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New Laptop Time

AlexAlex
edited June 2008 in Everything Else
I find myself in the market for a new laptop, and I'd like any feedback the forums would care to give. Here's what I'm currently looking at:

Sony Vaio TZ2000 or SZ780
Small, good battery life (supposedly), slightly expensive. I've also found little in the way of reviews, and am leery of trusting manufacturer specs 100%.

Dell Vostro 1310
I've just discovered Dell's ultraportable machines, and am curious. This or XPS m1330 are kind of tempting.

ThinkPad T61
Cheap, large, ugly but sturdy and functional, low battery life. At the moment, this is just my fallback option if none of these shiny ultraportables pan out.

A note: there are smaller ThinkPads (the X series) but they have either lower screen resolutions or higher pricetags than I'm willing to put up with.


I'm leaning towards something little and portable, probably in the 13" screen range. Battery life is also a high priority. I don't expect to be playing any crazy 3D games on this thing, so integrated graphics will probably suffice.

Anyone have experience with any of the models above, or others that fill the same niche that you'd care to mention?

Comments

  • PaulathonPaulathon
    I bought a Thinkpad X31 for $300 and it's great. As long as your laptop runs XP and you don't want to run games or crazy multimedia stuff, I don't recommend buying a new one these days. My main PC is five years old and I have no reason to upgrade. I know that doesn't answer your question but I'm just putting the possibility out there.
  • KieyKiey
    I'm also looking to get new laptop, mostly for the fall for grad school figured though I might get it sooner so I have more time to play/use it before then. I'm personally looking at tablet laptops, and have it down to a HP Pavilion tx2000z and a Toshiba Protege M700. I'm leaning toward the Toshiba since I already have a Toshiba laptop and I'm used to them/never had any problems with it. Also there is an option for it that makes the screen touch not just pen tablet, which would be really cool.
  • AprecheApreche
    edited June 2008
    Thinkpad X61s. ThinkPad X300, if you can afford it.
    Post edited by Apreche on
  • konistehradkonistehrad
    I've been eyeballing the Sony VGN-SZ740N series for some time. The big selling point for me is the blended video solution: it's got an Intel X3100 for low-power-consumption graphics, and an nVidia 8400GS for times when you really need a good graphics card. The particular model I linked to is a bit on the expensive side ($1500), but it's probably got the best price/performance ratio of any of them (there are N1-N8 models).
  • AlexAlex
    Thinkpad X61s. ThinkPad X300, if you can afford it.
    A note: there are smaller ThinkPads (the X series) but they have either lower screen resolutions or higher pricetags than I'm willing to put up with.
    Where do you see an X61s with a screen resolution higher than 1024x768? If there is such a model, I'll consider it.
  • AprecheApreche
    Thinkpad X61s. ThinkPad X300, if you can afford it.
    A note: there are smaller ThinkPads (the X series) but they have either lower screen resolutions or higher pricetags than I'm willing to put up with.
    Where do you see an X61s with a screen resolution higher than 1024x768? If there is such a model, I'll consider it.
    Oh yeah... That's why I didn't buy the previous X series back in the day. The X300 has a better screen, though.

    There's also the Panasonic Y7, but it's worse than the X300, and cost more. Rym has the Fujitsu Lifebook P8010, so you know all about that, but there is the larger Lifebook S7211 that might work for you.

    Also, I generally don't trust the Sony VAIO anything. They have always tended to do weird proprietary stuff with their hardware that makes life unhappy.
  • CHOIS CHOIS CHOISCHOIS CHOIS CHOIS
    None of the above, GO straight to the MacBooks, Pick One and be happy.
  • AndrewAndrew
    I bought a VAIO SZ series a while back and it is horrible quality. RAM died about a year into service and I had to replace both modules, I've been through two battery packs (which I replaced with the warranty but even that service is a bitch), and now the fan is as loud as a helicopter to the point where I can't run it. Mix that with a harddrive that spins up randomly and bullshit proprietary software encumbering and it's not hard to come to the conclusion that it's the worst laptop on the market now.
  • CHOIS CHOIS CHOISCHOIS CHOIS CHOIS
    AHH Sony and the PC platform.
  • konistehradkonistehrad
    edited June 2008
    I bought a VAIO SZ series a while back and it is horrible quality ...
    Man, thanks for the heads up on this. I was totally sold on the features; didn't even think it might be a pile. Guess I'll continue the search then, haha.
    None of the above, GO straight to the MacBooks,Pick Oneand be happy.
    Weeelll ... I will say that right now there's simply not a MacBook I'd buy. The MacBook's are crazy underpowered for my needs, and the Pro's are simply too big. If Apple had released a 12" Pro instead of the Air I'd have a brand new computer right now.
    Post edited by konistehrad on
  • kiwi_birdkiwi_bird
    None of the above, GO straight to the MacBooks,Pick Oneand be happy.
    Weeelll ... I will say that right now there's simply not a MacBook I'd buy. The MacBook's are crazy underpowered for my needs, and the Pro's are simply too big. If Apple had released a 12" Pro instead of the Air I'd have a brand new computer right now.
    I guess you may see today.
  • aresefaresef
    If you're a student, get a MacBook. They have two deals going on.
    -Free iPod touch after rebate
    -Up to $300 of the Academic price of Adobe CS stuff (so basically, like $1200 off normal price, depending)

    Plus the standard free printer. So do that.
  • kiwi_birdkiwi_bird
    And wait until tomorrow. I've been wanting to get a Apple Laptop, but I really don't like the way the MacBook is built, which is why I'm hoping thier going to announce some sort of 12" or smaller laptop.
  • AprecheApreche
    Forget what I said about X300. X200 for the win.
  • kiwi_birdkiwi_bird
    Forget what I said about X300.X200for the win.
    I even has WiMax built in..
  • ThaedThaed
    I bought a 13.3 inch Toshiba a few months ago. It's a Penryn and I'm reasonably happy with it, especially since it gets used/abused practically every waking hour of my life. I reviewed it on my blog, but in essence the only thing I don't like about it is the fan that cycles on and off.
  • Luke BurrageLuke Burrage
    I have a MacBook. The only thing I'm not liking about it so far is that it gets pretty hot. And the hottest bit seems to be right under where I rest the heel of my left hand when typing.

    Then again, I'm not any kind of computer geek so you'll probably want something a bit more open.
  • AndrewAndrew
    I just purchased a ThinkPad x61 for my dad. I'll let you know what I think about it when I get a chance to mess around with it.
  • AlexAlex
    Forget what I said about X300.X200for the win.
    Intriguing. Here's hoping it costs significantly less than $3000.
  • AprecheApreche
    edited June 2008
    Intriguing. Here's hoping it costs significantly less than $3000.
    Agreed. It's worth waiting anyway, because there is also a new T coming. The T might be a little big, but I still think it has one of the best laptops in terms of size/performance ratios. It's an average sized laptop that can definitely work as a desktop replacement, especially if you get the docking station.
    Post edited by Apreche on
  • AprecheApreche
    A new challenger has appeared!

    Voodoo Envy 133. This thing has the instant-on built in Linux, which is a huge plus. Also, it can be a wireless access point. I don't know anything about the company making this, but it seems like a hot product to me. Also, it's about the same price as my P7230 was. $1000 less than the X300.
  • SailSail
    edited June 2008
    You don't need a laptop.

    [Edit]
    Voodoo Envy 133.
    Why did they make that case out of carbon fiber? It could have been like $300 cheaper! What I can say, though, is that that is one light and strong computer.
    Post edited by Sail on
  • SchnevetsSchnevets
    I'm leaning towards a macbook on my PC hunt. Sure, I hate that there's only one dealer, and there's a lot of annoying cosmetic stuff in the OS, but you can't argue with a $300 rebate (Selling my free ipod). Two things I've noticed in my little search, though:
    1. I actually feel more like a tool getting a mac, now that they're popular (damn Mac vs. PC commercials)
    2. The only people who call laptops "notebooks" are dealers.
  • AprecheApreche
    Why did they make that case out of carbon fiber? It could have been like $300 cheaper! What I can say, though, is that that is one light and strong computer.
    Because making it out of carbon fiber allows them to make it smaller, stronger, and lighter. If they kept everything the same, but switched to some normal plastic, it would be heavier, and it would break like a cheap piece of shit.
  • KieyKiey
    That Voodoo actually looks pretty sweet. I think I'm going to have to look into that. I wasn't planning on an ultra-portable, but being able to have linux and windows on a laptop would be really nice for programming.
  • AprecheApreche
    Another new challenger appears!
  • AprecheApreche
    Engadget has news about the X200, no touchpad. However, the X300 just got a price drop of about $500.
  • AndrewAndrew
    The X61 is hotness. It's extremely small and light but still feels sturdy like larger sized laptops. My dad really likes it but I haven't really gotten around to messing with it. I did upgrade him to two gigs of RAM which was painless.
  • AlexAlex
    Engadget has news about the X200, no touchpad.
    Damnable nub.

    And another challenger!
  • AprecheApreche
    Engadget has news about the X200, no touchpad.
    Damnable nub.

    And another challenger!
    Those don't look so bad, but I'm just not a Toshiba fan. Every Toshiba laptop I've ever touched has felt pretty flimsy.
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