does this laptop exist?

[slugg]

An optical drive isn't really important to me. All I really need is something really small, really light, has a really great battery life, and can support 1 gb of memory. I found a Fujitsu (i think it was a P7000, i forgot exactly) that seemed nice but had a touch screen. I'm not interested in a tablet-style laptop as I'd basically be paying for extra features I dont need. Plus, I'm not too familiar with Fujitsu's quality. Sony also has an 11 inch laptop, but I'm not interested in that either because it's EXTREMELY fragile, almost to the point that if you LOOK at it too hard, the screen will crack. So far I think the best contender is IBM/Lenovo's X series non-tablet notebooks. This is what I know of, however. So what can you guys say about any other options? I'm probably going to get a million replies about how Thinkpads are amazing, which I'll agree, but I'm more interested right now in what ELSE is out there.

Keep this in mind... I want:
- Light weight
- Small
- Long battery life
- Optical drive doesnt matter. I don't care either way.
- NOT A TABLET PC.

Lets not worry about budget for now...

Thanks a lot in advance

 

[nnnyyy]

Dell makes a 12.1 inch. I believe it is the XPS line now. They used to have a 700m/710m that was great!

 

[msi1337]

IBM X31 OR X60...

nothing else can hold a candle to the X series!

 

[fbrdphreak]

ThinkPad X60s: Core Duo L2300 1.66GHz, 2.69lbs with 4-cell slim battery (~3 hours life), 3.15lbs with 8-cell enhanced battery (8-9 hours life), 12" XGA

8-cell sticks out the back <1 inch

I think your only other options would be to look at Dell and Fujitsu. Dell's D420 is a 12" WXGA with Ultra Low Voltage Core Solo CPU, not sure if they offer a high capacity battery for long life. I haven't looked at Fujitsu's offerings, but they usually have some sweet ultraportables.

 

[Corporate Thug]

go with the x60, you wont be disappointed.

 

[Ayah]

x60s

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Sony TX series (i think)

11inches

LED back-lit LCD and i think 6 hour battery life. only got a sinlge core CPU though and a ULV on at that, but thats the price you pay.

lol shoulda read the post properly .. the sony's too fragile for you! in that case... lenovo is my next choice

 

[pkme2]

12" Laptops

The only laptop I would avoid is the Sony Vaio. Lenova and Dell ranks high. Core 2 Duo is the only way to go.

 

[cheesehead]

I would avoid Dell like the plauge.

If you don't need the horsepower, I just bought a factory refurbished X40 (w/ 1yr warranty) for 650$. Add some more RAM (512mb will give you 768 total) and the extended battery, and you have 6 hours of battery life, or almost 9 if you swap out the non-extended pack.

The 1ghz ULV Pentium-M is not exactly a powerhouse, though.

 

[ForumMaster]

you can get what you want but you will either have to settle for an 8-9 cell battery sticking out the back or go with a really weak CPU. the x60 sounds good.

 

[Gomce]

yes and I just bought one 2 days ago

- toshiba satellite u205-s5002
core duo, 1.66 x 2
1gb ram, ddr2 533, 2 x 512
super drive, dvd reader, writer, dvd ram
ethernet
modem
wifi
bluetooth
12.1 screen, truebright, 1280x800, awesome and bright (im typing this message on my balcony, on a bright sunny day)
100gb hard drive
magnesium alloy body
4h-4.5h battery life
awesome power saving scheme by toshiba
fingerprint reader
3 x usb
1 x firewire
awesome keyboard

cons: small touch pad
cons: no camera built in

 

[6000SUX]

Originally posted by: Gomce
yes and I just bought one 2 days ago

- toshiba satellite u205-s5002
core duo, 1.66 x 2
1gb ram, ddr2 533, 2 x 512
super drive, dvd reader, writer, dvd ram
ethernet
modem
wifi
bluetooth
12.1 screen, truebright, 1280x800, awesome and bright (im typing this message on my balcony, on a bright sunny day)
100gb hard drive
magnesium alloy body
4h-4.5h battery life
awesome power saving scheme by toshiba
fingerprint reader
3 x usb
1 x firewire
awesome keyboard

cons: small touch pad
cons: no camera built in

More cons: a fixed optical drive, increasing the weight and not allowing for a modular-bay battery to increase runtime; less than stellar battery capacity for the weight. The X60, by comparison, weighs a pound less WITH extended battery and doubles the battery life.

 

[6000SUX]

Originally posted by: pkme2
12" Laptops

The only laptop I would avoid is the Sony Vaio. Lenova and Dell ranks high. Core 2 Duo is the only way to go.

I would avoid Dells based on personal experience. Core 2 Duo is not the only way to go for someone looking for an ultraportable; it's a ridiculous thing to say.

 

[cheesehead]

Originally posted by: 6000SUX

Originally posted by: pkme2
12" Laptops

The only laptop I would avoid is the Sony Vaio. Lenova and Dell ranks high. Core 2 Duo is the only way to go.

I would avoid Dells based on personal experience. Core 2 Duo is not the only way to go for someone looking for an ultraportable; it's a ridiculous thing to say.

I'm currently getting ready to install Mepis on my X40. Even with a 1ghz CPU, it should have enough power to run FreeCiv and Sim City 2000 under WINE.

Remember, it often makes more sense to get a desktop AND a laptop than just a laptop. A 650$ X40 + 512mb of RAM will put you at under 700$; a reasonably powerful desktop can be had for 800$.

Or, you can buy an X60 for more money, which will weigh more than the X40 and perform much worse than the desktop PC.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: Cheesehead
I would avoid Dell like the plauge.

If you don't need the horsepower, I just bought a factory refurbished X40 (w/ 1yr warranty) for 650$. Add some more RAM (512mb will give you 768 total) and the extended battery, and you have 6 hours of battery life, or almost 9 if you swap out the non-extended pack.

The 1ghz ULV Pentium-M is not exactly a powerhouse, though.

actually my friend has the little 12.1 inch dell, its a dinky little thing smaller than some of our text books! suits her tho coz shes about 4ft nothing. still its one of the best put together laptops ive ever used... feels really solid. and she totally absues the poor thing. jus shots it in her bag with all her other crap and generally bashes it about...im suprised it aint bust

dell are abit hit n miss with quality. my mate Rob's latitude laptop = rock solid, james inspr0n = complete garbage

 

[BladeVenom]

If you really want light weight and long battery life check out the Panasonic T5. It's 2.8 pounds with a claimed 15 hour battery life.

 

[andrewbabcock]

X60s is an awesome machine but it doesn't have the horsepower. I love mine for its small size and great battery life, but gaming and other intensive tasks are mostly out of the question.

 

[imported_Uber]

Originally posted by: Cheesehead
The 1ghz ULV Pentium-M is not exactly a powerhouse, though.

Its not utter crap either.
The Pentium M series has proven itself to be pretty good in comparison to say, Pentium 4 or Celeron. 1GHz PentiumM will do stuff.

What exactly were you wanting this for?

 

[slugg]

i'd be using it for internet access, programming, ms office, music, Finale (music notation), watching movies (not from an optical drive), and other little random things but NOT gaming.

 

[extra]

Since you will not be gaming, the thinkpad X line (the non-tablet ones that is, since you specified that) would be ideal. They have the integrated GMA video (perfectly decent as long as you aren't going to be gaming) and no optical drive. They are VERY well built and have exceptional battery life.

I have an XPS1210 and while it is fast and the battery lasts a long time with everything turned off (9-cell) it is not thin on the same level as the X series, and I wouldn't recommend it for someone who has thin and light above a real video card on their priorities. The xps is a great machine for what it is designed to be, however (i LOVE mine).

Check out the thinkpad X series..You will not be dissapointed.

Here is a link to a notebookreview.com review of it, I will PM it to you as well

http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=3173&review=lenovo+thinkpad+x60

Note that yes the 8 cell battery does stick out a little bit. The pictures make the laptop look larger than it really is.

The S model should get even better battery life.

Get the 8 cell battery. It may look a little odd but you'll be able to pull in 5-7 hrs of battery life!

 

[cheesehead]

Originally posted by: extra
Since you will not be gaming, the thinkpad X line (the non-tablet ones that is, since you specified that) would be ideal. They have the integrated GMA video (perfectly decent as long as you aren't going to be gaming) and no optical drive. They are VERY well built and have exceptional battery life.

You can get a factory-refurbished X40 for 650$ through a reputable dealer. (I'm typing this on an identical X40 from this seller).

http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-ThinkPad-X40-P-...2QQcategoryZ140083QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

650$ is not too expensive for any laptop, and I'm getting over three hours of battery life on the 4-cell battery. The 8-cell should get 6+ hours, or over nine hours combined.

These things are built like tanks. Really, really small tanks.

 

[slugg]

oh man I just realized that the X series doesn't have a touch pad . Other than that, the X60s is perfect.

can anyone comment on a touchpad versus a "trackpoint" style mouse?

 

[BladeVenom]

I hate the trackpoint type mouse.

 

[hmsrolst]

Last week I picked up a Dell D420 with a Core Duo at the Dell Outlet for less than $900. I've been using it for a few days and it's very nice (and just like new). Mine has the mid-range battery rated at 4.5 hours and weighs in at 3.25 pounds. With a 3 hour battery it would weigh 3 pounds. It has a 60GB HDD and a gig of RAM. As with all Latitudes at the Outlet it comes with a 3-year warranty. It's my 5th Dell notebook and so far all have served me well.

I must say I find it hard to see how you're better off with an old IBM with a 1GHz PIII, 20GB HDD and 256MB of RAM, not to mention a one-year warranty. With a Core Solo, the D420 is less than $800 at the Outlet, barely $100 more than the X40.

IBM's maybe nicer (I wouldn't know), but I just can't see buying an old one, given the D420.