Low cost Netbooks for scouting

[Dale]

This year we're planning to continue refining our competitive analysis system using a web-based platform. Essentially we'll have six people with computers in the stands, each gathering data on an individual team for a given match. That data will be captured using a web front-end and database backend on a server back at our school. The machines in the stands would use hard ethernet connections to a router with a 3G connection to the web (to avoid the FIRST rules against WiFi.) In the pits we'd use another computer with a 3G connection to run reports off this data before each match.

Now the question. We're looking for six very low cost computers with 10 hr. battery life that have hard ethernet connections. There are lots of $299 netbooks that might fit the bill. Does anyone have experience with these to know if they really do last 10 hrs? Are there any other machines out there with hard ethernet connections and 10hr battery life that aren't Windows netbooks at much below this price point? We don't need hard drives or Windows, all these have to do is run a browser.

These computers need full keyboards because these scouting folks will also be taking notes on each team. Solutions like NXT bricks or Wii remotes aren't what we're looking for.

We may end up using an inverter and a bunch of batteries to power normal laptops but that results in a lot of wires running everywhere in the stands. Some of the venues we attend don't allow extension cords in the stands.