Laptop advice - small but powerful

[bobthemonkey]

rich1231 said:

I want a new lightweight reasonably powerful laptop.
Don't want a netbook.
13" screen should be ok

Have seen MBA's and think they look amazing but dont really want a turtlenck.. unless someone can sway me.

Dell Adamo's in the US have an ok spec but crap graphics chipset..

So what alternatives do I have?

Edited by rich1231 on Saturday 18th December 15:42

The best option on the Lenovo front would be a T410 if you can bear a 14" screen.

Then again, a Macbook Air would seem to be ideal.

[rich1231]

Fing macbook this macbook that

If i bought one from the US will there be any issues? Keyboard layout?

[Moreymach]

rich1231 said:

Isnt it a bit thick?

Its a little chunky but not huge.



From the top:

Samsung NC10
M11
MBP 13
Acer 17 inch laptop

[tinman0]

rich1231 said:

Fing macbook this macbook that

If i bought one from the US will there be any issues? Keyboard layout?

US keyboard on this Macbook, and I think the layout is more comfortable to be honest. Not sure why. The # should be £ but that's about it. Flip it into UK mode and the key is correct, the letter on the keyboard isn't.

[Efbe]

rich1231 said:

Fing macbook this macbook that

If i bought one from the US will there be any issues? Keyboard layout?

yes probably, though could you just change the keyboard? or specify one with an UK layout keyboard?

on another note. Alienware has gone downhill drastically since Dell took over. I used to have a Dell XPS (basically the same as alienwares now) and know the problems well, and pretty much every model is known for overheating. Dell will give warranty, but the parts they used are all refurbed, never new. For this kind of money, i'd personally steer well well clear of anything Dell related.

Sonys are very nice things, well built, and come with lovely screens. however the graphics cards are generally underpowered, and they are very very expensive for what they are. (no offence meant to anyone here as i've had plenty myself but...) they are also usually aimed at people with too much money who don't really know what specs they need, only what they want aesthetically.



If you wanted something slightly larger, then i'd suggest Kobalt, a specialist UK gaming computer company: http://www.kobaltcomputers.co.uk/notebooks.html I have a kobalt G870 myself, and it's purely awesome performance for a laptop.

If you are loaded, then I would say the sony VPCZ13X5E 1GB GT330M graphics card, but it is very expensive for what it is.

and actually having looked at the other laptops out there, i would conclude that you wont get great performance on a 13". even if you did, it would be a bit of a waste on such a small screen. so 'd just go for a 15-16" screen instead!

[Murph7355]

rich1231 said:

Fing macbook this macbook that

If i bought one from the US will there be any issues? Keyboard layout?

Just get one here. Compared to some of the Sony options being cited, they're cheap as chips.

Seriously, for what it seems like you're after, the only real choice is do you want an 11" or 13" screen? (Try them both - Apple screens are very good. The 11" may be sufficient and has a smaller footprint obviously).

And what size SSD and how much RAM do you want.

I'd buy one myself, except my Macbook's only 2.5yrs old and running like new at the moment, and I was bought an iPad for my birthday 6mths ago. Can wait until next year, when hopefully the next MBA will have a backlit keyboard (Apple are masters at these) and perhaps other additions...

[smack]

Personally I own a Thinkpad X Series, which I was a convert when I had a few of them as work machines.

My current work machine is a Dell Latitude D430, while it is light, I really don't get along with it. But I can carry both laptops in one bag to work as they are both light.

[rich1231]

Efbe said:

rich1231 said:

Fing macbook this macbook that

If i bought one from the US will there be any issues? Keyboard layout?

yes probably, though could you just change the keyboard? or specify one with an UK layout keyboard?

on another note. Alienware has gone downhill drastically since Dell took over. I used to have a Dell XPS (basically the same as alienwares now) and know the problems well, and pretty much every model is known for overheating. Dell will give warranty, but the parts they used are all refurbed, never new. For this kind of money, i'd personally steer well well clear of anything Dell related.

Sonys are very nice things, well built, and come with lovely screens. however the graphics cards are generally underpowered, and they are very very expensive for what they are. (no offence meant to anyone here as i've had plenty myself but...) they are also usually aimed at people with too much money who don't really know what specs they need, only what they want aesthetically.



If you wanted something slightly larger, then i'd suggest Kobalt, a specialist UK gaming computer company: http://www.kobaltcomputers.co.uk/notebooks.html I have a kobalt G870 myself, and it's purely awesome performance for a laptop.

If you are loaded, then I would say the sony VPCZ13X5E 1GB GT330M graphics card, but it is very expensive for what it is.

and actually having looked at the other laptops out there, i would conclude that you wont get great performance on a 13". even if you did, it would be a bit of a waste on such a small screen. so 'd just go for a 15-16" screen instead!

I have bundles of normal laptops one for every occasion and a Studio XPS 1645 with core i7 720 for times when i need some horsepower. I just want a small light thing with some oomph at the mo. But want it to tick the power, light and discrete graphics boxes and run win 7.

Edited by rich1231 on Tuesday 21st December 10:03

[cornershop]

Marf said:

http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/laptops/toshiba-satellit... 2.4ghz i3

Saw this in House of Fraser on Friday, looked a very nice piece of kit, lovely finish

[Efbe]

rich1231 said:

Efbe said:

rich1231 said:

Fing macbook this macbook that

If i bought one from the US will there be any issues? Keyboard layout?

yes probably, though could you just change the keyboard? or specify one with an UK layout keyboard?

on another note. Alienware has gone downhill drastically since Dell took over. I used to have a Dell XPS (basically the same as alienwares now) and know the problems well, and pretty much every model is known for overheating. Dell will give warranty, but the parts they used are all refurbed, never new. For this kind of money, i'd personally steer well well clear of anything Dell related.

Sonys are very nice things, well built, and come with lovely screens. however the graphics cards are generally underpowered, and they are very very expensive for what they are. (no offence meant to anyone here as i've had plenty myself but...) they are also usually aimed at people with too much money who don't really know what specs they need, only what they want aesthetically.



If you wanted something slightly larger, then i'd suggest Kobalt, a specialist UK gaming computer company: http://www.kobaltcomputers.co.uk/notebooks.html I have a kobalt G870 myself, and it's purely awesome performance for a laptop.

If you are loaded, then I would say the sony VPCZ13X5E 1GB GT330M graphics card, but it is very expensive for what it is.

and actually having looked at the other laptops out there, i would conclude that you wont get great performance on a 13". even if you did, it would be a bit of a waste on such a small screen. so 'd just go for a 15-16" screen instead!

I have bundles of normal laptops one for every occasion and a Studio XPS 1645 for i7 cor times when i need some horsepower. I just want a small light thing with some oomph at the mo. But want it to tick the power, light and discrete graphics boxes and run win 7.

hmmm, ok then. well unfortunately to me there doesn't seem to be a whole heap out there.

if you can get past the slightly garish looks the Alienware is an option. but do a lot of research into that specific model and overheating issues as most XPS/Alienwares these days seem prone.
this link...
http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware/460142-d... would show not, but do research well.

It will be well designed for the components used, though you do pay extra for having any brand such as this.

There are several Sony laptops that look very nice, however I doubt for the same kind fo money they will return near the performance. Sony don't rate the graphics card highly on their list though IMO they do look nicer. Expect to pay a lot more with a sony over the dell.

Other than those two at this size I wouldn't want to go for any of the others. chances are a small laptop is going to get knocked and dropped more, so you want good build quality. and if the performance isn't good enough then you wont end up using it.

[AlexC1981]

rich1231 said:

Thanks again everyone.

Not that the laptop will be used for gaming but a discrete video processor would be preferred to a inbuilt intel snail. The Lenovos att he size all seem to be a bit hampered by this.

Intel GMA HD graphics that comes built in with the i3/i5/i7 will run high definition video without any difficulties. I've read quite a few laptop reviews recently and apparently it is a big step up from the previous Intel GMA. It's a bit rubbish for 3d games due to having few shaders compared to an Nvidia/AMD card, but if you are not playing 3d games, I don't see why that should be a problem.

What are you going to be doing with it?

[Mazdarese]

cornershop said:

Marf said:

http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/laptops/toshiba-satellit... 2.4ghz i3

Saw this in House of Fraser on Friday, looked a very nice piece of kit, lovely finish

I really like the look of that.

£599 at Amazon too

[mr_fibuli]

Have a look at the Acer 3820TG. Available with the i5, ATI graphics, and if its anything like my 3810, very slim, light and excellent battery life (6-8 hours)

[cornershop]

Mazdarese said:

cornershop said:

Marf said:

http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/laptops/toshiba-satellit... 2.4ghz i3

Saw this in House of Fraser on Friday, looked a very nice piece of kit, lovely finish

I really like the look of that.

£599 at Amazon too

Careful on specs - the above was an i5, guessing the Amazon might be i3?

[Marf]

Around the £750 with an i5 processor, so still within Rich's budget

http://www.askdirect.co.uk/Laptops-and-Computers/N...

[cornershop]

Marf said:

Around the £750 with an i5 processor, so still within Rich's budget

http://www.askdirect.co.uk/Laptops-and-Computers/N...

integrated video, so prolly a non go-er for the OP

[Marf]

cornershop said:

Marf said:

Around the £750 with an i5 processor, so still within Rich's budget

http://www.askdirect.co.uk/Laptops-and-Computers/N...

integrated video, so prolly a non go-er for the OP

Not sure why, he hasnt indicated he'd be doing anything graphics intensive, and has also indicated he'd have a more powerful less portable laptop with him too.

eta: if he does require discrete graphics, that would exclude the entire R630 range, they all have integrated GFX.

Edited by Marf on Tuesday 21st December 12:51

[cornershop]

Marf said:

cornershop said:

Marf said:

Around the £750 with an i5 processor, so still within Rich's budget

http://www.askdirect.co.uk/Laptops-and-Computers/N...

integrated video, so prolly a non go-er for the OP

Not sure why, he hasnt indicated he'd be doing anything graphics intensive, and has also indicated he'd have a more powerful less portable laptop with him too.

eta: if he does require discrete graphics, that would exclude the entire R630 range, they all have integrated GFX.

Edited by Marf on Tuesday 21st December 12:51

agreed, just going by his second last post

"But want it to tick the power, light and discrete graphics boxes and run win 7"

[rich1231]

Marf said:

cornershop said:

Marf said:

Around the £750 with an i5 processor, so still within Rich's budget

http://www.askdirect.co.uk/Laptops-and-Computers/N...

integrated video, so prolly a non go-er for the OP

Not sure why, he hasnt indicated he'd be doing anything graphics intensive, and has also indicated he'd have a more powerful less portable laptop with him too.

eta: if he does require discrete graphics, that would exclude the entire R630 range, they all have integrated GFX.

Edited by Marf on Tuesday 21st December 12:51

No I havnt..

Unfortuntley I will also carry a larger, locked down encrypted brick of a laptop with me that I can only carry out limited stuff.

[Marf]

Well because I can't be arsed to do any more research for you, I'm gonna tell you to go to the darkside and get a mac