Netbooks

Over time, I never did purchase any of the portable backup/storage/viewing devices like the Epson P-2000. For many day or overnight trips, I rarely bring a laptop. With constantly changing technology, it seems many people even use their iPod Touches, iPhones, and cell phones to store some images. I'm now reading about Netbooks, the $300-to $400 small and basic notebook PCs with ratcheted down features from a tpyical notebook. For the price, although certainly not as portable, is anyone using a netbook as their primary take everywhere backup and viewing device? The netbook of course could be used for e-mail and internet access while traveling as well. Given the available memory of netbooks, I assume downloading, browsing, organizing, and perhaps even Raw conversion software would run. But probably not Photoshop?

I carry a laptop on trips longer than a couple of days - for storage, backup and internet access. I sort, organize and discard, but don't do much processing. Given how relatively cheap a good laptop can be had for, I don't seen much value in the Netbook unless size/weight is a critical factor. I'd rather spend a little more for full computing power.

RAM limitations would make running PS quite a challenge, and all the more so if you have very large digital files. I haven't used one and don't know how good the displays are, but given the need to keep costs down, I'd be doubtful that the displays are high enough quality to support accurate processing anyway.

I used a netbook and two external drives on a trip earlier this year. It was good for backups and viewing JPEGS, but I had issues with RAW files. Here's my field report:
http://www.andrewyip.com/blog/2008/08/19/field-report-image-storage

I hear that even if you do get the RAW software working, most netbooks are pretty slow at conversion compared to a real laptop.