Fire in the Foxhole

where everything happens unconsciously. 
Filed under

netbook

 

Sold my netbook.

Well, by definition it's not really a netbook, but what the heck, it's small.

In fact, the problem was its smallness.

I bought this Acer Aspire 1410 about a month ago to see if this kind
of "light" machine can be a handy typewriter when I feel like writing
something, or have to do some ad hoc work thrown by my clients when I
am away from the desk and without my main computer around.

For this purpose, I installed two systems (Windows 7 and Ubuntu Linux)
to see which one fits the job description. By the way, I chose this
computer mainly for its relatively large keyboard. Despite its
11.6-inch screen, the chiclet-style keyboard is almost as large as my
17-in MacBook Pro's; it's easy to type and it responded well, and
force feedback was adequate. I can type nearly as fast as I can on the
MacBook Pro.

Nice wasn't it?

Unfortunately I found something annoying after an extended period of
use. Since I have a relatively large build among Oriental people (similar to
American football players versus average Westerners), I have to cramp
my shoulders to place my hands correctly on the right-sized keyboard
(as opposed to the micro keyboards on typical netbooks). After two
hours, my shoulders began to get sore and later they just had spasm.
Sad.

A minor reason too: no matter how easy-to-use it was, it's still a
Celeron-based (well, better than Atom) PC. Though I could make it to
work like every PC I've had before, it still took a considerable amount of
time to tweak, optimize and to clean up the odds and ends.

It's sold for around $600 here, and it's indeed a decent performer in
terms of its price and size, but it's not for me. Now I'd seriously
consider a MacBook Air or 13-in MacBook Pro as my "tote computer"
despite their significantly higher price. I am working as a consultant, my time (and physical health) costs something and the bill
shows.

I wish my "Lil' Red" (as I've called it affectionately) works better for its new owner, a
lady friend of mine, and I can be smarter when choosing my next
netbook (or tablet, or laptop, whatever).

Filed under  //   netbook   ubuntu   windows  

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