What are the least of the beasts?

[Steve]

If I get a laptop, I'd much prefer to get one with a full-size keyboard. What are some choices that are (relatively) light and easy on heat and power, something that will last a couple of hours on a flight? Trying to get a full-size keyboard but stay out of the realm of desktop replacement/portable workstations.

 

[Brainonska511]

I think the smallest laptop you can get with a full size keyboard is a 14" widescreen. With that in mind, stay away from notebooks with dedicated graphics, since even the low-end cards suck up a lot more juice than the integrated graphics chips.

Notebooks to look into (all 14" widescreens):
HP nc6400 (~4-5lbs), battery life with integrated graphics (from a review) was about 3-4 hours
Asus A8 series with the integrated graphics (~5.5lbs), battery life was 2-3.5 hours
Fujitsu S7110 (~4.5lbs), battery life with integrated graphics (from Fujitsu) was 5 hours with the main battery, 9 hours if you add in the modular battery
Various Thinkpads would also fit your needs (either from the Z or T series).
Dell Latitude D620 with an extended battery is another option.

 

[Steve]

By full-size keyboard I meant one with a number pad on the right, which I know for a fact that the nc6400 doesn't have (I created an image for it at my last job). However, that's made me think I could just get an external USB number pad too. Anyway I'll look into the other models listed there. Thanks.

 

[Steve]

Hmm, the more I look the more it looks like what I want is within the realm I hoped to avoid

 

[Brainonska511]

Oh. The only way you'll have a numberpad on a laptop is by getting a 17", and those are not really useable on a plane or have terribly long battery life due to the power sucking screen.

 

[Aarondeep]

yeah id just get a usb number pad to carry around with you in your laptop bag. Battery life of a best is horrid

 

[CTrain]

HP nx9420
Lightess 17" around I think....~7.2 lbs.
Has a x1600 graphi card yet it will run 3hrs+ on battery.
Just a gorgeous laptop all around.
I had one until I found a nc8430 and I sold the nx9420 to my brother.

 

[fords8]

Check out: MSI
A 15.4 unit with a 103 keyboard.
Weight < 7 lbs (complete system)
PDF File

2 models:
MS-1034B-036
MS-1034B-039

Difference between the two is the MS-1034B-036 has Bluetooth and the 1.3 webcam.