Any PC laptops with the practical styling of the Air?

[randomlinh]

They can be configured with 4 GB as well.

BTW, vendors are selling 11.6" Core i3 laptops with long battery life, 500 GB HD, and 3 GB RAM for under $600 now.

who else besides acer? though, I haven't seen any below $600 with i3.

 

[Eug]

Acer with i3.

In Canada you can get a 4 GB 500 GB i3 Acer 1830T for CAD$610 (US$600).
In the US you can get a 3 GB 250 GB i3 Acer 1830T for US$600.

Hmmmm... It's the first time in a while where it's actually been cheaper in Canada at the same international store.

Both are 1.2 GHz.

 

[randomlinh]

Acer with i3.

In Canada you can get a 4 GB 500 GB i3 Acer 1830T for CAD$610 (US$600).
In the US you can get a 3 GB 250 GB i3 Acer 1830T for US$600.

Hmmmm... It's the first time in a while where it's actually been cheaper in Canada at the same international store.

Both are 1.2 GHz.

yeah, I've seen those. not far enough below $600

I was wondering if anything besides acer. It's a market that seems void of any competition. Though, the new AMD fusion based systems are suppose to pick that up some.

 

[Eug]

yeah, I've seen those. not far enough below $600

I was wondering if anything besides acer. It's a market that seems void of any competition. Though, the new AMD fusion based systems are suppose to pick that up some.

Yeah, hopefully, but otherwise comparable Penryn dual-core laptops are sometimes before $400 now, so it's gonna be a tough market.

Fusion is going to be a nice addition to keep prices low... but I'm elated that when it comes out I may have the option of Core i3 too in the mix for machines at around the $500 mark. Given the choice between Zacate and Core i3 for $100 more, I'd seriously consider the latter.

And if the MacBook Air gets Core i3 with a decent GPU, a bit longer battery life, and a hinge that's confirmed to be strong, I may just get one.

 

[vbuggy]

But vbuggy, IMO yes Apple's no-button trackpad is by far the best. In fact, I would say I have never come across another trackpad that's even in the same league in terms of practical usage. No comparison.
.

Which machines have you *HAD* since e.g. the intro of the '08 Air (the first of the large multitouch trackpads) to arrive at this conclusion?

 

[ther00kie16]

Yes, I'm talking about the first generation Air, which has the 2gb ram limit and a slow CPU by today's standards. I guess my friend was wrong about it not having bluetooth.

 

[Eug]

Which machines have you *HAD* since e.g. the intro of the '08 Air (the first of the large multitouch trackpads) to arrive at this conclusion?

Besides the Synaptics multitouch one I have now, none. I've used maybe 15-20 different ones in the last couple of years though.

Which MacBooks have you *HAD* since e.g. the intro of the '08 Air?

It's not just the size of the trackpad by the way. If you think it's mainly the size of the trackpad, then you've missed the point.

 

[MrX8503]

It's the glass, it is silky smooth, forever. My old MacBook's trackpad would get messed up after just a few months of use, though a swipe with a Magic Eraser returned it to stock for the most part. My roommate's unibody MBP is over a year old now I think, and the trackpad is still as smooth as the day he got it.

This.

The transition from Macbook Pro 2008 to the Unibody Macbook Pro 2009 was a big leap. I don't think I would ever buy a macbook if it wasn't for the unibody. My friend's old macbook pro; the plastic gasket around the edge is peeling away, the trackpad is worn out, and the latch doesn't really work anymore.

With the new unibody, the trackpad is now glass, the latch is removed, and there isn't any plastic gasket. Because of those changes, my year old macbook pro doesn't go through the same wear and tear. In fact it shouldn't really wear down at all unless you drop it.

 

[vbuggy]

Besides the Synaptics multitouch one I have now, none. I've used maybe 15-20 different ones in the last couple of years though.

It figures. The same, in principle, as Apple-addled 'tech press' reviewers who can't even get their heads around power management in Windows, let alone touchpad controls. If you approach it with a made up mind, it's not really going to work, is it.

It's not just the size of the trackpad by the way. If you think it's mainly the size of the trackpad, then you've missed the point.

If you think it's mainly not about the size of the trackpad, then go back and read what I wrote earlier - you may have missed the point.

Which MacBooks have you *HAD* since e.g. the intro of the '08 Air?

Air: Rev. A, B, C and soon the '10 13-inch
Unibody Macbook: 13-inch
Pro: Late '08 Pro 15-inch, 13-inch Pro (evaluated for a couple of months as a candidate against the Air + Hypermac battery - the Hypermac solution provided longer runtime, lower combined weight and simultaneous charge ability as well as swappable packs, albeit at the expense of a slightly lower ambient tolerance than the MBP), 17-inch Early 09, Mid-09, mid-'10.
In some cases, multiple examples of each.

The reason I have more mid-09 and '10 MBP's that I have paid for by the way is that they are new replacements for lemons, after multiple failures - I have not actually purchased a regular new 17-inch MBP since early '09, barring one earlier this year for an attrition replacement. 100% of my Apples since early '08 - early '10 have been recipients of Applecare service.

In the case of the Rev. A, B & C Air's, I couldn't get lemon replacements as they refused to acknowledge the overheating fault, so it's been purchased replacements every time in the hope it has got better. It has been slightly better each time, but still nowhere hear the likes of Sony/Lenovo/Toshiba/etc in terms of everywhere usability.

It's strange to me as you'd think being based in a temperate climate like southern California, you might be able to solve issues of overheating. Perhaps we have the wrong kind of heat in Monaco :hmm: or maybe, just maybe, it's a form-over-function piece of crud which is nevertheless the only option if you don't want an Apple that's not a boat anchor...

Similarly the way too short runtime if you aren't testing with methodology to hit Apple's runtimes, as most tech publications do these days, were never satisfactorily addressed by the Geniuses / AASP's. If I could actually hit somewhere near '5 wireless productivity hours' in extreme ekeing mode while actually doing work, I could be pretty happy. I've never been there.

 

[Eug]

Not sure why you're talking about Apple Care service. Most of my Macs have had Apple Care service too.

Last I checked, people were talking about the trackpad implementation, not frequency of Apple Care service for overheating or whatever. And yeah, IMHO the recent no-button Mac trackpads represent the best trackpad implementation hands down, compared to all I've tried in my lifetime and including all I have tried since 2008.

If you approach it with a made up mind, it's not really going to work, is it.

Indeed. It seems you've already made up your mind, regardless of what anyone else thinks.

 

[Emulex]

even the old macbook rev.a/b/c are light years in advance to any windows implementation

 

[vbuggy]

even the old macbook rev.a/b/c are light years in advance to any windows implementation

Implementation of what?

Style? Sure, it's one of the best - although personally I prefer the Adamo in terms of looks (the weight was a problem though). I also wish the Envy 133 was still around in a current form.

Anything else? I'd like some of what you're smoking.

Do people buy purely on style? I guess many who can only think with their eyes do. But then, most of those are already Apple - and everything else vacuous - devotees in any case.

 

[IlllI]

well this one was just announced http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/05/samsung-9-series-laptop-unveiled-ready-to-slice-the-macbook-air/

picture #5 seems to indicate that most, if not all of the ports are hidden behind a panel.

 

[Zap]

personally I prefer the Adamo in terms of looks (the weight was a problem though).

Yeah, 4 pounds fully loaded.

Anyone notice they dropped prices on the Adamo recently?

Adamo $899
Core 2 Duo SL9600
(Dell's specs don't match Intel's. Dell says 2.1GHz 3MB cache 800MHz FSB.
Intel says 6M Cache, 2.13 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB. Intel says 18W TDP)
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
4GB dual channel DDR3
Lithium Polymer battery
128GB SSD (chances are a Samsung)

That's not half bad!

 

[cbn]

So I'm starting to think about another laptop. I love the old Air's style, not just the slimness, but rather the curved edges and hidden ports. It makes it much more appealing and feel better. I have a Sony that has stealth bays and such but just can't get over my friend's Air's feel with the curved edges.

So my question is are there any PC laptops out there that take a minimalistic approach and has a curved edge as opposed to a plethora of unsightly and unnecessary (for me) ports on the side? Assuming it has bluetooth, all it'd have to have is video out, a usb and a headphone jack (like the Air).

Basically, I'd like something like the old Air but with more power. And no, the new Air doesn't qualify as its side is now flat and plagued by ports.

Maybe something like this?

http://www.dailytech.com/Samsung+Preps+13+9+Series+Ultraportable+Laptop/article20577.htm

 

[OS]

very nice design, but at the same time, i never thought i'd see the day PCs are more overpriced than macs.

 

[ther00kie16]

Looks to be in the right direction but only 6.5hr, more expensive than Air and lower res like the release says. Since it's Li-Polymer, why don't they add a little more weight to get it over 8Hr of battery life?

Maybe MSI can come out with an updated x slim. But with the introduction of the small SSDs, I'm more inclined to hold off until a company comes out with an affordable ultraportable fitted with at least 1 SSD and a HD like the Sony Z can.