Looking for a Netbook

[LanceAvion]

By netbook, I mean a laptop that has a 10 inch screen. I found out about the Dell Latitude 2120 recently and grabbed one for cheap on eBay. I love the form factor and the build quality, but the performance is horrendous. My model has an Intel Atom N455, with a 1024x600 resolution. However, I do know that there is a better model with an Intel Atom N550 and 1366x768 resolution. Is that processor powerful enough to make it usable however? I doubt it, since it's just a dual-core version of the N455.

This netbook is so weak that if I watch a 480p video on youtube, its a coin flip whether or not the machine will even be able to play it, much less be responsive while it's playing. Obviously, something more than an Intel Atom from 2011 is needed today. So are there any powerful 10" netbooks out there? Preferably one that isn't a tablet hybrid?

 

[VirtualLarry]

Why would you buy an ancient Atom-based Netbook? At least, if you're going to get one, get Bay Trail or Cherry Trail. Apollo Lake is the new hotness for Atom that's just coming out right now. Anything older than Bay Trail is garbage though.

 

[LanceAvion]

Why would you buy an ancient Atom-based Netbook? At least, if you're going to get one, get Bay Trail or Cherry Trail. Apollo Lake is the new hotness for Atom that's just coming out right now. Anything older than Bay Trail is garbage though.

I know, that's the point of this post mate. I'm looking for a netbook that actually has modern specs, but I can't seem to find any.

 

[Valantar]

Well, Intel's Atom lineup has kind of died out in recent years. Asus' Transformer line has some nice 10" units - they're convertible, but they're all right in terms of battery life and performance. Of course, it's been a year or two since I saw those around too. From looking at their site, it seems like the most recent in the lineup I'm thinking of is the Transformer Book T100HA. Looks thinner and lighter than the ones I've seen, while keeping the great battery life.

When it comes to non-convertible 10" laptops, I believe you'll have to search for quite a while to find anything - the only reason the 10" form factor sticks around is that it's a good size for 2-in-1 tablets. For anything non-detatchable, people have realized that adding 2" to the display adds very little size/weight and gains you an actually usable keyboard.

 

[giantpandaman2]

Just seconding what Valantar said. I'd go 12" for a notebook or get a 10" tablet/convertible.

 

[Torn Mind]

Look wider. Here's why.

Netbooks proper were killed years ago; I'll need to refresh myself on which was the last one, but I absolutely remember an article on the discontinuation of the last netbook. Searching specifically for "netbooks" is a dead end endeavor.

They have been reincarnated in the various 2-in-1s and other various variations of cheap and small. But an exact 10 inch screen? You are looking at tablet and Bluetooth keyboard, as far as I know.

Here are some examples of items being sold at Best Buy. Chromebooks or regular Windows, but they are generally 2-in-1s and you must put in 10.1 in the search bar.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/searchp...rue&iht=y&usc=All+Categories&ks=960&keys=keys

http://teradatariver.com/255/best-mini-laptop/

The ASUS 1015E is probably the "most powerful" vintage style netbook you will find, being powered by a Sandy Bridge Celeron 847. Should decode most, if not all, 1080p youtube without a hitch.

The current Atom landscape:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/10635/intel-quietly-launches-apollo-lake-soc

 

[LanceAvion]

SNIP

Ah thank you, the ASUS 1015E seems to be sufficiently powerful for my purposes. As everyone here has said, proper netbooks are a dead breed, and now it's all about Chromebooks and 2 in 1s. Someone who wants a tiny proper laptop is rare I suppose.

 

[ninaholic37]

Ah thank you, the ASUS 1015E seems to be sufficiently powerful for my purposes. As everyone here has said, proper netbooks are a dead breed, and now it's all about Chromebooks and 2 in 1s. Someone who wants a tiny proper laptop is rare I suppose.

I loved them when they were around also. I actually joined this forum because I was interested in 10.1" netbooks and their future. Now my thing is buying used Pentium M business laptops from 2005 and putting Linux on them instead - lol.

 

[Torn Mind]

I loved them when they were around also. I actually joined this forum because I was interested in 10.1" netbooks and their future. Now my thing is buying used Pentium M business laptops from 2005 and putting Linux on them instead - lol.

I despise them still. Detachable screens are a must imo and add utility and flexibility. Cramped screens. Cramped keyboards. No CD drive. And slow performance.

Of course, I'm done with anything 10" or under unless it is a compelling phone or old IPad tablet like an IPad 2(never used an Apple product myself). I'm not buying some cheap 2-in-1 with a snail CPU and eMMc memory.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Detachable screens are a must imo and add utility and flexibility.

Bah! If I wanted a tablet, I would have bought a tablet.

I'm quite happy with my Lenovo IdeaPad 100S "CloudBook". (Aka new-generation Netbook, with small-ish eMMC.)

 

[Torn Mind]

Bah! If I wanted a tablet, I would have bought a tablet.

I'm quite happy with my Lenovo IdeaPad 100S "CloudBook". (Aka new-generation Netbook, with small-ish eMMC.)

And then pair it up with a Bluetooth keyboard and stand up case for the times one needs them.

 

[XavierMace]

What do you "anti 2 in 1" guys think you're losing by getting one of them instead of a "regular" netbook?