Why are netbook so expensive?

[thehotsung8701A]

I'm looking for a netbook to do the most basic task and watching Youtube but they are all $170 or more???

I have a bad back so carrying a gaming laptop for everyday basic task is not really an option. I also like carrying a small biker pack instead of a full size backpack.

I don't need the latest or greatest. I'll easily take any netbook that came out years ago given that they are brand new. A Netbook should not cost me much.

I don't need much storage, fast processor, light gaming, etc.... I just need a netbook that let me surf the web, watch YouTube, and documents.

 

[skriefal]

$170 is expensive??? I view that as dirt cheap. But I do see numerous cheap Android-based devices at Newegg for that price or less.

 

[thehotsung8701A]

$170 is expensive??? I view that as dirt cheap. But I do see numerous cheap Android-based devices at Newegg for that price or less.

I want to spend as little a possible. I'm also a cheapskate. Rather use that money for my potential 2K gaming PC build. Those android-base devices are awful. It either window or chromebook, but you can't even play game on chromebook right? I mean I just want to be able to play old games that you can find on gog.com. Would be awesome if I can play Baldur Gate 2 enhance HD edition though, but that the max in terms of graphics that i would need.

 

[tsupersonic]

$170, that's pretty cheap for something that is portable. I'd personally get a tablet and a BT keyboard, or even a Chromebook, if I were you. Just don't have high expectations for anything <$300, especially if you're comparing it to a modern day gaming laptop/desktop.

 

[zCypher]

$170 is not expensive for a netbook. i'd say you're expecting quite a lot if you want a netbook at less than $170 AND you want it to offer you a good gaming experience. i would not expect that even from significantly more expensive device.

 

[thehotsung8701A]

$170, that's pretty cheap for something that is portable. I'd personally get a tablet and a BT keyboard, or even a Chromebook, if I were you. Just don't have high expectations for anything <$300, especially if you're comparing it to a modern day gaming laptop/desktop.

Why would you want a chromebook over a regular window netbook other than because you get less virus and malware?

Also aren't tablet just as expensive? If not, what tablet do you recommend?

 

[fralexandr]

http://www.amazon.com/HP-Stream-Tab...F8&qid=1433812555&sr=1-2&keywords=hp+stream+7

a lot of really cheap windows tablet options if you're ok with 1GB RAM :S.

if you live near a microcenter, expandable storage via microsd and 2GB ram
http://www.microcenter.com/product/437499/tw801_tablet_-_black

 

[tsupersonic]

Why would you want a chromebook over a regular window netbook other than because you get less virus and malware?

Also aren't tablet just as expensive? If not, what tablet do you recommend?

They're (Chromebooks) relatively inexpensive, and offer good value.

Tablets can be expensive. The Nexus 7 used to be the best bang for the buck tablet out there, and the Nexus 9 isn't that. In terms of portability, they can't be beat for basic tasks. Pair a BT keyboard, and you're pretty set.

The HP Stream and Dell Venue Pro are decent options.

 

[thehotsung8701A]

They're (Chromebooks) relatively inexpensive, and offer good value.

Tablets can be expensive. The Nexus 7 used to be the best bang for the buck tablet out there, and the Nexus 9 isn't that. In terms of portability, they can't be beat for basic tasks. Pair a BT keyboard, and you're pretty set.

The HP Stream and Dell Venue Pro are decent options.

I'm looking at the HP Stream 11 and it the same price as the chromebook, so there no reason to go chromebook when I can play old GOG game on the HP Stream as well. Though I know I have to spend at least 3 hours removing all the bloatware on the HP Stream 11. Also why go with SSD instead of HD when HD can net you up to 500 gb?

 

[tsupersonic]

I'm looking at the HP Stream 11 and it the same price as the chromebook, so there no reason to go chromebook when I can play old GOG game on the HP Stream as well. Though I know I have to spend at least 3 hours removing all the bloatware on the HP Stream 11. Also why go with SSD instead of HD when HD can net you up to 500 gb?

If you get the signature edition, there won't be any bloatware. I don't think there is a true tablet on the market with a HDD, so the majority of them have SSD's. SSD's are way faster, quieter, cooler, tend to be more efficient for battery life.

 

[fralexandr]

SSDs use less power and can be smaller than HDDs, both important factors in portable devices (that HDD adds an extra ~5-10W on a platform that probably uses <20W full load, and <10W idling/browsing/etc).

A lot of the budget mobile devices use rather slow eMMC, which negates most of the performance benefits of typical desktop SSDs, though they should still be a bit more responsive than HDDs regarding small/random read/writes, especially considering cheap devices tend to use 5400rpm disks.

 

[thehotsung8701A]

If you get the signature edition, there won't be any bloatware. I don't think there is a true tablet on the market with a HDD, so the majority of them have SSD's. SSD's are way faster, quieter, cooler, tend to be more efficient for battery life.

So I can always hook up my external portable hard drive and run games from there right?

Signature edition for the Stream 11? Do you have link, don't see any on Amazon.

Thanks

 

[fralexandr]

http://www.amazon.com/HP-Stream-11-...433815852&sr=8-1&keywords=stream+11+signature

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store...ode=39-52414296-2&WT.mc_id=US_datafeed_Google
cheaper on microsoft store if you're ok with pink/magenta

 

[thehotsung8701A]

http://www.amazon.com/HP-Stream-11-...433815852&sr=8-1&keywords=stream+11+signature

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store...ode=39-52414296-2&WT.mc_id=US_datafeed_Google
cheaper on microsoft store if you're ok with pink/magenta

Cool thanks

It $30 more just to get rid of bloatware? I don't trust HP or Microsoft about that but good to know it exist.

I don't mind Pink/Magenta at all, but I think it look better in blue with the different bottom tint.

 

[thehotsung8701A]

Alright thanks guys.

Look like I'll be going with the HP Stream 11 signature in pink even though I prefer blue this time around.

Really hate how my gaming laptop for not gaming purposes only last 1 hour and 45 minutes. Now that it old it last like 50 minutes without charger. That just sad.

 

[sm625]

The screen, battery, mainboard, storage device, chassis, and cpu, all have a minimum cost that is around $25. So even at zero profit for the manufacturer you're looking at $150 minimum for a notebook. No way around it.

 

[thehotsung8701A]

The screen, battery, mainboard, storage device, chassis, and cpu, all have a minimum cost that is around $25. So even at zero profit for the manufacturer you're looking at $150 minimum for a notebook. No way around it.

Thank you for that info, I did not know that :thumbsup:

Also I think I'm only paying $105 since it come with office 365 for 1 year ($70) and 1 TB of cloud storage along with $25 window store gift card. All-in-all not so bad.

My back will thank me that for sure.

 

[ninaholic37]

Yeah, I remember around 2011-12 almost everyone stopped making netbooks because the "margins" weren't good enough. They started around $400 around 2008 then fluctuated around $200-250 after a few years, then disappeared, then they sort of came back with Windows 8 when "touchscreen" was a thing but always for around $300-350. It wasn't until last year I think when things like the HP Stream brought the price lower again, possibly to match Chromebooks, I don't think I ever saw a netbook that was new under $199 before that here. Only way to get them under $100 would be to find someone selling a used one I think (most likely from a person who owned it and not through a company / middleman).

 

[thehotsung8701A]

Yeah, I remember around 2011-12 almost everyone stopped making netbooks because the "margins" weren't good enough. They started around $400 around 2008 then fluctuated around $200-250 after a few years, then disappeared, then they sort of came back with Windows 8 when "touchscreen" was a thing but always for around $300-350. It wasn't until last year I think when things like the HP Stream brought the price lower again, possibly to match Chromebooks, I don't think I ever saw a netbook that was new under $199 before that here. Only way to get them under $100 would be to find someone selling a used one I think (most likely from a person who owned it and not through a company / middleman).

Hey thanks for the input. I finally got my HP Stream 11 today in Magneta Pink and it look awesome! A real manly purple/pink color combination. Actually there is 3 different color on this thing. Haven't boot it up yet since I'm going to charge it before turning it on. Nothing to complain regarding it look, it HP so it will always look good compare to ASUS and other brand.