OK. . so I have procrastinated thinking that prices were going to change, the model I REALLY want is going to be released, etc. However; I am now in dire need of purchasing my new laptop/notebook this weekend. My minimum requirements:
PC based
LIGHTWEIGHT (will be travelling with it a great deal)
512MB RAM
40GB Hard drive
XP or the newest OS on the computer (not home)
MS Office
prefer a CD/DVD drive
15" screen
Prefer built-in wi-fi but not "married to it"
Other than that. . .I'm open for suggestions. I would really prefer not to spend more than $1400 if possible. Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance!
UALOneKPlus
Jan 8, 04, 5:08 am
Configure an IBM R40 with the options you want, and excluding MS Office, it should be around $1,500.
This is the top rated PC World value notebook.
winkydink
Jan 8, 04, 11:30 am
The R40 is my current laptop, though I have 768Mb memory. It's not the lightest guy on the block, but it's very reliable (even after I completely disassembled and reassembled it) http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif
If you really want to take advantage of the 15" screen, you'll need to buy a more expensive model that will display 1400x1050.
Also remember that the R-series comes with a 1 yr warranty instead of a 3 yr like other Thinkpads. You can buy up.
All in all, it's a decent laptop, but as soon as the X40 is out, I'm ditching it for the ultralight.
[This message has been edited by winkydink (edited Jan 08, 2004).]
Daydream
Jan 8, 04, 12:40 pm
I have an Acer Travelmate 800, but I heard Acer had also a lowcost one with nearly same stuff for a lower price.
Anyway,I like mine, it sure has negative sides, but it is very reliable. Has exactly what you want from a notebook (including Centrino with wifi) and I take it every day with me to class and it does just fine. Battery life is good over 4 hours, it is extremly quiet plus it looks darn good.
jer
Jan 8, 04, 1:17 pm
You list "lightweight" second and 15" screen much lower. Is this an order of preference?
The two are basically incompatible.
I just ordered the IBM X31 a few days ago. It has a tiny screen, but only weighs 3.5 pounds. It can be configured to meet all your requirements except screensize.
The T series might be a good compromise on both requirements.
CVO 1K 2 Million
Jan 8, 04, 1:53 pm
Toshiba Portege R100
I've had Toshibas for 10 years...still like them
also excellent reviews recently
winkydink
Jan 9, 04, 6:18 am
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by jer:
[B]I just ordered the IBM X31 a few days ago. It has a tiny screen, but only weighs 3.5 pounds. It can be configured to meet all your requirements except screensize.
B]</font>
You do know that the 2.7lb X40 is imminent, right?
richarddd
Jan 9, 04, 6:40 am
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by winkydink:
You do know that the 2.7lb X40 is imminent, right?
</font>
A few web sites say early February. Do you have more exact info?
Only downside is it uses 1.8" HDD.
Search ibm's site and google for more info.
Beckles
Jan 9, 04, 8:44 am
The X40 is not necessarilly a step up from the X31. The X31 offers Pentium M processors up to 1.6 Ghz ... to achieve the small size of the X40 they can only offer the ultra-low-voltage 1.0 Ghz Pentium M chip. Seeing that I use my laptop as my primary computer at work (with docking station, monitor, etc.), there's no way I would ever go for the X40 over the X31 anyway (in fact I took the T40 over the X31 anyway for the built in optical drive).
richarddd
Jan 9, 04, 7:05 pm
If you went with a T40, then you're not the target audience for the x31, etc. The x series is for those who value light weight over performance, etc. T40 seems a great machine if you don't mind the weight.
For email, web browsing, minor word processing and the like, I doubt there much of a discernable difference between 1 and 1.6ghz. My 1.0ghz office desktop was just replaced with a 1.7 and I'm hard pressed to say there's a diff.
Someone told me the x40 will replace the x31.
Non-NonRev
Jan 9, 04, 7:49 pm
If lowest price is not the first priority, consider the Z1 series from Sony:
Model Z1VAP1
4 1/2 pounds
14.1" screen
512 mb RAM
XP Pro
60 Gb Hard Drive
1.6 Mhz Centrino
Bluetooth
2 USB 2.0 ports (no legacy)
100 mbps ethernet
Modem
Cd burner / DVD player
Sony Memory Stick slot
One PC Card Slot
Sony states battery at 6.5 hours , but real-life is more like 5:00 hours for text, just under 3:45 hours watching DVDs on airplane
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by UALOneKPlus:
Stay.... away.... from.... Vaio's..... http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif</font>For previous models, yes. But the Z's are different. Honest http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/biggrin.gif
Beckles
Jan 10, 04, 12:13 am
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by richarddd:
T40 seems a great machine if you don't mind the weight.</font>
The weight of a T40? Out of curiosity, have you ever held a T40?
The T40 is 1.5 inches wider, 1.2 inches deeper and .2 inches less thick than the X31 and weighs about a pound more while packing in a 1400x1050 14 inch screen versus 1024x768 12 inch screen, along with the optical drive.
Last year my small company bought a few X31's ... then it was my turn and I wanted the optical drive so I bought the T40. Every person who already had or wanted an X31 now has or wants a T40. You have to see (and hold) an X31 and a T40 together, and you'll see the difference is pretty insignificant, especially once you consider what you get for the little bit of extra size and weight.
BTW, as for T40 vs. Sony Z, the T40 matches or beats the Sony spec for spec at basically the same price while being noticably smaller (the Z is 1.5 inches thick vs. 1.0 inches for the T40).
inkoherent
Jan 10, 04, 12:38 am
Yes, the T40 rocks, and i got mine for a good price on eBay even though it was brand new.
My T40 runs nicely, good battery life and amazing wi-fi reception, plus no-cost intenational warranty coverage, but I have two minor gripes. The first is the keyboard, I miss my T20's keyboard which is softer and quieter, but I believe this is a matter of personal preference.
The second issue is build quality. On my machine the plastic above the optical drive sags a lot when pressed on, and the top panel housing the LCD simply isn't as robust as mine. My (very arbitrary)test of build quality is to tap/flick the LCD back a little with my fingers, and see how much they rattle/shake. My T20's screen never once flinched, on the other hand some Dells are frightening in that regard.
Another minor gripe is that IBM update doesn't work perfectly, to resolve a keyboard lag issue I had to uninstall an IBM app and put in a new one since the updater did not download the newest version.
Non-NonRev
Jan 10, 04, 1:22 am
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Beckles:
BTW, as for T40 vs. Sony Z, the T40 matches or beats the Sony spec for spec at basically the same price while being noticably smaller (the Z is 1.5 inches thick vs. 1.0 inches for the T40).</font>Beckles - a couple of questions (and I'm usually an IBM loyalist, as my (just ending) job is as an iSeries & AS/400 hardware specialist) http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif
When I was shopping last May, my two finalists were the Sony Z1 and the IBM T40 (the T41 was not yet introduced at that time).
Looking at the ThinkPad website today, the IBM T41 weight is stated at 4.5 pounds, but unless I am reading the specs wrong, that is a "travel weight" - with the optical drive removed and the travel bezel in place. The Sony Z1 optical drive is fixed.
When I bought last May the T40 was listed at 5.6 pounds with the optical drive in place. Accouring to the specs, the T41 improves the overall weight to 5.3 pounds.
(The extra pound was important to me because I was recovering from a minor shoulder problem and wanted to minimize weight).
As for dimensions, the Sony Z1 is actually "wedge" shaped. When folded, at the front it is actually just 0.9-inches thick, while it measures 1.5-inches thick at the back (where the battery resides).
Going back to the ThinkPad website, all of the T41 models were higher in price for the comparable options. Specifically, I "built" a ThinkPad model 2373 with the Sony specs and it came out to a MSRP of $2809.
The T41 offers three significant features that the Sony Z1 does not:
gigabit/100/10 ethernet standard (the Sony is 100/10)
32mb graphics (sony=16mb)
three-year warranty (Sony = one year) (both only cover the battery for one year, though).
Because this was my personal machine, and I have a Sony digital camera that uses memory sticks (and also a camcorder), the fact that the Sony has a Memory stick slot and a FireWire port helped me go in that direction.
ldsant
Jan 10, 04, 3:07 am
You guys are AMAZING. . .wow. . thank you! The information is fabulous. My cell phone died tonight (yes, I am living in technology hell right now http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif) . . may have to make up another post http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif Thanks again . . .this is better than CNET!
richarddd
Jan 10, 04, 7:25 am
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Beckles:
The weight of a T40? Out of curiosity, have you ever held a T40?
[snip]
You have to see (and hold) an X31 and a T40 together, and you'll see the difference is pretty insignificant, especially once you consider what you get for the little bit of extra size and weight.</font>
For some of us, a pound matters. For example, non-nonrev says "The extra pound was important to me because I was recovering from a minor shoulder problem and wanted to minimize weight." For those devoted to light weight, check out the machines on http://www.dynamism.com/index.shtml.
Also, I don't need an optical drive for day-to-day use. A DVD would be nice for flying.
If a pound is insignificant to you, definitely go for the t40. Great machine.