BJ, That's like what my HP netbook has. In fact my new 14" HP laptop also came with it but I elected to not have it boot that way. I would bet that all of the manufacturers are coming out with similar options in preparation for the Tablets they will be marketing. I know for a fact that the HP Tablet that just came out on the market has the same HP "OS" (for lack of a better word or phrase) that both my mini and laptop come with. As I mentioned, it comes up in less than 30 seconds and makes it easy to go online without waiting for Windows to boot and your AV to be ready. Linda in Costa Rica Monroe County, New York Genealogy http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~monroenys Monroe County, New York History http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~monroenys -----Original Message----- From: BJ Sent: Saturday, 15 October, 2011 3:07 PM To: ftm-tech@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [FTM-TECH] What product is best? One think you might consider is a Sony Vaio laptop. I don't have one but my son-in-law recently purchase one. One capability it has which I sort of like is the ability to connect to the internet without having to boot Windows. Not sure of the cost or the specs but it is another option. BJ On 10/15/2011 1:52 PM, John Okerson wrote: >> A big thank you. Your answer just about sums up what I was asking >> advise about. The points about RAM and which version of Windows to use >> was >> handy, and I had never thought about the keyboard aspect. I find using a >> 'screen keyboard' un-comfortable to use, and forgot all about that >> aspect. >> In short: A 10/12 inch netbook with 2gb ram, and Windows Home Premium >> looks a good possibility. As too which make, well that 'could' depend on >> good old Father Christmas, and yes, I still believe even though retired, >> me that is. 8>)) > It costs nothing to ask, but can save more than cash when answered, > so, again, a big thank you. > > Be cautious buying a netbook computer!! While Linda is fully accurate > with > Windows 7, I urge you to consider the prospect of Windows 8 too. That > would > require a higher-than-netbook video resolution minimum, as best I know. I > can't come across it just this moment, but have seen several suggestions > AGAINST a netbook and Windows 8. On the other hand, the ultrabooks that > are > planned for 2012 and 2013 seemed headed in a fine direction IMHO. > > OTOH, if your plans would allow for updating a netbook IF and WHEN such a > need presents itself, then I have no problem with what you and Linda have > in > mind. I have run conventional notebook PCs with 3 720K floppy drives even > though NOW, my dataset would not fit on a single 720K floppy these days. > I > do have an i7 equipped notebook, 8 GB of RAM and carry a 64 GB USB 3.0 > thumbdrive around with me daily. > > If your plans are to carry a copy of your file and NOT make ANY edits in > the > file, then a netbook could work for the near term. Just my two cents > worth!