Yeah, I know there is no such thing as the perfect laptop, but here goes.

I'm looking for something with the following specs:

Pentium M (Centrino) technology 1.4 gHz and up
Min of 512 MB RAM
60+ GB 7200 RPM hard drive
Good video chip for DirectX 8 graphics (ideally DX9) (nVidia 4200/56X0)
SXGA+ (1400x1050) or something 1280x1024 and up
1 inch thick
< 5 pounds
DVD+/-RW

Basically I want a nicely portable machine for that's good for development
(Visual Studio) for DirectX software. There are machines (Dell) that
satisfy these criteria but they are either not Centrino machines or are
heavy and 1.5" thick or more. The IBM T40 is a nice machine but is somewhat
lacking for 3d graphics and doesn't have a DVD+/-RW option. A fast hard
drive is also important as for development a fast hard drive is often just
as or more important than a fast processor. Its also hard to tell from
manufacturer specs what the rotational speeds of their hard disks are.

The ultra portable machines also look nice but usually have a small and/or
low resolution (1024x768) screen.

Any suggestions?

-Joel

"Joel Bierling" <email1@bierling.net> writes:

Wait just a bit, there are laptops coming out now
with the Mobility Radeon 9600 chips. I have a 9600 Pro
in my desktop and it kicks ass. By all accounts the
laptop version does a pretty creditable job too, and
has reasonable power demands.


--
Vincent Fox
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332
uucp: ...!{decvax,hplabs,ncar,purdue,rutgers}!gatech!pri sm!vf5
Internet: vf5@prism.gatech.edu

"Vincent Fox" <vf5@prism.gatech.edu> wrote in message
news:bkfanu$g22$1@news-int.gatech.edu...
I wish I could, but I need it soon.

Thanks,
-Joel

this is saying you're looking for the perfect mate...

The Dell 600m is close. My Dell is:

Pentium M (Centrino) 1.6
512 RAM
60 GB 5200 drive
ATI Radeon 9000 DX8
SXGA 1400x1050
1 inch thick
5.4 pounds, 4.8-4.9 without the CD drive which is removable
DVD/CD-RW but a DVD-RW is an option

Joel Bierling wrote:

have you looked at the Sony Vaio line??

How about Gateway?
"Joel Bierling" <email1@bierling.net> wrote in message
news:bkf76v$lgl$1@newsreader.mailgate.org...

"K. Bell" <kbellmt@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:3F6B9E97.EBF3F184@bellsouth.net...
Yes. The Z1ra, but like the IBM T40 has anemic 3d graphics. Plus it also
comes with XP Home and I need Pro on the machine.

Thanks,
-Joel

"David Corsi" <dcorsi@must.remove.first.comcast.net> wrote in message
news:C7Mab.525733$uu5.87876@sccrnsc04...
Yes, but according to Dell its 1.3 inches thick (pretty good, but not 1 inch
like I want) and it has the same video as the IBM T40 and Sony Z1ra which
from what I hear isn't the best at 3d graphics.

I've been doing more searching and I think what I want just doesn't exist.
The laptops that come closest don't have great 3d video. Its probably just
a matter of time, but I'm in a hurry.

Thanks,
-Joel

"Sparrow" <mikedan@videotron.ca> wrote in message
news:57Oab.1658$zZ.96032@wagner.videotron.net...
I looked at their offerings and nothing stood out. I'll check again though.

Thanks,
-Joel

"Robert C" <rchin@panix.com> wrote in message
news:2541279b.0309191443.38ad4104@posting.google.c om...
Already found that ;-)

-Joel

"Joel Bierling" <email1@bierling.net> skrev i meddelandet
news:bkf76v$lgl$1@newsreader.mailgate.org...

Have a look at: http://www.voodoopc.com/systems/m355.aspx
on this page http://www.voodoopc.com/systems/notebook.aspx they say the
graphix is upgradeable.

// Daniel

On Fri, 19 Sep 2003 11:27:44 -0400, Joel Bierling wrote:

Do a look at this:

http://www.powernotebooks.com/specs/PowerPro/c3-16.php
http://www.chemusa.com/prod_specs.php3?product_id=42
http://servicios.ahtec.org/notesignalx9500m.htm