Looking for ~4 pound Laptops

chaos386 · January 4th, 2008, 05:40 AM

OK, so I'm in the market for a laptop at the moment, and I'm trying to look for something with decent power I can take to class without having to lug around a heavy brick with me everywhere. Here's what I'm looking for:

weight: about 4 pounds (absolutely must be less than 5, so no Macbooks)
discrete graphics (preferably Nvidia)
decent CPU (2.0+ GHz C2D or equivalent, 2.2+ if possible. ULV processors are too slow)
fingerprint scanner
13.3" screen preferred, although 12.1" is fine
1280x800 screen resolution (the idea is so I can watch 720p videos on it, which is also why I want discrete graphics, to offload the processing onto it)
Price: around $1500

A big hard drive and draft N for the wireless aren't needed, and I can always upgrade the RAM later.

Right now I'm looking at the Dell XPS M1330 and Asus U3S, and I'm leaning towards the Asus because it looks nicer, has a faster processor (2.2 vs. 2.0) and built-in HSDPA, but it's more expensive and has a slower graphics card (8400 G vs. GS), and I'd like to hear some more options before I plunk down the cash. images/smilies/smile.gif

Clegg · January 4th, 2008, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaos386

OK, so I'm in the market for a laptop at the moment, and I'm trying to look for something with decent power I can take to class without having to lug around a heavy brick with me everywhere. Here's what I'm looking for:

weight: about 4 pounds (absolutely must be less than 5, so no Macbooks)
discrete graphics (preferably Nvidia)
decent CPU (2.0+ GHz C2D or equivalent, 2.2+ if possible)
fingerprint scanner
Price: around $1500

A big hard drive and draft N for the wireless aren't needed, and I can always upgrade the RAM later.

Right now I'm looking at the Dell XPS M1330 and Asus U3S, and I'm leaning towards the Asus because it looks nicer, has a faster processor (2.2 vs. 2.0) and built-in HSDPA, but it's more expensive and has a slower graphics card (8400 G vs. GS), and I'd like to hear some more options before I plunk down the cash. images/smilies/smile.gif

I'd go with the Asus, myself. They're stoutly (is that a word?) built, and have plenty of power.

On a side note, my scales say that my Macbook weighs 4.8 pounds. images/smilies/tongue.gif

Shawn · January 4th, 2008, 09:29 AM

Well Apple is supposedly introducing their ultra light laptop shortly, you might as well wait a bit to see what that looks like, if the MacBook is too big for you.

LeMans GTR · January 4th, 2008, 09:42 AM

Sony Vaio SZ? Meets your specs, dont know how much it costs though.

M3lover · January 4th, 2008, 10:55 AM

Maybe something like a Lenovo 3000 V200?

Might be a bit pricey, dunno how the prices are outside DK.

Fujitsu-Siemens usually offers pretty good value.

What screen size are you thinking? 12,1" ?

Hidden_Hunter · January 4th, 2008, 11:57 AM

Asus have some nice kit, I've got a asus w6fp weighs about 1.8kg with the bigger battery (came with a smaller battery)

chaos386 · January 4th, 2008, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3lover

Maybe something like a Lenovo 3000 V200?

Might be a bit pricey, dunno how the prices are outside DK.

Fujitsu-Siemens usually offers pretty good value.

What screen size are you thinking? 12,1" ?

The Lenovo and Fukistu-Siemens ultraportables only come with integrated graphics. images/smilies/sad.gif

Thanks for the help, though. As for screen size, I'd like to get one with a 13.3" screen, but 12.1" is fine too.

KaJuN · January 4th, 2008, 01:40 PM

A ~4 pound laptop? I think you're going to have trouble finding one that cheap, let alone one that's functional.

images/smilies/tongue.gif

matt2000 · January 4th, 2008, 02:42 PM

i would head in the direction of the Viao, but i'm not sure if it's the one the Lemans GTR posted a link to. have it in a copy of PC pro, but i don't have it now so i'll look later. as far as i remember it has everything you want images/smilies/smile.gif

edit: it's the Vaio G11

chilicoke · January 5th, 2008, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeMans GTR

Sony Vaio SZ? Meets your specs, dont know how much it costs though.

Owner of a SZ330 here and I absolutely love the laptop considering its balance between quality/size/design/performance/battery life.

LeMans GTR · January 5th, 2008, 04:07 AM

Sorta breaks easily though I've had my SZ280 for almost two years and well the shell is slightly bent, the left mouse key's paint is fading, the dvd drive is broken, the soundcard is slightly broken and the fingerprint software is also broken, I'm also told the repairs cost more than the computer itself.

Aside from that though everything works like a dream.

(which is saying a lot considering the damages to the computer were caused by a large drop)

Ottobon · January 5th, 2008, 04:23 AM

If all else fails then i suppose a gym membership is in order images/smilies/tongue.gif

Hidden_Hunter · January 5th, 2008, 05:18 AM

My mum has the ultra portable sony 11.1" 1.2kg model (1.2ghz ram upped to 1.5gb, fingerprint scanner etc) It was quite expensive (paid for at inflated australian price of about $3000) and probably the most annoying thing about it is the terriable keyboard it has. I constantly mistype when using it (direct opposite to the keyboard fitted on this asus which has perfect space and weighting on the keys allowing to touch type with ease in lectures -- so I can look at the lectures while talking on IRC images/smilies/wink.gif

)

Also I don't know if sony have changed it but on my mums laptop the FN key is between the ctrl windows alt keys not to the left like on the asus keyboard meaning that you'll go to tap ctrl-s in word and end up with mutliple sssssss in your document PITA

chaos386 · January 5th, 2008, 07:28 PM

All right guys, I've decided to get the XPS M1330. I found one with a 2.2 GHz C2D, and it's still cheaper than the Asus, despite having better specs (I also looked at Vaio SZs, but, while they were awesome, they were about $700-1000 over my budget). Thanks for you guys' help! I'll post pics and full specs in the new toys thread once I buy it. images/smilies/smile.gif

matt2000 · January 5th, 2008, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaos386

All right guys, I've decided to get the XPS M1330. I found one with a 2.2 GHz C2D, and it's still cheaper than the Asus, despite having better specs (I also looked at Vaio SZs, but, while they were awesome, they were about $700-1000 over my budget). Thanks for you guys' help! I'll post pics and full specs in the new toys thread once I buy it. images/smilies/smile.gif

i got a leaflet through the post today with that on images/smilies/biggrin.gif

(£649 here for comparison)

good choice IMO, looks like a very nice machine. i thought of you when i read the part about the fingerprint reader images/smilies/lol.gif

good luck with it images/smilies/smile.gif

January 4th, 2008, 05:40 AM	#1
chaos386 .sa = bad driver! Joined: Nov 8th, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia Age: 22 Posts: 3,564 LFS Status: Rep Power: 62	Looking for ~4 pound Laptops OK, so I'm in the market for a laptop at the moment, and I'm trying to look for something with decent power I can take to class without having to lug around a heavy brick with me everywhere. Here's what I'm looking for: weight: about 4 pounds (absolutely must be less than 5, so no Macbooks) discrete graphics (preferably Nvidia) decent CPU (2.0+ GHz C2D or equivalent, 2.2+ if possible. ULV processors are too slow) fingerprint scanner 13.3" screen preferred, although 12.1" is fine 1280x800 screen resolution (the idea is so I can watch 720p videos on it, which is also why I want discrete graphics, to offload the processing onto it) Price: around $1500 A big hard drive and draft N for the wireless aren't needed, and I can always upgrade the RAM later. Right now I'm looking at the Dell XPS M1330 and Asus U3S, and I'm leaning towards the Asus because it looks nicer, has a faster processor (2.2 vs. 2.0) and built-in HSDPA, but it's more expensive and has a slower graphics card (8400 G vs. GS), and I'd like to hear some more options before I plunk down the cash. __________________ "Shit, that's a busy table cloth." -matt2000 Last edited by chaos386; January 4th, 2008 at 04:28 PM.. Reason: updated the list

January 4th, 2008, 09:42 AM	#4
LeMans GTR Previously Known As CSL Joined: Dec 20th, 2006 Last Online: 06:57 AM Location: Australia Posts: 1,916 Car: Aston Martin DB9 (In GT4!) Rep Power: 18	Sony Vaio SZ? Meets your specs, dont know how much it costs though. __________________

January 4th, 2008, 10:55 AM	#5
M3lover Joined: Nov 23rd, 2005 Last Online: January 6th, 2009 Location: The milkyway, Earth, Denmark, Odense Age: 22 Posts: 917 Car: Pedalpower for now... Rep Power: 13	Maybe something like a Lenovo 3000 V200? Might be a bit pricey, dunno how the prices are outside DK. Fujitsu-Siemens usually offers pretty good value. What screen size are you thinking? 12,1" ? __________________ Mmmhh, gotta love living in Denmark. We have 180 % tax on cars. Yep, an M3 cost about the same as a 997 Turbo does in Sweden, and sadly i'm not kidding!

January 4th, 2008, 11:57 AM	#6
Hidden_Hunter D: Joined: Oct 7th, 2006 Last Online: 06:29 AM Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 20 Posts: 4,500 Car: '08 Honda Accord Euro Rep Power: 49	Asus have some nice kit, I've got a asus w6fp weighs about 1.8kg with the bigger battery (came with a smaller battery) __________________ My car is dark grey not black!

January 4th, 2008, 01:40 PM	#8
KaJuN Joined: Jul 31st, 2006 Last Online: November 17th, 2008 Location: USAF Basic Training Age: 23 Posts: 4,628 Car: Land Rover Discovery, 1980 Yamaha XJ650 Rep Power: 91	A ~4 pound laptop? I think you're going to have trouble finding one that cheap, let alone one that's functional. __________________ D-Fence: Kajun is just outside caressing his Discovery....touching it gently, you know......it is such a dirty bitch.....but he seems to love dirty girls in high heels who are taller then him and have "quite a few pounds" on their hips ^^ Yes we can! Join my fan club. You know you want a piece of this action!

January 4th, 2008, 09:29 AM	#3
Shawn Lexus? Oh shi- Joined: May 26th, 2005 Last Online: 07:06 AM Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,781 Car: IS250 RWD Rep Power: 93	Well Apple is supposedly introducing their ultra light laptop shortly, you might as well wait a bit to see what that looks like, if the MacBook is too big for you.

January 4th, 2008, 02:42 PM	#9
matt2000 Hedgehog Sandwich Joined: Feb 17th, 2006 Last Online: 07:00 AM Location: Market Harborough, UK Age: 18 Posts: 3,682 Car: '77 Land Rover Series III LFS Status: Rep Power: 56	i would head in the direction of the Viao, but i'm not sure if it's the one the Lemans GTR posted a link to. have it in a copy of PC pro, but i don't have it now so i'll look later. as far as i remember it has everything you want edit: it's the Vaio G11 __________________ 'I've spoken to the scientist in that article. He is convinced that the parrot is "just resting".' - Plissken "My daughter has... errr HAD one, and I was given one" - Scott Last edited by matt2000; January 4th, 2008 at 03:33 PM..

January 5th, 2008, 04:07 AM	#11
LeMans GTR Previously Known As CSL Joined: Dec 20th, 2006 Last Online: 06:57 AM Location: Australia Posts: 1,916 Car: Aston Martin DB9 (In GT4!) Rep Power: 18	Sorta breaks easily though I've had my SZ280 for almost two years and well the shell is slightly bent, the left mouse key's paint is fading, the dvd drive is broken, the soundcard is slightly broken and the fingerprint software is also broken, I'm also told the repairs cost more than the computer itself. Aside from that though everything works like a dream. (which is saying a lot considering the damages to the computer were caused by a large drop) __________________ Last edited by LeMans GTR; January 5th, 2008 at 04:11 AM..

January 5th, 2008, 04:23 AM	#12
Ottobon Banned Joined: Nov 27th, 2005 Last Online: January 5th, 2009 Posts: 3,296 Car: Too many Rep Power: 0	If all else fails then i suppose a gym membership is in order

January 5th, 2008, 05:18 AM	#13
Hidden_Hunter D: Joined: Oct 7th, 2006 Last Online: 06:29 AM Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 20 Posts: 4,500 Car: '08 Honda Accord Euro Rep Power: 49	My mum has the ultra portable sony 11.1" 1.2kg model (1.2ghz ram upped to 1.5gb, fingerprint scanner etc) It was quite expensive (paid for at inflated australian price of about $3000) and probably the most annoying thing about it is the terriable keyboard it has. I constantly mistype when using it (direct opposite to the keyboard fitted on this asus which has perfect space and weighting on the keys allowing to touch type with ease in lectures -- so I can look at the lectures while talking on IRC ) Also I don't know if sony have changed it but on my mums laptop the FN key is between the ctrl windows alt keys not to the left like on the asus keyboard meaning that you'll go to tap ctrl-s in word and end up with mutliple sssssss in your document PITA __________________ My car is dark grey not black!

January 5th, 2008, 07:28 PM	#14
chaos386 .sa = bad driver! Joined: Nov 8th, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia Age: 22 Posts: 3,564 LFS Status: Rep Power: 62	All right guys, I've decided to get the XPS M1330. I found one with a 2.2 GHz C2D, and it's still cheaper than the Asus, despite having better specs (I also looked at Vaio SZs, but, while they were awesome, they were about $700-1000 over my budget). Thanks for you guys' help! I'll post pics and full specs in the new toys thread once I buy it. __________________ "Shit, that's a busy table cloth." -matt2000

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