Help choosing a netbook?

I can promise you, you will have lots of the opposite of fun using photoshop on any netbook. They aren't made for it, and i could probably use that entire Harddrive size (320 gigs) in less than a year of GFX design and things like that. Then again i would never go near a netbook if i was doing graphic design, its just not made for it.

Net book; much like its name implies, is only good for the net. you may be able to get away with streaming 720p (watching, not actually doing the streaming, you will never be able to stream your desktop on a netbook) but that depends on the quality of the processor, your ram, and your internet speed. IT mainly comes down to your internet speed and processor for watching streams. I dont know the type of processor in the netbook, AMD c-60 or something of the sort, but i dont know its capabilities, but im sure you could google and find out, but i doubt its anything to write home about.

Like i said 720p is about the max for watching streams on that imo, 1080p+ is likely going to start lagging your other activities while watching streams. ESP with a lesser quality AMD processor.

For reference my internet speed when i do a speed test it 32 Mbps (www.speakeasy.net) and i can run 3-6 720-1080p streams simultaneously with minimal lag, on a macbook pro 2010.


TLR, dont get a netbook for photoshop, it will be passable depending on your internet speed and processor how many or how well streaming will be. You will not be able to stream your desktop with a netbook.

 

streaming can mean two things

if you say i am streaming, it generally means you are streaming video of your PC for other people to see, like on sites such as justin.tv or twitch.tv

If you are just watching videos online noone really says 'i am streaming videos', they just say im watching shows online, unless they dont know much about computers.

But anyways, a netbook will be just fine to watch youtube n netflix, aswell as use general programs that dont stress out computer hardware (processors, video cards, ram)

HD can be either 720p, 720p+, 1080p, 1080p+

Non HD will be 260, 340. 480 or w/e the lower resolutions are, i forget

 

I wouldn't recommend photo editing on a netbook at all. I just bought an Acer Aspire One with a 1.6ghz dual core Atom and 1gb ddr3(will be upgrading to 2gb) and I use it for some mild programming with Visual studio 2010 and that is pushing the netbook a fair bit, photoshop would not run well at all, nevermind the lack of space for working with photos.
The main reason I bought a netbook was for the portability and battery life, when you get into the netbooks that can run more demanding software the battery life sucks and they are just as expensive as a better laptop.

 

I urge you to not buy a net book.

 

i have HP Mini 110-4250NR (i am pretty sure, so many numbers in my brain lol)

upgraded it to 2gb ram right away, and it runs really nice. has the 1.6ghz intel atom

ive run GTA SA on it on low setting and its pretty smooth lol

its great for just surfing web, great battery time and doesnt run too hot. nice little thing when you dont have a desktop around. mine came with windows 7 starter which sucks though, cant change background natively, limited customization options, ect.

edit: thats nice deal just realize its only 1ghz processor, most new phones are more than that lol

 

If the size/battery life is a factor, a netbook can be OK.

But if not, the cheapest full sized laptop will offer much better performance usually.

For $30 more you can get Acer Aspire V5 531 4636 Laptop Computer With 156 Screen And Intel Pentium Dual Core Processor Black by Office Depot

But for $60 extra this is like a whole different level of performance - Lenovo G570 4334 9MU Laptop Computer With 156 Screen 2nd Gen Intel Core i3 Processor Dark Brown by Office Depot

 

Or consider second hand, do you have pawn-broker type places that sell electronics near you? (I'm the UK, we have "Cash converters" who for that price would be able to sell you a really good 1-2 year old machine).

Netbooks are more for "My first PC" or for a supplement to a "proper" PC.

 

If you're looking for a budget-friendly netbook that can handle basic programs but not demanding tasks like gaming, there are several options available within your price range. One option you mentioned is the Acer Aspire 1, which can be a suitable choice for your needs.

Here are a few general recommendations for netbooks under $300:

1. Acer Aspire 1: The Acer Aspire 1 is a popular budget netbook that offers decent performance for everyday tasks. It typically comes with an Intel Celeron or Pentium processor, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB or 128GB of storage. It should be able to handle web browsing, document editing, and multimedia playback.
   
   
2. Lenovo IdeaPad 1: The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 is another affordable netbook that offers good value for the price. It usually features an AMD processor, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB or 128GB of storage. It's suitable for basic tasks like web browsing, word processing, and media consumption.
   
   
3. HP Stream 11: The HP Stream 11 is a compact netbook with an 11-inch display and a durable build. It often comes with an Intel Celeron processor, 4GB of RAM, and 32GB or 64GB of storage. It's designed for cloud-based computing and is well-suited for web browsing, email, and office productivity tasks.
   

When comparing netbook specifications, some key factors to consider are the processor (Intel or AMD), RAM (preferably 4GB or more), storage capacity (SSD storage is faster than eMMC), and screen size (11 to 14 inches for portability). Additionally, it's worth checking user reviews to get an idea of the netbook's overall performance and durability.

Remember to consider your specific software requirements and check the system requirements of the programs you plan to run to ensure compatibility.