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Originally Posted by Landing Gear
(Post 15476699)
...Can you say something more about this "Sandy Bridge" chip? Who will be the launch customer in laptops? Can I expect a "corporate" style laptop like a Lenovo T-510 to have these chips?
While Sandy Bridge is a nice improvement and well worth waiting for, the real big jump is in 2013 when Haswell is launched. |
Originally Posted by ericjkelly
(Post 15478206)
I really like the new Inspiron 13's!
Intel Core I3 (they are as fast as the I5) Whether or not going from an an i3 to an i5 is worth the price premium is a different question; Dell has cut down on some of the configurability compared to the past, so I can't get a price on just the base model with an i5; $599 gets you i3-370/2gb/integrated video, $768 gets you i5-460/3gb/Nvidia discrete graphics (and a slightly bigger hard drive.) Probably not worth it for most people, although I'd be curious how much of that'd be the CPU if they were still allowing more configurability. |
Originally Posted by last2board
(Post 15477145)
I am definitely NOT a power user.
SSDs are still pricy, most people are still fine with Core 2s and many muddle along with netbooks and ultraportable processors. Memory prices are finally coming back down; going with 4gb is a good idea although on BTO systems absent promotions it's often cheaper to buy the minimum and upgrade it yourself. |
Originally Posted by number_6
(Post 15478346)
Absolutely not, the whole point of "corporate style" laptops is stability and that means phased rollout of new hardware and staying away from bleeding edge technology. So it will by 6 months to 1 year before those models get the new chips/planar,
Meanwhile the socket and chipset changes to support the new chips are a LOT smaller than the ones needed to rev from the Core 2s where you were dealing with an entirely different bus architecture. While Sandy Bridge is a nice improvement and well worth waiting for, the real big jump is in 2013 when Haswell is launched. |
Originally Posted by Landing Gear
(Post 15476699)
This has me concerned because I am looking for a new laptop and as you surely know, this is a purchase that generally lasts three years or so.
Can you say something more about this "Sandy Bridge" chip? http://www.anandtech.com/show/3876/i...bridge-part-ii Some newer sites are showing 1/5 for the high-end parts and 2/11 for the mainstream ones. Who will be the launch customer in laptops? Can I expect a "corporate" style laptop like a Lenovo T-510 to have these chips? -- Frankly, I don't know that these matter for most users; CPU speeds right now are back out in front of applications, and the need to at least minimally support ultraportables and netbooks is limiting bloat a little more than in the past. While I a lot of people are to impatient to be that happy doing most of their work on a netbook or ultraportable class processor, most people are fine right now with a relatively low-end system (anything comaprable to or faster than a 2ghz+ Core 2 Duo, is still my recommended baseline) ... just going to say, an Core i5-520m is going to be enough futureproofing for most people for a few years yet (and is indeed my general recommendation for futureproofing for regular users.) The comparable chip in the lineup (the i5-2520M) is going to be faster, but not a really big generational leap the way the i5-520M is over say the comparable Core 2s (T8300, say.) The big jump is going to be for people who really need a quad core; the current generations of mobile Quad cores have major compromises involved. These won't, and if you're someone who's sat at a relatively modern dual-core laptop and said, "dang, this is slow at encoding video/rendering a scene/compiling my code" (for three examples) those are going to be a really great thing. Ditto for some gamers, although the lack of really high-end video in laptops is (along with to a lesser extent the much quicker pace of video card improvements than CPU improvements) still the main thing keeping gamers on desktops. I've not seen any pricing on these yet, but I bet the mobile quads will initially be quite pricy. |
Yet Another Recommendation
My burning need was a laptop with long battery life so I didn't have to be one of those people always wandering around the gate area looking for a power outlet. I wound up with a "12-hour" (more like 9 in real life) Asus UL30A. I'm very pleased that I can just turn it on and work, without constantly worrying about running out of juice.
It's thin and light, with a keyboard that fits my hands much better than a 9" Acer Aspire 1. Has 64-bit Windows 7 OS. I do miss an optical drive, which would permit me to rent a Redbox movie at the departure airport and return it at the arrival airport. |
Originally Posted by Middle_Seat
(Post 15478925)
My burning need was a laptop with long battery life so I didn't have to be one of those people always wandering around the gate area looking for a power outlet
[...] I do miss an optical drive, which would permit me to rent a Redbox movie at the departure airport and return it at the arrival airport. |
Originally Posted by Middle_Seat
(Post 15478925)
My burning need was a laptop with long battery life so I didn't have to be one of those people always wandering around the gate area looking for a power outlet. I wound up with a "12-hour" (more like 9 in real life) Asus UL30A. I'm very pleased that I can just turn it on and work, without constantly worrying about running out of juice.
It's thin and light, with a keyboard that fits my hands much better than a 9" Acer Aspire 1. Has 64-bit Windows 7 OS. I do miss an optical drive, which would permit me to rent a Redbox movie at the departure airport and return it at the arrival airport. Speaking of screen size...does anyone know if there is a laptop screen size that falls between 12.4 and 13.3? |
Originally Posted by broadwayblue
(Post 15482260)
That looks like a nice choice. I'm now in the market for a reasonably priced 12.5" to 13.5" laptop with a nice screen and solid battery life in the under 4lb weight class. To me anything larger is just not ideal for travel...and anything smaller is just too hard to work on for very long.
Speaking of screen size...does anyone know if there is a laptop screen size that falls between 12.4 and 13.3? Frankly, though, when you are dealing with size differences at that scale, it's kind of pointless to look at less than an inch difference in the screen size especially since some of the difference may purely be nominal. The width of the bezel/border on the screen will make a relatively bigger difference in the overall footprint of the laptop than a few tenths of an inch in screen size (which is a diagonal measure, so will be a smaller difference in either height or width; as another example, Dell switched from a 15.4" 16:10 screen to a 15.6" 16:9 screen between models of the Latitude E65x0 without changing the exterior dimensions of the case.) For example, the following are all footprints of different modeld with 13.3" screens: 12.5"x9.6" (16:10) 12.7"x8.6" 12.8"x8.6" 12.8"x9" (16x10) 12.8"x9.2" 13"x9" 13"x9.1 13”x9.5” (13.4" nominal) |
Originally Posted by nkedel
(Post 15482871)
I've seen a few machines advertised as 13.0" and 13.1" models (and 13.0" class screens come in both 16:9 and 16:10 aspect ratios, with the latter a little narrower and taller).
Frankly, though, when you are dealing with size differences at that scale, it's kind of pointless to look at less than an inch difference in the screen size especially since some of the difference may purely be nominal. The width of the bezel/border on the screen will make a relatively bigger difference in the overall footprint of the laptop than a few tenths of an inch in screen size (which is a diagonal measure, so will be a smaller difference in either height or width; as another example, Dell switched from a 15.4" 16:10 screen to a 15.6" 16:9 screen between models of the Latitude E65x0 without changing the exterior dimensions of the case.) For example, the following are all footprints of different modeld with 13.3" screens: 12.5"x9.6" (16:10) 12.7"x8.6" 12.8"x8.6" 12.8"x9" (16x10) 12.8"x9.2" 13"x9" 13"x9.1 13”x9.5” (13.4" nominal) |
Originally Posted by broadwayblue
(Post 15483428)
I had a Dell 700M several years back and I loved the portability (4.1 lbs, 11.7 length by 8.5" width)...but the 12.1" screen (originally thought it was 12.4") was a bit small for extended use.
If you'd said the keyboard was the issue, they've done a lot with the 11.6"netbook+" machines to put really usable keyboards on them, or if your budget allows for something like an X201, there are a few business ultraportables left with really superb keyboards. A year or so ago I purchased a 13.3" Acer. The low voltage processor is very nice for battery life, and the sub 4 lbs weight is great too...but I feel like I'd like something that is just a bit smaller than the 12.66" x 9" footprint. I guess I'm nitpicking because the new Acer is really only slightly larger overall than my old Dell despite it having a screen that is over an inch larger. If the issue is being able to use it in coach, some models now have a drop hinge and/or a hinge ahead of the back edge (generally projecting back with battery) which can make it a little more compact in depth when open. Some models to look at: The Sony VPC Z-series (nominally 13.1" screens) may be your best bet (12.4x8.3 per Sony). They're wicked pricy though, IMO, even by Apple standards. (Quite a fast processor, too, although I don't know what the battery life is like.) Another potentially good option if thickness/weight is an issue rather than footprint (and I say this as a non-MacUser) is the new Macbook Air 13". It also has a higher-resolution 16:10 screen (1440x900) which most other manufacturers only add as an option on their 14" and larger machines if at all. Still too pricy to my mind (especially given the last generation processor) unless you're a Mac user or trying to minimize the thickness/weight at pretty much any cost... bit it's still a couple $100 cheaper than the Sony above, and the reviews on battery life have been very positive. Short of Apple, the Asus UL30A already mentioned in this thread is a very nice thin-and-light 13". from Dell, the Latitude 13/Vostro V13/V130 (all near clone models, the last having a newer generation/faster processor) may be your best bets; the Latitude E4310 is a little thicker, much faster, and rather pricier. If you're willing to go the slightly larger, the Thinkpad T410s (13.3x9.5,3.9lbs) manages to get a full 14.1" screen into a package barely larger or heavier than the larger 13.3" models, and the consultants where I work absolutely love them. (Not to be confused with the rather chunkier T410 without the "s", although that's a very nice regular-size 14" machine.) If you want to revisit 12" models, the Thinkpad X201 or X201i are good to look at first. 16:10, superb keyboard/ergonomics, and the lower-endi3-based X201i is under $800, which is an unheard of price for a business-class ultraportable. The semi-comparable Dell is the E4200 (although this has a last-generation Core 2 Duo ULV), and there's the MacBook Air 11" (11.6", last-generation Core 2 Duo ULV) both of which will be quite a lot slower than the X201i. Currently I'm using a Dell mini 9 which is really more a toy than a laptop...and it's hardly good for anything other than some surfing or email. So an upgrade is in order. Short of the Sony, perhaps someone else here has a recommandation for a particularly compact 13" model? |
Hey gang, can anyone give me a match on these specs?
--15.6" screen --integrated numeric keypad --external media/entertainment controls (accessible when lid is closed) These appear to be the criteria for my friend who's probably going to wait until February for purchase. But the pickings are slim (or nonexistent) to bat 3 for 3 on the above. Anyone with ideas? |
Originally Posted by nkedel
(Post 15484352)
If you found the screen to be the issue with the 700m, my guess is that the current crop of 11.6" screens (1366x768 vs 1280x800) will be even worse for you, although they'll tend to be the same keyboards as 12" models that part will be acceptable. Real 12" screens have pretty much limited themselves to business ultraportables, and given the use of 11.6" on the MBA 11" I suspect even those may be disappearing.
If you'd said the keyboard was the issue, they've done a lot with the 11.6"netbook+" machines to put really usable keyboards on them, or if your budget allows for something like an X201, there are a few business ultraportables left with really superb keyboards. Which dimension do you want it smaller in? If the issue is being able to use it in coach, some models now have a drop hinge and/or a hinge ahead of the back edge (generally projecting back with battery) which can make it a little more compact in depth when open. Some models to look at: The Sony VPC Z-series (nominally 13.1" screens) may be your best bet (12.4x8.3 per Sony). They're wicked pricy though, IMO, even by Apple standards. (Quite a fast processor, too, although I don't know what the battery life is like.) Another potentially good option if thickness/weight is an issue rather than footprint (and I say this as a non-MacUser) is the new Macbook Air 13". It also has a higher-resolution 16:10 screen (1440x900) which most other manufacturers only add as an option on their 14" and larger machines if at all. Still too pricy to my mind (especially given the last generation processor) unless you're a Mac user or trying to minimize the thickness/weight at pretty much any cost... bit it's still a couple $100 cheaper than the Sony above, and the reviews on battery life have been very positive. Short of Apple, the Asus UL30A already mentioned in this thread is a very nice thin-and-light 13". from Dell, the Latitude 13/Vostro V13/V130 (all near clone models, the last having a newer generation/faster processor) may be your best bets; the Latitude E4310 is a little thicker, much faster, and rather pricier. If you're willing to go the slightly larger, the Thinkpad T410s (13.3x9.5,3.9lbs) manages to get a full 14.1" screen into a package barely larger or heavier than the larger 13.3" models, and the consultants where I work absolutely love them. (Not to be confused with the rather chunkier T410 without the "s", although that's a very nice regular-size 14" machine.) If you want to revisit 12" models, the Thinkpad X201 or X201i are good to look at first. 16:10, superb keyboard/ergonomics, and the lower-endi3-based X201i is under $800, which is an unheard of price for a business-class ultraportable. The semi-comparable Dell is the E4200 (although this has a last-generation Core 2 Duo ULV), and there's the MacBook Air 11" (11.6", last-generation Core 2 Duo ULV) both of which will be quite a lot slower than the X201i. Eek, yeah, the 9" ones are toys even by comparison to the 10" ones. I waited for general availability fo the 10" models before getting a netbook, and have sort of given up on using it for travel. There are a handful of 10" models with higher resolution (1366x768) screens but I'm not sure that would help with my eyesight. Short of the Sony, perhaps someone else here has a recommandation for a particularly compact 13" model? |
Originally Posted by broadwayblue
(Post 15484469)
Originally I was thinking I needed a laptop that used no more than 65w so I could use the powerports on the plane...but with battery life now pushing 8 hours or more that might not be a requirement after all.
Are the current i3/i5/i7 mobile chips low voltage? i3-330M = regular voltage/2.13 GHz/35W max, i3-330UM = ultralow voltage/1.2 GHz/18W max i5-430M = regular voltage/2.26 Ghz (2.53ghz turbo)/35W max, i5-430UM = ULV/1.2Ghz (1.46/1.73ghz turbo)/18W max i5-520M = regular voltage/2.4 Ghz (2.66/2.93ghz turbo)/35W max, i5-520UM = ULV/1.07Ghz (1.6/1.86ghz turbo)/18W max i7-620M = regular voltage/2.66 Ghz (3.06/3.33ghz turbo)/35W max, i7-620UM = ULV/1.07Ghz (1.73/2.13ghz turbo)/18W max (there's are also 25W max LM parts.) While still faster than the comparably-clocked ULV parts, the i3 ULV parts still present some real compromise on speed vs. mobility for general use, and the i5-4xxUM parts are sort of marginal for general use (IMO). With turbos approaching the 2ghz mark, the i5-520UM (and faster, and all i7-6xxUM parts) should be fast enough for most people without feeling like they've compromised. The Dell Vostro V130 is the cheapest 13" ULV i5 laptop I know of ($750, although figure on $900 with Win 7 Pro and 4gb of memory rather than 2) but I think the short battery life (~3 hours in most reviews) would make it a non-starter. (The Acer TimelineX 1830T is priced similarly, but has an 11.6" screen; I haven't looked into the battery life.) |
Originally Posted by nkedel
(Post 15490327)
While still faster than the comparably-clocked ULV parts, the i3 ULV parts still present some real compromise on speed vs. mobility for general use, and the i5-4xxUM parts are sort of marginal for general use (IMO). With turbos approaching the 2ghz mark, the i5-520UM (and faster, and all i7-6xxUM parts) should be fast enough for most people without feeling like they've compromised. The Dell Vostro V130 is the cheapest 13" ULV i5 laptop I know of ($750, although figure on $900 with Win 7 Pro and 4gb of memory rather than 2) but I think the short battery life (~3 hours in most reviews) would make it a non-starter. (The Acer TimelineX 1830T is priced similarly, but has an 11.6" screen; I haven't looked into the battery life.) If only that TimelineX had a 1" larger screen. I'd probably be all over that. 8 hour battery life in a just over 3lb form factor. But 11.6" is just a bit too small for me. Or maybe after playing with my mini it will seem larger than my old 12.1" Dell did. lol |
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