Getting a new laptop (technically a netbook)

[TheMasterOfBattle]

Well, I'm replacing my old faithful notebook, getting on 3 years old, and already had a replaced battery and power cord, and the second battery and power cord are basically dead anyway.  I was intended on waiting for the summer to switch to a tower and a netbook, but my battery life is so poor now I'm a basically using a slow portable desktop.  So I decided on the Asus EEE 1201N.

The tech specs may not seem like much, but keep in mind that this is a netbook so the specs are awesome in thouse terms.

OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit
Processor: Intel Atom N330 1.60 Ghz (dual-core)
Screen: 12.1" WXGA LCD (1366x768)
Hard Drive: 250 GB SATA at 5400 rpm
RAM: 2GB DDR2
Graphics: NVidia ION 128MB (yes, the netbook has a real graphics card)
Bluetooth
3 USB 2.0 ports

all in all, I think this is a pretty amazing netbook, I will talk about it more when it arrives, which will be on monday.

Bit pricier then most netbooks at $480, but far outclasses them in terms of specs.

It's sad though, it's a netbook and it is almost as powerful as my notebook I'm replacing it with. ><

[matthias720]

Welcome to the ranks of netbook users!

[TheMasterOfBattle]

I wouldn't quite call it a netbook though, it is really a netbook, notebook hybrid.  As in, if I lower the settings, I could probably run TF2 on it.

[mob720]

eh, either way, looks like a keeper to me. Im not all keen on Nvidia ION, if you could enlighten us please... but then again, ATi's lineup of onboard graphics probably isnt much better. Hey, at least its not Intel GMA like my laptop's (that can barely run Skulltag, on high of course, its not that bad).

[TheMasterOfBattle]

well, the NVidia ION is based on the GeForce 9400 chipset.  According to the reviews this netbook is capable of playing WoW at native res at 30 fps.  Not that I play WoW.

[ChexCommander]

eh, either way, looks like a keeper to me. Im not all keen on Nvidia ION, if you could enlighten us please... but then again, ATi's lineup of onboard graphics probably isnt much better.

No way. Not at all. ION outperforms any ATI onboard graphics by miles. It's actually capable of playing games and all that fun stuff.

Those are beastly netbook specs, that's awesome! Hope you like it!

well, the NVidia ION is based on the GeForce 9400 chipset.  According to the reviews this netbook is capable of playing WoW at native res at 30 fps.  Not that I play WoW.

[TheMasterOfBattle]

Knowing I needed a cd/dvd drive, I just got this and already have it now, bought at a store.  I've heard a lot of good things about this drive

ASUS USB 2.0 8x DVD Writer External Optical Drive SDRW-08D1S-U

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001U02JZ8/ref=s9_simh_gw_p23_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1ED0WF7H9M3BZGS3TRSZ&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

[Richie]

Knowing I needed a cd/dvd drive, I just got this and already have it now, bought at a store.  I've heard a lot of good things about this drive

ASUS USB 2.0 8x DVD Writer External Optical Drive SDRW-08D1S-U

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001U02JZ8/ref=s9_simh_gw_p23_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1ED0WF7H9M3BZGS3TRSZ&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

That is the most beautiful disk drive I have ever seen.

[ChexCommander]

Knowing I needed a cd/dvd drive, I just got this and already have it now, bought at a store.  I've heard a lot of good things about this drive

ASUS USB 2.0 8x DVD Writer External Optical Drive SDRW-08D1S-U

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001U02JZ8/ref=s9_simh_gw_p23_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1ED0WF7H9M3BZGS3TRSZ&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846

That is the most beautiful disk drive I have ever seen.

Haha it's only 8x, but I would assume that would be suitable as it's a USB drive.

[TheMasterOfBattle]

it's 8x dvd, it can do 24x cd

[ChexCommander]

it's 8x dvd, it can do 24x cd

...and how many people produce CDs anymore (save for music)?

[TheMasterOfBattle]

it's 8x dvd, it can do 24x cd

...and how many people produce CDs anymore (save for music)?

Well, it would be rather hard to install my older games without the 24x cd.

[ChexCommander]

it's 8x dvd, it can do 24x cd

...and how many people produce CDs anymore (save for music)?

Well, it would be rather hard to install my older games without the 24x cd.

Good point.

[brain candy]

This is so not a helpful suggestion, but I am completely blown away by Alienware's "Netbook" offering:
http://www.alienware.com/microsite/m11x/m11x.aspx
http://gizmodo.com/5442711/dell-alienware-m11x-is-their-first-ultraportable-gaming-netbook

And really, this thing is the polar opposite of a netbook, but it is so tiny! I'm not a fan of Alienware/Dell, but holy heck. 

The Asus EEE series is really neat though. My old roommie had one. Other than absolutely detesting the tiny keyboard, it was a nice little bugger. Slow with the stock XP it shipped with but pretty fast after I installed Ubuntu Netbook Remix on it. It would appear that your particular EEE is a totally different breed though! Good pick.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/18/asus-eee-pc-1201n-review/

[TheMasterOfBattle]

well, judging by what I hear, it would have been well out of my price range anyway, I was just looking for something cheap, portable and passable to replace my notebook as I intend on going to a netbook and tower system.  So I didn't want to spend too much in this area, so I can make the tower better at gaming.