I currently have 3 different models on loan from different manufacturers for a few weeks and I'll set up separate blog posts (look under the labels for netbooks if you don't see the posts right away) on each to detail each machine and their pros & cons. Currently I have a Lenovo S10e (which I'm using to type this entry), a DakTech PlaidMate, and a MSi Wind. These machines are available for loan to any staff who would like to demo them for a few days and give me feedback, just let me know if you're interested.
I'll post my individual thoughts on each machines separate page but here are some general pros & cons for netbooks:
Pros
- Small size - most netbooks are the size of a hardbound novel and weigh less than 3 pounds
- Low power need/high battery life - the architecture in the machines (Atom processor, etc.) requires less power to run allowing for longer time between charges
- Long and light power cord - all three machines I have here shipped with the exact same power cord, it's light enough to not substantially increase the weight of the machine and long enough to plug into the most elusive plug at your favorite coffee shop.
- All come standard with webcams & wifi (thus the NETbook designation)
Con's
- Small size - while the size has advantages the shrunken keyboards and screens on these machines may not work for some users, although the target population (students) is so accustomed to functioning on phones and other miniature devices I don't anticipate this being an issue. I have however run across a few sites and dialog boxes that are set to a higher screen resolution than the display and I had to figure out a work around.
- Speed - most of these machines sacrifice capability and capacity for efficiency. They excel at surfing the web, typing papers/emails/blogs, and doing basic daily computing . . . they aren't created to render 3D graphics and play games more intense than Tetris.
Anyhow, I'll update this as I see fit and create a series of separate posts on the particular machines. Please feel free to comment on netbooks in general below, for comments on the specific models please comment on their individual pages.
Scott
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Hey Scott,
ReplyDeleteI'd love to play around with one.
I could see them being really useful in particular for students. I think its important that we get teachers using technology, but its more important to find ways to get to make sure our students are becoming tech literate. I'm imagining a paperless classroom where students could download handouts at the start of class, submit homework online, have conversations via community forums, etc. of course how do we get a laptop in every students hands? I don't know if we could require laptops, and then possibly fund the notebooks in need based situations? 200$ seems very inexpensive...but adds up pretty quickly.
Hey I was also hoping to chat with you and Jan about the possibility of putting together a social networking site for the school and students. I have a friend who works for a local software company jive. They make social networking software for business and apparently they're business is going through the roof. My friend was telling me how social networking is a growing trend among colleges and business--it seems like this would be a great thing to get students familiar with now. Also in curiosity I did an unscientific poll of some friends who work for larger private businesses and all of them are using social networking as business tools. I found this site www.elgg.org--might be worth checking out.
Scott, I'd be very interested in any info or feedback you have on the PlaidMate. I do a lot with netbooks, but this is one I've never heard of (and there's virtually no info about it online). A district I work with is considering it, and I'd like to know more. It is pretty pricey compared to everything else I've used (eeePC, Dell, Acer, Lenovo). Thanks for any info you can share. (If you want to email me, you can reach me at karen AT k12handhelds DOT com.)
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