Laptop technology direction and recommendations

[rgwalt]

Hi all, I've been lurking in here for awhile reading some threads. I am going to buy a new laptop in the next 6 months or so. I have a 2002 vintage Gateway Intel Centrino I'm using right now. Definitely got my money's worth out of it, but it is getting very slow and a bit twitchy. I've reformated and reinstalled the OS a few times, and that helps, but the internet is a different place now than back in 2002 and it is time for an upgrade.

I've been looking at either an i5 or an i7. My question for you fine people is where is technology headed in the next 6 to 12 months? If I find a decent deal now, should I jump on it, or is there a significant incremental advance coming out soon that I should wait for?

I would appreciate any input!

 

[Brainonska511]

New stuff is always going to be rolling out, but at most, in the next 6-12 months, we'll only see greater availability of Core i chips and a greater supply of the Core i ULV chips (circa 3rd/4th quarter of this year). If you see something now, you should just go for it.

 

[assemblage]

My opinion is more portability and cheaper prices which means lower quality. While I like the desktop replacements, I think the portable ones with smaller display lower resolution, weaker/low voltage cpu, and smaller battery packs is what's herer. Like Brainonska511 says, more Core i ULV will appear in those. The ones out now seem to be largely the low end Core i3 or Core i5. If they add video, then it's the lowest end of that too.

Personally I'm looking hard at the Asus G73JH-X3 at TigerDirect/CompUsa/CircuitCity. I'd like something that's more portable, but I'm really not traveling much with a computer. It goes from the end table to my lap in the recliner. While I don't need the nut roasting high end video card, I do require the nice 1920x1080 17" display and those seem really rare these days.

 

[corkyg]

The market wants more for less. Lighter weight, faster processing, better graphics, improved battery life, etc. When Apple brought out the MacBook Air, things from other OEMs followed. If the iPad blooms as a marketing success, look for others to follow.

My laptop (5th since 1996) is a 14.1-in T60 Thinkpad. It has been the cream of my crop, and I will probably replace it late this year or early next year. I only use it for travel, domestic and overseas. I have gone through the 17-in phase and will never go back to that behemoth. (I couldn't even open it on an airline seat tray!)