Tech Support > Computer Hardware > Laptops/Notebooks > ultraportable... which one?
ultraportable... which one?
Posted by Dark on August 16th, 2005


I'm searching for a _used_ ultraportable laptop but I don't really know
which model fits my requirements:

- weight 1.4-1.7 kg max (3-3.7lb)
- cpu centrino >= 1.6Ghz
- lcd == 12 pollici
- hd >= 40Gb *5400rpm*
- wireless
- no cd (if present, total weight should not exceed 2kg-4.4lb)
- price 750 euro (~500 GBP)

It seems that following models have some of the above requirements:

- IBM X31
- Dell D400, D410, X300
- Benq 6000N
- HP 4010, 4200
- Asus S5200N
- Toshiba M200

Any suggestions? Other brands/models?

Posted by DH on August 16th, 2005


Dark wrote:

IBM is my preferred choice, now got 4 in the family.

Solid and well built, but slim and lightweight (yeah, even unto my old T22 !)
--
Best Regards,

David Harris
Please remove NOSPAM & demunge address to reply :-
g8ina((at))NOSPAMblueyonder(dot)co(dot)uk

Posted by Rusty on August 17th, 2005



"Dark" <darknessRIMUOVIMI@softhome.net> wrote in message
news:HgqMe.75948$fm.5183555@news4.tin.it...
Sony VAIO S-series 13" or T-series 10"


If you can make any sense of their whacky web page that is

rusty




Posted by Notan on August 17th, 2005


Rusty wrote:
Good luck with Sony's after-the-sale support, not to mention their
exorbitantly high prices for replacement parts!

Notan

Posted by Dark on August 17th, 2005


Notan wrote:

how bad... i was just watching these cool Vaio S-series models

Posted by RCT on August 17th, 2005



"Dark" <darknessRIMUOVIMI@softhome.net> wrote in message
news:0KIMe.78194$fm.5315399@news4.tin.it...


Sony Support is not as bad as everybody makes out, it has it's moments but
you do still get good service.

We supply Sony and deal with any warranty issues that pop up for our
customers, so they never have to deal with it at all...we are also in the
process of supplying spare parts & repairing VAIO and hope to have that
ready for 2006.

We also have our own dedicated Sony Support site -
www.support.red-cloud.co.uk - which we will be redesigning shortly to offer
more functionality and service for our customers.

If you have any questions on VAIO please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thanks

Euan.
RCT

W - www.red-cloud.co.uk



Posted by Notan on August 17th, 2005


Dark wrote:
I'll admit that Sony's got some of *the* coolest looking notebooks on
the market!

From personal experience and from of plethora (Love that word!) of
posts, over the years, direct contact with Sony is an agonizing
experience.

If you can get a dealer that will guarantee you good after-the-sale
support, I'd imagine that the service couldn't be any worse than any
of the other major brands.

On the other hand, the price of replacement parts is set by Sony.
Again, from personal experience and from numerous (You *can* over
do it with "plethora!") posts, prices have always been, and will
continue to be, extremely high.

Notan

Posted by Dark on August 17th, 2005


Notan wrote:

i c... so, in this plethora of brands & models, which ultraportable
would you suggest other than the sony vaios ?

Posted by Dan Koren on August 17th, 2005




In the ultraportable category
nothing comes close to Panasonic.

Check the R4 (10" no CD), T4 (12"
no CD), W4 (12" w/CD-DVD) or Y4
(14" w/CD-DVD writer). They are
better built than anyting else
on the market, have the best
clearest/brightest LCD's, the
longest battery lives, and even
the largest one (Y4) weighs only
3.4lb!

I don't know where you live so I
have no idea about market prices
and availability in your area. If
the 4 series is too expensive you
may want to check the older but
otherwise equivalent R2/T2/W2/Y2
series.



dk


"Dark" <darknessRIMUOVIMI@softhome.net> wrote in message
news:HgqMe.75948$fm.5183555@news4.tin.it...


Posted by Dan Koren on August 17th, 2005




"Dark" <darknessRIMUOVIMI@softhome.net> wrote in message
news:f5NMe.60279$2U1.3271781@news3.tin.it...

I would definitely suggest *NOT* Sony.
My experience with them has been really
terrible. Between myself, kids, family
and friends we've had an outragoues
number of problems with more than
half a dozen units.

They are overpriced (at least here
in the US) and unreliable, and Sony
support and customer service varies
from laughable to non-existent.

Why not get a truly solid, reliable
and well supported product for your
hard earned money? Panasonic is the
only laptop brand/vendor that does
its own engineering and that offers
3 year warranties on everything they
sell.



dk



Posted by Dark on August 17th, 2005


Dan Koren wrote:

which Panasonic model is an affordable ultraportable?
The ones I know are all over 2000 USD...

Posted by Dark on August 17th, 2005


Dark wrote:

ops, i've seen your other post right now...

Posted by Dark on August 17th, 2005


Dan Koren wrote:

AFAICS those panosonic models are really hard to find in europe (and
buying them outside, even used, is too expensive due to import duties & vat)

Posted by Dan Koren on August 17th, 2005


"Dark" <darknessRIMUOVIMI@softhome.net> wrote in message
news:atOMe.79256$fm.5377866@news4.tin.it...

Sorry my advice does not seem to be
useful....



dk



Posted by Dan Koren on August 18th, 2005


"Dark" <darknessRIMUOVIMI@softhome.net> wrote in message
news:atOMe.79256$fm.5377866@news4.tin.it...

I don't know where you live, however
a quick check on www.ebay.co.uk shows
no fewer than 30 Panasonic laptops
offered for sale, most of them at
prices below GBP 500.


dk



Posted by Dark on August 18th, 2005


Dan Koren wrote:

i checked but i didn't see the above mentioned models, did you?

Posted by ross on August 18th, 2005


I recommend the IBM. IBM's are known to be very durable and my T42 is
living up to that reputation. My experience with IBM customer service
has been excellent. They are now owned by Lenovo, but I *assume* they
have not made any drastic changes.

Posted by Dan Koren on August 18th, 2005


"ross" <rossharold@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1124331633.102585.160660@g14g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...

The best customer service is the one one never needs.



dk



Posted by Dan Koren on August 18th, 2005


"Dark" <darknessRIMUOVIMI@softhome.net> wrote in message
news:%rQMe.79426$fm.5395225@news4.tin.it...

I didn't. However, this shows the
Panasonics are available in those
markets, and sooner or later the
newer models will also turn out
on eBay. Also note that some of
the sellers were computers shops
with significant inventories and
advertised systems returned from
leases. Contact them and find out
if some of the newer models may
also be available.



dk



Posted by David Tong on August 19th, 2005


Depends exactly what you want, but I'm delighted with my Toshiba U100. It's
small enough, rugged enough, and light enough to take everywhere with me
without being an impediment.

The small format means you can open it anywhere without it being an 'event'
or making you seem a geek. (I find that putting a normal laptop on a table
when you're with other non-tech people tends to erect a barrier between you
and them). I think it's like the difference between old-style cameras and
'wearable' cameras like the Casio Exilim - that is, it's no good having an
all-singing all-dancing device that's too big and heavy to be with you when
you want it; better to have a slightly compromised device that's there when
you need it.

Ok, the 'compromise' is a small screen and a small keyboard. But there are
ways round the first (see my post yesterday at
http://forums.computers.toshiba-euro...threadID=6066),
and I found the second issue mostly disappeared after a couple of weeks of
using it.

But as I said, it depends what you really want :-)
--
David Tong

[Please replace 'invalid' with 'com' to reply].
"Dark" <darknessRIMUOVIMI@softhome.net> wrote in message
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