Some questions for recent netbook users

[DigMe]

I'm thinking about getting a basic cheaper netbook (most every company has one that is typically 1.66Ghz proc, 1GB RAM, Windows 7). I have some questions for any users of a netbook of similar specs that may have experience with the following:

1. Do you have any problems running Office 2007 or 2010 beta on it (specifically PowerPoint)? Can it run the 3D type effects and transitions in PowerPoint?

2. How's it with video? Does it ever have any trouble playing streaming video from Youtube or Hulu or playing stored video from hard drive sources?

3. What do you feel is the most taxing program that you have run on the machine? Have you tried to run any programs on it that you were surprised to find wouldn't run very well?

4. Has anyone upgraded from the standard RAM of 1GB that most of these machines have to 2GB? Was there any significant performance improvement?

That's it mainly. I'm especially interested in hearing about any Office 2010 Beta or 2007 functionality issues. Thanks for any insight.

bc

[Deluge Of Sound]

Can't help you on the Office bit, or the Powerpoint (I use OpenOffice for my word processing, and I don't make presentations using Powerpoint). I also haven't upgraded the RAM, so no news on that front either.

Most taxing program is probably Winamp (my netbook is more or less a glorified typewriter with a kickass jukebox).

I have noticed it lagging on some youtube videos, but only when using it unplugged and with multiple programs open (Winamp, Google Chrome, and OpenOffice). It sometimes seems like it is different from video to video--some youtube clips work fine, others are considerably laggy.

[DigMe]

Thanks for weighing in.

Originally Posted by Deluge Of Sound

Can't help you on the Office bit, or the Powerpoint (I use OpenOffice for my word processing, and I don't make presentations using Powerpoint).

I was using OpenOffice too but I downloaded MS Office 2010 Beta for free and it's pretty awesome once you learn where everything is.

Originally Posted by Deluge Of Sound

It sometimes seems like it is different from video to video--some youtube clips work fine, others are considerably laggy.

Hmm...I'm guessing that would be due to differences in video resolution. Youtube videos range from 640x480 or worse up to HD quality.

So your netbook is a 1.66Ghz with 1GB RAM? Is it running Win 7?

bc

[bassybill]

My Samsung netbook runs Office 2007 really well, and I haven't noticed any video issues as yet. It still just has the 1 gig of RAM - but I'm still on XP (not saying that this beats Win7, which I have on my newest laptop, in any way, it's just that XP is what came with the netbook and I haven't felt the urge to upgrade).

Bill

[MadMan118]

I have a Toshiba NB205. I dont use windows on it. Video is fair to meh. Youtube - hit and miss, Hulu, fair to total ****storm depending on the connection. Video device is a piece of junk as is the wireless card. Plays stored video fine if you have a good player. I upgraded the RAM, no huge change. Also upgraded the hard drive. Basixly i use mine as a movie&music player/ fancy hard drive. I hammer out the occasional English paper in open office.

[Deluge Of Sound]

Originally Posted by DigMe

So your netbook is a 1.66Ghz with 1GB RAM? Is it running Win 7?

bc

Yup, the eMachines EM250. Snagged one from my local evil-mart when they were on sale for $230, although I don't believe that sale is still happening.

As for Windows 7, I like it a whole lot more than Vista...

Except there's no way to change the desktop background in Windows 7 Starter (which is the version all the netbooks with 7 use, I believe) without downloading a third party program to do it. Not a big issue, and a pretty easy fix, but it was certainly an unwelcome surprise at first.

[DigMe]

Weird.

bc

[Eric Perry]

I don't run any office apps on mine, so I can't comment there. I do get some occasional choppy video play from YouTube, etc., however. There more programs running, the more profound it is. Oddly, it plays video from the HD without issue.

Mine is running XP Pro.