Tom's Hardware > Forum > Laptops & Notebooks > General Laptops & Notebooks > Looking to buy a netbook, but should I wait for the 9400m?

Looking to buy a netbook, but should I wait for the 9400m?

Forum Laptops & Notebooks : General Laptops & Notebooks - Looking to buy a netbook, but should I wait for the 9400m?

Tom's Hardware: Over 1.4 million members in 6 different countries available to answer all your high-tech questions. Sign up now! Its free!
Word :    Username :           
 

I want to get a netbook first and foremost for it's portability. I have a decent desktop to do my heavy gaming, photoshop work and other gpu heavy projects, however I find it difficult to fit my tower in my backpack to go to school.

 

Thus my friend subliminally influenced me to purchase a netbook. My favorite so far is this MSI: http://www.amazon.com/MSI-U100-432 [...] 41966&s=pc

 


The it's high points for me are:

 

- WINDOWS XP
- Relatively long battery life (~6 hours)
- Small and extremely portable
- Typeable keyboard (tried out a similar keyboard at fries)
- Card reader
- 3 USB ports (i have a natural aversion to touchpads, so i will use a usb mouse
- Plays 720p .wmv hd videos at 40% CPU usage

 

My concerns are:

 

- The imfamous intel 950 integrated graphics

 


Should I wait for the geforce 9400m to come out? Will it drive the price up by much? How much will my photoshop capabilities be crippled by the 950?

 

Additional Info:

 

1_What is your budget?
< $400 (may consider up to 450)

 

2_What is the size of the notebook that you are considering? At least 10" netbook, preferably 3lbs or lighter.

 

3_What screen resolution do you want?
At least 1024 width.

 

4_Do you need a portable or desktop replacement laptop?
No, I just want a little something to take with me to school.

 

5_How much battery life do you need?
Preferably > 3hrs

 

6_Do you want to play games with your laptop? If so then please list the games that you want to with the settings that you want for these games. (Low,Medium or High)?
The only games I might install on my laptop would be the old classics that no longer run on vista (ie icewind dale / pools of radiance; and morrowind if it'll run (not required though!)

 

7_What other tasks do you want to do with your laptop? (Photo / Video editing, surfing the web, playing music, watching movies, Etc.)
Minor photoshop work, viewing divx movies, occasional TV out viewing. I'll mostly be writing, viewing webpages, and listening to music.

 

8_How much storage (H.D.D Capacity) do you need?
Preferably >= 120gb

 

9_If you are considering specific sites to buy from, please post the links to them.
I'd prefer Amazon, or any site not based in California (Since the tax increase I refuse to play taxes to California, when possible)

 

10_How long do you want to keep your laptop?
3+ years

 

11_If you would like to mention some other things about purchasing your ideal laptop, post them.
Webcam is an amusing addition, though I doubt I'll use it much. If I do, will the integrated intel GMA ruin it's performance?

 

12_Please tell us about the brands that you prefer to buy from them and the brands that you don't like and explain the reasons.
I Like MSI, ASUS, and, ACER. I prefer to avoid Dell and HP due to bad experiences (products and customer service). I'd like what I've heard about MSI's customer support which is why I've settled on the MSI for now. <Awaiting second opinion ^_^>

 

13_What country do you live in?
US of A

 

Thanks everyone!


Message edited by Akashio on 04-20-2009 at 11:55:06 PM
Sponsored Links
Register or log in to remove.
Tom's Hardware > Forum > Laptops & Notebooks > General Laptops & Notebooks > Looking to buy a netbook, but should I wait for the 9400m?
Go to:

There are 1121 identified and unidentified users. To see the list of identified users, Click here.

Please mind

You are about to answer a thread that has been inactive for more than 6 months.
If you still wish to proceed, please ensure that your posting is original and does not duplicate or overlap any prior responses to this thread.

Add a reply Cancel
Sponsored links
  • Ask the community now
  • Publish
Ad
They won a badge
Join us in greeting them
  • 01:00 ifko_pifko won the Freshman badge
  • 01:00 Riser won the Spy badge
  • 01:00 spud won the Spy badge
  • 13:27 evongugg won the Sophmore badge
  • 01:00 gtvr won the Freshman badge
  • 01:00 Tech30 won the Freshman badge
  • 01:00 batuchka won the Freshman badge
  • 01:00 copfrance won the Freshman badge
  • 11:24 2shea won the Sophmore badge
  • 01:00 alexreynolds won the Freshman badge