On 18 Feb 23:30, Ruth Bygrave wrote:
On 18 Feb 2009, at 22:05, Tim Green wrote:
2009/2/18 mbm mbm@rlogin.net:
Could you let us have your views on the HP please? I guess I'm not alone in considering purchasing a netbook now and I'd like to know why you chose the HP over one of the others (Eee, Aspire One etc). And of course, if any others on the list have views or preferences I'd appreciate hearing.
I tried the Eee 700 for a while, but could not stand the keyboard, which actively seems to reject typing fingers (my fingertips skidded on the keys making any keystrokes) as well as being Just Too Small. My best friend, a girl geek like me, is very tempted, because she has very small hands and she knows she's capable of using even a Psion Series 5 for typing. Possibly the best netbook for kids if it suits their even smaller fingers, because it's cheaper than the later netbooks so isn't too much money.
I loved the Psion Series 5, right up until mine broke :( (but then, what was it, 1996 it came out? I think it managed to survive until 2002, so it didn't have a bad innings for something that was in my pocket 99% of the time!).
The Aspire One has a usable keyboard that is still recognisably A Netbook Keyboard but permits typing. But I fell in love with the HP 2133 as soon as I stroked its silvery keyboard, which is the best one I've ever touched on a netbook, bar none. I don't in general like this fashion for flat keyboards with no rake, but this is actually comfortably usable without any preparation period.
As I tend to use my laptop for everything day to day, and the desktop (currently defunct, must work out what's wrong with it or just replace all the bits that I think are probably due replacing...) it's important to me that the keyboard is good - so far (must be 3 years by now?) I've not had an issue with the keyboard on the r200 - but it's definately not a cheap laptop!
I'm taking a 3-hour train journey tomorrow, and the netbook will be my companion (and allow me to charge my mobile phone and portable brain just by taking cables, probably).
Hmmm, 3 hour train journey... what's the battery life like on the HP 2133? Don't forget that charging things from the USB ports is also going to drain the battery...
Incidentally, I found one blog in which there's an inconclusive discussion of the difference, if any, between UMPCs and netbooks. The difference, of course, is obviously cost. UMPCs have been out for a while, and premium prices were always charged for the slimline parts used. They were aimed very much at the business or rich market. UMPCs are things like the ultra-slimline version of the Vaio, or the MacBook Air. Netbooks are less elegant, but usefully cheaper.
I'm *shocked* that the MacBook Air is mentioned as a UMPC - it's a netbook with even less functionality than a netbook (no rj45 port for wired etherwebs!) - I'm also shocked at the omision of the toshiba portege range... if anyone fancies buying me a toshiba portege r500 I'd e a very happy man (though my r200 is really not doing bad at all given the treatment it gets!).
Cheers,