Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bourquetheman]

Parents are putting the equivalent of close to 500 000 won for me to buy a netbook so I've been trying to choose a decent one. Basically we have a desktop but would like the portability of bringing out a netbook to the living room with built in webcam for skype and surfing the net. I've checked out gmarket, auction.co.kr and danawa but there are SO many choices. I would like something with a decent size hdd, windows 7 home premium (not starter as I heard it's quite limited) and 2 gigs of ram as I heard 1 gig usually doesn't suffice. I've actually never owned a laptop/netbook before so I wouldn't mind spending a bit more (around 600 000 won) and getting perhaps a notebook. Basically something not TOO big, yet not TOO tiny. Wife and I just can't decide but I do appreciate the advice the tech people give here so I thought I'd ask. I have an xbox so I wouldn't really use it for gaming, yet part of me says if there is one with a halfway decent graphics card, why not have it? Anyway if anyone can recommend one please go ahead and what site in korea would be good to buy it. Part of me says I should just go to Yongsan and try to haggle and get a good deal but I don't want to get ripped off.

[bourquetheman]

Well headed to Yongsan today so here goes.........

[crossmr]

Well, the thing with a netbook is only get it if you really need the portability of a netbook over a notebook. It doesn't sound like you do.
You can get lower end notebooks for around the same price as a lower end netbook (for example dell back home sells a netbook for $400 and a notebook for $400) the difference is the notebook is 5x the computer that the netbook is.

Unfortunately Yongsan is kind of random, and I didn't see your post earlier.

[bourquetheman]

Yeah I think we're going to get a notebook. Had a look at Yongsan yesterday which was good to physically see the models, but ultimately I guess we'll order off gmaret. I saw an HP/Compaq for around 770 000 that had 2.2 dual core processor, 320 gb hd, 2 gb ram, 13 inch monitor, geoforce graphics card and weighed in at 2 kgs. Came with Windows 7 Premium. So out of the loop was I that it slipped my mind that HP/Compaq merged like 5-6 YEARS ago. Wow........

[bourquetheman]

Well looking at gmarket this morning this one catches my eye.

http://item.gmarket.co.kr/challenge/neo_goods/goods.asp?goodscode=182642646&pos_shop_cd=BS&pos_class_cd=111111111&pos_class_kind=T

But I'm not positively sure if it has 2 gb of ram or just one. It says on one part that it has 2048MB DDR3 Memory which leads me to believe that is 2 right? But later in the specs it says in brackets after 2048MB DDR3 that 1 Mb is onboard and mentions in Korean about 1 memory slot with upgradeable to 5. Anyway I wonder your opinion about this notebook.

For a bit more money this one also caught my eye:

http://item.gmarket.co.kr/challenge/neo_goods/goods.asp?goodscode=176985363&pos_shop_cd=BS&pos_class_cd=111111111&pos_class_kind=T

Which one would you buy?

[crossmr]

That's 1 MB L2 cache, totally different. Yes it has 2 GB ram.

Though honestly both of these dells are better deals
http://item.gmarket.co.kr/challenge/neo_goods/goods.asp?goodscode=190539415&pos_shop_cd=SH&pos_class_cd=111111111&pos_class_kind=T&search_keyword=dell%20inspiron

http://item.gmarket.co.kr/challenge/neo_goods/goods.asp?goodscode=190539480&pos_shop_cd=SH&pos_class_cd=111111111&pos_class_kind=T&search_keyword=dell%20inspiron

[bourquetheman]

Ok thanks for the feedback and suggestions. Two things that put me off the suggestions though:
1) Comes with Vista (I was hoping for Windows 7)
2) Seems quite heavy and I guess I do like my wife's point about having it a bit small and lightweight.

Still I appreciate your suggestions. It is SO hard to make a final decision! Before yesterday I was pulling for a Toshiba and now I've flip flopped and considering an HP

[crossmr]

The first one you pointed to was 1.48 kg the two I listed were 1.99 and 2.4 kg not huge differences really.

2.4 kg is pretty light. My gaming laptop is 10kg with power brick

The OS is dependent on which model you choose. You can get it with either and it appears to be the same price.
The 14z only comes with windows 7, the 1440 gives you a choice, under on the first one choose "타입선택 F" to get windows 7. there is no price adjustment associated with that.

I should mention that Dell's english support in Korea is pretty good. I had to do a warranty service on mine (3 year warranty gotten in north america) and they sent a guy right out to change the parts on my laptop as fast as could be. Which was fast, since they had to order the part for my unsupported laptop from taiwan.

I have the guy's direct e-mail if you have issues

[bourquetheman]

Thanks for your help, I honestly appreciate the feedback. In the end I went with the HP pavillion ultra thin. It should suit our purposes fine. Hopefully it gets here today!