SPCR

I am reading about all these netbooks but can't find one that is:

1. Atom based (or any processor that will give me #2)
2. FANLESS
3. Docking port - will be used most of the time as a desktop.
4. has SSD drive - no noise
5. be with at least 10"-12" screen

ANY IDEAS???

petreza wrote:I am reading about all these netbooks but can't find one that is:

1. Atom based (or any processor that will give me #2)
2. FANLESS
3. Docking port - will be used most of the time as a desktop.
4. has SSD drive - no noise
5. be with at least 10"-12" screen

ANY IDEAS???

I have Asus 901 with custom Arch Linux which is:

1.yes, atom based (easy to undervolt and underclock by software, at least in linux)
2.yes, in normal use (i have set this fanless and temps stays at 50-52!!) Only in really heavy use (games and videos), fan spins up at 62 (I have TOTAL control over the fan (there is only one))
3. no, there is no docking port, but standard vga and three usb connectors.
4. yes only 4 gigs fast ssd but 20 gigs total.
5. no, 8.9" but as resolution is same in 10" models, that doesn't really matter.

I could recommend you Asus Eee "top model", 1000 with 10" screen, 40gb ssd and linux. It should be mostly packed with same hardware as 901, but I can't guarantee its "fanlessness"

As the screen is also silent (unlike most lcds which quite often have noisy voltage control), this is the first totally silent computer I have ever had.

As every unit maybe unique, YMMV really.

None so far have a docking station available. You can do what I do and get yourself a USB hub and a second power supply. That makes it three connections and it can be very fast to hook up if you have them organized.

There's the Panasonic Toughbook CF-U1 which has a docking port/station. It's not a netbook but a very ruggedized Atom-based UMPC with a 5.6" screen displaying 1024x600. It has an SSD. I don't know if it's fanless. Only problem is: Like all Toughbooks, it's got a price tag. A considerable one.

Totally fanless. you can not get a new one only used ..
I have an X1with 16gb SSD and upgraded to 2gb of ram = no moving parts

The Dell Mini 9 is fanless I believe

twoscoreandfour wrote:The Dell Mini 9 is fanless I believe

Not according to a Dell sales guy I just chatted with online.

NoiseFreeGuy wrote:

twoscoreandfour wrote:The Dell Mini 9 is fanless I believe

Not according to a Dell sales guy I just chatted with online.

Per Anandtech, it's fanless--and they took it apart:

http://www.anandtech.com/mobile/showdoc ... =3399&p=10

I think it's the only netbook that is fanless.

It is. The only problem is non-replaceable SSD drive. Dell mini is using proprietary SSD which is nothing more than a PCB with a bunch of memory chips. It is not a standard 2.5" SSD drive. At least with my 1000h I can upgrade to SSD if the SSD prices come down in a year or two. You can't do that with Dell mini, at least not easily.

JazzJackRabbit wrote:It is. The only problem is non-replaceable SSD drive. Dell mini is using proprietary SSD which is nothing more than a PCB with a bunch of memory chips. It is not a standard 2.5" SSD drive. At least with my 1000h I can upgrade to SSD if the SSD prices come down in a year or two. You can't do that with Dell mini, at least not easily.

Not so. It's Mini PCI-E, not proprietary. Just google "runcore dell mini 9" and you'll find out all about it.

Point is you can't easily upgrade it. Yes, you can buy replacement, but primary source for these SSDs are ebay and one other store. It's much easier to upgrade 2.5" SSD.

JKK has found it very easy to upgrade Mini9 SSD:

http://jkkmobile.blogspot.com/2008/12/b ... 9-too.html

http://jkkmobile.blogspot.com/2008/12/r ... ini-9.html

I picked up an 8GB Mini9 from the Dell Outlet with the 20% off coupon for a little over $250 and it's really very nice. It's very snappy and boots in a hurry.

I upgraded the RAM to 2GB, primarily to feel better running without a pagefile, and surprisingly it's even snappier (although it ran fine without the pagefile with 1GB). Another nice upgrade is an 802.11n adapter which can be had for about $35 shipped on ebay. Now I've got a faster connection and more range.

JazzJackRabbit wrote:Point is you can't easily upgrade it.

It is extremely easy to upgrade the miniPCI express SSDs found in Dell Minis and the Asus Eee PCs. Suitable RunCore SSDs are sold by www.mydigitaldiscount.com and www.memoryc.com and they can even be connected as USB drives for easy cloning before the swap, which only involves opening a few screws. Check jkkmobile.com for RunCore SSD reviews and hands-on demos.

I also recently picked up a Mini 9 (barebones model, 512MB RAM and 4GB SSD) at the Dell Outlet w/20%. Really impressed with this laptop, especially for the price. I only recently discovered it, but the Dell Outlet has some good deals. The Ubuntu install it came with really crawled along, so I replaced it with Puppy Linux, which runs great.

The only thing that drives me nuts is the glossy surfaces they use on this and many other laptops. I'd prefer matte finishes that aren't such horrible fingerprint magnets.