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Is there a full size laptop that is light?

J

jacksonian

Junior Member
I was asking in another thread about a 2nd laptop (I have a Dell 5150 already). I was assuming that I had to get a small ultraportable notebook for it to be light. But then my buddy told me his Powerbook had a 15" widescreen and weighed 2lbs. less than my Dell.

I don't really have a preference for widescreen or not. I must have internal wireless. The Dell is 8+ lbs., so I'd like to go at least 2lbs. less. I've gotten used to a 7200RPM drive, but that's not absolute. I don't really care to have an optical drive, I've never used the one I have.

Any suggestions? (I won't go Mac)
 
Well, I saw the Dell 8600 with the Centrino chips and 15.4" widescreen, but it's 6.9lbs.

Looks like the top contenders are:

IBM
T with 14" at 4.5lbs. or 15" at 5.7lbs

Fujitsu
S7010D with 14.1" at 3.85lbs with weight saver module vs. 4.3lbs with DVD/CD-RW drive

Portable One MX with 14.1" at 4.9lbs with optical drive

Are there any that I'm overlooking?
 
Gateway has some 15" under 6 pounds

M320 is 5.5 pounds, but seems to only have xga
15" 450 series are around 6 pounds
 
I'd go with the IBM. You won't regret it. They have the best made notebooks in the business, IMHO. Great notebooks with great drivers and software. No competition.
 
IBM T42 on the PC side... maybe a dell latitude if you need to save some money. Play around with your friend's Powerbook... you might just learn to like it 🙂
 
My vote is for the IBM as well, but take a look at the HP zt3000 series. While you cannot beat IBM quality IMO, HP makes some good machines with some awesome features for the money. The zt3000's are ~6-6.5lbs w/15.4"
 
Compaq X1000 are also good ones. I owe one, and I'm pretty satisfied with it. X1000 and ZT3000 are same laptop with just a different paintjob and minor change in its shell.
 
Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
My vote is for the IBM as well, but take a look at the HP zt3000 series. While you cannot beat IBM quality IMO, HP makes some good machines with some awesome features for the money. The zt3000's are ~6-6.5lbs w/15.4"
Click to expand...

I just got one to replace my R3000z (ended up being too bulky more my tastes) and the ZT3000 is perfect for my needs. 15" WUXGA screen (1920x1200) is beautiful, great feeling keyboard, incredible sound considering the tiny tiny speakers, and the laptop weighs 6lbs 11oz on my postal scale with the battery inside. Fan hardly ever comes on either, which is great. AC adapter is small and portable as well.
 
My Dell 5150 is around 8lbs, so those 6+ lb models are a little heavier than I want. I'd love to stay below 5lbs, but that keeps me with a 14" screen instead of 15". I've gotten pretty used to SXGA+ on my 15" Dell laptop screen, so I'm guessing SXGA would be good for a 14"?

Here's what I put together:

IBM T42 $2282
14.1" XGA, 1.7GHz M, 512mb, 60GB (7200RPM), 32MB ATI Mobility RADEON 7500, bluetooth/Wifi, 1yr warranty, 4.5+lbs?


Fujitsu 7010D $2200
14.1" XGA, 1.7Ghz M, 512mb, 60GB, (7200RPM), Intel integrated graphics, bluetooth/WiFi, 3yr. warranty, 3.85lbs w/weight saver, 4.3lbs with DVD/CDRW drive


HP Compaq nc6000 $2199
14.1" XGA, 1.8GHz, M, 512mb, 60GB (?RPM), 32mb video, bluetooth/WiFi, 3yr. warranty, 5.5lbs.


Toshiba Tecra M2 $2010
14.1" SXGA, 1.7Ghz M, 512mb, 60GB (7200RPM), Nvidia 64mb, Bluetooth/WiFi, 3yr. warranty, 5lbs


Dell Latitude D600 $1986
14.1" SXGA+, 1.8GHz M, 512mb, 40GB (5400RPM), ATI RadeonTM 9000 32MB, WiFi (no BT), 3yr. warranty, 4.68+lbs.

I'm leaning towards the Toshiba right now. I'd like to make a decision soon, as in tonight. Any thoughts appreciated. Adding a 3 or 4 year warranty to the IBM makes it much more expensive than the others. I really would like to have the built in bluetooth for things like wireless mouse, etc...
 
Ok, it took me 3 hours on and off to put all of those choices together. Now I think I want to go either Fujitsu or Toshiba. Does anyone think the integrated graphics on the Fujitsu will matter for web surfing/email/powerpoint/word? I'm not watching movies or doing any spreadsheets or games.

The Toshiba is actually SXGA+ at that price. XGA is $75 less. SXGA would have been just right.

Pros for Fujitsu: weight
Pros for Toshiba: better graphics chip, higher resolution screen, price

But the graphics chip probably won't matter for my uses, and that resolution on a 14.1" screen may not be such a plus after all, so it comes down more to weight vs. price. Any differences in reliability or tech support between these two?
 
Originally posted by: MrCraphead
I'd go with the IBM. You won't regret it. They have the best made notebooks in the business, IMHO. Great notebooks with great drivers and software. No competition.
Click to expand...

I don't think you could have said it better. If you are a student, IBM offers great deals. (2373-3XU is what I have, and its about hte same price as all those computers, but nicer screens. Not quite as fast/big of harddrives, but just mine sits at 4.9LBS) I must sound like an IBM employee, because ever since I got my T42, I can't stop but say good things. My single problem with it is there is no freakin windows key. I converted my right shift key, and just got used to always using the left shift key when I need to capitalize.

 
My HP Zt3000 comes in at 6.5lbs with a Pentium M 1.7ghz, 768MB of ram, 15.4" WUXGA, dvd/cdrw, 60gb 5400rpm hd that can be replaced with a 7200rpm 80gb, wireless 54mbps, and a radeon 9200 64mb
 
Originally posted by: Icefingers
Originally posted by: MrCraphead
I'd go with the IBM. You won't regret it. They have the best made notebooks in the business, IMHO. Great notebooks with great drivers and software. No competition.
Click to expand...

I don't think you could have said it better. If you are a student, IBM offers great deals. (2373-3XU is what I have, and its about hte same price as all those computers, but nicer screens. Not quite as fast/big of harddrives, but just mine sits at 4.9LBS) I must sound like an IBM employee, because ever since I got my T42, I can't stop but say good things. My single problem with it is there is no freakin windows key. I converted my right shift key, and just got used to always using the left shift key when I need to capitalize.
Click to expand...

I knew HP/Compaq & Apple had student discounts. How do I sign up for IBM's?
They may be ugly, but they are good notebooks.
 
Originally posted by: Bateluer
VoodooPC Envy M360 5.5lbs, 15" screen, Radeon 9700 Pro Moblity 128MB. The M370 an M380 are great too, but weigh a little more.
Click to expand...


I would love to have a nice gaming notebook (even though I don't play that much), but never had one on my list since I figured Radeon 9000/9200 would be the best for a 6lb or under notebook.
Now, you have to go and mention this. I'm sure my wife will thank you. 😉
 
the dell 600m is a "thin, and light" laptop. I had one for about a year, and they're great. You can get very good features, and stay right at 5lbs.
 
I hear performance on the 600m isn't as good as comparable speed Centrinos. Also, alot of people say they run REALLY hot. Also, I don't think a 12" screen would qualify as full size. I'd think at least 14-15".

At the current price at Dell biz, they're just a tad over $1000 though which makes them tempting.
 
Originally posted by: NordicNINE
I hear performance on the 600m isn't as good as comparable speed Centrinos. Also, alot of people say they run REALLY hot. Also, I don't think a 12" screen would qualify as full size. I'd think at least 14-15".

At the current price at Dell biz, they're just a tad over $1000 though which makes them tempting.
Click to expand...

600m is 14.1". I tend to only feel the heat if the ambient room temperature is hot. If the room is cold (winter or AC), it feels fine to me. I think the main complaint about the 600m is the quality though. Many people think it's too "plasticy".
 
the coolest thin and light out there right now is the Panasonic Y2. It wieghs 3.3lbs and has a 14.1" screen, plus it gets 5 hours of actual battery life. Performance isn't the greatest though...
 
I think I'm going to go with an Acer Travelmate 3200.
4.8lbs with drive, 14" screen, 1.5MHz Dothan, 512MB, 60GB, and best of all Radeon 9700 & Bluetooth.
I can get a discount through my company, but even suggested retail of $1499 is great.

Also, for those not familiar with Acer, they are a huge company that used to be the largest notebook mfg. They made the notebooks for the then famous Texas Intruments Travelmate series. They then bought out the notebook business from TI and sell them under the Acer name now.
 
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