Samsung NC10 vs Advent 4213 with Mac OS X

[Guest Xabito]

My 3 Mobile Broadband contract expires in April.

And I’ve been looking a Netbooks, I really like the Mac OS X. But clearly a 700gbp MacBook is out of my price range (FREE) although I’ve had a laptop before an Advent from PC World, it lasted A LONG TIME. But it drowned in the end R*I*P, I never really took it out because it was 17” just a little to big, a nice small 10” Netbook appeals to me. Because their small and easy to take around.

I want T-Mobile, because it’s 3GB *Fair usage* … they say unlimited, I don’t know ANYONE who’s got charged. My 3 is 1GB and I ALWAY’S go over :( so 25gbp for *unlimited* they say they will never charge you with a free Netbook, or laptop from The Link.

The MSI Wind is the same as an Advent 4221, so is the Advent 4213 just an ´upgrade/downgrade´ ??

This appeals to me more than the Samsung NC10, because of the Built-in-modem (VERY USEFUL!) and it’s 99gbp cheaper than the Samsung.

But I’m really interested in running OS X on there. Has anyone tried either of these ?? What are the cons/missing programs

I’m worried that because the 4213 has the modem built in, NO Macs have built in Modems so there might not be the software available.

So could someone give me a list of ALL the programs/features that DON´T work on the Mac

4213 and the NC10 please =)

Also how hard, for a beginner would it be to install the Mac OS X software on any Non-Mac, I’ve been reading how to do it and I’ve watched Paul’s YouTube video. But I’m sure there will be MANY questions here on what to do next =P

Or if anyone would like to tell me an easier Netbook/Laptop to convert to OS X that can be bought for up to 100gbp with no more than 25gbp a month contract on T-Mobile it would be appreciated

The Link - T-Mobile

I’d also consider the Dell Mini 9 on Vodafone; they have my mobile contract so I’m sure I could get some form of Discount from them. I’ve heard that Dells / The Dell Mini 9 is quite easy to convert into Mac

Thanks’ =)

[Guest WoD]

I've been using the NC10 for a few weeks now. It literally is the first Netbook to truly captivate my attention and for a good reason, too, it's awesome!

If you're a beginner, however, then OSX may be a dead end unless you can get someone else to install a spanking new Wireless card for you.

I'm not sure why anyone would want a Netbook with a built in 3G modem. Sure it could be construed as convenient, but if you pick up a regular ol' 3G dongle you can use it in other computers and also have the possibility to update it separately to the computer itself in the future.

After I had properly set up my installation media (the hard part, honestly!) putting OSX on the NC10 was an absolute breeze. I used iDeneb 10.5.6 and simply followed instructions available online and installed almost as if it were a normal installation of OSX.

As far as booting up, or setting up a dual boot with OSX and Windows XP is concerned, I'm not sure how easy/hard that would be. At a guess, though, I'm thinking you'll have very little trouble getting it up and running because there will almost always be someone who has done it first and had the time to write a guide (ala Paul)

I can't honestly say that the NC10 is better than every other Netbook out there, it has its own drawbacks, but I'm finding it to be a truly excellent machine and could only be happier if it had a nipple mouse and a jog dial.

If you put OSX on the NC10 then you're looking to spend a bit more than a tenner on a new wireless card. Proporta have a really nice leather case for 10" Netbooks that fits the NC10 beautifully, if you're into that sort of thing, and, of course, you will absolutely want to be dropping sub £20 on a RAM upgrade.

Ultimately, if you're not absolutely confident in arsing about with OSX installs and getting your machine bootable you will get frustrated and will probably be better off picking up the NC10/wireless card/RAM and getting someone else to set it up for you. If you live in/near Norwich, then I'll do it myself!

[Guest Xabito]

Thank you for advice, the Samsung did/does appeal to me, but the attraction of the built in 3G (TheLink, give you a free dongel also and I still have a 3 one!)

I don't know about the WiFi Card, but I think I'd know how to do RAM... Sadly I don't live near you =/ so it would be quite hard to install OS X ?? =/ Maybe that's a good thing because I'd have to buy iWorks ect. but I prefer the "style" of a Mac.

Thank you for telling me you like the Netbook =) Do you use it oftern ?? My main concern with a 24 month contract is if I don't end up using the mobile-broadband, or using it too much and getting over charged !!

Who are you with ?? So the NC10 is "easy" to do, but basicly I've got no chance of being able to have it dual booting ??

I think that you couldn't take it to PC World or some where and get them to do it ? I've seen it "illegal" on Mac's behalf...

[Guest WoD]

I've now actually installed a wireless card, I'm a little bit behind Paul in terms of getting things working, and not quite as confident/experienced, but unscrewing the 40 bazillion screws from the underside of the NC10 and fitting the new wireless card was surprisingly easy.

The only difficult bit at all was trying to figure out how to safely pry the bottom of the NC10 off. Once I booted up in OSX it just worked.

I think you've got a pretty good chance of getting OSX up and running if you're stubborn, but otherwise Windows XP is good enough for everything but bragging rights.

[Guest Paul (MVP)]

I would steer clear of the 4213 personally, the screen is only 9" vs 10" and the keyboard isn't as good as either the Wind or the NC10.

I've used / owned both the MSI Wind and the NC10 extensively, and they're both great machines. The battery life on the NC10 and the build quality swings it for me.

Oh, actually, have you checked out the LG X110 from phones4u? It's pretty much a Wind IIRC with 3G built in, though I couldn't tell you how easy it is to get the internal 3G working in OSX? YOu could always dual boot OSX / XP for safety...

P

[Guest Xabito]

I would steer clear of the 4213 personally, the screen is only 9" vs 10"

I've heard about the keyboard but our keyboard in college are curved, I have mine on French Basque at home so it's in the AZERTY layout, so I think I'd learn any keyboard quickly

but the screen is 10.2" :S

PC World Advent 4213

and the Bulit in 3G is what sold it for me, and also I prefer the design x100 to the MSI Wind

The LG x110 acutaly look's quite good =) so it's a "Wind" also ? Or a varient of the Wind so OS X would be "easy" to install and have quite a lot of the features working.

Phones4U

That would be my main consern. Is I want something that look's good and I'd like 3G Built in, a 10" Screen at least. And something that WILL run MAC OS X with as little patches/hacks and edits as possible... I've seen the word Rookie in another post on here xD That sums me up, but I have installed coppies of XP for example before... so I "should" have an idea of what is needed to be done.

and as for dual booting, I'd prefer not to get rid of XP in the first place, whether that's buying another HDD and replacing it like I saw you (Paul) did in another post or creating a partition

If the LG X100 is a "re-branded" Wind, therefore "easy" to install OS X, that might become my first choice

Thanks' =)

[Guest Paul (MVP)]

It is I believe...

P

[Guest Samsonite]

Hello all!

i've recently become the owner of a shiny black NC-10 (and today i see various people offering the N110 - d'oh) and have covered the mobile internet issue with Bluetooth and my mobile phone!

I followed a 'how-to' on a forum and it setup the BT modem pairing nicely. I wasnt sure till today just how fast that would let me go as the setting looked like it might max out at 115kbps as it is using a COM port. i was thinking that the RS-232 speed limit would throttle the datarate - It doesnt!!! :D

in the office today, i get a decent UMTS (not HSDPA) signal off o2 and a speedtest showed a download rate of 0.33Mbps (300kbps!!) i'm chuffed to bits!! (300 thousand of 'em to be precise!!) Saves on the Joikuspot WiFi software that would kill the phone battery and also removes the need for separate dongle.

i am now looking at the whole OSX thing.... i am really tempted to give it a go but not at the expense of any functionality (bar the mic - not bothered). is there an NC-10 how-to? i've seen loads of MSi guides but nothing finite for NC-10...

[Guest Paul]

I see that HSDPA equipped NC10s are now in channel. Not cheap tho! (overpriced atm IMHO)...

P

[Guest SweetBa]

I fully agree with the opinions on the Samsung NC10. It's a top netbook that is ultra-portable and ideal for surfing and working. The battery life is also fine, about 7 hours with the 6 cell battery. I have used several other mini laptops, too, but the Samsung NC 10 netbook is among the best devices I have worked on. I think I am gonna buy on of these ultra-mini devices that look like PDAs, you can have them for $200 or $300, that's a nice price.