The Apple Netbook Part 2: Doing the Unmentionable, Buying a PC

This is Part 2 in my series to get an Apple netbook running for under $500. Please see Part 1 for my logic and reasoning to take on this experiment for the community. I have never bought a PC before, only Macs. The Macs I have bought have come from many sources from school computer stores to Macconnection, Amazon to the Apple store. So it was with some trepidation that I stepped into huge minefield that is called PCs. So many choices! So many variables! I have to admit it was all pretty exciting. I felt unshackled from the buying experience that is Apple where you only have a few choices. Sure you can upgrade or downgrade within those choices. But the line is pretty simple to understand, particularly in these post-Performa days. You got your Mac tower, you Mac mini, your Macbook and your Macbook Pro.

Simple.

Even the relatively small segment of Netbooks has a bunch of manufactures some I had heard of some I hadn't. Asus, Dell, MSI, HP, Lenovo and some others. All of them have pretty similar specs; powered by the Intel Atom processor, typically coming with a gig of ram and either a regular laptop hard drive or a solid state drive.

Now it was decision time. Bear with me as I go through the pros and cons of each Netbook

Dell Mini 9:

Pros:

- I like the counter-Apple aspect of the fact its a Dell. Dude its a Dell rings through my ears as I think of the irony of getting a Dell to put OS X on.

- I like the fact I can order the Dell without having to buy Windows. Dell offers Ubuntu as an option purchase which shaves off about $49.

- The build of the Mini is quite nice compared to the other machines.

- Dell appears to have the most seamless way to install OS X, along with the MSI Wind

Cons:

- Dude, its a Dell!

- The mini only comes with a solid state drive, 4GB is the default. And going up to 8 or 16 GB gets expensive (that is, relative to this experiment).

- In true Dell fashion everything can be customized, webcam, ram, etc, but it gets pricey.

- I just can hardly stomach actually buying a Dell.

MSI Wind:

Pros:

- Never heard of them but I believe they, along with Asus, started this whole Netbook thing, I kind of like the idea of supporting them.

- Like the Dell, the MSI Wind is supposed to be a snap to install OS X on. It has become the default Netbook for Hackintosh

Cons:

- The mouse clicker is absolutely horrific. It is tapered along the edge of the laptop and, while I have pretty small hands, I cannot see clicking the damn thing.

- Kind of pricey compared to other Netbooks. And by pricey I mean in the 400-450 range.

- Never heard of them.

- Comes with Windows only.

Acer Aspire One:

Pros:

- Cheap, really cheap, you can find one for $299 with a 120 gig HD, 1 Gig of ram, webcam, and wifi.

- Small and light, they typify Netbooks

Cons:

- Apparently it is a little harder to install OS X on.

- Come with Windows only.

HP 1000:

Pros:

- Nice quality build (although the mouse clicker stinks)

- HP, I think they make good stuff?

Cons:

- Hard to find below $400

Asus:

Pros:

- They started the whole Netbook revolution, so supporting them seems like a good idea.

- OS X has a good track record on the device.

Cons:

- Crappy design and build. Keyboard is horrible.

- They make so many it is kind of hard to keep track of features when shopping.

So where did I end up? It may not have been the most compatible decision but I couldn't help going with the Acer Aspire One for $299. Specs were 1GB ram, Atom processor, 120 Gig hard drive, built in webcam and wifi. Can't beat that! I know that the install steps will be a little more painful but the idea of getting a working Mac Netbook for $299 is enticing.

Check back into the next installment when I try to get Leopard running on this little beast.