Netbook/Notebook Recommendations? Ask For Advice Here!

[Quelch]

Originally Posted by stenchlord

I'm dying here though lol. I'm using an old HP Pavilion DM3-1021TX...
It has a C2D ULV with 4GB and 60GB SSD.

I'm tempted to just go out and buy an Ivybridge Samsung 9 Series 13.3" (i5 3337U, 4GB, 128GB SSD, 1920x1080).

Have a squiz at this Sony to see if it suits:

Sony Vaio SVT13125CGS 13.3" Ultrabook SRP $1099 [Factory Scoop]
13.3" Ultrabook with Intel Core i5-3317U Processor 1.70 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.60 GHz CPU, 4GB RAM, 500 GB HDD + 32GB SSD, Intel HD Graphics 4000, Windows 8

JB-HiFi = $798-

Overview
VAIO T Series. This model includes a hybrid drive combining the capacity of HDD with the performance of SSD, while full featured connectivity lets you connect easily to the devices you use
Key Features
13.3" (WXGA: 1366 x 768) TFT colour display (VAIO Display, LED backlight)
Intel Core i5-3317U Processor 1.70 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.60 GHz CPU
4GB RAM
500 GB HDD + 32GB SSD
Intel HD Graphics 4000
WI-Fi and BT
1 x USB 2.0
1 x USB 3.0
1 x HDMI
Full featured connectivity (VGA,LAN port)
Rapid Wake and Eco: quick resume, longer battery life and data security
USB charging function without booting up OS and AC adaptor plugged in
Windows 8
Little review on JB-HiFisite:

"Good, Light and Great
Sam on 01.03.2013
This is a great Ultrabook! This ultrabook has many capabilities and programs offered by Sony. It is light and very slim. The keyboard is excellent and the noise generated from the laptop is very, very minimal. Only issue is that it does not come with a CD disc drive. You can buy one for around $30-60 so it's not so bad considering it is much lighter without it. "

What do you think ?

[stenchlord]

Originally Posted by Quelch

Have a squiz at this Sony to see if it suits:

Sony Vaio SVT13125CGS 13.3" Ultrabook SRP $1099 [Factory Scoop]
13.3" Ultrabook with Intel Core i5-3317U Processor 1.70 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.60 GHz CPU, 4GB RAM, 500 GB HDD + 32GB SSD, Intel HD Graphics 4000, Windows 8

JB-HiFi = $798-

Overview
VAIO T Series. This model includes a hybrid drive combining the capacity of HDD with the performance of SSD, while full featured connectivity lets you connect easily to the devices you use
Key Features
13.3" (WXGA: 1366 x 768) TFT colour display (VAIO Display, LED backlight)
Intel Core i5-3317U Processor 1.70 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.60 GHz CPU
4GB RAM
500 GB HDD + 32GB SSD
Intel HD Graphics 4000
WI-Fi and BT
1 x USB 2.0
1 x USB 3.0
1 x HDMI
Full featured connectivity (VGA,LAN port)
Rapid Wake and Eco: quick resume, longer battery life and data security
USB charging function without booting up OS and AC adaptor plugged in
Windows 8
Little review on JB-HiFisite:

"Good, Light and Great
Sam on 01.03.2013
This is a great Ultrabook! This ultrabook has many capabilities and programs offered by Sony. It is light and very slim. The keyboard is excellent and the noise generated from the laptop is very, very minimal. Only issue is that it does not come with a CD disc drive. You can buy one for around $30-60 so it's not so bad considering it is much lighter without it. "

What do you think ?

I already decided on the Sony Vaio Pro, currently deciding between the 11" and the 13". I'm leaning towards the 11" but it isn't available at the moment, seems Sony is out of stock of them. Depending on if my patience holds out I'll go the 11" but if not I'll walk into a JB HiFi and pick up the 13". Having said that the 13" does have a bigger battery, more comfortable sized keyboard and has an upgrade option to 8GB which the 11" doesn't.

[Foos]

sooo.. the woman stepped on my HP folio 13 and cracked the screen.,. sigh - I was using that at work rather than my m11x's - not quite as professional....



When do good haswell ultrabooks with 10+ hour battery come out.. or do I pick up a 13' Air?

[flashy22]

Hey all, looking for a new notebook/ultrabook that fits the below! This is an addition, not a desktop replacement.

Usage:
Browsing, movies, web dev / admin productivity and light gaming.

Needs be comfortable lying on the couch browsing, portable enough to take to work every few days / on holidays / to conferences and a battery life that would get me through interstate flights.

Requirements:
Need to have it in my hands before 26 July.
Maxmimum $1500-$2000
minimum 13" screen
minimum 1600x900
minumum 5 hours batter life.
maximum 2 - 2.5 kilos
Games like Black Ops 2, Bioshock Infinite and Borderlands 2 need to be playable, even if at low res & low settings.

Options so far:
Gigabyte U2442F
Seems perfect? Can only find a handful of reviews, but the 128G SSD+750G HDD, GT650M, Ivy Bridge i7, 8GB ram, 1600x900 screen for a touch over $1400. What is the catch? The only thing is that apparently the 650m has ddr3 not GDDR5 and is nowhere near as powerful as it could be. I imagine it would still be far better than the Sony's onboard haswell graphics though.

Sony Vaio Pro 13
So close to being perfect, with the exceptions of: storage, ram, onboard graphics. I could live with the 256gb max storage, hell, I could even probably get by with 4Gb of ram, but I don't think the onboard graphics will be enough. Also while it would be a nice gimmick, I'm not sure I need a touchscreen. (And the flex in this thing scares me, even though its by design).

The only other contenders are:
Dellienware M14x - overpriced, immature design, heavy, hot and I will get mocked at work. Yet I'm still really drawn to it?!

MS Surface Pro - This is the wildcard. It could potentially fit the bill. Not sure about graphics performance or battery life though, and I'm not sure that I could live a screen that small.

Something will be bought in the next 4 weeks so please, help me out! Make suggestions/recommendations/criticisms of the above etc

Cheers!