Not getting a Netbook
December 14th, 2009
I thought about it seriously for quite a while, investigated the models, shopped around and everything. But in the end, I kept coming back to the question, “Why?” I’ve got a MacBook Pro, after all. Yeah, it’s heavier, but that never bothered me. The only other thing I’d want a netbook would be to have a handy WIndows computer around. But a netbook is so underpowered, there really wouldn’t be much point to it. In the end, I’d be shelling out $300-plus for a disposable Windows computer. I probably wouldn’t use it much outside of showing it to my class. Just not worth it, for me.
Buy a VPN router while you’re there. I moved to the Tokyo area about a year and half ago and setup a VPN router at friends house. A priceless configuration. I can access all the content that would require me to be in the US, e.g. Itunes US store, (after 3.0 upgrade), movie rentals from Netflix, Amazon, etc. The list goes on and on. And since my friend has a fiber connection with 25mb/15mb and I have 100mb/20mb, I can easily stream HD video, so no need to worry about the sparse support for blu-ray movies in Japan. Which is probably more to do with Hollywood than anything else. Another purchase that I am quite fond of is my slingbox HD. This has no restrictions and doesn’t require a VPN. I can view all the cable channels I had back home and most are in HD. Though, I really don’t watch TV much and with the timezone difference it’s good to just record the shows on the DVR that the slingbox can control. Anyway a few things to consider. I have been using these devices for quite awhile so if you have any questions feel free to email me.
ps – Vonage has been great as well. $18 a month – I have my home number from the states and 500 minutes. I never exceed that and there is an unlimited plan for $25. I also use skype but mainly keep vonage around as my business fax number. You probably have no use for this but I thought I would mention it just in case.
Sorry about my earlier comment being off-topic. I guess I was just thinking about other things you could setup while in SF based on previous posts. Anyway, about keeping a Windows PC around. Have you run VMware Fusion on your MBP? It’s free and you can still probably find a free copy of Windows 7 that’s good until March.