[nickolai51]

Hey, I might be getting a netbook for next Christmas/Birthday and the max amount that
can be spent is £200.
Should I get one with Windows or Linux? What are the advantages of an open-source
operating system?

Does anyone have any recommendations?

[PsychoCoder]

First of all good luck getting a new laptop for that price, not sure one exists (but I assure you if I'm wrong someone will let me know lol). As for the OS, it depends on what you're doing with it. If you're going to be programming on it, and use .Net or the like you will need Windows. The advantage of Linux is having full control over the OS (I use both Ubuntu and Windows on my desktop), you can modify (if you know what you're doing) the OS to suit your needs, and of course it's free.

I'm moving this to the Computer Support & Operating Systems forum as well

[nickolai51]

Thanks, I will mainly be using it for gaming and some coding in c++.
I was thinking maybe an Eee-Pc.

[PsychoCoder]

You're not going to do much (if any) gaming on a eee-pc as they have very little power (not designed for gaming) and the ones that come with Windows are above your budget

[Tom9729]

PsychoCoder, on 13 Apr, 2009 - 11:24 AM, said:

You're not going to do much (if any) gaming on a eee-pc as they have very little power (not designed for gaming) and the ones that come with Windows are above your budget

200 BP is roughly 300 USD. There are several netbooks that fall under that price range, but I agree that none of them are going to be good for much gaming (unless the OP mainly plays older games).

nickolai51, as much as I advocate Linux, the distributions that most netbook vendors include are usually crippled. Unless you're prepared to figure out how to install a different distribution on your own, I would recommend that you just buy one of the ones that come with Windows XP.

I have an Eee 701 Surf and I love it, but the ram is non-upgradable (ie. soldered on) and the battery doesn't last any longer than my normal laptop.

By the way just for comparison, the game Tremulous (basically Quake 3) is playable online on my Eee 701.

[PsychoCoder]

@Tom Thanks, I usually forget to convert to US dollars thus screwing up lol

[nickolai51]

Thanks.

I was going to use it for playing older games (Arena) and low spec
games as I wasn't really expecting to play Crysis on it.

What about the "Acer Aspire One". Any good/bad experiences with
it? Also Is Ubuntu any good?
and I suppose my budget could go to £250.

This post has been edited by nickolai51: 13 April 2009 - 01:36 PM

[c0mrade]

Quote

Also Is Ubuntu any good?

Ubuntu is probably the best distribution for someone new to linux. It is extremely widespread, commercially backed, and ease-of-use oriented.

Similar to tom, I am an avid linux user and a fan of the OS overall, but I do not really recommend it. Desktop distributions are getting simpler and simpler, but there will still be cases where you cannot avoid getting "under the hood". My experience tells me that to get stuff done you will need to learn a lot about the OS, and the distribution. But, I guess that's not always a bad thing.

EDIT: BTW, I run linux by choice on my personal laptop and XP on my work laptop. My next computer will be a Mac, it combines the "just works" benefits of windows with a powerful and (to me) familiar UNIX core. I understand a Mac is probably not an option for you, just letting you know what my position on OS's is.

This post has been edited by c0mrade: 13 April 2009 - 03:12 PM

[JonBernal]

Do you need the portability of a laptop?

cause if not, i would say get a desktop,
personally if all you want is to code and
play games, a desktop is the way to go.
Cheaper, and upgradable.

As of the OS I would say stick around with
Vista till 7 comes out.

[nickolai51]

I would prefer a something more portable as I am already
using a desktop which can run the latest games (e.g. Crysis/
Far Cry 2/Fallout 3.)

[JonBernal]

Ah, since you are probably not going
to game alot on the laptop, then why
worry about getting a high end computer?

I'd say just get a PC running XP or some
Linux, and do all your work and progm. on
it and if you want to game use the desktop.

Ah, since you are probably not going
to game alot on the laptop, then why
worry about getting a high end computer?

I'd say just get a PC running XP or some
Linux, and do all your work and progm. on
it and if you want to game use the desktop.

[nickolai51]

I was going to use the laptop for gaming quite a bit
(older games) because thats pretty much what I do
in my life. (During the holidays anyway.) and I don't
really get that much work as I'm in year 7.

Thanks anyway.

[CrazySpai]

Netbooks are great for online applications, don't expect to run anything much on them if you are going for one under 300USD. I read a really nice guide for Netbooks in Wired a couple months ago not sure if the article is online. Linux or Windows, I really don't have much of a prefrence in either direction. I prefer Linux for laptops as laptops have non readily upgradable hardware so Linux takes the "will it run slowly" question out of the equation.

Expect to reinstall the OS on ANY laptop, as the OS that comes with it, either Linux or Windows will come with bundled software which slows down the computer considerably. I recommend Ubuntu if you do infact choose Linux, be ready to install Java, Flash, and many other different web browsing items. For the Windows, go ahead and disable many of the "cosmetic" aspects of Windows, there are plenty of guides out there so just do a quick google.

[nickolai51]

Thanks, I think I've probably decided on Ubuntu.

[CrazySpai]

Ubuntu does come with a lot of programs with its stock installation. You might want to go ahead and uninstall a lot of these items as you will most likely not use them and are a drain on your hard drive.

In case you are new to Linux, which I am still currently getting through the installer withdraw myself (new to Linux) I suggest using Wine to run your games/programs that are for Windows only, it is available both online and through the app installer that comes with Ubuntu.

I havn't bought a PC with Linux already on it, but I am sure that the manufacturers have bundled software installed on the Linux machine... Advertising that destroys the hardware of a system... gah.