Karaoke Forums

Asus

What I'm looking at it for is a high school kid, just to be able to do school research on the internet and to do school reports. I know storage space is small, but she'd save everything on a flash drive anyhow.

Anybody had/have one of these?

She needs one, she's constantly borrowing mine to do some report or another, or for researching something... and seems this one might do the trick for her. I'm not into dishing out at least $900 for a full size laptop, it's more than she needs anyhow. It just to get her through her senior year.

.

_________________
♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

If it's just for reports for basic internet searching (for report research) & word processing, check into a used laptop - these can be found relatively cheap. For this kind of stuff it's doesn't even have to be THAT speed intense or have major processing power.

_________________
LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

http://www.pricewatch.com/notebooks/pentium_4.htm

This kinda gives you an idea... some with OS, some without, some used, most new, etc.
http://www.pricewatch.com/notebooks/

I don't want to get her a used one. Maybe from a reputable dealer that refurbishes and sells used ones, but never from an individual I don't know....

I kinda like the small size of this too, I mean- it can fit in her backpack pretty much.

Just hoping someone here maybe had had one, or currently does, who could say yay or nay about it being worth what it's gonna cost. Sister works at Target pharmacy, so I would get her discount off the sale price too...

Thanks for the input, and the links. There are actually a couple there that don't look too bad. But I don't know... a used one for an 18th birthday gift... kinda makes me feel cheap. Not that she would give a fig, but you know what I mean.

_________________
♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

http://dealnews.com/Acer-Extensa-AMD-Du ... 50182.html

great laptop for 400 bucks

Charm unless she knows Linux she'll need to learn a new OS--not that hard but if she's using for homework she'll need to learn functions etc.

I'd check out Acer, they've got some great machines for really reasonable prices. If you're concerned about the name they bought out Gateway over the summer and their quality has increased tremendously.

The lappy BF4 provided the link for would be a good starter machine for a high school student, just make sure you get an extra protective sleeve for all the jolts and bounces it'll receive in a backpack (I have this one http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... CatId=1791).

I have an Acer Extensa (a few steps above the one he mentioned) and I absolutely love it (besides its' being Vista that is )

_________________
[shadow=white][scroll]Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.....It's about learning to dance in the rain[/scroll][/shadow]

I picked up an IBM T40 ThinkPad from a local computer remarketer. He gets them from banks, etc. It cost me $500Cdn complete with XP and Microsoft Office, etc. I liked ot so much I got one for my son for university. The thing is like a tank but compact. I checked their original price online and they were in the $3,200 area.

_________________
You can be strange but not a stranger

You guys are upping my price range;)

Seriously, Charm is poor folk at the moment... getting her one for $250 is about all I have to spend.

One of the others would certainly make more sense (in the long run)

I'm not worried about the Linux system part of it, she's pretty computer savvy anyhow, I'm sure she'll figure it all out quick enough.

So.. NObody has aparently tried one? I did read a lot of reviews, most were great. (people.. like me.. who bought them for kids for school)

And Cathy, thanks, I'll for sure look into one of those cases:)

.

_________________
♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

That little Asus is a nice machine.. and the price is right..

If I get a vote, go with it..

I have the Eee 701 from Asus and I'm completely happy with it. Only thing I would change is the screen size and resolution: 7" is a bit too small. Apart from that, it's a great netbook: listen to MP3, watch Divx while commuting, access WiFi to retrieve emails, take some notes thanks to OpenOffice....

So that's why I would definitely buy today the new Acer Aspire One if I was to change my Eee701. Still small, still a SSD (but slightly bigger), improved screen, lightweight..

Obviously, this kind of laptop is coming "on top" of a primary computer and can't be used as the main one but once you've understood that, it's a great machine to be on the move!

Acer Aspire One: http://www.acer.com/aspireone/

With most laptops, they have a screen out option that you can hook up a larger monitor to them.

Unsure if the cheaper laptops that have prebuilt in Operating Systems have the ability to add other software, such as Microsoft Office products... that would be a big issue with me!

I know they store stuff in flash memory... or an external hard drive.

In the case of the Asus and the Acer: you can decide whether you want to keep the Linux OS installed and then you use OpenOffice which is the Open-source equivalent of Microsoft Office.

If you'd rather move to Windows XP, then they are delivered with a CD including all the drivers you need to install XP (in this case you will need an external USB- CD or DVD reader since there's no integrated one).

On both you can connect them to an external screen or projector without any issue.


I use it everyday, OpenOffice is fully compatible with Microsoft Office, at least for its Word and Excel equivalent. Anf honestly, this Linux OS allows this machine to boot in 30seconds so there's no way I'm installing XP on it.

As long as it work, I won't change a thing

Polor..... Thank you. I've been dying to hear from someone who actually has one.

I have a new Dell laptop w/wireless myself, and we also have the desktop which is on DSL and has all the Microsoft yadda yadda...... it's not like she'll be WITHOUT all those programs should she need them. She just does a LOT of research for reports and stuff and she's carted my laptop around to the library, to her boyfriends, etc. This will be HERS and as long as she can access internet and save stuff on a flashdrive, that's all she needs to do. Like I said, for stuff the Asus wont do- she's still got my computers here.

Thanks for the input you guys... I'm buying it today, gotta get it here by saturday;)

_________________
♥ Laugh your heart out, dance in the rain. Cherish the memories, ignore the pain. Love and learn, forget and forgive. Because you only have one life to live. ♥

Charmin, many corporations and schools that routinely upgrade their computer clear out their older systems for 200-300. You likely will not find a new or refurb'd sysem for that or less direct from the actual manufacturers because it's not advantageous for them to deal with the time and energy for that little money.. However sites such as Overstock.com etc does have what you are looking for.. You will do fine with a P-4 or even P-2 used or refurb system.. Check locally for a used upgraded to max P-2 or P-4 system in good condition, seriously, you will get most bang for the buck for the purposes you want it for.. Even a Celeron system for THAT type use... You can get a good upgraded older system for around 200, but the computer manufacturers are in the business to make money, I wouldn't bother with their auctions either... Seriously, look into sites like Overstock.com because otherwise the S&H will be more than you should have to pay

Kappy the [strike]cheap[/strike]frugal

_________________
Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

You can find an older gateway 9 or 10" notebook that's pentium for that price range.. Any computer repair shops in your area ? Sometimes these shops take trade ins and sell these cheap and warantee them for a short time period and locally sometimes does pay.. Just get an older Pentium that has XP or Vista, around 512 ram that has a HD of 40 or 80 (celeron might be cheaper) for around 200.. otherwise it pays to spring the additional money for the new Acer type system and get manufacturer warantee and POMG, but shipping might run you more than it's worth for such purposes. You don't need MUCH for what you are looking for.. Perhaps as you originally asked, somebody here has an older system..but still, some of the refurb companies online can afford to ship them free cutting your overall cost. Let me check overstock and I'll PM what I find..There's a point where you feel your cutoff is under a certain amount, however sometimes springing the extra 100 makes ALL the difference in the world in terms of what you get for that 100.... meaning new fully waranteed with new feature vs second hand "cat in a bag" old system that a much lesser system...

_________________
Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

If she has to carry it around a lot, I would definitely take the Acer Aspire One then if I was to replace mine (8.9" with a resolution of1024*768 screen instead of 7" & 640*480). But still very light & small: you can put it in a woman handbag

Plus I found it on Amazon.com for 329$ for example.


Since I don't know the best websites in the US (being in Europe), I have no doubts you can find an even better bargain somewhere else

That little 7" linux thing will be sitting in the corner collecting dust in no time.

I suggest a real computer running a know operationg system. It will not go to waste and last much longer.

Here is a very nice computer for a very nice price of $400 at Best Buy

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp ... 1587727715

That machine is a very good one.. If the budget allows, go for it..

I've never used Linux in my life before I bought my EeePC 7" and honestly am not the linux-fanatic kind but I have to admit this does the job. Then again, it really depends on what you want to do with it but if it's just to boot fast, check your mail and write an .DOC file or two, watch a Divx movie, listen to some MP3.. Why would you carry around something heavier, with a worse battery life and more expensive?

Why wouldn't that be a "Real" computer?

I just got one for my mother recently, and a USB 3g data card. She takes it on holiday with her to simply check emails, download pics from cam and upload to Flickr, check the web, etc. She loves it.

As for it running Linux - it's a customised install with a friendly front end. It's preloaded with all the apps "Joe User" will need, and there is no real learning to be done. It's not even like you need to be aware of the OS - you just see an icon and click it.

Kinda fits the "I want a PDA but I find them a bit small" market.