WTB: 12" PC laptop, combo, usb2, built-in wireless!

From: TKR (spiritposts_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 09/04/03

  • Next message: Jan: "Re: Laptop keyboard dies" 
    Date: 4 Sep 2003 04:37:32 -0700

    My request:
    Original Subject: WTB: 12" PC laptop, combo, usb2, wireless.
                       Posted in comp.sys.laptops 3 sept 03
       Hi all in any group,
       I WTB a 12" PC laptop with a combo drive, usb2 port/s, wireless g
       and the usual amenities. OK I want a Mac-like machine but a PC. I
       probably will do a dual boot of LINUX and Win2000 (has been
       recommended).
       (Some tcsh experience, never did a whole Linux installation, yet.)

       I am now in the Netherlands but am a US citizen involved in the
       process of getting a visa to live here. In the end I will have
       to consider Dutch import duties (or not?). I need to research that.

       In "shopping" I have found a difficulty in getting a good
       comparison, especially lacking knowledge of what screen
       resolutions are available.
          Weight is one of my considerations in picking this size as is
       ability to carry it so that one does not notice that I have a
       laptop in my bag. I am quite interested also in having the
       better antennae that comes with built-in wireless to get
       better reception.

       I would appreciate references. Yahoo Shopping fails because I
       cannot cut the number of 'finds' down enough to make it managable.
       And that shows me $5000 P-3's! I dont get it when they sell these.
           I have read that a P4 is not good because it is slow.
       Compared to what? There is always something more expensive
       around, which is not the idea. When I saw the $1000 14 or
       15" Dells, I said, "...should be able to do that with a 12"." Mac
       charges more for a larger screen so I 'figured' that a smaller
       screen 'should' be less.
        
       I have also heard that there are very few manufacturers for the
       many 'brands' of laptops/notebooks. I dont know how exactly
       how that would be relevant to me and now I cant even re-find the
       website/s explaining that but it interests me.

       I am searching for my point of price vs quality. And posting here
       to learn from the experiences of others.
       Sending email is ok: spiritposts at hotmail dot com
       Bedankt, TKR Spirit

    Research in the comp.sys.laptops group.
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
    nuttinhoney Date: 2003-09-03
       I have this laptop and find the buggy touchpad a real problem...not
    to
    mention the other litle quirks like the wireless lan card that often
    can't
    start unless I reboot on startup, and the stiff keyboard and small
    shift key
    on the right side, the fact that Sony doesn't provide system recovery
    discs
    (how lame) and the underpowered video memory....but mostly it's the
    touchpad
    that drives me nuts.
       Other than that, it's small, fast, lightweight and convenient for
    what I want to do with it.
    IS wrote: > Does anyone have this laptop: Sony PCG-V505BX. It has a
    12" screen, weights only 4.4 lbs with battery. I'm thinking about
    getting it....
    http://d2774266.u40.infinology.com/Sony,VAIO,PCG,V505BX,Notebook,,2,0,GHz,Pentium,4,M,,512,MB,RAM,,40,GB,Hard,Drive,,DVD,CD,RW,Drive,--1-541966-B00009MGUQ-0-computer-product.html

    =====================================================
    From: [DK6400] Brian Baldersbaek
    (brian.h.baldersbaek@REMOVE.stofanet.dk)
    Date: 2003-09-03 17:00:05 PST .... You could also try to find a
    ThinkPad with a smaller screensize.
    For example...with a 12,1" or 13,3". There you find the 1024x768
    suitable for viewing photos.
          Okay okay.....14,1" and 1024x768 isn't the worst thing on the
    planet...but
    you can find better displays in even older Thinkpads.
     
    =======================================================
    Then a thread on the subject from 2.4 years ago.
    ------------------------------------------------
    Subject: Re: Are 12'' screens on Ultraportables "too small"?
    Newsgroups: comp.sys.laptops Dates around...: 2001-11-24
    =====================================================
    From: Registered User (Registered_User@win.com)
    I also looked recently for a ultra light laptop to serve as a "2nd PC"
    -
    surf the web, do some MS Office work, take on the road, etc. I have a
    new Dell desktop and all I wanted as a cool looking ultra light
    laptop.
    I looked at the Dell 2100, Gateway 3450 and the Vaio R505 and picked
    the
    later since I found a really good deal on one (the TLK/C model). Been
    using it for a week and I find the 12.1 screen just fine. I think Sony
    screens are great. I been using laptops for years and went from a
    10.4"
    size LCD all the way to 14.1". I think 12.1" is a small compromize if
    a
    slim laptop is what your looking for.
    Yaron
    =====================================================
    My 12" is 800x600 and I can't see the entire Yahoo! home page without
    scrolling right. I've only run across that a couple of times, though.
     I
    also have a 15" display, and it's too big to fit comfortably in the
    lap, so
    I'd stick with the 12.1". If I hadn't gotten into graphics last year
    and
    needed more surface space, the 12" would have been fine.
    (spiritposts: macusers do graphics on a 12")
    --Lynn (is no more >>> http://www.lynnsland.com)
    ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
    Life is a search for the truth; and there is no truth
                   - Chinese Proverb
    =====================================================
    From: Edward Lee (elee@ulgm.org)
    I've been using a Gateway 3450 for about three days now. I am
    extremely
    satisfied. No horizontal scrolling on Yahoo.
        Previously, I was using a Quantex with a 14.1" screen. The 12.1"
    screen
    honestly doen't feel that much smaller. When you consider that,
    without its
    base, my new Gateway is 1/3 the weight of the Quantex, the slightly
    smaller
    screen is is easily worth the tradeoff. Windows XP's Cleartype feature
    adds
    even more to the readability of the 12.1" screen on my new Gateway.
       We're using a Winbook at our office and have not had a single
    problem
    with it since we bought it nearly 1.5 years ago.
    =====================================================
    From: Shoot Them Later (mjirvine@yahoo.com)
    Ive had my new HP omnibook 500 for a few days now and it's 12.1"
    screen is
    brilliant. We have a 14.1" laptop too and like others have been
    saying, the
    slightly (hardly noticable in normal use) smaller screen is a tiny
    price to
    pay for the smaller thinner ultraportable size. we also had an old
    compaq
    LTE elite with an 8" TFT screen (I think it was 8" anyway certainly
    not much
    bigger) and it was perfectly usable in its time.
       I get the whole horizointal yahoo page fine with no probs and the
    XP
    cleartype really does help small text.
       Nobody else has mentioned the omnibook so far....I have no idea why
    cause it is a great little machine. 1.6Kg and only 24mm thick and it
    looks really smart. Battery life is excellent (I get 2.5-3 hours of
    general use)(especially compared to the sony). maybe its the price -
    a bit steep, but there are some good deals about. Have a look at it,
    you won't be dissappointed.
    MJI
    =====================================================

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