Question:
help me not pay for what i don't want
Hey,
I haven't been able to find an ultraportable that gives me what I need (slim, solid, lightweight design, fast processor and ~1gig RAM) without having to pay for what I don't need (widescreen, good graphics card, "entertainment" features, DVD burner...). Also, I'm looking for some good advice.
This seems like a great forum. Can anyone help me out?
Tanks a lot!
Alina
General Questions
1) What is your budget? around 1,300, please.
2) What size notebook would you prefer?
a. Ultraportable; 12" screen or less (4 lb or less)
3) What tasks will you be performing with the notebook?
mostly word processing and internet activities. also, i'm in the evolutionary genetics department at college and run multiple applications that scan/compare sequences at the same time... so ~ 1 gig RAM is a must.
4) Will you be taking the notebook with you to different places or leaving it on your desk? I want a very travel-friendly notebook that I can take everywhere.
5) Will you be playing games on it; if so, which games?
Nope, no gaming.
6) Are there any brands that you prefer or any you really don't like?
I like Asus (the solid feel, etc) and think Dells are iffy.
7) How many hours of battery life do you need?
The longer the better. However, I would compromise with a 2 hr battery life (min) for a slim, lightweight machine.
8) Do you mind buying online without seeing the notebook in person?
That's the plan.
9) What country are you buying this in?
US.
Screen Specifics
10) Would you prefer standard or widescreen?
Standard (I don't use my laptop to watch movies.)
11) From the choices below, what screen resolutions would you prefer?
b. SXGA - 1400x1050 - Compromise resolution between XGA and UXGA.
or even...
c. UXGA - 1600x1200 - Very small text and graphics icons, you can fit lots of stuff on the screen.
12) Do you want a glossy/reflective screen or a matte/non-glossy screen?
I'm not overly opinionated here... I think the matte should be fine.
Build Quality and Design
13) Are the notebook's looks and stylishness important to you?
Yes... but, again, I'm willing to compromise as long as it's ultaportable.
14) How long do you want this laptop to last?
three-four years.
Notebook Components
15) How much hard drive space do you want; 40GB to 120GB?
Even 40GB is enough.
16) Do you need an optical drive? If yes, a DVD-ROM, DVD-CD/RW or DVD-RW drive? I want to be able to burn CDs and I don't need to burn DVDs.
Answer:
Re: help me not pay for what i don't want
the biggest resolution on a 12" is wxga. you should check out the ms-1057 or ms-1058 at xmeld.com, rawpowerpc.com, or rkcomputer. i am unsure of their weight though....