What netbooks would you test if you could?

[egk]

If you could choose any 5 netbooks that you could have shipped to you to try out and evaluate, which 5 would you choose? The one catch, the netbook can not cost more than $500. Thoughts?

[shc-boomer]

Asus Eee PC 1000HE
Acer Aspire One 10" one...
Samsung NC10
LG X110
HP Mini 1000 or 2130

[egk]

I ordered the Asus Eee PC 1000HE and the HP Mini 2140 today, those were my 2 of my most obvious choices. I'm still trying to decide which others to order. I am somewhat limited by the netbooks that the vendors that I am working with have to offer. I had also wanted to try the Dell Mini 10, but I haven't been able to get one lined up to be sent out in a timely manner, but I am still working on it. The Acer Aspire One and the Samsung NC10 are also ones that I have considered.

SHC-Boomer: Why do you suggest the LG?

[shc-boomer]

LG X110 because when I first saw it, it seems average. However, I have played around with it and overall it isn't too bad.

The Dell Mini 10 isn't too much on my list. The GMA500 makes me sad.

[egk]

It looks like the LG X110 isn't available in the US, rumors have it that it will be available here around July, but the LG X120 may be available by then (either way they both will be too late for this "evaluation").

I am giving the Dell Mini 10 an obligatory look since it is the preferred PC/server vendor of the company that I am working with. I have not been t foroo impressed with the reviews that I have read about the Mini 10, but I am still willing to give it a try because of our strong history with Dell. But so far it looks like they may not even be an option as I am having difficulties obtaining a Mini 10 from them.

I am pretty sure at this point that I will also order an Acer Aspire One 10" model, however I am still trying to determine another two to evaluate...

[Jason]

Asus 1000HE
HP Mini 1000
HP 2130
Off the top of my head I don't know if the Samsung NC20 is over 500...
Can't think of 5 to test this early in the morning!

[shc-boomer]

Samsung NC310 and/or Samsung NC110

[egk]

Off the top of my head I don't know if the Samsung NC20 is over 500...

I really want to limit it to 10" netbooks, just to maintain a fair comparison between manufacturers.
The new Samsungs sound interesting, but they may be outside the price range, and who knows when they will actually be available.

On another note, I have been working with a Dell rep and he is working on getting me a Mini 10, so it looks like that will be one of the netbooks that we will evaluate. He also tipped me off to a new upcoming device that I haven't heard of, and haven't seen information online for it. I'm trying to get more information out of him, I will share what I find out.

And BTW, the Asus Eee PC 1000HE and the HP 2140 are scheduled to be delivered tomorrow. Exciting!

[shc-boomer]

Are you getting these for a company or something like that?

[egk]

Yes, I am leading a Proof of Concept (POC)/Pilot for a company that I work with. The first goal is to determine, by POC, if netbooks can need meet the enterprise computing needs of the company by leveraging the companies portal (cloud computing) environment. The netbooks would be used primarily for connecting to the companies portal, and then using Citrix to run any needed applications. Once we have determined that netbooks will meet this need we will next decide on a particular manufacturer and model that seems to work the best in the environment.

Currently we are working on step one, gathering a decent range of netbooks to use in testing... BTW, the Dell rep got me connected with a Mini 10 and it should be on its way shortly.... However he seemed to back pedal when I pushed him for more information about the upcoming Dell model, saying that the specifications of the new model are not available to the public yet ... Still a mystery but he said we should see something by May.