Help looking for a notebook

[boomhower]

I need, well make that want, a laptop. Uses are going to be couch, bedroom, and bathroom surfing. For simple stuff so I don't have to run my main system all the time. I'll also use it watch movies as well which will be encoded in h.264 so it needs to be able to decode that comfortably. Bluetooth is also a much for cell phone data link. I would really prefer to be able to run Vista comfortably as well. I also travel a bit so decent battery life and portability are important.

I had been looking at a netbook, the Asus 1000H in particular, but I am terrified the performance will be unbearable, especially in the decoding. I have gotten so used to multi-core and massive ram that going back to a single core chip will be unbearable.

I am now looking at 12" notebooks. I started with X41's and X61's, all used. The thing that detracts me from these is reports that the screens a bad for movies and viewing angle in general, and the speaker is a joke.

Then I went to Dell 1210's. They seem to be a pretty good compromise but are not nearly as portable. Same story with the 1330's, budget becomes a concern there as well.

Budget is $750 tops.

Thoughts or other ideas appreciated.

 

[DarkRogue]

All screens will be similar as they're pretty much all TN nowadays.
Only ones with IPS are Macbooks, and the now-discontinued T60 line, although I recall reading somewhere that the X series tablets also had IPS..

Edit: T42's also had IPS, but either case, it's a 15" screen, which is probably exceeding your portability desires.

 

[boomhower]

Yeah 15" is to large. The tablets, at least X41's, are supposed to have IPS as well but I have no use for a tablet and the size and wieght is more. Is the Thinkpad my best choice? Anyone else?

 

[DarkRogue]

Thinkpad would've been your best choice if you were going for the IPS panels. But since they don't fit your requirements, you're stuck with TNs that everyone uses now, which means low viewing angles, not so accurate color, etc. Your only other option is a Macbook for IPS. Otherwise, I'd say try to look up information about various vendors' LCDs. I know Dell has some TrueLife thing.. I think it's just a glossy coating on the LCD to make the colors more saturated. I've only ever used IBM Thinkpads personally, although my friends have had an Alienware and a Dell that look ok (but for some reason is awfully orange) and my other friend uses a Toshiba tablet, which is just disgustingly horrendous. If you're not looking directly at it, the colors invert almost immediately, making it impossible to see what he's doing when he wants to show us something.

 

[boomhower]

An IPS isn't a neccessity. I have no problems with TN panels. All of my LCD's have had them, including my current 22" Dell that I love. Some of the reviews have been very very harsh on viewing angles. Right now I am looking at a used X61 and if the deal works out I will probably go with it.