Hi Guys! Welcome back.
After saving up for a couple months, I was finally able to by a Netbook. It's an ASUS Eee something-or-other... I can't quite remember the numbers that follow... Excuse my lack of brain function...
It's a really cool little thing. It makes it easy for people like me to write anywhere. People like me being people who have terrible handwriting and prefer typing! I just downloaded Q10 and yWriter5 on it, so now I'm really ready prepare for November.
But I was just wondering, who else out there will be writing their Nano on a netbook? If you are, what do YOU like best about it?
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"Writing is the only thing that, when I do it, I don't feel I should be doing something else."
-Gloria Steinem
3,370 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 08 35
Me. This will be my second year doing NaNo on an Acer Aspire One (9" Windows XP version). What I like best is the ability to slip it into my regular purse and go write anywhere I like during my lunch hour. No cords, no worrying about electrical outlet availability, no ugly/bulky bags, no fuss.
45,063 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 08 45
Me!!! I just got a Dell Inspiron Mini 10 (long name!) in July and I am SOO excited to do my third NaNo with it. I typically handwrite everything, but NaNo seems to just go smoother on a keyboard, with access to the forums XD and there is no scurrying to type up the written parts in time for anything.
----------"My doctor says that I have a malformed public duty gland and a natural deficiency in moral fiber and I am therefore excused from saving universes."
_______________________________
2007: LONGA VIA - 50,057
2008: Tattoos and Dandelions - 51,252
2009:
22,002 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 08 49
Me too. I have a 10" Samsung NC10 running Windows XP, which has a really good battery life. I'll probably be doing a fair amount of my NaNovel on it, since it's light enough to put in my bag and carry around with me. I have a separate case for it, which holds mice, earphones, power cords etc., but if I can leave it at home, I do. No point carrying extra junk if it's not entirely necessary.
----------57,492 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 09 23
I have the 10" Eeepc 1005HA, and I love it to death. 120gb HDD, 2gb RAM (hacked), Windows XP (though I'm debating switching to something else). I love the keyboard on it, and I've been writing like crazy since I got it. It's going to help so much this year. :-D
----------0 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 09 27
After saving up for a couple months, I was finally able to by a Netbook. It's an ASUS Eee something-or-other...
Sorry about that blaring typo, guys! It should be *buy* ...
Whoops! =D
Netbooks galore! It's great to see so many people using them.
----------"Writing is the only thing that, when I do it, I don't feel I should be doing something else."
-Gloria Steinem
33,441 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 09 56
Acer Aspire One ZG5 here. 8GB SSD, 512MB RAM (Soon to get an extra GB).
I replaced the default Linpus Linux with Ubuntu Netbook Remix because it felt like Acer were hellbent on locking the user out of everything but the basics. All fine and well if they were looking compete against VTech (A couple of people at work have been getting Linux AAOs for their kids), but for me it just didn't cut it, so out with that and in with UNR! :D
Only gripes with the thing is that the SSD is atrociously slow, it's a bit of a bugger to keep clean (white model + general muck = bleh) and the sound needed a bit of fiddling with to stop the speakers clicking, but other than that, I love it. Total flipping lifesaver a few months ago moving house and whenever the router decides to play up (I can't exactly haul the main rig down the stairs every time that happens). Among other handy uses. Like writing. Or playing Beneath a Steel Sky. :P
----------2009 - Annika Travis
59,831 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 11 40
I have a Dell Inspiron Mini 10 .
I love it. I used it for a July Nano type thing, and typed 46k on it. And I was barely trying (because it really wasn't nano). I have wrote some on it since then, but not as much.
Before I bought this I looked at a few and decided I needed a larger keyboard then a 9 inch, although it might have worked. I "typed" on a few to see how the keyboards would feel. I also made sure this keyboard had the correct positioning of keys (the Dell 9 does not, but others have said it's doable).
Mine doesn't have the longest battery life, but I mostly use it at home and can bring it with me if I need to. And that's all I needed.
I just needed something to write on and surf the web. So nothing expensive. My last laptop, I think I did not use 90% of the programs. This works out perfectly.
Can't wait to do November Nano on this!
3,370 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 11 53
I hear you, Debbi! All I wanted when I bought my netbook was the ability to write, surf, and play a few simple games. I didn't want a 17" wide, 10-pound behemoth that I needed a piece of wheeled luggage in order to carry comfortably. Why spend $2,500 when all the functionality you need is available for $250?
37,532 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 12 21
When I was in Japan I went to Akihabara and picked up a used, Japanese Eee PC for about $180 US. Unfortunately, it won't be participating in NaNo because 1) it's at my mom's house right now, half an ocean + half a continent away, 2) it's just too small for me type on, though I've tried, and 3) my Alphasmart Dana's got portability covered already.
Maybe next year, Mini-Me.
20,000 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 12 36
Oh yeah, Netbooks are incredibly convenient! I've been using mine for a while now and it's ready for the 50 k challenge (I hope!)
I can take it to effing Starbucks or... the BUS STOP or anywhere... mine's got a waterproof cover. Fool proof XD
I'm only using an old MS Word but it sure beats the ol' desktop.
>_<
----------~ I write stories on my roof~
6,859 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 13 00
I may well be getting one sometime soon.
I'm really really hoping that happens before the start of NaNo, otherwise I'll have to share the home computer with my gamer sister.
66,009 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 13 30
That sounds nice. I, however, would look funny carrying my Acer Aspire One in a regular purse since I am a guy. They should make small bags, the size of purses, for men to carry things in. Until then, I need to carry my backpack.
33,152 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 13 31
I have been considering the purchase. I have two laptops, but both need to be plugged into a monitor because they both have screen issues. So makes them NOT portable. LOL
----------My daughter writes her NaNo novel on her alphasmart that we bought her two years ago and it has been awesome. I was thinking about getting a Netbook, but my only concern was about how well I'd be able to type. I'm definitely thinking this might be a purchase before November. Plus, I've been wanting to get a netbook for my two high schoolers, and thought maybe if I had one, I could see how well it would work for them. Probably pretty good. ;)
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66,009 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 13 37
I bought an Acer Aspire one last February and used it for a creative writing course. I have never used my Acer at NaNoWriMo yet. I am not sure if I should use it this year or not. The last two nano-novels I wrote--winners both--I wrote on my Alphasmart Dana? What do y'all think? Should I break with tradition and get with the times? Most of the other Dana people in my region switched to netbooks and I have been using my Acer Aspire One for the pre-nano spin up, but what about actual novel writing? How does it do for you?
55,558 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 13 50
I did (and won) my last NaNoWriMo almost entirely on a netbook. She is an Acer Aspire One which I installed Xubuntu Linux on. The issue I had with it was the touchpad. Typing works surprisingly good, but for any kind of mousing aroundI needed an external input device. In my case, it was a trackball which my NaNoWriMo group nicknamed 'Ratte' (rat) for being far bigger than a mouse.
----------'8: Interface Culture - Selbst die Zukunft ist nicht mehr das was sie einmal war (won!)
'9: Ytin'he'ny - those who are changed
Bottles of Coke: 18 (29.5 liters)
Bags of crisps: 7 (705g)
Back up your novel, now!
40,148 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 14 29
I won't be doing the whole thing on my Acer Aspire One, but I'll be using it for extra sessions at lunchtime at work, in the library, the coffee house etc. I got used to the small keyboard very quickly. I think I actually prefer small keyboards. I make a few more typos than I would on my main laptop, but hell, I'm a crappy typist on either! Still seem to manage ti get there.
0 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 15 24
My dad got me an ASUS EeePC (I think a 900 or 910 model; not sure) for my birthday in May. And I LOVE it. Only issue I've got is how they partitioned the 12gb hard drive, with only 4gb on the C and the rest on the D; with programs that only let you install onto C drive, it's difficult to have very many programs on it. I think once my warranty is out, I'll have a friend pop it open and put in a bigger hard drive. I really want to be able to use my Dragon Naturally Speaking software, but there's just not enough disk space to run it (and unfortunately it won't run on my PC because of some weird requirement that wasn't even listed on the box, and I couldn't take it back for a refund because I'd already opened it... grrr).
It took a bit getting used to the smaller keyboard, but I used this free little typing practice program called Stamina that I'd already been using on my PC, and it helped me get used to the small keyboard. I got so used to it, in fact, that once I finally got my PC up and running again after having it packed and then at the shop for repair, I had to get used to the huge keyboard again! LOL
The battery life isn't too bad, but I tend to just carry my power brick with me and use that most of the time, since I'm usually just on campus.
I'm looking forward to utilizing my fun little netbook for NaNo. Maybe I'll get more writing done this year because I'll always have a computer at hand (since I just can't seem to write as much in longhand).
I need to come up with a name for my netbook... It's black, so I'm thinking I may call it Severus, or perhaps The Master...
Joy
48,263 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 15 30
eeepc 900a running Linux Mint., It's last year model so only 4gb HD but I have plenty of SD cards for my writing.
I take it to work with me. Fits in my little locker and in my purse. I love it.
----------http://therathskellar.blogspot.com
25,674 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 15 49
I just got my Dell Inspiron Mini 10v last week and so far, I love it!! It's got a 160 GB hard drive which is more than enough space for all the programs and files I've put on it so far. The screen is great and so is the keyboard. I'm running Windows XP, rather than Ubuntu. I use a lot of open source software because I don't have an external optical drive, so I'm using OpenOffice (which is remarkably like MS office) and Q10 (which I LOVE!!). I got it with a 6-cell battery, which is a little more bulky, but with the right settings I get 6.5 hours battery life. Still, the plug is small and not difficult to carry around, so even when I want battery power, I can get it fairly easily without a huge bulky ac adapter that a lot of laptops have.
My only problem with it so far is that it's so great for things like tweetdeck and firefox, I can't seem to stay away from the net! Thank goodness for programs like Q10!! I'm a college student, so this will be great in November when I'm on campus. I'll be able to write between classes, on my lunch break, or during class (shhh!!!). :)
Fantastic little machine!! I love how stylish it is (it's red!!!) and how easy it is to carry around with me wherever I go. I take it places I would never have taken my old laptop!!
----------33,001 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 16 24
I also have a dell inspirion 10v, and it is PINK! (which makes it special!). one of the main reasons I got it (for my birthday 2 weeks ago) was for nanowrimo as I hope to be swanning into cafés and tapping away with less distraction. I think it will really benefit the way I write this year, especially as my region had good weekly meets this year and if will be perfect for live word wars.
----------http://beccalicious.deviantart.com/
Winner 2008
33,001 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 16 26
stupid double posting.
----------http://beccalicious.deviantart.com/
Winner 2008
35,000 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 19 10
+1 to the eee pc category, a 1000h in my case w/ a fancy upgraded 250gb hard drive (80gb was /so/ not enough) and a schmancy easy peasy linux (formerly eeebuntu). this'll be my second nano with it, so in between a 20 page term paper and finally graduating, i'm hoping i may be able to slip in 50k words, if only i take my laptop with me EVERYWHERE.
...
yeah, we'll see.
----------http://www.notuboc.com/
10,351 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 20 24
Last year I wrote my NaNo (and won) using an original Eee PC. I would go write out of the house with it, and when I was home I would occasionally hook it up to an external monitor and keyboard, which was nice.
However, it wasn't fast enough for my computer tinkering self and I kind of hated the built-in keyboard, so I sold it to a friend in April and bought a Dell Mini 9, which I absolutely love! I hacked mine to run Mac OS X, because I am a huge Apple geek girl, and it runs like a dream. I have owned many computers, and this one is my favorite hands down.
I would have gladly purchased an Apple netbook if they existed. But sadly, Apple doesn't seem to care for the idea of netbooks much, and the often-rumored Apple Tablet has not come out yet, so I had to improvise and I am SO glad I did. The screen is great, the keyboard is infinitely more usable than the Eee PC's, and I get great battery life. I take it with me almost everywhere.
----------twitter.com/jfritsche
24,420 / 50,000
Oct 2, 2009 - 23 15
I would have gladly purchased an Apple netbook if they existed. But sadly, Apple doesn't seem to care for the idea of netbooks much, and the often-rumored Apple Tablet has not come out yet, so I had to improvise and I am SO glad I did. The screen is great, the keyboard is infinitely more usable than the Eee PC's, and I get great battery life. I take it with me almost everywhere.
I would have got an Apple netbook if they existed! I've got an Eee Pc 900HA, which I bought earlier this year. I am not using it for the majority of my writing, I much prefer my Macbook, but it is good for going out places, like write-ins!
----------Sunset Reflective - nano 2008 - win (51588 words)
Daisy Chain - nano 2009
33,152 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2009 - 10 28
Talk about impulse buy. I was at the store today, decided to look at the Netbooks since I had been considering one, and I am now sitting here staring at my brand new Acer Aspire One. It's definitely different than my normal laptop, but I love the extremely light portability of it. I see this thing going everywhere with me. We'll see, but it is definitely the new NaNo technology for me this year!!
I have joined the Netbook world officially.
----------My Writing Blog
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2,344 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2009 - 12 08
I lurve my Asus Eee PC 1000HE.
----------a day without sunshine is like, night.
76,944 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2009 - 13 10
I have an Asus Eee PC too ! Just bought it yesterday, and I love it !
----------NaNo 09 : Attends et tu verras [Literary Fiction, 57k+, Terminé]
Trench-Coat Dude [Science-Fiction, for fun and boosting wordcount]
40,212 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2009 - 13 31
I've got an Asus Eee PC 900HD and it's my main computer. It may be tiny, but with its 160GB hard drive and $250 price tag, it's perfect for me. I actually type faster on it than I do on a normal keyboard. I will definitely be using it for my novel this year, as I can take it wherever I want.
----------Characters Killed: 1
Rolls of Duct Tape Procrastinated With: 12
Days Without Writing: 4
59,831 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2009 - 14 43
simplywriting , you may want to see if you have stores by you where you can try them out. That's what I did before my purchase of my Dell Mini 10. I got to see the screens on various sizes and the keyboards. Decided I prefered the 10 inch keyboard (mine is actually a bit longer). You might find for teens that they prefer the smaller ones, easier to carry and if they do have smaller or skinnier fingers it wouldn't be too hard. I thought I probably could get use to a 9 inch keyboard, but decided on the larger one. Also mine has a boarder around the screen, which I wasn't sure about, but it prevents finger prints on the screen when I open it up or move it around (sometimes I watch movies while laying in bed and have to adjust it just right). Oh, i convert my movies on my work computer and put them on a flash stick (they are my movies and I only watch them one at a time--of course). But that's a benefit to kids, no dvd drive to watch a movie when they should be doing homework.
Yes the internet can be a distraction, but it's easy enough to not go on there. Either give yourself a minimum of words or time of writing then go on the internet. That's what I did in July.
But think about it, do some research, and then decide. That's what I did. Even at only $300-$400 (my budget for a netbook) I wanted to make sure I got a decent one. So far so good.
29,676 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2009 - 16 37
I have an Acer Aspire One, which has a surprisingly sizable keyboard. It's wonderful. It's only slightly bigger and heavier than my moleskine sketchbook.
I'll be writing my nano on my Acer, using Open Office.