laptop or netbook

[Tinfoilrcr]

I am thinking about buying a netbook, but wanted people's opinion on whether that was the right decision or if I was better off going with a bare-bones, small-laptop.

I currently have a 17" Dell with Blu-Ray, good processor and video card (Only about 1 year old), etc. However, I am looking to buy on the cheap a good notebook to travel with. It woulodn't need to do a whole lot, as I would only use it to load pictures onto, check email and surf the web, and watch an occasional movie on a plane, etc. Ideally, I would like a built in DVD, but this is not a must (especially as I havent seen it in any netbook).

Given my needs is it still a goood idea to go the netbook route or should I find a 13" laptop? Also, when going either route what are the best brands to look at?

Thanks!

 

[Sly]

- You have a primary PC so horsepower is not an issue and you can focus on mobility.
- You can rip the DVD on your main PC, then use Daemon tools to watch it on your netbook.
- Netbook + DVD Slimdrive still fits in a bag better than a notebook. You won't actually need one, but you can atleast take it along without much hassle.
- Batterywise. No contest.

Brands? New models keep coming so i honestly can't recommend anythng.

 

[Jordan1]

I'd say a netbook would fit the bill since you won't be using it for anything super-intensive, as long as you do without a optical drive. I do have a USB DVD-RW just for installing software or whenever it is easier than using a USB flash drive, but it doesn't see much use. Just make sure you get a decent, newer one (nearly full-size keyboard, 6 cell battery, ~10" screen, etc.)

 

[angelicvoices]

Netbooks can watch movies but all netbooks willl lag considerably if you're trying to watch 1080p stuff. Some people report problems watching 720p as well. A lot of consumers mistakenly call smaller laptops "netbooks" but if you're looking for a real netbook with the VIA or Intel Atom processors w/ the integrated Intel or VIA graphics, it's something to keep in mind. Asus does make a couple with the 9300M GS and I hear those can actually handle it.

 

[furyagain]

the only one that can really handle 1080p video is the asus N10J
with power dvd 8
my N10J can decode 1080p video smoothly,
i always connect my netbook to my 42" LCD TV for movie playback,

 

[Joe Average]

Why would people watch 1080 content on a screen with 1024x800, 1280x768, or whatever resolution the Netbook in particular supports anyway...

I can almost understand 720 content, but 1080? Why?!?!?!?!

The OP did say "watch an occasional movie" which doesn't mean hook it up to a huge HDTV - he'd never have that need realistically as he already has a laptop with Blu-ray for such purposes.

Samsung NC-10, a spare battery, get the biggest drive possible, and go for it. If you want your Blu-ray movies on it, use HandBrake and crunch 'em down to high bitrate Xvid or even x264 if you've got hours per disc to spend doing it (Xvid looks fine at high bitrates and it is significantly faster).

Hell, there was just a question asking if using an SD card or potentially a USB stick would be less power hungry as the storage device to play a movie off, and it most definitely would be compared to any optical or hard drive, potentially far far less than even an SSD as well.

Get a Netbook you like, with long battery life (that Samsung NC-10 is still a most excellent choice) and have fun with it.

 

[no_control]

If you can handle a slightly larger netbook the Gateway LT3103 & LT3114 netbooks will play 1080p without issue. I just bought one of these and it's great. I guess it's time I sell the mini9.

Why would people watch 1080 content on a screen with 1024x800, 1280x768, or whatever resolution the Netbook in particular supports anyway...

I can almost understand 720 content, but 1080? Why?!?!?!?!

Agreed, while I would never use this in place of my HTPC. I don't see the need to watch something in full glorious 1080p on my 9" netbook. I realise this is [H] and some people will actually argue the need for an i7/GTX285 netbook.

But I will say its a total pain in the ass (and a waste of space) to hold 2 copies of 1 movie. If your library consists of 1080p content. Having a netbook that can play the content as I ripped it (1080p) is a lot easier to manage.