Question:
Which Lightweight would YOU Suggest?
I'm looking for a traveling computer... Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!
General Usage
1. Primary use: Graphic Design... web design and asp programming. I don't need a desktop replacement, looking for something i can travel with for long periods of time... Secondary use: photo editing...
2. Size: small and lightweight... definately no more than 5lbs would be nice.
3. Mobility: The laptop is to be primarily used for travel...
4. Battery Life: Very important... If there is a large battery for it i would buy it... 5+hours would be preferred.
5. Life span: I am very familiar with computers and technology in general's life span... I don't need something totally top of the line... It would be nice to get a couple years use out of it...
Features
Harddrive space: 40gigs is plenty... It's cheaper to wait for a sale on a large hard drive than to pay the absurb "upgrade" prices... I have no problem installing my own harddrive in a laptop.
Burner: CD Burner is fine, definately needs a CDRW/DVDROM drive.
RAM: Not too important... I figure it's cheaper to buy my own and plug it in... I plan to run a gig of ram... though i have no problems buying a laptop with only 256 and upgrading it myself.
Video Card: Not sure if thats the correct term for laptops or not... sorry... Somethign with dedicated memory would be nice, though not absolutely necassary...
Multitasking: Yes. Photoshop and dreamweaver, Multiple webpages... multitasking helps with my ADD! [:)]
Ports: Definately USB2.0 (though its pretty standard) a firewire would be nice but i don't really care, can always get a pcmcia card with it... TV out is also desired...
Graphics & Display
Screen: Widescreen is definately not needed... 10" may be a bit too small, 15" is pusing it (weight is an issue)... 12"-14" is a good range, though. A MINIMUM of 1024x768 is required... though a bit higher resolution wouldn't be bad.
Enhanced Screen?( XBRITE, Crystal View, or Bright View?) Yes... I am an avid amateur photographer and also graphic designer... screen is important.
Games: Nothing major... though i will game on it... no super intense games... It would be nice to not have a "vid card" that uses shared memory... though that's negligble.
3d Modeling: Not intensively... there is a chance i would use it one or twice but i'm no pro at it and it would be pretty simple 3d stuff at that.
Miscellaneous
Laptop Beauty: I don't care at all the physical looks of the laptop.
Brand Preference: No Comcrap or HP - I've had so many problems with them the last few years they will never get another dime from me.
Price: Ahh, the bottom line. A great budget idea would be $1200 though everything i've been looking at seems to be $1800 or so. I can't pay more than $1800... and even $1800 is stretching the budget... Though on the same hand... I don't want to pay $1200 for a piece of ****.
Models I've looked at: Sony's S line, Toshiba's Tecra, Apple Powerbook (though i hate to have to dismiss this as I can't test ASP pages on a MAC OS... as far as i know anyways), Any brand is fine as long as they are reputable...
Other info: Refurbished is not totally out of the question... thoughts on buying a refurb? Ebay is not an option, i don't want to risk getting scammed... and buying a used laptop IMO is risky, buying someone else's problems...
Most Important Features: I think in the following order: Size & Weight, Battery Life, Power, Price (though it does have to fall into my range!)
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Ahren Osterbrink
www.osterbrink.org
Answer:
I would also like to add (i don't see how to edit a post)
Wireless: Built in wireless would be great, bluetooth would be worth an extra $20 or so...but not much more...
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Ahren Osterbrink
www.osterbrink.org
Answer:
Check out IBM-T Series and Fujitsu- S Series
Answer:
LG LM50...for about 2200(CAD) for the top model...
or
LM40..
they have great life battery...
but...not available from US...
have to buy it from your good neighboor...Canada...
check http://www.lgstore.ca/catalog/
good luck...
also check out the T-series from IBM..
Answer:
anyone have a benchmark on the normal and large size battery for a ThinkPad T42?
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Ahren Osterbrink
www.osterbrink.org
Answer:
Here's a review on the T42
http://www.computer-notebook.com/default.asp?newsID=2121
Here's a T42 with SXGA+
http://www.costcentral.com/proddetail/IBM_ThinkPad_T42_2378/2378FVU/D88536/
It only has a one year warranty, but you can upgrade it to three years anytime while it is still under warranty I believe. It is around $130 on IBM's website. Thinkpads offer a modular bay meaning you can swap out the CDRW/DVD drive for another battery. I have this for my Thinkpad. It goes for around six hours on medium settings. Fujitsu offers this option as well. Also, IBM come with 5400RPM hard drives standard, which is a big bonus. If you want to look at something less expensive, the HPdv1000/Compaq v2000 might be a good choice. You can probably get one for around $1k on HP's website. Opt for the larger 12 cell battery. Refurbished units often come with short warranties, you want to consider this when factoring the cost. If it is refurbished, it may have already have been fixed once. I bought my ThinkPad on ebay for considerable savings. Buy from a seller with at least a few hundred feedbacks with at least 95% positive. Buying from someone who has sold notebooks in the past is a good idea. Good Luck.
I know things, things that could get me killed
Thinkpad T41:
* 1.6Ghz Pentium M * 768Mb Memory * 40Gb Hitachi 7200RPM * Panasonic UJ-845-B DVD+RW *
Answer:
I am about to buy the t42 with the SXGA for about $1350 from IBM... any think of a reason not to? better deal elsewhere?
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Ahren Osterbrink
www.osterbrink.org