I might be in the market for a mini-laptop. I hadn't previously considered the things to be useful at all, but basically I have been using Parallels on Mac to play visual novels, but some games are jerky through that (I have tried VMware too, same problems there.)

So I want to get a small Windows machine, ideally something more portable so that I don't get discouraged from carrying it like what happens with my MBP. VNs are generally not heavy on the graphics, so I started to think that something like an eeePC might work.

So it seems like what I want is a Windows machine which can be set to Japanese, run at 800x600+ resolution and be as light as possible.

I have identified two candidates so far:

• ASUS eeePC : first glance this appeared to be a good option, but is the screen resolution still (something) x 480? If so, damn. There are already a few games around which require minimum 800x600, which would shaft this option unless I go through the route of using a downscaling driver (and I'm not keen.)

• HP Mini : [way] more expensive, but appears to be closer to what I need with the somewhat higher screen res and better (on paper) battery. It looks better too. Possible downside is that eee appears to have greater popularity. I don't really care so much about it, but when it comes to interesting hacks, clearly the more popular system will have the more interesting ones as time progresses.

Anyway, what I really want to know is:

1. Are there any options I have forgotten?
2. Does anyone have direct experience with games on these, and issues relating to the strange screen resolutions typical of this sort of device?

> # Are there any options I have forgotten?

http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/laptop-inspiron-9 ?
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=8198552921644608896&parentCategoryId=16154 ?

IMO HP mini have the best keyboard out of all the netbooks out there.

I'm hearing a lot of good stuff about the keyboard and the display on the HP. The only downsides I have come up with for them is that their unit is slightly heavier (actually 33%) than most of the others, and that a new one (2140) is coming out soon which might mean I have to wait a bit. In all other ways they look better by a mile.

I have discovered a whole range of devices sitting between the two, from Acer, Dell (that one >>2 linked), MSI, Toshiba, and another whose name is escaping me. All these ones seem to sit between the eeePC range and the HP Minis, and have standardised on 1024x600 resolution.

I would go with Toshiba in a snap except this particular device seems a little lacklustre for them.

There are more powerful options above the Mini... tablet PCs you can get for >$2000 which are superior in every way except the price. Some of Fujitsu's stuff is pretty sexy in particular. But the cost... it's not that I don't have the cash, but more than I'm not sure how to justify doubling the price just to add a second core to the CPU and a tablet touchscreen. Though admittedly, I could then use it to take class notes, so it would become a dual purpose device.

Sigh.

Captcha: roge (put an e on the front.)

the MSI Wind is great. really. (but get one with a six-cell battery, the three-cell one kind of sucks and its quite hard to get hold of official ones seperately from the laptop)

I'm poor, really need a working laptop for art purposes [perhaps a 2-year+ old Macbook ':) ] and probably will receive one with college enrollment. I can't seem to find used Macs or stand-out options, HELP!

>>6
just buy a dell for $300 and install OS X on it.

what about Acer Aspire One?

>>8

Negative on the Acer.

>>7
NO.

>>6
if you're still about, get an MSI Wind and install OS X on that. it's supposed to be the easiest one to macify, and its a good all-around netbook (6 cell battery is a must though), i'm sure you can find more info on google.