I'll contribute a reserved vote for the Eee PC. It's the only netbook I've ever owned and so far it has done well enough to convince me that laptops should always be itty-bitty.
Its good points:
--tiny, sturdy, inexpensive --quick to boot up and shut down --quiet --Linux version has software for all MSOffice functions --includes voice recorder --webcam gets job done for still photos --3 USB ports --plays YouTube and other online videos well --keyboard is just big enough for smallish adult hands --built-in SD card slot --photo-editing software included in Linux version --handy set of games --plays music files well
Weak points:
--Touchpad is not perfect --Webcam is terrible for video --Linux system does not approve of video from my digital camera: the sound playback is a godawful screeching noise --Websurfing is prone to slowness --I have already had to send in my machine for service because the touchpad and keyboard malfunctioned in such a way that I could not fix it. --While the netbook is covered under warranty for a year after purchase, the battery is only covered for six months. I've had mine for about 9 or 10 months now and the battery has already gone kaput.
HOWEVER, with the last part in mind, I can also say that the tech support staff at Asus are very polite and the repair folks fixed up my computer and sent it back to me in jig time. The touchpad irks me sometimes but the machine responds beautifully to a USB mouse.
Also, I apologize if this sounds like a "duh" to you, but it happened to me, so: if you get the Linux version, absolutely DO NOT plug an iPod into it. The music manager will play iTunes songs from a flash drive but will smash the software on the iPod device. It isn't irreparable but it's inconvenient.
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Its good points:
--tiny, sturdy, inexpensive
--quick to boot up and shut down
--quiet
--Linux version has software for all MSOffice functions
--includes voice recorder
--webcam gets job done for still photos
--3 USB ports
--plays YouTube and other online videos well
--keyboard is just big enough for smallish adult hands
--built-in SD card slot
--photo-editing software included in Linux version
--handy set of games
--plays music files well
Weak points:
--Touchpad is not perfect
--Webcam is terrible for video
--Linux system does not approve of video from my digital camera: the sound playback is a godawful screeching noise
--Websurfing is prone to slowness
--I have already had to send in my machine for service because the touchpad and keyboard malfunctioned in such a way that I could not fix it.
--While the netbook is covered under warranty for a year after purchase, the battery is only covered for six months. I've had mine for about 9 or 10 months now and the battery has already gone kaput.
HOWEVER, with the last part in mind, I can also say that the tech support staff at Asus are very polite and the repair folks fixed up my computer and sent it back to me in jig time. The touchpad irks me sometimes but the machine responds beautifully to a USB mouse.
Also, I apologize if this sounds like a "duh" to you, but it happened to me, so: if you get the Linux version, absolutely DO NOT plug an iPod into it. The music manager will play iTunes songs from a flash drive but will smash the software on the iPod device. It isn't irreparable but it's inconvenient.