ultra portable < $700?

[substance12]

I'm going on travel in about 4 months so I'm really considering buying an ultra portable laptop. Price of course is a factor. I don't care about cdburning or gaming. My only requirements really are portability, watch dvds/divx, reliability, email/web, and low price.

so what am I looking at? the only laptop that I know of is the 600 or 700m from Dell.

 

[ValuedCustomer]

Have you considered a PDA?

 

[substance12]

I don't think PDA is the route for me. I'd at least like 30-40gig space among other reasons.

 

[jdiddy]

IBM Thinkpad X Series. The X31 specifically would be perfect for you and is in the range of your budget.

 

[BladeVenom]

I got my Inspiron 700m 12" for under $800. I don't know what sales Dell are offering at the moment, but it's worth checking out.

 

[modedepe]

I believe Averatec has some fairly cheap 12" notebooks, but I think they're closer to $800.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Have you considered a used one?

- M4H

 

[substance12]

why? you selling? unless a majority of people here warn me about used laptops... i'd consider it.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: substance12
why? you selling? unless a majority of people here warn me about used laptops... i'd consider it.

Already sold my HP Omnibook 500, which handled all of the tasks in the first post. P3-733, 256MB, 12.1" TFT. Bought it used myself, and only had to get a replacement battery. Ran for about 3.5h playing DivX.

My old thread.

- M4H

 

[aigomorla]

ibm x31. there built strong, and there battery life is very good. If u can find a used x41 that would be another route as well with a p-m. The 700m is nice in that its a widescreen so it looks really nice.

 

[substance12]

I did a few searches on the x31 on AT hot deals and at FW and I didn't really find anything. The x31 went for 750+ on ebay. Am not doing the right searches?

 

[aigomorla]

Yes you are. But i guess people on Ebay are trying to sell those things off for a high price. Or they bumped the price by adding a 256 meg dim. Try looking on IBM's website on refubished/used laptops. Sometimes they have a good deal.

 

[Busithoth]

the only problem with an x30 series lappy is you said you wanted to watch DVDs, and they don't have an optical drive.

if you can accept that limitation, YGPM

 

[substance12]

doh. I'm not willing to accept that.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: substance12
doh. I'm not willing to accept that.

Actually Most ultraportable dont have a built in DVD rom. The Dell 700m is on the border line of ultraportable and light. When u say ultra portable im assuming u mean something like the sony 505 line, Dell's X series, and Sharps mobius <--- i think thats how u spell it Series. :\ Maybe u should just get a T series. At 4.9lbs and about 1.1 inch thick, its not that hard to carry around. :X

 

[RedBeard]

Having owned a Dell 700m and a IBM X40, I would not consider the 700m an ultraportable.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: RedBeard
Having owned a Dell 700m and a IBM X40, I would not consider the 700m an ultraportable.

and weighing my brothers dell700m to my thinkpad T-41p. less then 1lb margin wouldnt make it that far into the ultra portable range.

NOW though if u were to compare my T-41p to a lets say a Sony T series or 505 series. OR even the new Sharp miramasa series. Bleh, now my T series looks really big.

>.<

 

[Koing]

My 505 is only 1.67Kg but has no optical drive and is about 4yrs old. ~ $2k back then.

Koing

 

[jdiddy]

Heres a x31 on sale on our very on FS/FT forum

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=45&threadid=1698929&enterthread=y

Just buy an external USB drive for the times you actually need a optical drive. Just install Daemon tools, Alchohol or the virutal drive of your choice and copy isos to your desktop.

 

[substance12]

overstock has a bunch of ibm T series and R series notebooks for 450-700. most of them are around 1 gig in speed. any thoughts on these? I was hoping to find an X series but it wasn't there.

 

[Carl Uman]

Dell has some deals on refurbs. They go quick so you may have to sit and refresh the screen every 10-15 seconds. The XPS m140 is mid sized and they have some in the $700+ range. Even seen a couple < $700 but were gone last time I looked.

 

[RedBeard]

Originally posted by: substance12
overstock has a bunch of ibm T series and R series notebooks for 450-700. most of them are around 1 gig in speed. any thoughts on these? I was hoping to find an X series but it wasn't there.

The T and R series are normal sized laptops. Built like tanks but not ultra portable.
Lurk on eBay. You can get a X series in your range.