Suggestions for a genuine ultraportable?

[vbuggy]

It's something I've been revisiting and rejecting since the Sony UX's left my possession - while they were very cool, they were never quite as functional as they promised to be. But it hasn't stopped me hunting for it's replacement.

I'm looking for something which runs Windows 7 64-bit properly (which rules out Atoms and bottom-range SU's), along with reasonably intensive use of Office and suchlike, under 2lbs, >6-hour real-life wifi battery endurance with battery options (i.e. facility to fit extended battery), SSD storage (128Gb or better), built-in (Gobi preferred) 3G and a >10", >=1280*800 screen. A full keyboard is not an absolute prerequisite - I'll look at narrower-pitch models, as long as it's not a mobile phone-type keyboard.

I am pretty fussy about fit & finish and the feel of a machine, and anything cheap-looking / feeling (like e.g. Last year's flagship Sony TT, which I junked in a matter of months) will be kicked to the kerb pretty fast. Pricewise I'm not particularly sensitive and am willing to go to the >$10K mark if the machine merits it.

Nothing really seems to catch my eye at the moment. This is kind of a first for me, since there's always been an appropriate ultraportable to meet my needs until the late 2000's. The emergence of netbooks seems to have taken everyone's eyes off the high end, and it's a somewhat sad world when Apple's still-useless consumer trinkets are increasingly competitive with everyone else's flagship offerings.

Any suggestions?

 

[alkemyst]

Apple is making some of the best ultracompact laptop, I don't get you calling them useless.

Not many are willing to pluck down $10k for a laptop, but check out the more expensive offerings here for what they end up looking like

http://www.worldinterestingfacts.co...want-to-put-beside-your-business-folders.html

 

[erikistired]

it's a somewhat sad world when Apple's still-useless consumer trinkets are increasingly competitive with everyone else's flagship offerings

at this point your post loses all credibility. sorry.

also, damn you for making me agree with alkemyst.

 

[MJinZ]

I would only pick:

Asus U series (35Jc, 45JC etc)
Sony Vaio Z series
Alienware M11x
HP Envy 14

 

[TheStu]

The OP wants less than 2lbs... anyone else want to tell him that he might have slightly more than a hard time?

This is some information on some of the thinnest, lightest laptops that I know of. These are all the prices and specs on the base models.

Apple MacBook Air - $1500
1.86GHz Core 2 Duo
2GB RAM
120GB HDD
nVidia 9400m
1 USB
1 MiniDP output
13" screen
1280*800
5 hrs battery life (non-replaceable)
3 lbs.

Sony Z - $1900
2.53GHz Core i5
4GB RAM
128GB SSD (2*64 RAID 0)
nVidia 330m + intel HD
3 USB
1 HDMI
1 VGA
1 Gb Ethernet
1 ExpressCard 34 Slot
1 SD Card Slot
1 MS Pro Card Slot
13" screen
1600*900 (upgradable to 1920*1080)
3.5-7 hours (5-10 with extended battery)
3.04 lbs. (more with extended battery)

Lenovo X201 - $1000
2.4 GHz Core i3
2GB RAM
160GB HDD
intel HD
(Hard to find more info quickly, Lenovo's website kind of sucks)

 

[MJinZ]

The Z it is no question.

The 1080p screen is nice, the 1600x900 screen is pure shit. The machine is gorgeous in person and incredible in power/size/engineering.

 

[TheStu]

The Z it is no question.

The 1080p screen is nice, the 1600x900 screen is pure shit. The machine is gorgeous in person and incredible in power/size/engineering.

The price to performance (counterbalanced by the size and weight) is pretty incredible, but I am wary of the longevity. I know some people that had older Vaios that lasted forever, but I am not so sure about the newer ones. Do you have one of these and can comment on the durability/longevity?

 

[MJinZ]

The price to performance (counterbalanced by the size and weight) is pretty incredible, but I am wary of the longevity. I know some people that had older Vaios that lasted forever, but I am not so sure about the newer ones. Do you have one of these and can comment on the durability/longevity?

No I wish, but I can't justify $2k + on one. I would need the HD screen (I would have been OK with the 1600 but it is grainy as hell) and Sony uses expensive 1.8" SSDs that you can't replace easily (or cheaply) that also lacks TRIM. I would have been happy with one 80gb 2.5" SSD.

I'm strongly considering an Asus U series now, but I have to see the screens first.

 

[TheStu]

No I wish, but I can't justify $2k + on one. I would need the HD screen (I would have been OK with the 1600 but it is grainy as hell) and Sony uses expensive 1.8" SSDs that you can't replace easily (or cheaply) that also lacks TRIM. I would have been happy with one 80gb 2.5" SSD.

I'm strongly considering an Asus U series now, but I have to see the screens first.

Yea, I have always been impressed by Sony's engineering, but they seem to do some darn near proprietary stuff in order to make their stuff lighter or smaller. I know that the parts are pretty much all COTS, but...

 

[CurseTheSky]

The Apple MacBook Air is one option. It's thin and light, and should have decent battery life, but the specs are mediocre.

The HP Envy 14 is a very solid machine with an excellent 1600x900 screen and great specs, but it's relatively heavy at ~5lbs and you can expect ~4-5 hours of battery life tops from the stock battery (though there is an optional slice battery that should get 8-9 hours total without breaking a sweat).

The ASUS UL series are wonderful in terms of size, weight, and battery life, and the build quality is decent too (though not "$10k decent"). The screens tend to be poor in terms of contrast and viewing angles, however. The battery life is absolutely great - 8-10 hours on the better models without a problem.

Your best bet here, without seriously spending $10k on some exotic machine, is the Sony Z series. Get the best specs on everything, plunk down two grand or so, and call it a day. I've only played with one once, and I'd still give the Envy 14 / Macbook Pro / Macbook Air a nod over it in terms of build quality and overall finish, but it certainly is a premium machine in a small package.

Honestly, if you're wealthy enough to even considering throwing $10k down on a laptop, why not order two or three from the list above and see which you like? Whatever you don't end up liking, you can always sell to someone for a decent price, or even give it to a family member or friend. My suggestions would be the Macbook Air, Envy 14 (i5-520M (DO NOT get a quad core), 8GB DDR3, 1600x900 screen, 160GB SSD, WLAN card, and slice "extended" battery (don't believe the picture, read reviews / watch videos to see what it really is)), and Sony Z series. That should set you back about $5-6k total, and you'll have three machines to play with and choose from.

 

[DaveSimmons]

If money is no object, dynamism.com always has a few spiffy Japanese import ultras.

 

[Zap]

under 2lbs

Okay, not gonna happen.

Pricewise I'm not particularly sensitive and am willing to go to the >$10K mark if the machine merits it.
...
No I wish, but I can't justify $2k + on one. I would need the HD screen (I would have been OK with the 1600 but it is grainy as hell) and Sony uses expensive 1.8" SSDs that you can't replace easily (or cheaply) that also lacks TRIM. I would have been happy with one 80gb 2.5" SSD.

So, you're willing to spend over $10k... but not willing to justify over $2k?

How do you think Sony (or another company) can trim weight without going to smaller drives?

comment on the durability/longevity?

Sure, once these notebooks are several years old... but by then they will be outdated and no longer be sold as new.

If money is no object, dynamism.com always has a few spiffy Japanese import ultras.

Holy crap! No kidding, and I only checked out their home page.

I was in the Philippines recently and saw all kinds of notebook computers there including a lot of tablet models. Not talking about pure tablets, but notebooks with the screens that can flip around. I saw a lot more than I've seen in the USA. It's amazing what is available elsewhere in the world.

vbuggy, you are going to have to compromise somewhere. I'd love to have a car that performs like a Ferrari with the weight of an Elise and the price of a Hyundai, but ya know, I had to settle for my Mazda. What I'm trying to say is DO look for what you want, but at some point you have to decide either nothing exists (yet) that you want and you are willing to wait, or nothing exists (yet) that you want and you are willing to settle for "close enough." Heh, like giving up on Mr/Mrs Right and settling for Mr/Mrs Right Now.

Anyways, the closest to what you want for weight/battery/performance and especially fit/finish is IMO the Sony Vaio Z. Runner ups are probably the rumored upcoming Mac Air (say whatever you want, but you CAN run Windows on it) and a farther stretch being the Dell Adamos.

With everything else you pretty much sacrifice screen quality and often other stuff (like cheap glossy plastics all over, crappy KB or touchpad, etc).

 

[xSauronx]

absurd requirements, OP...under 2lbs? buy a mobile phone or an ipad (or one of the new android tablets coming out soon)

else i love my 1830t as a budget ultraportable...11.6", 6hrs battery, hdmi out, full size keyboard, core i3 (not blazing fast, but runs windows 7 64 bit without a hitch, and there is an i5 model of the laptop) 3lbs and an inch thin.

the touchpad is the only sore spot for me, i prefer a synaptics pad, but its still ok

 

[erikistired]

zap your second quote is from two different people. you combined vbuggy and mjinz.

also, viliv makes some cool stuff.

 

[akugami]

No I wish, but I can't justify $2k + on one. I would need the HD screen (I would have been OK with the 1600 but it is grainy as hell) and Sony uses expensive 1.8" SSDs that you can't replace easily (or cheaply) that also lacks TRIM. I would have been happy with one 80gb 2.5" SSD.

I'm strongly considering an Asus U series now, but I have to see the screens first.

Looked at an Asus UL80JC at Best Buys cause I was seriously considering one because of the battery life. The screen is so-so. There were a few design elements I didn't like about it. It was definitely inferior in terms of build quality to my older Asus laptop, granted the Asus G1 is a gaming laptop and heavy. Keyboard was ok and had some flex to it.

 

[vbuggy]

Wow, quite a range of replies. I'll start at the top and work my way down.

The Z it is no question.

The 1080p screen is nice, the 1600x900 screen is pure shit. The machine is gorgeous in person and incredible in power/size/engineering.

I already have the Z. And X201 (well, not the light spec - but the 4lb tablet). And the Air as well for that matter.

And yes, a machine which suffers from heat-related issues in the mid-20C's and weighs 1.4Kgs while offering a fraction of the durability or the connectivity (let alone the performance) of comparable non-crApple machines is indeed a useless trinket - only my need to run OS X in certain situations means it's in my inventory.

The thing is, there are times I want to slip a machine into a document case and just walk around light. And the Z, Air, etc doesn't quite make the grade.

absurd requirements, OP...under 2lbs? buy a mobile phone or an ipad (or one of the new android tablets coming out soon)

I have an iPad - now this is truly a trinket, and I suspect that an Android machine will not be that different. It's of no use to me in general working. I do find some of the the lifestyle/entertainment apps really excellent, but that's not a relevant factor in my request.

And I also have several smartphones, but these aren't used in the same way as a laptop.

What I want must run the full Office suite. And a slate form factor is not productive - if touch is involved (I do sometimes find it useful), it would have to be a T400s-style machine, or a convertible. And yes - absurd requirements for a grand or so, perhaps. Which is why I put down that I'm not price-sensitive.

 

[vbuggy]

So, you're willing to spend over $10k... but not willing to justify over $2k?

You're not quoting me in your post.

I am pretty sane which means that I won't be paying for Swarovski crystals and suchlike, but at the same time I'm not particularly price-sensitive. But I'm also not willing to go to an ODM and go 'build me a laptop', since that would be price-prohibitive for something which will only have a lifespan of a couple of years at most in any case.

Just to make things clear to everyone: I already have the following, notebook-wise.

- HP Elitebook 8740w
- Dell Precision M6500 Covet - which is currently being phased out in favour of the above.
- Apple MBP 17-inch
- Apple MBA (Which has, by the way, a 3.5-hour real life endurance. Which is the reason I need to carry a 1lb external battery with it to get usable runtime)
- Sony Z11
- Lenovo X201T

EDIT: Oh yes, forgot about the Envy 14 - a recent arrival I'm dedicating as basically a fancy Squeezebox

You can see where the ultraportable will fit in - i.e. the smallest doll in the Matryoshka nest, as it were.

vbuggy, you are going to have to compromise somewhere. I'd love to have a car that performs like a Ferrari with the weight of an Elise and the price of a Hyundai, but ya know, I had to settle for my Mazda. What I'm trying to say is DO look for what you want, but at some point you have to decide either nothing exists (yet) that you want and you are willing to wait, or nothing exists (yet) that you want and you are willing to settle for "close enough." Heh, like giving up on Mr/Mrs Right and settling for Mr/Mrs Right Now.

In the light of what I have already, you can probably determine that I'm not one for compromises. So no, I'm not willing to settle for 'close enough'.

Anyways, the closest to what you want for weight/battery/performance and especially fit/finish is IMO the Sony Vaio Z. Runner ups are probably the rumored upcoming Mac Air (say whatever you want, but you CAN run Windows on it) and a farther stretch being the Dell Adamos.

Yes - and indeed, the Z's are what I primarily use for this role. But as I said, I want lighter - especially as I'm not using the power of the Z's most of the time that I'm mobile (but still need a good Windows experience). And yes, while it's possible to run Windows on a Mac, I don't feel as it's as salubrious or anywhere near as reliable an experience as running it on an equally priced or specced 'real' Windows machine.

The Dell Adamo was horribly overweight as they tried to ape Apple's construction method, but attempted to make a machine that was actually durable. I loved the design of it and the fact that it was actually a roadable machine for a machined aluminium body, but it was just not worth carrying given its spec vs weight. If you need any proof that the 'unibody' construction method was purely a marketing exercise, the Adamo is it.

---------------------

And to all - yes, I know it's a very specific, and very demanding request. Because, rest assured, I've already looked in the obvious places and haven't found an answer. Which is why I've turned to you lot out there in the hope that someone has a suggestion that I've missed.

 

[vbuggy]

Apple is making some of the best ultracompact laptop, I don't get you calling them useless.

Not many are willing to pluck down $10k for a laptop, but check out the more expensive offerings here for what they end up looking like

http://www.worldinterestingfacts.co...want-to-put-beside-your-business-folders.html

I don't have to spend $10K. It's a figure to indicate that I'm not price-sensitive, and that I'm not going to do the classic forum thing of 'recommend me the BEST' and then put down 10 posts later that they're on a severe budget.

I do notice however that when people seize on price insensitivity in this way, their lack of experience and faux-jadedness means they have no useful input on the subject at hand

at this point your post loses all credibility. sorry.

also, damn you for making me agree with alkemyst.

And your post means I don't have to ascribe any credibility to yours
I have several MBA's. I know exactly what beautiful POS's they are.

 

[TheStu]

I don't know if salubrious is the right word there...

Alright, you would rather not have the device than compromise, I guess I can get behind that a little bit.

2lbs though... it is a tall order in addition to running Win 7 64 smoothly. Did you check the Dynamism.com thing that was posted, interesting stuff there.

 

[vbuggy]

I don't know if salubrious is the right word there...

Alright, you would rather not have the device than compromise, I guess I can get behind that a little bit.

2lbs though... it is a tall order in addition to running Win 7 64 smoothly. Did you check the Dynamism.com thing that was posted, interesting stuff there.

Yes I did. The closest I'm seeing is a VAIO G and the Panasonic.

The main problem is, that I found the 1024 x 768 resolution quite limiting when I had the original G11 3 years ago - let alone now. I have a feeling I'd toss it aside pretty quickly. I'd want 1280 * 800 at the very least.

And yes, it is a more salubrious experience on a comparable 'real' Windows machine.

 

[MJinZ]

vbuggy, please Paypal me some money and I will be happy to buy and keep and post reviews for super high end laptops.

Thanks.

Also, will be your personal trainer to get you bigger muscles for the right price.

 

[vbuggy]

Also, will be your personal trainer to get you bigger muscles for the right price.

Bwahahaha

 

[xSauronx]

Yes I did. The closest I'm seeing is a VAIO G and the Panasonic.

The main problem is, that I found the 1024 x 768 resolution quite limiting when I had the original G11 3 years ago - let alone now. I have a feeling I'd toss it aside pretty quickly. I'd want 1280 * 800 at the very least.

And yes, it is a more salubrious experience on a comparable 'real' Windows machine.

after having a netbook for the last year....yeah, 1024 x anything is limiting, and gets annoying after an hour, tops.

1366x768 is much, much better.

 

[TheStu]

Yes I did. The closest I'm seeing is a VAIO G and the Panasonic.

The main problem is, that I found the 1024 x 768 resolution quite limiting when I had the original G11 3 years ago - let alone now. I have a feeling I'd toss it aside pretty quickly. I'd want 1280 * 800 at the very least.

And yes, it is a more salubrious experience on a comparable 'real' Windows machine.

Salubrious means healthy or health giving... like I said, not totally sure if that is the right word. It is a healthier experience on a real Windows machine...

Cleaner maybe, or something along those lines. And salubrious can mean sanitary, but my understanding is that it usually refers to a place, like a restaurant or hospital or outhouse.

Anyway, back on topic... 2lbs, 6 hr battery, 64bit Win 7, >=1280*800... I can't think of anything within the normal realm that fits all the criteria. We already showed you a handful that meets all but the weight requirement... honestly I don't know of how something like the X201 or Vaio can get any lighter without them moving to truly exotic materials.

 

[vbuggy]

Perhaps you shouldn't run so fast to the top hits on Google, but instead examine the literary meaning of 'salubrious' and how it can be used to indicate 'a better experience' in a variety of situations.

Anyhoo: Yes, the weight is obviously the key factor in this exercise. And yes, I am expecting exotic materials and fairly bleeding-edge construction methods to meet the requirements, which is the reason for the price insensitivity.

And yes, I've said "And yes" way too often in this thread.