My dream netbook

Sorry if this idea has been discussed before. I am new here, this is my second post only. I have been reading this forum for a few days, but didn't have the chance to read THAT much, so I don't know if my idea is old.

I would like to discuss my dream netbook in the hopes that someone at Acer reads it and maybe takes my ideas into consideration. Of course, people will add their own ideas and we will end up with the concept of Dr. Frankenstein's netbook, but I still think that the discussion is worthwhile. Who knows?

I got this idea because I moved from my bulky desktop to a tiny Acer Aspire One several months ago due to certain circumstances that required mobility, and now that it's over I don't want to go back to my desktop. I hardly ever look at the desktop boxes in the stores anymore. I am happy with my netbook. I don't even want to buy a NOTEbook.

Well, almost happy, and sometimes I do lust after a netbook. That's because there are two things that make me unhappy about the Acer Aspire One. To wit:

- Screen size: it should be taller. I not only miss screen real estate, but also run frequently into problems with resolution. I use Linux, and some applications are not made for this odd resolution on my AAO. For example, VMWare will not make the guest Windows OS use the full screen, because Windows XP does not accept it. I have to put up with big black borders either on the sides or on top and bottom of the screen. It's horrrible. Also, a few applications will hide information because this odd resolution on the AAO is never assumed by the GUI designers. Summing up, sometimes I really hate this screen because of its format. I would definitely buy another AAO if Acer made a new model with a taller screen.

- Keyboard layout: I am hopelessly addicted to that cluster of keys we all have on big keyboards that include the Insert, Delete, Home, End, PgUp and PgDown keys. At home, I always plug my external keyboard on the AAO and the problem is solved. Whenever I have to go anywhere with it though, I hate the layout of the keyboard on the AAO. I hate the Ins and Del keys at the top of the layout. And I still, STILL haven't gotten used to pressing Fn to access Home and End. That is annoying, hideous, I hate that completely.

I know the ideal solution to both problems: change the size and format of the whole netbook. Make it look more like a square instead of a rectangle. Really, why do people get so stuck on that notion that notebooks and netbooks have always to be a rectangle? Why not make it square? Who wrote that rule in stone? The square format would make the netbook a little larger overall, but just a little and for a very good cause.

The benefit of the square format would be twofold: the screen would be taller, with a much more adequate resolution, and there would be room for a neat, separate cluster of arrow keys + Insert-Delete-Home-End-PgUp-PgDown beside the trackpad. Those would be separate, below all the other keys. Look at the keyboard on your AAO right now and realize that such a redesign would make some room in the lower right corner, either for more keys or rather for a better arrangement of the keys in that area. And maybe the Enter key could be larger, like most keyboards.

I don't want to rearrange the keys because of the size of the keys. I think that is fine. I hate the layout. And I really hate the Fn key.

And... that's it! I don't want anything else from my dream netbook. Absolutely. Sure, a better processor is always good, more memory is always good, more USB ports would be welcome, but I swear none of that would really make a lot of difference to me. I can do everything I want with my AAO, except typing with comfort (and I do type a lot!) and having a really decent view of the content on my screen.

Anybody here has Santa's address handy? I haven't written to him in decades...

 

The words "dream" and "netbook" don't go together in my mind. My netbook is a simple machine for me to take to a coffee shop or lunch, to use on the couch, etc. I think its simplicity is the whole idea behind the platform. If you start making netbooks into powerhouse mini-laptops, you're going to lose your market.

 

You probably didn't read my post entirely. I know it's long.

I specifically said that I don't care about increasing specs. I want a different physical format, and I explained why in detail. That's why the post is long.

 

I can't disagree with anything you posted... the only thing I would personally add is a touch screen.