4 ms·

I just ordered my first netbook yesterday. The main feature? It's disposable. My main laptop is a Macbook Pro. It cost €1400. The netbook I ordered cost €1

by wheels 15y ago

I just ordered my first netbook yesterday. The main feature? It's disposable. My main laptop is a Macbook Pro. It cost €1400. The netbook I ordered cost €136 (used). I have a cheap cell phone because I lose my phone at least once a year. There are situations where I'm uncomfortable dragging along my main expensive laptop because it's major suckage if it get lost / stolen / damaged. The netbook, with its 9.5 hour battery, combined with my mobile broadband (with tethering), makes it fine to throw in the backpack when going camping for the weekend (as I'll be doing next weekend). In a pinch if I need to write a few mails or SSH into a server to check something out, I'm covered. On the other hand, I won't cry very long if the thing gets trashed.

Auguste 15y ago
The fact they are so disposable makes them great for travel or university/school. I've used an Eee PC as a secondary computer ever since they came out about 4 years ago. Do I care if it gets stolen or breaks? Not really. With TrueCrypt and Dropbox, my data is safe and I'm only down ~$300 AUD.
- pasbesoin 15y ago
  If you have to travel in/out of the U.S. or another jurisdiction known for aggressive examination/confiscation, all the more so. Or, just have what you need on a server, buy a netbook at the destination, wipe it and give it to someone when you depart. (Be mindful of the limitations of particularly but not only SSD wipes. Better to start off use with encryption in place; any sacrificed blocks will be useless without the key.) When the prices are low enough, this can be affordable, if not enjoyable. I don't have particular secrets to hide, myself, but I don't like the idea of "gubmint" freely rummaging through whatever it will. And when are data are aggregated, we all have secrets. (E.g. insurance coverage or employment denial because of family medical history or crazy Uncle Joey or whatever.)

by wheels 15y ago

Auguste 15y ago

The fact they are so disposable makes them great for travel or university/school. I've used an Eee PC as a secondary computer ever since they came out about 4 years ago. Do I care if it gets stolen or breaks? Not really. With TrueCrypt and Dropbox, my data is safe and I'm only down ~$300 AUD.

pasbesoin 15y ago
If you have to travel in/out of the U.S. or another jurisdiction known for aggressive examination/confiscation, all the more so. Or, just have what you need on a server, buy a netbook at the destination, wipe it and give it to someone when you depart. (Be mindful of the limitations of particularly but not only SSD wipes. Better to start off use with encryption in place; any sacrificed blocks will be useless without the key.) When the prices are low enough, this can be affordable, if not enjoyable. I don't have particular secrets to hide, myself, but I don't like the idea of "gubmint" freely rummaging through whatever it will. And when are data are aggregated, we all have secrets. (E.g. insurance coverage or employment denial because of family medical history or crazy Uncle Joey or whatever.)