Ethernet / USB port/ Mini Laptop Qs

[dbarnum]

Hi,

Not sure if I can word this so here goes:

1) If I have a mini latop with no ethernet port on the outside, but a it does have a couple USB ports....

...s it possible to plug into an ethernet connection (no wireless) like with an adapter of some kind (USB to ethernet or vice versa)?


2) For a mini-laptop with no CD / DVD drive, not even a mobile one yet, is it possible to download Microsoft software (Word, Excel) and then just use codes from your other computers' software to active it? (Trying to figure out how to get software on a mini laptop without buying a mobile hard drive.


Thanks for any help with these questions! Helping a teen here, or trying to!

[seasoned]

You got a mini laptop with NO ethernet? WOW! I recently got a VERY cheap one, the EEE 1000HE, and it has almost EVERYTHING any nettop has. To answer your question though.... YEP, they have them. Tiger sells them for about 19.99:
TRENDnet - TU2-ET100 - Hi-Speed USB 2.0 to Fast Ethernet Adapter at TigerDirect.com

This does not indicate any endorsement though. ALSO, make sure it is USB 2.0 compatible(actually using USB 2.0), and hopefully your minilaptop provides it. I believe basic ethernet would SATURATE USB 1.0, so everything could slow down if you hook up another USB device. ALSO, USB 1.0 couldn't support ethernet over 10Mb/s.

I actually installed M/S Office on my system. I did it using the memory card slot, though a USB thumbdrive can work. Of course, you DO need another system to CREATE the backup.

Steve

[dbarnum]

Originally Posted by seasoned

You got a mini laptop with NO ethernet? WOW! I recently got a VERY cheap one, the EEE 1000HE, and it has almost EVERYTHING any nettop has. To answer your question though.... YEP, they have them. Tiger sells them for about 19.99:
TRENDnet - TU2-ET100 - Hi-Speed USB 2.0 to Fast Ethernet Adapter at TigerDirect.com

This does not indicate any endorsement though. ALSO, make sure it is USB 2.0 compatible(actually using USB 2.0), and hopefully your minilaptop provides it. I believe basic ethernet would SATURATE USB 1.0, so everything could slow down if you hook up another USB device. ALSO, USB 1.0 couldn't support ethernet over 10Mb/s.

I actually installed M/S Office on my system. I did it using the memory card slot, though a USB thumbdrive can work. Of course, you DO need another system to CREATE the backup.

Steve

Super, thanks, Steve!

[seasoned]

You're welcome! I hope you love your new laptop. I got mine primarily because I COULD. I ORIGINALLY wanted to get one of the REAL small ones, about 10 years ago, but they were made too little and too late. If they made them a decade earlier, they would have obliterated much of the normal PC market and, when they DID introduce them, the processors were about 2 generations behind, as far as capability. An 8086 processor that can only run 8086 code doesn't cut it when the latest is the pentium (80586) that can run 8086, 80386, 80486 code, and nearly everything expects at least 80386 capability.

I probably would have bought one if they cost half as much, but $1000 for a computer that couldn't run even the last generation of software was just too much. The one I got is big enough for me to use(Ones that are much bigger can't REALLY be used in coach on many airplanes, because a careless recliner in front of you could EASILY break it.), can run the latest software, twice as long, even if only 1/3-1/2 the speed, and has plenty of storage. The $345 price was just icing.

It reminds me of that old commercial where the guy that played "mini me" has a HUGE laptop, and that huge japanese player(I forget his name), was using a TINY laptop. I could relate. I guess the smaller YOU are, the more room you can allow for the laptop. I almost envy the women that are SO thin, etc... that they can practically curl up in their seats in a way I don't ever remember doing since I was like 7 in my mothers car. And here I am with NO legroom, my sides hit the recline button, I have to tilt my laptop to use it, and try to block the seat back so the guy in front can't catch me by surprise.

BTW I forgot two little things...

1. If you did get a USB CDROM drive(I saw some nice ones that were SMALL, very capable, and had good reviews at amazon for about $99), you could use THAT, on your mini PC with NO other system, as well.

2. When I said backup, I basically meant "xcopy /s cdrom: usbthumb:" In other words, a simple copy of the CDROM drive.

BTW MINE has an ATOM processor. So far, I have found NOTHING that fails on it. ASUS EVEN has a bios patch to get mine to run VISTA on it! (VISTA is even more of a piece of junk than the rest of the windows family though.) Also, INTEL already has at least a 4 core ATOM waiting in the wings, so it looks like it will be around a while. I can't speak for the VIA processor though. It MIGHT have some problems. The VIA and the ATOM are perhaps the two most popular processors for inexpensive and power efficient nettops currently made. I think centrino runs a close third, but it isn't as efficient.

Steve

[dbarnum]

Steve,


You are a wealth of info here, without a doubt! Thanks for your info sharing, much appreciated!

A couple gadets we're testing on this end are:

Mini Laptops

Verizon's new HP Mini 1151NR Netbook (has built in Verizon wireless card to skip using tethering device that can caused interruptions during calls & other times...)

vs

Asus - Eee PC Netbook with Intel® Celeron® Processor 353 - Blue
from BestBuy - has ethernal capability (needed that adapter you posted above), and wireless for home systems, USB ports for Verizon tether kit or Verizon USB mobile wirelss card (costs' like an additional $230).

PDA / Smartphones

Verizon's Blackberry Storm versus Samsung Omnia (can't find details on getting mobile Office for Blackberry, even on the Blackberry site...? Yet the Omnia comes packed with the software and other features, better navigation, too, look like. Storm may be a bust with mixed reviews out there so far...).


So hey, very open to your info on any of the above - -or better version in comparable pricing / funcionality ranges. Service = with Verizon is preferred.


Thanks!

[Wakunahum]

For your word and excel documents, just use open office and save them in the microsoft formats.

99% of the time the formatting and everything will be the exact same as if you used word or excel. No need to mess with buying more software or playing around with licensing codes.

[seasoned]

Originally Posted by dbarnum

Steve,


You are a wealth of info here, without a doubt! Thanks for your info sharing, much appreciated!

You're welcome!

A couple gadets we're testing on this end are:

Mini Laptops

Verizon's new HP Mini 1151NR Netbook (has built in Verizon wireless card to skip using tethering device that can caused interruptions during calls & other times...)

vs

Asus - Eee PC Netbook with Intel® Celeron® Processor 353 - Blue
from BestBuy - has ethernal capability (needed that adapter you posted above), and wireless for home systems, USB ports for Verizon tether kit or Verizon USB mobile wirelss card (costs' like an additional $230).

PDA / Smartphones

Verizon's Blackberry Storm versus Samsung Omnia (can't find details on getting mobile Office for Blackberry, even on the Blackberry site...? Yet the Omnia comes packed with the software and other features, better navigation, too, look like. Storm may be a bust with mixed reviews out there so far...).


So hey, very open to your info on any of the above - -or better version in comparable pricing / funcionality ranges. Service = with Verizon is preferred.


Thanks!

First of all, Wakunahum IS, of course, right IF you are dealing with the PCs! For the others, FORGET IT! Of course, you STILL have to install OPEN OFFICE if you want it. I DID install that as well, and it runs fine. A friend can get me some M/S software for free(FROM M/S with their blessing, so it IS a legal copy. Even in the original case and wrapping!), so he got me the office suite for Christmas.

Blackberry, to the best of my knowledge uses either a VERY proprietary format or, in the case of currently popular devices, such as pearl, 8XXX, etc... a special java library. It will NOT run M/S windows software. GRANTED, I don't know about the bold or storm, but I DOUBT they changed it. I have the 8830, which was like the top of the line before BOLD.

The Samsung Omnia, by contrast, according to their site, DOES run windows mobile.

BTW I AM using verizon, for EVDO AND blackberry. MY EVDO device is the CHEAP one, and I talked them down to $50 back then. GRANTED, I was an old customer, but they tend to treat NEW customers even better. It is the ones in the middle(less than 6 months) that they REALLY treat bad, relatively speaking.

Steve