Question:
Everyday on the road
I'm on the go all time.
1) What is your budget?$1200
2) What size notebook would you prefer?
a. Ultraportable; 12" screen or less
b. Thin and Light; 13" - 14" screen
c. Mainstream; 15" - 16" screen
d. Desktop Replacement; 17"+ screen
15"
3) What tasks will you be performing with the notebook?
Word, internet, DVD's
4) Will you be taking the notebook with you to different places or leaving it on your desk?
On the road every day on lap top mount in car
5) Will you be playing games on it; if so, which games? NO
6) Are there any brands that you prefer or any you really don't like? NO
7) How many hours of battery life do you need? more is better but will use converter
8) Do you mind buying online without seeing the notebook in person? NO
9) Please select your country's flag as a post icon and tell us what country are you buying this in?
USA
Screen Specifics
10) Would you prefer standard or widescreen? Doesn't matter
11) From the choices below, what screen resolutions would you prefer? Doesn't matter
Standard
a. XGA -1024x768 - Large and easy to read text + graphics icons, but you fit less stuff on the screen.
b. SXGA - 1400x1050 - Compromise resolution between XGA and UXGA.
c. UXGA - 1600x1200 - Very small text and graphics icons, you can fit lots of stuff on the screen.
Widescreen
d. WXGA or WXGA+ - 1280x768/800 or 1440x900; Wider viewing version of XGA, good for movie viewing or spreadsheets.
e. WSXGA+ - 1680x1050; Wider viewing version of SXGA, good for movie viewing or spreadsheets.
f. WUXGA - 1920x1200; Wider viewing version of UXGA, good for movie viewing or spreadsheets.
12) Do you want a glossy/reflective screen or a matte/non-glossy screen?
Doesn't matter
Build Quality and Design
13) Are the notebook's looks and stylishness important to you? not really
14) When are you buying this laptop and how long do you want this laptop to last? 3 years
Notebook Components
15) How much hard drive space do you want; 40GB to 160GB? 80
16) Do you need an optical drive? If yes, a DVD-ROM, DVD-CD/RW or DVD-RW drive?
DVD-cd/RW
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GLOSSARY AND EXPLANATION FOR SOME TERMS USED ABOVE
Glossy vs. Matte Screen
Glossy screens have a reflective coating. Colors appear sharper and more vibrant. They do however produce more glare. Some people like them, others do not. The glare problem is most acute in well lit environments, like an office. Glossy screens tend to be better for multimedia uses like viewing DVDs or photos. If you are unfamiliar with the screen types, we would highly recommend you check some of each type out before you buy. The screen is one of the more important parts on a notebook. You do not want to get stuck with something you do not like.
Screen Size & Resolution
Please note screen size in conjunction with resolution will play a large role in overall viewing comfort level. Everyone is different. Some can view SXGA resolution on a 14” screen all day while others think it is horribly small. Again, we would recommend you check some notebook screens before you buy to see what best fits your needs. (see notebook screen guide article for more info)
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-NickS
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Answer:
Re: Everyday on the road
The HP nx7400 looks like a good 15.4" choice; it is business-class and has excellent quality. For a standard machine, consider the Dell Latitude D520 and the HP nx6325.
Are you set on a 15-15.4" machine? They are a bit large for daily travel in my opinion. Take a trip and see different size notebooks in person if you have not done so already, it will help your decision. A 14" machine has a considerably better portability factor.
Answer:
Re: Everyday on the road
Lenovo has a few fine selections, the IBM Thinkpad Z61m series has a 15.4" screen and starts from US$779, while the T60 series has 14.1" or 15" standard aspect ration screen choices and starts from US$1044 at the moment.
Dell has the D820 which is their business 15.4" widescreen model and should be easily be within your budget too.
I agree with Chaz, if you are on the go a lot, even when you mount it inside your car most of the time, a 14" form factor would be a much better choice.