When travelling netbook is my only option, and avidemux is unusable there. 1024x600 is a common resolution for those devices. Maybe UI could be adapted/reduced for small windows sizes.
Attached screen capture.
You could hide the navigation, the selection, the volume widget as well as the VU meter and rely on keyboard shortcuts to perform usual tasks. Yes, I know that the GUI is unusable below 768 px vertical resolution, I own such a netbook myself. Hoping that poor little things die out ASAP.
You could also drag the toolbar to the left side.
No HDMI on netbook? Most TV flat screens have HDMI. Hook it up to TV ;)