What's the best 12" notebook?

[KentWang]

I'm thinking about getting the IBM X40 as it fits my priorities of having a thin 12" notebook. I'm pretty much looking only at 12" models as 10" is too small and I don't want a 14/15". The other major candidate that I'm looking at is the Panasonic W2, featured on Dynamism and iCube. Are there any better 12" models?

 

[DaWhim]

get the x40, if you are going to use it with a desktop. without a desktop, go with a x31

 

[DavLucMac]

come on... you're not at least *considering* a 12in powerbook? nearly 4 hours of battery life, *nix, a beautiful display, _never_ crashes, and the world of open source before you... what more is there to offer?

of course by refurb... same warranty, hundreds less

dav

 

[Wuzup101]

*Raises hand for Powerbook 12"*

 

[aakerman]

I think the x31 is a better choice than x40.... too many compromises made to make it slightly smaller.

You could also check out hp nc4000.

 

[thuned]

Originally posted by: aakerman
I think the x31 is a better choice than x40.... too many compromises made to make it slightly smaller.

You could also check out hp nc4000.

Really? Anything besides the video card?

 

[KentWang]

OK, Apple is totally out of the question. This you cannot convince me of.

I'll be using the notebook as a companion to my array of desktops.

I believe the X40 lacks any firewire ports which the X31 does have.

 

[iansir]

The X40 isn't a good choice because of the limited 1.8 in drive. First, these aren't very standard yet and will be hard to find - you're limited to 4200 rpm which is a serious bottleneck. The X31 uses the larger 2.5 in drives that can be 5400 or even 7200 rpm - a MAJOR speed boost. The size difference is pretty small - the X31 is a fantastic deal.

 

[PeeluckyDuckee]

I'd go with an X31 over the X40 for the following reasons:

- 2.5" vs 1.8" drive
- 2 slots for ram vs 1 soldered and 1 available slot
- firewire availability on the X31
- faster Banias processor
- pretty much same price for relatively faster performance

 

[bunnyfubbles]

Originally posted by: KentWangThe other major candidate that I'm looking at is the Panasonic W2

I love toughbooks, I'd love to get a W2 - and I would have but I spent nearly that much on my desktop replacement because I needed the performance in a highly portable package (not very possible to easily lug around a desktop of similar specs)... I definately plan on getting a 12" myself in about a year or so so I can actually have real mobile computing rather than just portable.

 

[jinglingxl]

I just bought an Asus M5N

Intel® Pentium® M processor 1.5 - 2.0+GHz / Intel® 855GME chipset / Intel® PRO/Wireless 2100 Network Connection
? Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional Edition
? 12.1" TFT LCD
? DDR333 DRAM support up to 768MB using new microDIMMs
? Hard drive supporting 40/60/80GB
? Internal Combo CD-RW/DVD (Combo Drive)
? Up to 7.9 hours battery life (w/ Optional 72WHr. Battery Pack)
? 3 x USB 2.0, 1 x IEEE 1394, card reader (SD/MMC/MS/MS PRO)
? 3.4lbs (with 24WHr. battery pack)

 

[KentWang]

The Asus M5N looks OK, except this review says the battery life is very weak with the standard battery.

Price is not a huge factor for me. I'm willing to pay $1k more if it looks a little better and/or has a few more features. So, other than price how would you guys compare the X40/X31 to the Panasonic W2?

 

[bunnyfubbles]

I think you've got more choice in customization of the X40/31 from IBM, but on the other hand the Toughbook is a little more robust. While the W2 can't stop bullets like the TBook 29 has proven capable of (in service to our military, lol!), the W2 is still pretty tough. I don't think you have much choice in getting a W2 under 2k, the IBMs are a little cheaper unless you want the integrated CDRW/DVD ROM drive (the W2 has one).

I dunno, if you can't spend over 2K then I'd go with IBM, if you can spend over 2K then I don't think you can go wrong with either one.

 

[ItsPat]

I've had my W2 for almost a year now, I love it! The only flaw I have with it is no bluetooth built in but that is it.

 

[jinglingxl]

Originally posted by: KentWang
The Asus M5N looks OK, except this review says the battery life is very weak with the standard battery.

Price is not a huge factor for me. I'm willing to pay $1k more if it looks a little better and/or has a few more features. So, other than price how would you guys compare the X40/X31 to the Panasonic W2?

The extended 72 Whr battery will give about 7.5 Hrs of usage. Cost around $100