Ultraportable Laptop List!

[Skoobouy]

Hello all,

Since I've decided to replace my Pocket PC with an ultraportable laptop, I'm putting together a list of some of the different models I've seen. The list isn't complete (there are some Asus ones I'm missing), but it gives a pretty good idea of what's out there.

UPDATE: Thanks to some help from the folks at the LeoG.net forums, I've updated this list. Much better now. :) Still to be improved.

Notes:

All models have no optical drive unless specified. This list is for non-import models only. Added Asus and Panasonic model information, as well as the Lifebook S series (with a note). I'll make a separate "Imports" category soon and put it in later. I ditched the "Handhelds" category because, seriously, there just isn't one yet. The Vaio U50/U70 will go into the "imports" category with a special note for its special little self. :wink:

Less than 10" wide-screens
Fujitsu Lifebook P1120 2.2lbs*110" wide-screens
Sony Vaio TR2A 3.1lbs*2
Fujitsu Lifebook P2120 3.4lbs*2 (technically discontinued, but easily buyable, and more-or-less up to date)
Fujitsu Lifebook P5020D 3.9lbs*210" XGA screens
Sony Vaio X505 1.8lbs
Sharp Actius MM20 2lbs
Fujitsu Lifebook B3020D 3.1lbs*112" screens < 3lbs
IBM ThinkPad X40 2.6lbs
Dell Inspiron 300M 2.9lbs
Dell Latitude X300 2.9lbs
Toshiba Portege R100 2.4lbs
Panasonic ToughBook T2 2.7lbs
Panasonic ToughBook W2 2.8lbs*2
Asus S5N 3lbs12" screens > 3lbs
IBM ThinkPad X31 3.7lbs
Dell Latitude D400 3.7lbs
HP Compaq nc4000 3.5lbs
Asus M5N 3.4lbs*2More than 12" screens < 4lbs
Panasonic Toughbook Y2 3.4lbs*2 (How in the heck did they do that?!)
Fujitsu Lifebook S2020 3.9lbs*3
Fujitsu Lifebook S6210 3.6lbs*3
Fujitsu Lifebook S7010D 3.9lbs*3*1 - Touchscreen, but not WinXP Tablet PC Edition.
*2 - Includes an internal optical drive.
*3 - Weight is with empty drive-bay slug. ("Weight-saver" is such a euphemism).

[shawnc]

I had a recent thread you might be interested in since I just recently made the same purchase. It included some very nice recommendations. Don't know how to attach the link, just do a search on my name and you'll see it at the top of the list.

You mention a few that I considered and a couple that I did not. At the end of the day I thought the Dell 300M was the best deal. I got mine for slightly less than $1,500 (including taxes and shipping). At 3 lbs, integrated wireless "G" (an absolute MUST for me), external CDRW/DVD combo drive (though you can upgrade to DVD burner for $150), and the performance ratings via CNET, this machine was clearly the best deal for my budget. It's scheduled to arrive later this week.

After reading your list I went back and did some digging on the Sharp M20. WOW, that is one sweet machine. Very compelling. The only drawbacks for me were the lack of integrated SD slot and the small hard drive. But d#$n, that is one good-looking machine.

One more thing, I really liked the Toshiba Portege. Unfortunately it only had wireless "B" and to add an optical drive made it to pricey for my budget.

Good luck.

[Skoobouy]

Yes indeed... I looked at the 300M for a long time. It's probably the best deal for a 12" screen that's less than 3lbs.

For now though, my #1 priority is the best combination of features, price, and small size--and I'm waiting eagerly for the next iteration of the P1000 series (either to get it, or to buy a discounted P1120).

The mm20 is very tempting to me as well, but the small HD is a concern, and I wouldn't opt for the larger footprint unless I was sure it had enough muscle to handle some modest games (which your new 300m certainly can). Transmeta processors (even the new Efficeons) do not => performance. If I decided to go for 10", I'd probably get the (somewhat thicker) B3020D Lifebook (all right! I admit! I'm turning into a Fujitsu fanboy. So sue me :D) for the Pentium M and the touchscreen. As an ultra-ultra-portable 9hr battery life workhorse, though, I'll take the P1k.

[Falstaff]

If you haven't already, you should check out www.pdabuyersguide.com, they have about 15 reviews of small laptops. I was actually looking for relatively small laptops for a friend last night, and found an Averatec (http://www.averatec.com/notebooks/3200_series.html) with a 12" screen, 1" thick, 4.2 lbs, 802.11g, AMD Mobile 2000+, 512 RAM, and other nice specs, for less than $1000. (http://averatec.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=2500898/) I'm thinking about getting that sometime this summer before college, especially since I get getting 10% discounts from buy.com, so I'd save almost $100.

[shawnc]

Falstaff,

A word of caution about the Averatec, most of the consumer reviews I read on this pc were horrible. Slow hard drive that constantly overheats, something about power dissapation (whatever the heck that means), and there were a few others.

I came very close to buying this machine because it was the only one I could demo in the store (Circuit City carries them). The screen looks fantastic, it is very lightweight, and my goodness, the price is incredible. Everything about it was impressive until I began reading consumer reviews.

[Kacey Green]

what is your issue with tablets?
just out of curiosity

[Kati Compton]

What about the Panasonic W2? Too big for what you're looking for?

[shawnc]

what is your issue with tablets?
just out of curiosity

For me they were too expensive and too heavy. It also just seemed a little "gimmicky". I did consider them in the beginning, but the infatuation didn't last long and I quickly eliminated them from consideration.

[Zack Mahdavi]

what is your issue with tablets?
just out of curiosity

I think it's useful for people who would TRULY benefit from having the digitizer. I know some of my professors use tablet PCs since they can be more interactive with their Powerpoint presentations by writing and clarifying things right on the slide.

If you don't have a real use for a Tablet PC, then it's a waste of money. The processors are slow and the devices are very expensive. Maybe things will get better in a few years, but for now, I believe that Tablet PCs will stay a niche market.

[Skoobouy]

I agree with the above as far as Tablet PCs go. Some of those notebooks are really expensive (Panasonic and Sony are, of course, the worst offenders) but at least they're expensive for reasons besides some nifty HWR features, and either lacking a keyboard or sporting an unwielding-looking single-hinge design.

Those Averatecs look enticing, but they don't qualify for the list, cuz' they're all heavier than 4lbs!

[Falstaff]

Falstaff,

A word of caution about the Averatec, most of the consumer reviews I read on this pc were horrible. Slow hard drive that constantly overheats, something about power dissapation (whatever the heck that means), and there were a few others.

I came very close to buying this machine because it was the only one I could demo in the store (Circuit City carries them). The screen looks fantastic, it is very lightweight, and my goodness, the price is incredible. Everything about it was impressive until I began reading consumer reviews.

Can you direct me to some of those reviews, I just did another search for reviews, and still find very good reviews. There are comments about the processor being somewhat slower and the graphics engine not being the best, however, for a secondary machine that is no problem, but I didn't see any of the problems you mentioned.
Here are a couple reviews I found:
PC Magazine (http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1579091,00.asp)
Tiger Direct (http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=866728&Tab=11&NoMapp=0) (customers)
Computer Books 01 (http://www.computerbooks01.com/product/B00021BYZC/AsinSearch/1/) (customers)

[shawnc]

Falstaff,

Unfortunately I'm not really sure where I saw it because I was all over the place doing research. What I do remember is that the comments I referred to were not reviews, but comments from consumers who had purchased it. Like on CNET where they have a section for "user comments".

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.