What is the BEST Laptop currently available?

[Shockwave]

Is there any websites which will spec these chipsets out, like fps, pipelines etc..?
(hint hint Anandtech)...

 

[Aihyah]

Just a question, do you really want to lug a large 8+ LB laptop around? I have a sony viao superslim z505js(4lb 1inch), doesn't have a dvd/cd drive internally, but i think the size is amazing...does what i need it to do.. and if i have to run a program from cd, i can always use a virtual cd drive/image on hd. What will you use it for?

 

[Fermunda]

I am looking for the flexibility.... If i want to sit in bed and surf the net/use my flight simulator/ type up a paper/watch a movie that kind of stuff. I'd like to have the graphics processing to decently play games/sim's, and the cpu umph to do plenty of things at once! Possibly including video editing (home video's etc) and photo editing using photoshop. If i have to wait for Nvidia to come out i will. (Anyone know when the prospected dates are? Or a place i can research them? The chip)

This will also be used constantly next year while i'm going through flight school, and I will need to use many different types of multimedia formats. ie, presentations, displays, etc. Usual class work.

I don't mind the extra couple pounds for the added benifits...It would also be nice to find one w/an internal modem and a NIC card.

 

[Aihyah]

Fremunda,

your requirements seem pretty high, but possible with a high end large laptop.. kinda screws portability a bit, but thats the price at the momment. Apples new super thin is impressive, just have to wait for the pc equivalents to come out.. those will be perfect.

 

[road]

The new powerbook G4 is the coupe de resistance(did I say that right?). But if you are not into the Mac Scene then I recommend the following:

If you travel or move about often and use the Notebook almost 60-100% on the road:
IBM Thinkpad T21
Sony Vaio Z505
Toshiba Protege

If you just use the notebook as a pseudo desktop or don't carry it everywhere you go or even if you carry it you very seldom do so:
Fujitsu Lifebook series
Sony Vaio PC** series
Dell Precision series
HP Omnibook Series

If you are a cheapo then:
Amerinote
Winbook
Gateway
Compaq
HP Pavilion Series

And as for your comment about sitting in bed with these things.. it's bad for your back you know . Also if you have these babies on your lap for too long, you may want to get some reconstructive surgery done on your thighs(ouch! also lots of $$$$).

I highly suggest Sony and IBM as manufacturers and long term support etc. So good luck in your search for the right notebook to suit your needs. Feel free to email me if you have any questions etc.

Oh I almost forgot, I own an IBM Thinkpad T20, and when I called in for some support one day, the Tech rep on the phone corrected me when I told him that I dropped my "laptop" and had a dent in my case; he told me that laptops were so called because they were initally designed to be used on a person's lap. But now, he said, IBM and the other manufacturers have abandoned that terminology and are calling all portable computers notebooks.

Just my 2 cents into this thread..

Peace..

 

[Aihyah]

yea i 2nd the thing about computing in bed, not as good as u'd think. and if your going to try any games, better have a real mouse/trackball hooked up to the thing. touch pad is annoying at best.

and the heat.. not kewl at all..and for big laptops, the #@% weight+heat.

 

[Czar]

I bought a few HP Omnibooks 6000 a while ago,

PIII 850mhz speedstep
256mb SDRAM
20gb disk
15" TFT 1400x1050 resolution
DVD

works very well.

 

[Shockwave]

I dont know about anybody else, but for me weight is no concern. No matter what I get, its gonna be alot lighter then my desktop + 19" monitor!

 

[wyvrn]

IBM Thinkpads use Magnesium instead of plastic in many areas. The laptop does not bend as much as a plastic one and feels better made overall. I will also toss my vote in for HP. We bought one for my sister (budget series) after looking at all the main brands, and I must say this is the most solidly built laptop I have ever used, especially impressive as a budget line of notebook.

 

[johnny1111]

I just got the Dell Inspiron 8000, I Love It!!! I went for the Dell 'cause I can have two optical drives in at the same time, one fixed (DVD), one modular (CDRW) + the modular can be swapped out to put in a another battery for two at a time, or you can put in the floppy drive. I also chose the 8000 for the 32 meg video option & it has other nice features like two USB, IEEE 1394, S/composite video out, digital audio out, built in 56k/v90 modem & 10/100 NIC. I got mine with 800 MHz P3, 128 megs ram on 1 dimm (then added another 128 megs from crucial, saved $80) & 20 gig HD. Running Win 2k, & I'm gonnna' add Red Hat Linux for a dual boot. I?m really happy with my Dell, I do think that there are other good notebooks out there, the dell Inspiron 8000 had the option mix I was looking for. Good luck -john

 

[Degenerate]

IBM Thinkpad

 

[Aihyah]

sony z505 cases are also magnesium

 

[DerProfi]

My Thinkpads (560, 600, 600E) have never let me down.

However, if you want to see the latest droolworthy only-in-Japan models check out this place. Gotta love that Sony Vaio GT-1 Crusoe-based notebook/videocamera hybrid!

 

[Aihyah]

Gotta love that Sony Vaio GT-1 Crusoe-based notebook/videocamera hybrid

yea kinda neat for the price, i think the previous version used a p2 400 chip. its like a super pda, but way too big for your pocket

 

[Fermunda]

Sheesh, that GT-1's ...well, unique, i'll give it that! Looks like a deformed laptop I'd take one

Road, thanks for the breakdown there!

Czar, anymore of those omnibooks left?? You said you bought a few???

All with the Inspiron 8000's Thankyou for the specific details. I think that is the closest match for what i'm looking for that's available at this time, however cause i'm so new to the "notebook" genre' i'll be researching further. Anyone know the model for the toshiba that's using the Geforce2Go? And anyone have some specs on the the Mobility performance?

I appreciate all the kickback you've given me...has helped out immensely!
Tom

 

[Shockwave]

I looked at Toshiba's website and didnt see any of there notebooks shipping with the GeForce Go, has this chip been released yet? The only systems I've seen with the ATI M-4's have been Dells.....So, whens the GeForce coming out?

 

[calubarn]

only toshiba so far witht he 2go chip is the satallyte model, not the pro. IS only the 16 meg version though. If you click on the sattelyte model icon, pick the highest price system and that is the one. think it is 8502 or something close to that. maby was 5802. hmm. well anyway, if ya get to toshibas site it is there. They dont sell it at their store yet though, so their site says. So not sure how ya get ahold of one yet.

 

[Fermunda]

The Toshiba model that's gonna go w/the Geforce2 Go is the Satellite 2805-S402

From my searching not the S202. I'm having a rather difficult time finding this thing anywere...toshiba doesn't even have it on their site. I'm guessing it will come w/the same features as the other high end models in the 2805 line.

I found a sight listing it on price watch (eta 2/26/00) Scroll to the bottom and it's the second one up! This is a link to the pricing and info page.

I also found a 1g pIII from some off brand. It's called a SagerNP 856 and is on Powernotebooks Site Here. It's definately loaded, and for 2500 the price isn't too bad. But scroll down on the specs page and it's 2.2in thick, 15" monitor, and weighs a whopping 9.5lbs. That's a bit rough seeing how i'm testing out a friends Sony Vaio pcg-xg28. It's only about 1.7"thick, and is roughly 6 lbs. It doesn't have an internal NIC card, and that's an important factor for me.

I'm leaning towards the Inspiron 8000, but it's pretty spendy right now....i'd like to see how the toshiba w/the Nvidia chip works. If anyone has any idea on the performance of that new gpu I'd love to have a site to look at

Thanks All
Tom