Arch Linux

masterkoppa

Member

Registered: 2009-04-14

Posts: 92

Whats the best netbook to fit my needs?

I've been using Arch Linux for some months now I all I've got to say is that its THE linux distro. It has opened my eyes to what linux has to offer and what it's capable of.

Now my good old dell laptop is starting to have some major hardware related issues. So im planning on buying a new notebook, most probably a netbook. Im currently a senior highschool student looking to study software engeneering. I mainly use my laptop for light gaming, note taking at classes and Java Programming(Nothing Big just a few small projects I've got going on). I don't know if a netbook would be right for my needs. If a netbook would work for me, which one would be the best pick for me.

The following applications are a must have for me:
1.Basket Notepad (Im currently looking for a replacement for this has development has stoped)
2.Eclipse IDE
3.Open Office

Any help is greatly appreciated

bigjust

Member

Registered: 2009-04-16

Posts: 9

Re: Whats the best netbook to fit my needs?

I would say that any of the netbook models that upgrade to 2 gigs would be a must if your planning on running eclipse and openoffice (esp. at the same time).  They all pretty much run similar processors, some have more features, like webcams and mics built in.

I'm currently finishing up college and I just got a MSI Wind U-120, even though it only has 1 gig RAM max, thats ok cause I only run emacs and dwm for the most part.  Its able to run the apps I create in my graphics and multimedia class, so thats about as heavy as I expect college development projects would get..

masterkoppa

Member

Registered: 2009-04-14

Posts: 92

Re: Whats the best netbook to fit my needs?

Thanks for this advice.

Is there any specific model that works great with Arch. Also I use kde as my desktop environment. I would probably think that kde and eclipse would mean a major problem for a netbook. Whats the most light and customizable WM/DE out there. If its really complicated to set up I wouldn't be a problem since I'm looking for a little side project to get my head out of my summer job.

Last edited by masterkoppa (2009-06-05 19:53:30)

bigjust

Member

Registered: 2009-04-16

Posts: 9

Re: Whats the best netbook to fit my needs?

I haven't heard of too many issues with any particular model.  KDE and eclipse wouldn't be a major problem at all, but you might see an improvement with lighter WM/apps, such as fluxbox, evilwm, dwm, theres a good lightweight section in the arch wiki.

keegan

Member

Registered: 2009-05-12

Posts: 54

Re: Whats the best netbook to fit my needs?

I have a Wind U-100 with arch and I love it. I've upgraded to 2gigs of ram, and installed an airport card for OS X, but now I only use arch on it. The wifi it comes with works good with linux tho(rtl8187 i think). As of right now, the dell mini, the acer aspire one, and the wind all are about the same, and have larger keyboards than the eee, although I havent used the eee 1000h yet. Overall Arch on my wind is a great experience. I'm running fluxbox. Usually have firefox open with 5-10 tabs, skype, pidgin, and between 1 and 15 terminals. It runs great(as well as you can expect from a 1.6ghz single core), my only gripe is battery life. I get abut 2 hours, although there are larger replacement batteries, I haven't purchased one yet.

bigjust

Member

Registered: 2009-04-16

Posts: 9

Re: Whats the best netbook to fit my needs?

Keegan,

Have you gotten the webcam working on yours? So far I'm loving mine, great battery life, and thanks to dwm, i never go over 100MB ram, even with firefox going.

keegan

Member

Registered: 2009-05-12

Posts: 54

Re: Whats the best netbook to fit my needs?

@bigjust Yea, my webcam works. I was lucky tho. The very newest models have either the bison 0.3 or some other new one that i dont know if it works or not. I have a bison 0.2 which works well with os x and linux. I use it on skype all the time. If you look around on the msi wind forums, there's a post there explaining how to replace the newer cams with an apple isight which works well with os x and linux. Good luck!

masterkoppa

Member

Registered: 2009-04-14

Posts: 92

Re: Whats the best netbook to fit my needs?

Well thanks to all of you for your helpful advice. I've finally settled with the Acer Aspire One. I've heard some very nice thing about it. Only one question though has anyone been able to equal gnome battery life while using openbox. Been testing it on my old laptop and compared with KDE y get a worse battery life even though I use a lot less resources.

Again thanks for all your help

iphitus

Forum Fellow

From: Melbourne, Australia

Registered: 2004-10-09

Posts: 4,927

Re: Whats the best netbook to fit my needs?

If you want battery life, the Asus 1000HE is a similar price (here at least) to the AAO but with phenomenal battery life. Marketed as 9.5 hours - I can manage a bit over 8 (it's not exactly convenient to test though).

You also mentioned light gaming - how light? The Asus N10J is still technically a netbook (Atom, 1024x600), yet comes with an NVIDIA graphics chip.

Last edited by iphitus (2009-06-12 12:43:57)

brendan

Member

From: UK

Registered: 2009-05-16

Posts: 130

Website

Re: Whats the best netbook to fit my needs?

You also mentioned light gaming - how light? The Asus N10J is still technically a netbook (Atom, 1024x600), yet comes with an NVIDIA graphics chip.

ION platform will drain battery. But the 9400 will provide HD playback (who acres at 1024x600... ??) and light gaming.

I have a Samsung NC10, and i say its great, but all 6 cell atom N270 laptops are basically the same.

What i would recomend is waiting for the N280. The higher FSB speed is nice, but overall its the chipset change that is important. It uses a GN40, which is far more powerfull and consumes less power than the traditional 945GSE.

That means better battery life better perf. Asus have two models out now/due soon? I havent looked at all since buying my NC10. But from googling it seems the Eee PC 1000HE/1008ha are the ones with an N280 and out now.

But I don't really think you can go wrong with the older N270 netbooks, but well buying obsolete hardware overpriced is never nice ;-)

iphitus

Forum Fellow

From: Melbourne, Australia

Registered: 2004-10-09

Posts: 4,927

Re: Whats the best netbook to fit my needs?

brendan: The N10J is not the ion platform. Further, it includes a hardware switch to swap between intel and nvidia graphics (bizarre I know).

The N280 really isn't such a big difference as you make it seem. Asus sell the 1000HE with both N270 and N280. Both under the same marketing of 9.5 hours battery life. I have a N270 based 1000HE and I get 8 hours battery life _while in use_. I have no doubt that it could come close to the 9.5 hours if left totally 'idle'.

Last edited by iphitus (2009-06-12 15:33:55)

Devastator

Member

From: Poland

Registered: 2008-05-27

Posts: 179

Re: Whats the best netbook to fit my needs?

I am recently thinking about buying a netbook, and from what I have read the 1000HE seems to be the best choice so far. I only have one doubt:
Is the ASUS Eee PC 1000HE screen readable in the sunlight?

(I prefer to ask it on this forum, because of higher quality of responses )

Last edited by Devastator (2009-06-28 18:06:35)

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moljac024

Member

From: Serbia

Registered: 2008-01-29

Posts: 2,676

Re: Whats the best netbook to fit my needs?

brendan: The N10J is not the ion platform. Further, it includes a hardware switch to swap between intel and nvidia graphics (bizarre I know)

Yes, I've always found that to be quite silly..

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sirocco

Member

Registered: 2008-03-10

Posts: 149

Re: Whats the best netbook to fit my needs?

1.Basket Notepad (Im currently looking for a replacement for this has development has stoped)

Rednotebook?
http://aur.archlinux.org/packages.php?ID=21984