notebook computers

[PQRS7]

I'm looking for a notebook, but I'm undecided on what I'm going to buy.

I want something which is lightweight, thin and wieldly. Also, it should be constructed nicely with good materials, and well-designed. Good/interesting industrial design is very important to me. I will be using it mostly for casual word processing and internet activities, so I am not too concerned about performance. I'm more interested in good form.

I'll be buying another machine for more serious work later next year. Right now I'm just looking for an ultraportable to use when I don't feel like carrying too much.

Apart from what I've described, I would prefer it to be something unique and visually fascinating.

Here is something which I have been looking at: Sony Vaio x505

Sony's industrial design has always been one of my favourites. This notebook is extremely thin and light, and made from carbon fibre with a magnesium alloy frame for rigidity. I've been eyeing this model since it came out in 2004. It has a 1024x768 LCD, 1.8" hard drive, no optical drive, no fan, and a mobo the size of a minidisc. Though this is the most portable machine, it's also the most compromized. Still, if I found one of these, selling for the right price, I would consider buying one.

Then, there's this other one here: Panasonic Toughbook W5

(picture is not of the model I'm considering, but close enough)

I like this because it's thin and lighweight without any drawbacks. The body is constructed with aluminum, making it light and durable. And it's pretty damn light at 2.7lbs considering it has an (up to) 11h battery life. more info here

And of course, we have to look at this one: Apple McBook Pro

I'm not too keen on buying an Apple machine. They seem too diminuitive, are too common and are priced higher than what I'd like to pay. However, I like the aesthetic of the MacBook Pro, especially when closed. The nifty details like the illuminated keyboard and the magnetic electrical cord are nice additions. If I get one of these, I'd be throwing away my strategy of having one lightweight and one powerful machine, but I think that it's worth being considered.

• Are there any other laptops which I should consider?

I still haven't looked through every option, so all suggestions are welcome. Also, if you have something to share about the Vaio or the ToughBook, please do so.

[hamham3001]

i sold laptops before.. and i also owned some super small ones.. w/out the optical drive.. i s not so great... i 1st thought i probably didnt need much use for it.. but in the end.. that wasnt true..

if ur looking for work use laptop and is durable.. go for IBM x60(12.1inch, 3.5pounds, 6-7hrs battery life(extended battery), 3 yrs warrenty).... or x61..

toughbooks r good stuff... but their price i believe r quite high...

apple r not for u if ur looking for something lightweight... but if ur gonna bring it in and out alot... i dun think u would like the 6-7 pounds of macbook pro

what do u do for work??

[cuddlysheep]

how about a t60?

[soraanaam]

Toshiba Qqsmio G45 Is The Shit Best I Love Mine

[eddyz]

personally i think "looks" should come last. I ditto the T60 , or any IBM thinkpad.. sony is way overpriced... IBM thinkpad offers the same magnesium roll cage, finger security , a great backup/restore program and is lightweight and durable.

I currently use a samsung R20. it was cheap for a new laptop at under 800 CDN, + is great for daily campus use.

[jake snake]

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[London]

functionality should be your main priority. With that being the case I would say the macbook.

[pantheist]

Dell D620 or D630. These are really nice for the price. I've dealt with hundreds of these for federal investigators, not one has come back with a hardware issue (except the occasional spill or cracked screen from a user fuck up). The thinkpads we recieved for a pilot group were awful. Tons of preloaded shit software and an extra partition that was almost impossible to format.

[MAC SMALLS]

just get a regular macbook...I love my black

[fabulousmuscles]

just get a regular macbook...I love my black

I would go for the mbp! I'm so damn sick and tired of all that plastic on my macbook!

[123ok]

i've been looking at the dell xps m1330 w/ white-led but the fuckers got like 2 month delivery time..

[baskew]

I'm on my 3rd powerbook/macbook.

I love it, tho that sony one looks swank.

[pantheist]

oh i didnt read you were doing industrial design. just go with the MBP

[ProfMonnitoff]

Did anyone even read the first post? The guy wants an ultraportable. No Mac is ultraportable.

The Panasonic is a great computer.

Other notebooks you should look at:

Toshiba r500 - $2000-2500, 1.2Kg, 12", internal DVD burner

Sony TZ - $2500-3000, 1.3Kg, 11", internal DVD burner

Samsung Q30/Dell X1 (same computer) - $2000, 1Kg, 12", no internal DVD burner, but builtin SD/MS/CF reader

The Q30 comes in red, pink, or silver. The X1 comes in the dell color scheme.

The Samsung Q40 has officially been released but is hard as hell to find. Really it's just a faster machine though, you can upgrade everything except for the CPU in a Q30 to Q40 spec.

Of course the price/performance ratio for all of these is dreadful, but that's the price of getting an ultraportable.

[knucks]

i will never get a windows laptop.

[coalessence]

i searched long and hard for something nice that would fit my budget....

i love my hp Pavillion dv9000

its sleek, 17" screen,core 2, external multimedia controls (volume, stop, play, pause) web cam for supercreeps..... anyways it gets the job done and ive never had any problems

it was around $1100 i believe

[bankershill]

Get a Lenovo Thinkpad (mentioned already a few times). I think Dell has a ultraportable XPS but it might cost a bit more than a Thinkpad.

Stay away from Toshiba if you can help it (current owner of two).

[alterion]

If you really want an ultraportable Sony CANNOT be beaten in that market they simply destroy the competition if budget is not a major consideration. The sony TZ seris is pure sex, solid state hard drives , 11.1" 1366x768 screen, core 2 duo's, carbon fibre body, nothing comes close. imho

[baskew]

Did anyone even read the first post? The guy wants an ultraportable. No Mac is ultraportable.

No, but I read the part where he said he could sacrifice ultra-portability for a macbook.

[sidneylo]

I'd gladly pay the "higher price tag" just to not use Vista, but you could always run another OS.

I'm still on my PB 15" 1.57ghz rev C aka Scarlett... going to get a new MBP soon.

[MyAcademy]

Hook up one of those new SS Toshiba jams.

Don't know the specs off-hand, but its no slouch and its fucking SOLID STATE.

So awesome.

Sony has similar offerings too.

[Salad]

Upping this because I have a question regarding buying a new Mac Book via third party.

Basically a friend of a friend got an "extra" MacBook shipped to him. His invoice says "Qty 1" and he was charged for one but he received two. I'm going to buy the other one. Hasn't even been out of the box.

My question is can I take it to an Apple store and register it? I won't have a receipt or anything but I figure they can look up the serial number. Also, the warranty is still good as long as it's been under a year, right?

Any help / info is greatly appreciated.

[fabulousmuscles]

i've never heard of anything like this. i guess it should be registered, if it's shipped. what is it you want to register at the applestore? the warranty is good, but i would just get it inssured in another company. it's not that expensive, and then you won't have to worry about being 'busted'

[thelion1856]

apple is bringing out a totally new line of notebooks in the holiday season or feb/march. look out for that crack.

[Ruwkus]

apple is bringing out a totally new line of notebooks in the holiday season or feb/march. look out for that crack.

you know what will be updated?

[jcotteri]

mac or stfu! doesn't have to be the mac book pro, think about just a regular mac book, if you are looking for aesthetics then get the black one. Don't waste your time getting a pc laptop.

[headcoat]

I love Mac OSX and use it for home and office. But I will never brandish a Macbook in public. I know I'm probably thinking too much into this, but brand consciousness makes me unable to display an Apple product because I despise the public image of the company. I'm almost considering selling my ipod and getting a Zune too.

Yeah thanks Steve Jobs for making decent products with the absolute worst brand connotations and most despicably rabid fanbase in all of corporate America.

[ProfMonnitoff]

I really want a MacBook Pro right now, but just the thought that Apple releases something completely superior a month later is fucking with my mind. After all, the MacBook Pro hasn't really changed (except for specs) since it was first released.

What do you guys think, when is an actual redesign coming out? Is it worth waiting for?

[Ichigo100%]

www.tigerdirect.com

[e2a]

What do you guys think, when is an actual redesign coming out? Is it worth waiting for?

From one of the fanboy rumor mills:

http://www.9to5mac.com/apple-to-release-new-aluminum-macbooks-7456543

It's speculated that the touchpad have iphone functionality.. zooming, etc. It will be awhile before all this happens IMO.. probably announced at the big mac convention next year, whenever that is