David Pogue Compromises with Netbooks

Posted by | 03/28/2009 | 4 Comments

David Pogue of the New York Times has finally decided to chime in on Netbooks with a review of four different models (he asked Joann Stern of Laptop Mag which four to review)  and wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles, he’s discovered that Netbooks require you to make some compromises. His review doesn’t cover or break any new ground on the topic but he takes his compromise theme and his usual ham-handed shtick way too far for this late in the game.

Tags: ,

Category: Hardware

About the Author (Author Profile)

Warner Crocker is a professional theatre director, producer and playwright and also a Tablet PC enthusiast. He is also a Microsoft MVP for Tablet PCs. Send email to Warner.
  • Ben

    yes, because we all must have the absolutely most powerful and huge computer, car, or whatever on the market, even if we wouldn’t use half of it’s capabilities.

    if this guy really wanted to make the ‘compromise’ point, he should have also included the compromise that netbooks give you compared to smaller devices, like smart phones and MIDs. as it is, he has only done half his job–truly a man of compromise.

  • Eve

    i thought it was witty and convincing. The cramped keyboard has never been an issue for me, though, since I have very small hands. I wonder, can you really not use Photoshop or play games on them? That would be a deal breaker for me.

  • Bruce Miller

    You certainly can run Photoshop CS3 fast on netbook with 2GB RAM and fast SSD such as RunCore in Dell Mini 9. Only stumbling block is RAW Converter requires 1024×768 and won’t fit on 1200×600 screen and won’t scroll around. I’m sure there’s a work-around fitting such hard coded windows on small netbook screens. But speed overall is very fast. Many play games on the Dell Mini 9 over at MyDellMini forums.

  • http://www.justblair.co.uk Blair Thompson

    What a crock of smelly stuff this review is. Asides from being over egged, it is also inaccurate on many counts. My EEE pc 901 gets twice as long as the 3 hour maximum that he suggests. That’s in real use hours, you can get up to eight if your prepared to make “compromises”

    In fact, battery life is one of the selling points of Netbooks for me,

    The suggestion that you have to clam your hands to use the keyboard is over exaggerated somewhat as well. I can type just as quickly on my eee as I can on my 19′ laptop. It takes a little getting used to, but the small keyboard is comfortable and efficient. The 10′ notebooks have more generous items as well.

    As for photoshop. I don’t know, but I can use Paint.net Ok. I cant load more than 3 HQ photos into it, but I can only work on one at a time anyway.

    Overall 0/10 for this movie. It’s outdated, inaccurate, hammy and worst of all provided no insight at all. There are compromises to be made when using a netbook, but the author miss-reported all of them….

«
»