[KenW]

I've got a student in the family who wants to carry a laptop to class. Given the distance between classes, she finds it easier to chill and study between classes at some of the more convenient study areas which have wireless capability. Unfortunately, her present laptop is a desktop replacement and far from "portable".

So, can anyone recommend a very inexpensive ultra portable unit she could carry around campus? All it will be used for is papers and research on the internet. It won't carry a lot of large files nor does it need to be a performance dynamo. Small...cheap....wireless. That's about it. Any help appreciated.

 

[Kasp3r]

http://www.dell.com/content/products...=19&l=en&s=dhs

from 499 and up

Dunno what your budget is, so i went to find a dell.

If she is just going online and do research and papers, this is fine by far.

 

[KenW]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kasp3r /img/forum/go_quote.gif http://www.dell.com/content/products...=19&l=en&s=dhs from 499 and up Dunno what your budget is, so i went to find a dell. If she is just going online and do research and papers, this is fine by far.

Saw that one, but it's a bit large. 14" wide and over 6 lbs. I'm looking at something smaller....although the price is right. Really, I was looking in the ultraportable range.

 

[mark.s]

Asus Eee perhaps? Havn't used one myself, but I'm thinking of buying one and using if for the exact same as your relative

 

[KenW]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark.s /img/forum/go_quote.gif Asus Eee perhaps? Havn't used one myself, but I'm thinking of buying one and using if for the exact same as your relative

Size is perfect. With windows based unit due out later this year, this one has that covered. Maybe I'm missing it, but how the heck do you order and how much is that gem?

 

[ruZZ.il]

looks too small to do research and read/write papers on. I borrowed something of similar size once cause.. i had nothing else.. what a b*tch. the best thing I did was get a 15" (despite the weight, but its not too bad). Maybe a second hand macbook of sorts? They're... a pleasure to work with, and will save loads of hair too.

 

[KenW]

Actually, you're the second one to mention a refurb Mac. As for the ASUS, that keyboard did look awfully small. She's 5'2 and very petite, but that might be an issue. Certainly need to consider that aspect. Thanks for pointing it out to me.

 

[mark.s]

The Eee has a VGA out, so it can be used with an external monitor.

The unit has just been released in Taiwan and should be coming to Denmark Nov. 15th, but don't the the US release date. The base model is $199

 

[Hiratsuka]

The September '07 issue of Popular Science (p.32) had a short article titled "Little Laptops for Less."

The results were:
Good: Palm Foleo - 2.5 lbs $600
Better: Via Nanobook - 1.9 lbs $600
Best: Asus EEE - 2.0 lbs $200-$300
(All prices are estimated)

More info can be found at
http://www.via.com.tw
http://www.palm.com
http://www.asus.com

The Via model runs XP/Vista, while the other two are Linux machines. These models are the smallest full function laptops I have seen. Many manufacturers such as Dell and Apple make 12" models that are plenty small for me to carry.

 

[Seaside]

Why don't you visit your local compUSA with her and let her see those laptops?

You don't have to buy it right away, but you will know the style she like. And you will be able to find a good one from there.

 

[meat01]

Uuum, Gear-Fi

Ultraportables are usually a lot more expensive with the exception of the EEE. I would look at 14" models.

 

[Schalldampfer]

I can say that a 15 inch widescreen borders on the non-portable. 14 should be decent.

 

[evilking]

Look for second hand/refurbished previous gen ultraportables.

Most 12, 13, 14 inch notebooks today are in their 5th or even 6th generation. The 1-4th gens are perfectly capable of office work and can usually be found for a fraction of the price of the latest core 2 whatever models.

Anything over 14 inchs and 2.3kgs is not an ultraportable and is way too big to tote around all day.

Any screen less than 12 inches isn't comfortable to work on for long periods of time. Also they're usually deficient in some area, price, power or battery life. And the final package isn't always lighter than a larger notebook.


Check out www.notebookreview.com


EDIT: In fact, you can get a 12 inch, 2kg, convertible tablet, refurbished, for just $669 shipped!
http://www.saveoncomps.com/toshiba-p...let-p-623.html
Pretty impressive. I'll never see anything like that in ol' Blighty

EDIT2: Or, if you don't need tablet functionality, here's another 12 inch, 1.6kg, refurbished, for just $495 shipped!
https://www.eritech.com/detail.php?item=DG987A
(OMG, etc.)

Both found at notebookreview.com

EK

 

[roastpuff]

Refurb IBM T42 or T41 for rock-solid portability and performance. Not the hottest thing around, but it'll keep going for a good while.

Lots on eBay!