Thread: My new netbook

Besides my laptop I have bought myself a small netbook at the supermarket for writing on the move, it came with 30 days free security, which recently ran out.

Although I rarely use it on the web, and keep it for writing, I have installed a couple of programs and want the updates to stay in order, experience tells me computers screw themselves in a knot otherwise. Spotting a security program at half price I bought it, but I am rubbish at installing things like that so it sat on the side waiting for a while.

Yesterday I was visiting some young friends of mine, one is an IT manager, his friend is IT support for a large national newspaper, so I took the netbook and all the bits that came in the box with the security. They read the product code and access code on the cd’s and set about it. Half an hour and much cursing later one of them was deep into it and the other, bored, picked up the little booklet that had come with it. Thirty seconds later the one with the booklet said
“Ah! R.T.F.I.”
“What’s that?” said his friend.
“Read the f*****g instructions”
Minutes later my security was installed.

Ollie - My father's version was, 'When all else fails, read the instructions'.

It's interesting that you bought a netbook primarily for writing on the road, with little intention of using it on the 'net. I did the same thing. Mine is a little Acer Aspire, a good little machine, except that at about 30 seconds after the warranty ran out the monitor failed. I'm using it now as a tertiary desktop connected to an old monitor and with the addition of usb keyboard and mouse. I'll replace it for on-the-road use eventually, but I don't travel as much as I used to and at this moment my attention is focused on putting together a new primary desktop. I've ordered the latest Pentium series processor, a motherboard stuffed with a set of Intel chips, Windows Seven, and Microsoft Office 2010. I've yet to decide on the drives. Case, monitor, keyboard, and mouse I'll probably pick up in Chetumal.

Getting a netbook for writing on the go is a great idea. I plan to get the MacBook Air later myself. When I save up enough after the car payments and all. (oh. that feels long in coming!)

I've just recently switched to MacBook. Previously, (as of Oct 2010) I was still using HP Pavillion dv6. And then I dropped it. Ack. The monitor died. It was sad. It was like "the motor is running but nobody's home" kind of thing. And then.. the same week, my dad bought me a MacBook Pro 15" !! YAY!

I was apprehensive at first because I was in no way familiar with the Mac system. But then, it took all of 2 days maybe, to familiarize myself with the different commands (like the Control key on a PC = Command key on a Mac). Otherwise, it does the same things a PC does, and then some. And the track pad is so awesome I don't use a mouse anymore (which is odd because I love using my mouse because I have a pretty carpet like mousepad). You can do different things on your MBP with 1 finger, 2 fingers, 3 fingers and 4 on the track pad.

And when you learn all the tricks of a MBP, you'll discover it's friendlier too. Many shortcuts to help you along the way.

If not a Mac then,.. I'll certainly go for a HP.

Just my 2 cents.

Hope your Netbook's treating you right, Olly!

Beware writing on the move, I had just settled in for a long session on an hour and a half journey and the guard asked for my ticket, I stood up and reached for my back pocket and my coat caught my cuppa and tipped it straight onto my netbook, luckily I don't take sugar, it is in pieces drying in my friend's airing cupboard, fingers crossed.
My daughter uses a mac, as do most of the creative people I know. They say it is better for music and video and the controls are intuitive and the lack of virus problems is a blessing, though they think microsoft fine for writing.

Are you mad ?
You must be, you are a writer.
I have yet to catch any nasty viruses, on my note book and pen. ( Nor flat battery's )( nor theft concerns )
Re Linux, I use Ubuntu, it is as smooth as a smooth thing. There are so many different sorts out there it would keep you happy experimenting till the grim reaper calls.
But beware, not all netbooks are wi fi and Linux compatable.
By the way Olly, I caught your toothpaste performance on you tube. Very good stuff.

I am a peguin
wherever I look I see bills

bazz cargo;- thank you for the compliment, I have started a bad jokes thread elsewhere, it starts with the one about the toothless budgie.

The goblin does not understand the woeful depths of my ignorance, nor yet my seeming inconsonance regarding my education in certain matters. Truth is the days of man are numbered and I have used many of mine, yet there is much left to do, more than I have hours to do it. I must prioritise, and I must not get caught like Mr Babbage with his calculating engine, each time abandoning it in favour of a superior model which would save so much time in its calculating that it would more than repay abandoning the previous. Then comes the sneaking thought I could shut down the net and save some hours each day.

P.S. The netbook is fine, I took it to a friend some thirty years younger than I who is gainfully employed in IT. he took it apart, wiped the surplus liquid out with tissue, left it on top of his shelves that contain his racked up electronics, on twenty four hours a day, then put it back together two days later,

To live is but to die.
To live well and create is to become immortal.
I am glad your machine has been rescued, for life without writing has to be a life half lived.
And you are one of those rare breed, an entertainer. All these angst ridden artists give me indigestion.
Maybe I should stop eating them.
Live Long And prosper.
( PS. What do you mean 'bad joke' cheek )

What's a netbook?

And why write when out and about? There's so much more to do, like studying cloud formations and perving on pretty girls.

What's a netbook?

A netbook is basically a miniature laptop. I see no other difference between it and a laptop. Consider it a portable of a portable (a laptop being a portable computer).