gb version with Ubuntu will be around for those who wait patiently.

Things to watch out for:
1. The Z-series Atom CPUs are being paired with Intel GMA500 graphics
and a Poulsbo chipset which is really only functional with Hardy. No
surprise that Dell and HP both use Hardy-derived distros. Check the
HP's specs, because I don't have them memorized.

2. The Z-seried Atom CPUs, unlike the N-series, are typically paired
with nonupgradable soldered ram. Another big plus for the Dell Mini-9
is the N-series Atom CPU and the ease at which the '9 can be upgraded.
Ram is cheap, but not if you have to solder it. This is a hate point
about Dell's Mini-10 and Mini-12.

My biggest problem with the HP 1000 is the chassis itself. Pick up the
demo model at Costco, hold it lid-open by opposite corners. Give it a
gentle twist. Not much. The battery will pop out of the back. Its so
flimsy that you can torque the entire case with minimal effort. The
keyboard does feel pretty good though.

You pay more for the bigger screen, it weighs more, you get shorter
battery life, the hardware is not as easily upgraded by end users, and
the vertical pixel dimension of the 10" screen is actually SHORTER
than that of the 9" screen (1280x576 is perfect 16:9 vs 1024x600 in a
9" screen). Losing 24 pixels of screen height is the height of a gnome
panel that cannot be hidden. But hey, you gain some width!

I haven't checked out the HP2140 as carefully. I like it from its spec
sheet. It looks interesting, but is 2x the price of a comparable
Mini-9.
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-- 
Damien Hull
Linux Ninja
Open Source Assassin
http://linuxninjas.tv
http://elite.linuxninjas.tv
http://www.digital-overload.net
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