The perfect notebook, does anyone make it?

[Swanny]

Hello all,

I'm currently considering replacing my desktop with a laptop, but I'm having a lot of trouble. There are a few features I'm having trouble finding.

Turion 64 CPU (not essential, but I'd like it)
Not bigger than 15" or 15" widescreen display
DVI Output
5.1 or better audio outputs
Bluetooth
Portable form factor (i.e. not desktop replacement)

So, does anyone make something like this? The hard things are audio and DVI. I've found some notebooks with DVI, but it seems that no-one puts 5.1 audio on a notebook. What's the deal?


Thanks,
Swan

 

[cheesehead]

Apple's Powerbook. It's got digital out, and integrated bluetooth.
Asus' Z71V might also fit the bill.

 

[Mickey Eye]

Do either of those have 5.1 audio... it's not something I've come across...

I vote Acer Ferrari... but I'm biased now.

 

[Swanny]

Originally posted by: Mickey Eye
Do either of those have 5.1 audio... it's not something I've come across...

I vote Acer Ferrari... but I'm biased now.

I had my eye on the Ferrari, too. Does it have the 5.1 audio? I noticed it has an SPDIF output. Can it do 5.1 digitally, perhaps?

 

[Hacp]

Perfect notebook for me would be:
6800 Ultra Go
13.3 inch Widescreen with full sized keyboard
Integrated wireless/bluetooth
Either Turion or Pentium M would be fine
5 hours of battery life surfing the web/word processing w/o an extended battery.

Too bad that notebook doesn't exist .

 

[mparr1708]

Originally posted by: Swanny
Hello all,

I'm currently considering replacing my desktop with a laptop, but I'm having a lot of trouble. There are a few features I'm having trouble finding.

Turion 64 CPU (not essential, but I'd like it)
Not bigger than 15" or 15" widescreen display
DVI Output
5.1 or better audio outputs
Bluetooth
Portable form factor (i.e. not desktop replacement)

So, does anyone make something like this? The hard things are audio and DVI. I've found some notebooks with DVI, but it seems that no-one puts 5.1 audio on a notebook. What's the deal?


Thanks,
Swan

My suggestion would be to take which ever notebook you like best that has DVI and then buy either a Audigy 2 ZS PCMICIA card or the USB version of the audigy series.

 

[edtsui]

I had been fumbling around with different laptops trying to find the right mix going from a T42, Powerbook, and Inspiron 9300 trying to find the right combination. I think I've finally found it and it seems to match your specs as well.

Acer Travelmate 8100 series

Newegg has it for around 1650 for the Pentium M 2.0ghz, X700 Mobility, Bluetooth, DVI, and 5.1 audio w/ SPDIF line out to go along with a 15.4in widescreen display. It has roughly 3.5-4hrs of battery time which isn't shabby either.

To me its probably the one I'll finally be able to stick with since it has the all around right features.

 

[Hacp]

Originally posted by: edtsui
I had been fumbling around with different laptops trying to find the right mix going from a T42, Powerbook, and Inspiron 9300 trying to find the right combination. I think I've finally found it and it seems to match your specs as well.

Acer Travelmate 8100 series

Newegg has it for around 1650 for the Pentium M 2.0ghz, X700 Mobility, Bluetooth, DVI, and 5.1 audio w/ SPDIF line out to go along with a 15.4in widescreen display. It has roughly 3.5-4hrs of battery time which isn't shabby either.

To me its probably the one I'll finally be able to stick with since it has the all around right features.

Look at the Turion travelmate for around 1150. It has a less powerful chip, 64MB less Vram, no bluetooth, but everything else. Def better in terms of price/performance.

 

[edtsui]

The reason I listed the one I did was becase it met his feature requirements with the exception of the CPU which he stated he was flexible on anyway.

 

[corkyg]

The perfect notebook, like the perfect anything has yet to be made by anyone.

 

[cheesehead]

A71V from JNCS:
1500$.

Includes:
1 gigabyte (512mb x2, 1024mb total) of DDR2-533.
1.73ghz Pentium M, dothan core.
Mobile 6600 graphics (128mb), upgradeable. (ExpressCard, it appears.)
80gb 5400/8mb cache hard drive
"Combo" drive (dvd/cdrw)
15.4" widescreen.
6.5 lb. weight.

 

[hopejr]

Originally posted by: Hacp
Perfect notebook for me would be:
6800 Ultra Go
13.3 inch Widescreen with full sized keyboard
Integrated wireless/bluetooth
Either Turion or Pentium M would be fine
5 hours of battery life surfing the web/word processing w/o an extended battery.

Too bad that notebook doesn't exist .

Well, not yet anyway. I wonder what Apple has up it's sleeve for the new Intel iBooks.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: Hacp
Perfect notebook for me would be:
6800 Ultra Go
13.3 inch Widescreen with full sized keyboard
Integrated wireless/bluetooth
Either Turion or Pentium M would be fine
5 hours of battery life surfing the web/word processing w/o an extended battery.

Too bad that notebook doesn't exist .

Heh, so many contradictions there so little time....

mparr and edtsui hit it right on the head. First off, from the way you're talking you don't want any notebook's integrated sound. Yes, some support 5.1; but they're all stuck on that crowded motherboard that has more noise than a frickin' jet @ takeoff. I played with an Audigy 2 ZS PCMCIA on my T42 and while the T42's audio chip is subpar in the first place, the Audigy is a god send for just about any audio chip. Depending how portable you want to be, you need to get the Audigy PCMCIA or a USB sound card. If you just want the high quality sound at your desk, I would recommend getting a USB sound card; I know Creative has one or two. The thing I didn't like about the Audigy its drivers practically took over your system. Removing it and reinstalling without rebooting was problematic at best (and yes I used the Hardware Removal Wizard thingie). Going out and about, the PCMCIA is your only choice as a USB box is impractical. Hopefully Creative's drivers have improved (heh) and the Audigy is better to use now, because it will offer lower CPU utilization than a USB solution and it has all the features of the Audigy 2 ZS PCI cards.

In terms of DVI, the Acer TravelMate 8100 & Ferrari 4000 series are you best bets. All have X700 GPU's and 15.4" WSXGA+ screens, a plus on both counts. The 8100's are Pentium M's, the Ferrari a Turion 64. The Ferrari has some nice styling, but all of the machines are fairly thick and heavy. Not un-portable, but there are more portable machines. The Asus Z71v is a very cost effective barebones with GF Go 6600 (comparable to X700), Pentium M, and WSXGA+ screen (and DVI). Altho I've heard the build quality isn't stellar, you get a lot for your money and it is a nice machine.

Acer 8103 Prices: http://tinyurl.com/8lmyh
Acer 8104 Prices: http://tinyurl.com/7ez2s
Acer Ferrari Prices: http://tinyurl.com/caxuh

Asus Z71v shop: http://www.geared2play.com

Acer Reviews: http://www.laptoplogic.com/reviews/list.php?firm_id=1
Pentium M vs Turion (8104 vs 4005 benchies): http://www.laptoplogic.com/resources/detail.php?id=17

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
Depending how portable you want to be, you need to get the Audigy PCMCIA or a USB sound card. If you just want the high quality sound at your desk, I would recommend getting a USB sound card.

Agree! In fact, I have done this with my lappy using the Audigy 2NX (USB) module. It also has a nice remote control. Not big enough to worry about. But - I don't travel with it usually. It is for use at home with a good speaker system that also stays home.

2NX

On the road, I use headphones and the on board CODECS (Harmon Kardon) - adequate for movies, etc.

 

[pookguy88]

Originally posted by: Hacp
Perfect notebook for me would be:
6800 Ultra Go
13.3 inch Widescreen with full sized keyboard
Integrated wireless/bluetooth
Either Turion or Pentium M would be fine
5 hours of battery life surfing the web/word processing w/o an extended battery.

Too bad that notebook doesn't exist .

bingo, thats really close to my perfect laptop too.
wouldn't need a cd/dvd drive either, just make it thin as possible.
and tough

 

[The Linuxator]

The perfect notebook ?

A loaded $ 3k IBM Thinkpad T43p /end thread.