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Post by bromptonaut on Sept 17, 2016 17:22:02 GMT
Mrs B and I both need small laptops for relatively lightweight usage. Hers for taking notes in lectures etc where her 15.3" Toshiba is both too big and too heavy and perhaps for other basic funtions when attending conferences etc. Might want to use software like Scrivener ( www.literatureandlatte.com/trial.php ) on it. Mine to replace the 2009 XP netbook used in the caravan and on holiday, mostly for faffing about in here and other surfing. Seen this offer in Currys: tinyurl.com/jfazlquWon't set the world on fire but is it likely to have any serious limitations? |
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Sept 17, 2016 17:34:04 GMT
I take all my meeting notes these days with Evernote on my iPad Mini. I can hold it in my lap (ironically) far more easily than any laptop - and laptops on the meeting table, unless you're actually presenting material from it, are an etiquette no-no for me.
I bought a Zagg Bluetooth keyboard to go with the 'Pad but I seldom use it these days. For one thing it turns off Autocorrect which, for all we scoff at it, makes getting words down quickly and reasonably accurately far easier than fingers alone. And again, a keyboard requires a table, and creates a mini-laptop and its attendant etiquette problem.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2016 18:56:16 GMT
As a small and acceptable laptop, it'll be fine. About the only thing to add is the cost of any software you wish to have - MS Office for example.
However, I think you need to re-examine your requirements because I'm not sure any laptop is really want you want.
Something more "tablet-y" would seem suitable for herself and her notetaking. Always sync-able with another computer, tablet or the cloud. Or phone, for that matter. A tablet can have an effective USB keyboard, mine does - my keyboard is a Samsung one, rather good as it happens. Though I have become so used to Evernote using the touchscreen, with or without pen, that I rarely bother to carry the keyboard; just for when I have a significant document to do on the tablet, really. Which is rare.
There is a learning curve, and a very irritating, frustrating one at that. But its pretty short and worth the effort.
For you, if its for use in the caravan, then I'm not sure that small matters all that much, does it? Why not use her Toshiba? Or indeed a similar tablet to the above?
In fact, in what way does your XP Laptop currently fail to satisfy?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2016 18:57:14 GMT
p.s. I detest bluetooth anything. Nasty, nasty, irritating, disconnecting, stuttery shite. Hence I have a USB keyboard. I would only use bluetooth where there is no ready alternative.
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Post by Hofmeister on Sept 17, 2016 19:58:00 GMT
As a small and acceptable laptop, it'll be fine. About the only thing to add is the cost of any software you wish to have - MS Office for example. However, I think you need to re-examine your requirements because I'm not sure any laptop is really want you want. Something more "tablet-y" would seem suitable for herself and her notetaking. Always sync-able with another computer, tablet or the cloud. Or phone, for that matter. A tablet can have an effective USB keyboard, mine does - my keyboard is a Samsung one, rather good as it happens. Though I have become so used to Evernote using the touchscreen, with or without pen, that I rarely bother to carry the keyboard; just for when I have a significant document to do on the tablet, really. Which is rare. There is a learning curve, and a very irritating, frustrating one at that. But its pretty short and worth the effort. For you, if its for use in the caravan, then I'm not sure that small matters all that much, does it? Why not use her Toshiba? Or indeed a similar tablet to the above? In fact, in what way does your XP Laptop currently fail to satisfy? Yer, tablety thing is what you need, like this shop.lenovo.com/gb/en/laptops/yoga/300-series/yoga-300-11/ |
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Post by bromptonaut on Sept 18, 2016 20:20:46 GMT
We took plunge and bought a brace, one in blue t'other red. Posting from mine now. If herself had wanted a £1k plus Macbook I might have been prepared to say 'are you sure dear, maybe there are other ways'. But as she only wanted a £130 mini laptop and already has a tablet etc I wasn't going there.....
The old XP device still functions but XP Home is no longer supported and it's only a matter of time before software wont update/work. Also battery life is pants and HDD has bad sectors etc. Issue in caravan is space for full size 15.3 inch consumer laptops. Although the bed isn't fixed we treat it as such and use the van's dinette (think the single seats facing with table in a first class rail carriage) for eating living etc. The table's not big enough for full size lappy plus netbook never mind more.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2016 8:54:06 GMT
Looks nice and I although hate to say it - it's Windows. There are times when on my Samsung tablet, that I feel the need for a proper Windows environment when surfing. Even using Chrome. Somehow everything seems to work just better and faster. I can feel the urge to buy a Surface......maybe next year.
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Post by bromptonaut on Oct 10, 2016 20:22:04 GMT
Had them about three weeks now and they've been fine at home and for Mrs B at Uni and a conference in Bristol. This weekend is their first trial in the caravan. Passed with flying colours. Caravan Club wi-fi is often a wee bit flaky but been reasonably stable on both machines and yes, they do fit on the table together.
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