Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

I'm going backpacking around australia later this year and i am after a
laptop as i need to support a couple of websites for some customers.

I've decided that a 12' screen just isnt going to be big enough as i
want to run visual studio on it. Also i dont see many 12' laptops
screened laptops that have a PCMCIA slot.

The ideal laptop MUST have a strong lid, and be able to take some
knocks. It also needs to have a decent battery life.. with also having
extended batteries available.

Obviously i want one that it reasonably light, so anything below 2.5kg
(6lbs) is ok to look at.

It also needs PCMCIA slot so i can fit a GPRS card in it.

The laptops i am currently looking at are the Dell Latitude D610 and
the IBM T42/T43..

Whats best to go for??

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

On 3 Jul 2005 01:41:15 -0700, "Winshent" <winshent-google@yahoo.co.uk>
wrote:

>I'm going backpacking around australia later this year and i am after a
>laptop as i need to support a couple of websites for some customers.
>
>I've decided that a 12' screen just isnt going to be big enough as i
>want to run visual studio on it. Also i dont see many 12' laptops
>screened laptops that have a PCMCIA slot.
>
>The ideal laptop MUST have a strong lid, and be able to take some
>knocks. It also needs to have a decent battery life.. with also having
>extended batteries available.
>
>Obviously i want one that it reasonably light, so anything below 2.5kg
>(6lbs) is ok to look at.
>
>It also needs PCMCIA slot so i can fit a GPRS card in it.
>
>The laptops i am currently looking at are the Dell Latitude D610 and
>the IBM T42/T43..
>
>Whats best to go for??

Hire someone to take care of the web sites for you. You should be able
to get someone for what that T42 would cost you.
Charlie Hoffpauir
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~charlieh/

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

haha, nice comment..
the laptop will pay for itself with the money earned from support.
+there will always be problems that another party will have to refer
back to me.. I wont mind doing the support when travelling, and will
also be able to use it to demonstrate my portfolio if i want to search
for work in sydney..

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

On 3 Jul 2005 07:02:27 -0700, "Winshent" <winshent-google@yahoo.co.uk>
wrote:

>haha, nice comment..
>the laptop will pay for itself with the money earned from support.
>+there will always be problems that another party will have to refer
>back to me.. I wont mind doing the support when travelling, and will
>also be able to use it to demonstrate my portfolio if i want to search
>for work in sydney..

In that case, I'd recommend the T42. I have one, and feel it's the
best laptop value available. That said, there are several different
models (and prices) from which to choose. Be careful not to buy
features you don't need, as they will add both $ and lbs.
Charlie Hoffpauir
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~charlieh/

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Winshent wrote:

> haha, nice comment..
> the laptop will pay for itself with the money earned from support.
> +there will always be problems that another party will have to refer
> back to me.. I wont mind doing the support when travelling, and will
> also be able to use it to demonstrate my portfolio if i want to search
> for work in sydney..

You might want to check out a Panasonic Y4 at <http://www.dynamism.com>.
Under 4 pounds with a 14" screen. Japanese home-market machine not
normally available in the US.

--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Thanks.. that is a damn sweet piece of kit.. if i wasnt going
travelling then i would definitely buy it.. just think its too fragile
for my needs though.

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

"Winshent" <winshent-google@yahoo.co.uk> writes:
> I've decided that a 12' screen just isnt going to be big enough as i
> want to run visual studio on it.

You can run VS on a 12" screen as long as it has 1024x768 or better.

> Also i dont see many 12' laptops screened laptops that have a PCMCIA
> slot.

Huh? They all do.

> Obviously i want one that it reasonably light, so anything below 2.5kg
> (6lbs) is ok to look at.

That's way too heavy.

> Whats best to go for??

Thinkpad X40: 12" XGA, pcmcia slot, under 3 pounds.

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

The Panasonic Toughbook laptops may be a better choice since they're
designed for harsh conditions, where most "off the shelf" laptops aren't
designed to take the abuse.

Winshent wrote:
> haha, nice comment..
> the laptop will pay for itself with the money earned from support.
> +there will always be problems that another party will have to refer
> back to me.. I wont mind doing the support when travelling, and will
> also be able to use it to demonstrate my portfolio if i want to search
> for work in sydney..
>

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

I stand corrected with regards to the PCMCIA slot on the X40, didnt
realise it had one.. I do like them.. but the two main negatives of a
small screen and external cd drive really put me off them.. Ideally i
want it to be an all in one unit with a cd writer.

I have looked at rugged laptops, but i think they are just too
expensive and a bit overkill for what i am going to be doing..

I will most likely be carrying the laptop around in a daysack.. not in
my 65 ltr backpack.. so the laptop i am after just needs to be strong
and resilient to the odd knock..

I'm considering 3 laptops at the moment.. the Dell Latitude X1, Dell
Latitude D610 with 14' screen and the IBM T42 with 14' screen..

I do like the Dell X1 as its small, and can be configured how i want
it.. I think it would be easy work on Visual Studio as it has a high
res widescreen.. It does
have the external cd drive but i would probably be prepared to put up
with it..

Any recommendations on what is best to go for?

Vincent

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

Cheers for all your opinions.

The fujitsu P7010 look seriously nice.. am still not sure about the
screen size.. but very impressed!! If it wasnt for the screen being so
small it would be top of my list! Can you get a spare 'main' battery
for it or is the only option the drive bay style battery? I'm going to
consider one of these as well.

I take your point about the Thinkads being heavy.. but they are solid..
and thats quite important for me.

Has anyone owned/ used a Latitude X1? are they strong? Whats the
battery life actually like with the 6 cell battery? Do they run really
hot?

Are Dell generally that bad in terms of build quality/ strength? Ive
heard the support/service isnt great..

The list as it is in order:

1. Latitude X1
2. Fujitsu P7010
3. Thinkpad T42 with 14' screen
4. Thinkpad X40
5. Latitude D610 with 14' screen..

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

"Winshent" <winshent-google@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1120510255.577053.29440@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> The fujitsu P7010 look seriously nice.. am still not sure about the
> screen size.. but very impressed!! If it wasnt for the screen being so
> small it would be top of my list!

You've got to see it - the quality of display is impeccable but the size (even
considering that it's 1280x768 wide-aspect) might be an issue. OTOH for comfort, I
attach and external LCD monitor and stretch the desktop. IMO a bigger concern is the
size of the keyboard - it is great and well laid out, but smallish, esp. if you have
bigger paws.
If you are in California Fry's stocks Fujitsu p series. So are some dealers in NYC.
On line - try portableone - I've bought mine from them.

> Can you get a spare 'main' battery
> for it or is the only option the drive bay style battery? I'm going to
> consider one of these as well.

Yeah, there are spare "regular" batteries and (I believe) an extra capacity battery.
Plus the DVD bay battery of course.
See www.fujitsu.com for more info.


> I take your point about the Thinkads being heavy.. but they are solid..
> and thats quite important for me.

Yeah, but I wouldn't like to carry my T43p in a backpack...Granted, mine is the 15"
model but the 14.1" models are only marginally smaller and lighter. I transport all
my laptops in a fitted neoprene "sleeve" and a padded outer case so they are safe
(and I fly 200 000+ miles each year...)

> Are Dell generally that bad in terms of build quality/ strength? Ive
> heard the support/service isnt great..

I used to work in a company with 1000+ laptops in the field. After we junked Dell
and HP machines and started buying ThinkPads, the service/support costs went down by
55-60% and warranty exchanges decreased tenfold... Dell may be good now - I just
have no faith in them...

> 3. Thinkpad T42 with 14' screen

Go for the T43 - better chipset, faster video, wider and faster front-end bus, etc...

--
><eM eL><

Archived from groups: comp.sys.laptops (More info?)

I've been looking at the T43 and have read a few reviews on it.. and
from what ive gathered, the price differential of spec for spec is just
too great for the performance benefit..

The T42 seems to be a decent performer, and the ports/features dont
seem to have changed..

The T42 i am considering has a 1.8Ghz Centrino/ 80Gb HDD and a DVD
writer.. and it comes it at around the same price as the latitude and
the fujitsu (both with DVD writers).

All are nice.. just a matter of what i can work with in terms of screen
size!!