Potential Need for New Laptop

[The Meromorph]

Question solved if it does before Windows 7.

I have one of those. It's important to get the HE model. Amazon.com is probably the best place to get one. I heartily recommend them.

[Scriblerus the Philosophe]

You have a thing about tutus ?

...What?

Question solved if it does before Windows 7.

I have one of those. It's important to get the HE model. Amazon.com is probably the best place to get one. I heartily recommend them.

Awesome. Duly noted, good sir, and thanks!

[Sibling Zono (anon1mat0)]

Be aware that netbooks (that's the kind of laptop an eee is) are slower than regular laptops and for the most part don't have a DVD unit. That is fine for browsing and email, but don't plan on running Illustrator or Photoshop at blazing speeds on one of those.

Also, although it's been said that windows 7 will run on those (vista simply can't) no one is sure how responsive those will be until they go out of beta/RC. It is quite possible that XP will run faster.

Personally I want one and run ubuntu on it.

[The Meromorph]

The right netbook (e.g. ASUS 1000HE) is pretty darn fast, and can be expanded to 2GB of ram very easily and cheaply ($24).
An external  USB CD RW is from $30 and up.  The hard drive runs a little slower, but it's not actually noticeable and extends the battery time considerably.  They're not good for high end gaming or for high end graphics work, but no reasonably priced laptop is anyway.
A 10-inch is big enough for a full size (but slightly re-configured) keyboard, and the screen is the minimum size I find acceptable.
The price is an order of magnitude better, and the convenience for carrying is significant.

[Bluenose]

My son has a 9 inch eee netbook (as well as two other fairly high spec computers).  The portability of the unit is fabulous.  He runs some version of Linux on it and for web browsing taking notes etc it really does the trick.  I've used it and was really surpised at just how useable a device it is.  Not a replacement for my main computer but something that is small, light and has about 6 to 8 hours battery lfe has a lot to recommend itfor many purposes.

[Griffin NoName]

oh deary me, seems like yet another bit of technology that will become a must-have for me ! 

(I'm beginning to lose heart in repairing my old laptop as a backup).

[Bob in a quantum-state-of-faith]

(I'm beginning to lose heart in repairing my old laptop as a backup).

Sad, isn't it?  To think that such things have become.....disposable?

You can get a new laptop (yesterday's tech, but more than good enough for most things) for sub-$200 these days, if you are a savy shopper...

....I foresee the day when el-cheapo laptops will be bubble-packed, and hung on department stores along side hand-held calculators...your laptop quits?  Throw it away, and go get another...

[Griffin NoName]

....I foresee the day when el-cheapo laptops will be bubble-packed, and hung on department stores along side hand-held calculators...your laptop quits?  Throw it away, and go get another...

Can't be that far off. Except....it does take ages to put all the s/w I want on to any computer which is a big drag factor.