Portable laptop
Portable laptop
Looking to buy a small/lightweight laptop to use for occasional browsing in the home, but mostly to use while travelling, what's best to go for?
Portability I think is the key, is a netbook the way to go? Seems to make sense, but I find gutless computers really frustrating so do they have enough power to be usable?
The battery life does make them appealing, even if they make half the stated figures that's still pretty decent, are the dual core ones going to be the best ones to go for? I think the inspiron duo looks awesome but is it worth the extra cost?
Or should I just go for a normal ultraportable which will have lower battery life, but decent power and an optical drive too?
Rabs is selling a Sony Vaio netbook, pretty good spec on that one...
You hardly need an optical drive these days with the focus shifting to flash memory and so on. If it's just for browsing then you don't need an optical drive, and ultraportables are traditionally more expensive anyway...
Have a look at the one Rabs is selling?
Gord http://store.apple.com/uk/browse/home/sh...ook_Pro-UKIn this particular case a mac is actually not that bad a suggestion - hadn't really wanted to spend that much and wanted it to be lighter but will give it some thought. How long does the battery realistically last?
DaveEdin Rabs is selling a Sony Vaio netbook, pretty good spec on that one...Yes the optical drive isn't that important, just thinking that it can sometimes be useful to have one. Had a look at the one Rabs is selling, it's very nice but think it might be too portable, want a slightly bigger screen than that.
You hardly need an optical drive these days with the focus shifting to flash memory and so on. If it's just for browsing then you don't need an optical drive, and ultraportables are traditionally more expensive anyway...
Have a look at the one Rabs is selling?
Gord http://store.apple.com/uk/browse/home/sh...ook_Pro-UKIn this particular case a mac is actually not that bad a suggestion - hadn't really wanted to spend that much and wanted it to be lighter but will give it some thought. How long does the battery realistically last?
DaveEdin Rabs is selling a Sony Vaio netbook, pretty good spec on that one...Yes the optical drive isn't that important, just thinking that it can sometimes be useful to have one. Had a look at the one Rabs is selling, it's very nice but think it might be too portable, want a slightly bigger screen than that.
You hardly need an optical drive these days with the focus shifting to flash memory and so on. If it's just for browsing then you don't need an optical drive, and ultraportables are traditionally more expensive anyway...
Have a look at the one Rabs is selling?
I had a medion Akoya mini mate, and was very impressed with it for a cheaper make, 1.6GHz 160gb but ran WinXP but it did work very well, wish i hadn't sold it now :Chair:
Well, you know you can get optical drives that just plug into netbooks for when you need one, it's just an extra thing to carry is all...
And netbooks are generally anything up to about 12inch screen size, so if you are after something with a bigger screen then you might want to go the laptop route. If not then why worry about win7? Get a netbook with Android on it, or just install Ubuntu Netbook edition and use LibreOffice or OpenOffice (both 100% excel/word compatible and a darn sight cheaper cos they're free).
My eldest had a samsung netbook and it was mostly OK (ran windows XP though) but if she opened too many browser sessions (and she did, usually about 20 odd at a time) then it ran like a one legged dog. Very poorly.
Bandit I had a medion Akoya mini mate, and was very impressed with it for a cheaper make, 1.6GHz 160gb but ran WinXP but it did work very well, wish i hadn't sold it now :Chair:So it ran pretty well then, I think that might be the sort of thing that'll be sufficient for what I need it for.
DaveEdin Well, you know you can get optical drives that just plug into netbooks for when you need one, it's just an extra thing to carry is all...Yep the drive isn't essential, and I actually already have a portable drive should it be required.
And netbooks are generally anything up to about 12inch screen size, so if you are after something with a bigger screen then you might want to go the laptop route. If not then why worry about win7? Get a netbook with Android on it, or just install Ubuntu Netbook edition and use LibreOffice or OpenOffice (both 100% excel/word compatible and a darn sight cheaper cos they're free).
My eldest had a samsung netbook and it was mostly OK (ran windows XP though) but if she opened too many browser sessions (and she did, usually about 20 odd at a time) then it ran like a one legged dog. Very poorly.
Bandit I had a medion Akoya mini mate, and was very impressed with it for a cheaper make, 1.6GHz 160gb but ran WinXP but it did work very well, wish i hadn't sold it now :Chair:So it ran pretty well then, I think that might be the sort of thing that'll be sufficient for what I need it for.
DaveEdin Well, you know you can get optical drives that just plug into netbooks for when you need one, it's just an extra thing to carry is all...Yep the drive isn't essential, and I actually already have a portable drive should it be required.
And netbooks are generally anything up to about 12inch screen size, so if you are after something with a bigger screen then you might want to go the laptop route. If not then why worry about win7? Get a netbook with Android on it, or just install Ubuntu Netbook edition and use LibreOffice or OpenOffice (both 100% excel/word compatible and a darn sight cheaper cos they're free).
My eldest had a samsung netbook and it was mostly OK (ran windows XP though) but if she opened too many browser sessions (and she did, usually about 20 odd at a time) then it ran like a one legged dog. Very poorly.
OK this going to sound insane (especially coming from me) but what are people's thoughts on the macbook air? It's crazy expensive, but a ridiculously sexy piece of hardware, plus the 11" one only weighs 1kg which is impressive and perfect for travelling.
Although even looking at macs, the sensible option would be the macbook pro which is pretty much the same price.
parthiban OK this going to sound insane (especially coming from me) but what are people's thoughts on the macbook air? It's crazy expensive, but a ridiculously sexy piece of hardware, plus the 11" one only weighs 1kg which is impressive and perfect for travelling.
Although even looking at macs, the sensible option would be the macbook pro which is pretty much the same price.
parthiban OK this going to sound insane (especially coming from me) but what are people's thoughts on the macbook air? It's crazy expensive, but a ridiculously sexy piece of hardware, plus the 11" one only weighs 1kg which is impressive and perfect for travelling.
Although even looking at macs, the sensible option would be the macbook pro which is pretty much the same price.
Jambo Don't like them myself, thats just my opinion though. Whats the point in spending £999 on a macbook when a lot of software/drivers are limited to windows.That's a fair point, although are they white? I thought they were aluminium?
You could spend £400-500 on a laptop/notebook with similar specs, the only thing your paying £500 for is the apple Os, and a white laptop.. :/:thumbdown:
Gord Yours Tyger :laugh::lol:
Jambo Don't like them myself, thats just my opinion though. Whats the point in spending £999 on a macbook when a lot of software/drivers are limited to windows.That's a fair point, although are they white? I thought they were aluminium?
You could spend £400-500 on a laptop/notebook with similar specs, the only thing your paying £500 for is the apple Os, and a white laptop.. :/:thumbdown:
Gord Yours Tyger :laugh::lol:
Popped into PCWorld earlier this evening and now I've confused myself silly. Love the MacBook Air, it is a ridiculously sexy piece of kit, the 11 inch (which is the only one that makes sense) is so compact, slim and weighs practically nothing. In terms of a travel companion, it is perfect.
However, when you're in the Mac area you can't help but look at the MacBook Pro. It essentially costs the same, has a much meatier processor, is only slightly thicker, but weighs a kilo more.
So I want an Air, and it will serve my current needs well. But then if I'm spending that much money, I can see the Pro being more useful and versatile, plus the battery supposedly lasts a bit longer.
Other alternative is scrap the lot and buy a PC. Could really use some help! :biggrin: