Searching for the perfect netbook

[Satoshi]

Hey, guys


I've been wanting to buy me a netbook. I will use it in college, during classes, for browsing, programming, music and text processing. These are some of the features I'm looking for (I do understand that it's nigh impossible to get them all, but I'm looking for one that has the most of them):

* Portability (at least 6-hour battery life, light, small, etc)
* Matte casing (I really hate the glossy fingerprint magnets)
* 4GB+ RAM (this is one of the hardest ones to find, I know, and I probably WON'T find one like that)
* Matte screen (I'll use this in irregularly illuminated and outside areas)
* Good resolution screen (720p+ is a must)
* FullHD video playback (that is, a decent GPU that is well supported in Linux, preferably one that has KMS and relatively good 3D capabilities for fancy desktop effects )
* Silent keyboard (I'll use this during classes and lectures, so I really can't have clicky and loud keyboard)
* Decent but energy-efficient processor
* 250GB+ HD or 64GB+ SSD (although a 128GB one is a LOT better, since I've got about 100GB in music collections alone). HD and SSD is an even better combination
* Generally silent netbook (again, I'll be using this during classes and the less noise it makes, the more likely is the teacher won't mind me using it instead of paper and pencil)
* Obvious item: Linux support, SPECIALLY good support to connecting to a second display, since I will use that a lot for college assignments

Again, I know it's probably impossible to find one that has all that, but I can try to find the one that comes closest. Some of those characteristics are, obviously, more important than others: I'd take a 500GB HD over matte casing, HD playback over silent keyboard, etc...

I had found what I thought was almost perfect, the Asus EeePC 1215N, but then I found out that ION2 graphics aren't supported, plus some other small things that I disliked (glossy screen and lousy loud keyboard, according to reviews). That made it unsuitable for me. I know that rudimentary support for hybrid VGA does exist, but I really want something that works out of the box as much as possible.


I also found the MSI U270 and it does look great, and, despite some details, like the glossiness, it's the closest one I found to what I want. Problem is: it is not being sold yet, and will probably cost me an arm and a leg. Also, I'm not sure how the Radeon behaves under Linux.

So, what do you guys think/recommend? Do you have a netbook that works beautifully under Linux? Share your experience! I'm looking for as much information as I can get to make an informed decision and have no regrets.

Right now my best bet is the Asus EeePC 1215T. What do you guys think of it? I'm afraid Linux won't support stuff like wifi and the FN-keys.

[DONAHUE]

Available now:
Sony VAIO YB Series 11.6-inch ~500-550US$
HP Pavilion DM1Z ~400-450
I'd wait for msi because of
price versus sony (a guess)
reliability/support versus HP.
I'd like to see the E-350 in a 10 inch.
Some posts here suggest kernel is not quite e-350/c-50 ready.
Disclaimer: I own neither.
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[Hypnos]

Are you only interested in a netbook, or would you consider moving up to an ultraportable (e.g., a 12" or 13" screen)? If the latter, consider my posts in this thread.
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[Satoshi]

[Hypnos]

The X301, X201 and the System76 Lemur are each ~1.5kg -- this is more than most netbooks, but considerably less than most laptops.

If you can avoid carrying the power supply that saves a lot of weight. The X301 with both batteries and X201 with the extended battery can both last a full day; don't know about the Lemur.
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[Satoshi]