Hi all, This week's poll question is about whether or not you would consider buying a Netbook. Discuss here what you think about this new type of computer, and, if you like, the poll results themselves. Thanks! Justin

This from wikipedia: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia A netbook (or mini-notebook[1]) is a small portable laptop computer designed for wireless communication and access to the Internet.[2] Primarily designed for web browsing and e-mailing, netbooks rely heavily on the Internet for remote access to web-based applications"[3] and are targeted increasingly at cloud computing users who require a less powerful client computer.[ Sounds exactly like a Blackberry or iTouch or any one of a number of other personal devices that do the exact same thing. For me (if I cared, and I don't) the question would be, "Do I want to spend more money on another electronic device that does the same job as one I already own but is bigger?" The good news for the people that invent, manufacture and sell devices like this is, there a lot of electronic/toy junkies out there who will just have to have this whether they already own a smaller device that does the exact same thing or not. Unfortunately for them, there's an almost equal number of people out there that will see it like I do and not buy their crap.....errr....equipment.

I have a cell phone. It is just that a cell phone. I can't watch tv on it or do my taxes or bake cookies. Supposedly it has a slot for a memory card so I could add music or videos but why it's a phone. I understand the idea behind having a phone and an appointment book of sorts in one but I do not understand why I would pay for internet access twice. I drive to and from work, during that comute is not the time I choose to browse the web and wish others would do the same. If I need to be online at work or school I have computer access at both I don't need it on my phone. I have never owned a laptop or a notebook other than a non working laptop that an instructor gave me last week. I currently am not in the high tech business world so that is probably why all this seems silly to me although if I was I live by the idea that if I am not at work I am not at work so I would still have no need for any of it that I can see. I love my family life work is something I must do to enrich my family life but it will not be allowed to replace it. I made that mistake before. Ok I have gotten off topic here. From what I have seen of this new device it seems cute for the kids maybe but that's about it. I would like to have a nice laptop for when I travel but I won't run out and buy this because it is a cheap step in that direction. When I can afford a good laptop I will get one until then I don't need it. If the boss thinks I do he can buy me one and I will gladly turn it off when I leave work for the day. Likely Practice makes perfect but only if you practice perfectly!

I wouldn't. The Atom processor is what scares me most about netbooks. That CPU belongs in a graphing calculator, not an internet appliance/mini laptop. Techreport.com is currently running a poll that asks users what they think of the Atom. I'm just gonna cut/paste what I wrote: I've used an Atom-based system, and it was too slow. The web-browsing performance is what bothered me most. The "heavy" web pages would freeze for around five seconds after loading. If I tried to use the scroll wheel during Atom's 5-sec brain fart, the screen would suddenly unfreeze and zoom to the bottom of the page...then freeze again for a sec. Very annoying. YouTube HD = impossible. Around 1.5 fps. YouTube SD = good, but jerky whenever mouse was moved. Standard 480p DVD under PowerDVD 9 with TrueTheatre HD enabled was very jumpy. However, with TrueTheatre HD disabled, playback was fine. Didn't get a chance to test 480p/720p/1080p H.264, but based on the YouTube and PowerDVD 9 results, I'm gonna guess that it wouldn't have been very pretty. I fired up my old T-bird 1333 machine after playing with Atom, and found its performance to be strikingly similar. However, the T-bird was a little faster at rendering web pages. Now, if a manufacturer ever puts out a ULV Core 2-based netbook, I'd reconsider. The HTPC: Pentium M oc'ed to 2.82GHz, 667FSB, 2MB L2 3GB of DDR-800 @ 667MHz GeForce 9600GT Blu-Ray Vista Modified PowerMac G4 'Quicksilver' case HDMI to homebuilt 1080p projector

Contrary to everyone else's comments, I would definitely consider a netbook. In fact, I was looking at them at Staples today and I think they are so cool. They had them on display and I was able to try one out. It seemed snappy to me, but I only went to the Control Panel and stuff. People complain about the slow Atom processor, but that's what you're bound to get at such a low price, $300 here in NC USA, and also $300 down in Louisiana where I was last month. The only problem I think I would have with it is the small screen. It wasn't too hard to read it, but I don't know about prolonged use. Would I consider a netbook? Yes definitely! WinSimple Software CompTIA A+ Certified

To pay $300 for that is just not worth the money. You can buy an acer for an additional $75 - 100 and have a full functioning laptop with a dual core chip and DVD player along with all the other applications that one needs from day to day. To waste that $300 on the netbook is really poor money management! note: the Acer may not be the best laptop but it is worth the money that you spend on it....There is just no way to say that about spending money on a netbook! Change Is Good http://www.citizenlink.org/Stopligh...

Rayburn: You said, "In fact, I was looking at them at Staples today and I think they are so cool." That's what the OEM is hoping for, people to purchase this product based solely on the fact that they are "so cool". They're hoping you'll ignore issues like it's slowness and tiny screen in favor of being cool, hip, with it or whatever. I don't mind spending money on something that is an advancement or improvement (ie: faster computer, better LCD monitor, faster/more powerful graphics card). but I see no point in spending money on a piece of technology that goes in the opposite direction. The netbooks, from what I've seen and I freely confess I've done VERY little research on them at this point, seem to me to be (technicologically speaking) a step backwards, not forward. To me it would be like running out and buying an etch-a-sketch because someone added a cord to it so you can plug it into the wall.......lol......no thank you. Even at $300.00, I can think of much better ways (for me) to spend that money where I would enjoy it more and get more use from it.