SMALL Windows Laptop or other device?

[megaphone]

Part of my work is fixing stuff at customer sites, I'm often walking and on public transport with a bag of tools. I sometimes need to use a laptop to log-in to systems or to check an internet connection on a switch, test a screen or projector etc.

I have a 13" Macbook Air which I can dual boot, but even this is too bulky to lug around, also too 'nice' to shove in a tool bag and leave in my car. Plus I need to carry a load of adaptors.

I'm looking for other options, a small Windows laptop, 10" or even less? It must have an ethernet connection, it must have HDMI out to test screens. Ideally should have an audio out jack. A VGA would be nice but doubt anything modern will have one. Small PSU.

Doesn't have to be new or super fast, it won't be used for anything else other than a bit of surfing and to download some firmware etc. Bit of storage for files and manuals etc.

Budget, don't want to spend a fortune as it will be used a few times a month and will likely sit in my car boot for weeks on end. Max £300, used is preferable.

[Mr Pointy]

Well they fail on the small & light parameter but have a look at Panasonic Toughbooks:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Panasonic-Toughbook-CF-...

There's loads of them on ebay

This one looks lighter:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Panasonic-Toughbook-CF-...

Edited by Mr Pointy on Friday 5th March 09:55

[megaphone]

Mr Pointy said:

Well they fail on the small & light parameter but have a look at Panasonic Toughbooks:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Panasonic-Toughbook-CF-...

There's loads of them on ebay

This one looks lighter:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Panasonic-Toughbook-CF-...

Edited by Mr Pointy on Friday 5th March 09:55

Yes just too big and heavy.

[Mammasaid]

Surface Pro 4 + Dock?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MICROSOFT-Surface-Pro-4...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Microsoft-Surface-Dock-...

[megaphone]

Thanks. Someone I work with has also mentioned a Surface Pro, I don't really know much about them, is an option if it will do what I want.

Not too sure about a dock as it is something else to lug around, but can I use ethernet or HDMI adaptors?

Are there any to avoid, that will go end of life soon? What's the smallest screen they do? Can I use a pen type thing? Do I need the keyboard or can it be used with an onscreen keyboard.

I've only ever had and used iPads.

[RizzoTheRat]

Trouble is small and light usually mean expensive, and most of the ones on sensible budget are Chromebooks rather than windows these days. HP and Lenovo both make 11" laptops though, and you might find a refurbished one to get the price down.

You can get USB-HDMI adaptors for Windows phones, not sure if you can connect to ethernet the same way though. Similarly a windows tablet with a USB-C adaptor for network and HDMI might be worth a look, something like the Thinkpad or Surface Go, but when I had a windows 8.1 tablet I found it really needed a keyboard, not tried a windows 10 one to see if that's improved.

Edited by RizzoTheRat on Friday 5th March 10:14

[dannnd]

An absolute blast from the past, why not one of the old Asus Netbooks (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WhiteASUS-Eee-PC-4G-7-4-GB-Intel-Celeron-M-900-MHz-512-MB-Ultraportable/233911534886?hash=item367636c526:g:NOIAAOSwVAxgOSNG)

I used to stick windows on mine and it was perfect for just very light work - although if you wear glasses you might struggle with the screen!!

[megaphone]

Thanks. Some of the control software I use only runs on Windows 7- 10, so needs to be compatible, I will need to check if it will run on a Surface pro.

[Mammasaid]

megaphone said:

Thanks. Someone I work with has also mentioned a Surface Pro, I don't really know much about them, is an option if it will do what I want.

Not too sure about a dock as it is something else to lug around, but can I use ethernet or HDMI adaptors? 4 USB 3.0 ports, Ethernet port, 2 mini display ports for dual monitor support and audio out. Dock isn't very big, think about the size of 2 packs of cards.

Are there any to avoid, that will go end of life soon? No Idea, but they're running Win10.

What's the smallest screen they do? 12.3in, but there's little bezel.

Can I use a pen type thing? Yes, https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-Microsoft-Surfa...

Do I need the keyboard or can it be used with an onscreen keyboard. Both, cover is a keyboard, but with cover detached there's an onscreen keyboard option.

I've only ever had and used iPads.

Edited by Mammasaid on Friday 5th March 10:27

[megaphone]

dannnd said:

An absolute blast from the past, why not one of the old Asus Netbooks (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WhiteASUS-Eee-PC-4G-7-4-GB-Intel-Celeron-M-900-MHz-512-MB-Ultraportable/233911534886?hash=item367636c526:g:NOIAAOSwVAxgOSNG)

I used to stick windows on mine and it was perfect for just very light work - although if you wear glasses you might struggle with the screen!!

Thanks, yes an option, I will take a look. Need to consider battery condition, I will have to use on battery sometimes.

ETA, No HDMI out, I remember looking at these before and nearly went for one, also with Atom chips, they will struggle with Win 10, also some cannot upgrade the RAM. Sham as they are a perfect size .

Edited by megaphone on Friday 5th March 11:58

[MickC]

If the surface pro is too big, check out the 10" surface go 2. Not sure about cheap though.

2xUSB-C ports so you'd need an adapter for hdmi and ethernet, both are easily available, plus you probably want to make sure a keyboard cover is included. Limited disk (64GB model is emmc so slower than normal SSD), small screen, 8GB of RAM and an ok Pentium gold dual core processor. But it runs normal windows.