12" Laptop recomendations.

pingu · 5th April 2005, 3:09 PM

Greetings All,

I'm looking for a small Centrino 12" laptop, I don't need a bid HDD nor internal Optical drive. What I do require is a few USB ports, wireless, LAN, VGA out. My Budget is under $2000. But the 12" or less screen is crucial, I really want someting small.

Thanks

Varuna · 5th April 2005, 3:21 PM

If you can spare another $200, the best machine you will find on the market, bar none, is the IBM X31.

http://www.minidigital.com.au/larger...d=4&brandid=15

If money doesnt stretch that far, the MSI S250 (pearl white looks fantastic) is also an excellent machine:
http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/...cgi?q=MSI+S250
http://www.digitalstar.com.au/Detail.aspx?ID=31299
http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p...=S250&class=nb

pingu · 5th April 2005, 3:28 PM

I've had a look at IBM's, but I really don't like the mouse thing. I really rather a trackpad. And my Budget is really a max of $2000

SpeedyDerek · 5th April 2005, 3:30 PM

I think the 12" powerbook might have something to say against that, but it's not a centrino so it doesnt really fit your requirements.

MSI make a decent 12" in centrino and celeron-m guise, definately under $2000 i think the centrino model comes in at around $1800.

yoink · 5th April 2005, 3:40 PM

I use a Dell D400, it doesn't have a built-in optical drive, so it's quite light - it's slightly larger than most 12.1" notebooks, as it has titanium casing, which is approx 2cm wide around the screen VS the normal of about 1cm. I quite like it as it has a very "solid" feel to it.
The other Dell notebook I've been looking at is the 700m, 12.1" wide screen, looks very nice, but it's a bit heavier, and has the drive built in.

Wink · 5th April 2005, 3:54 PM

I use a Benq Joybook 6000N which I purchased for around $1900.

Here's a place which sells it for <$2000:
http://www.thx.com.au/product_detail...%2D6000N%2DV03

Varuna · 5th April 2005, 3:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpeedyDerek

I think the 12" powerbook might have something to say against that.

The 12" powerbook is a mouse button, trackpoint, gigabit lan module, and half a pound away from being a perfect machine.

yoink · 5th April 2005, 4:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Varuna

The 12" powerbook is a mouse button, trackpoint, gigabit lan module, and half a pound away from being a perfect machine.

And an Intel Pentium M processor

I really wish Apple would make a Centrino notebook, as their hardware is always top-notch

pingu · 5th April 2005, 4:13 PM

Are the Celeron M a lot slower compared to the Pentium M?

Varuna · 5th April 2005, 4:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pingu

Are the Celeron M a lot slower compared to the Pentium M?

The celerons clock for clock are about 10-20% slower. The biggest problem with them however is that they have speedstep disabled. This means that they will churn through twice as much power during light loads, where a pentium-m would normally drop its clock speed and voltage.

If you are going to be using the machine on the road and you can afford the extra $200, a pentium-m is worth every extra cent.

Wink · 5th April 2005, 4:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pingu

Are the Celeron M a lot slower compared to the Pentium M?

Yes but you won't notice it unless you're going to be doing some intensive work/gaming on it. That being said, go for a Pentium-M setup - it's worth it for the extra money you'll pay.

pingu · 5th April 2005, 4:22 PM

I'm also keeping the 12" apple in mind as well, but I am concerned about external USB HDD for them. Can macs read NTFS?

Varuna · 5th April 2005, 4:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yoink

I really wish Apple would make a Centrino notebook, as their hardware is always top-notch

Asus actually OEMs Apple's ibook and ipod range.

-=Alfonzo=- · 5th April 2005, 4:29 PM

If you could afford a further $599 I'd recommend the Acer TravelMate 380. 1.6GHz 'Dothan' Centrino, 12.1" LCD @1024x768,, 40gb hdd minimum, 1.6kg.

Where's your checklist:

* Wireless - check. 802.11b/g integrated
* USB - check. 2x on board, 1x large firewire
* Optical - check. External, connected and powered by 1x firewire port.
* LAN - check. 10/100 & 56k modem
* VGA out - check.

Varuna · 5th April 2005, 4:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pingu

I'm also keeping the 12" apple in mind as well, but I am concerned about external USB HDD for them. Can macs read NTFS?

OS X 10.3 can read NTFS. If you want write support, you'll have to shoehorn in a 'rather beta' driver, or wait for tiger.

5th April 2005, 3:09 PM	#1
pingu Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: brisbane Posts: 690	12" Laptop recomendations. Greetings All, I'm looking for a small Centrino 12" laptop, I don't need a bid HDD nor internal Optical drive. What I do require is a few USB ports, wireless, LAN, VGA out. My Budget is under $2000. But the 12" or less screen is crucial, I really want someting small. Thanks __________________ http://www.stereo.net.au

5th April 2005, 3:21 PM	#2
Varuna Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sydneys Northern Beaches. Posts: 1,050	If you can spare another $200, the best machine you will find on the market, bar none, is the IBM X31. http://www.minidigital.com.au/larger...d=4&brandid=15 If money doesnt stretch that far, the MSI S250 (pearl white looks fantastic) is also an excellent machine: http://www.staticice.com.au/cgi-bin/...cgi?q=MSI+S250 http://www.digitalstar.com.au/Detail.aspx?ID=31299 http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p...=S250&class=nb __________________ If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error. Last edited by Varuna; 5th April 2005 at 3:36 PM.

5th April 2005, 3:28 PM	#3
pingu Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: brisbane Posts: 690	I've had a look at IBM's, but I really don't like the mouse thing. I really rather a trackpad. And my Budget is really a max of $2000 __________________ http://www.stereo.net.au

5th April 2005, 3:30 PM	#4
SpeedyDerek Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Melbourne (South East) Posts: 197	I think the 12" powerbook might have something to say against that, but it's not a centrino so it doesnt really fit your requirements. MSI make a decent 12" in centrino and celeron-m guise, definately under $2000 i think the centrino model comes in at around $1800. Last edited by SpeedyDerek; 5th April 2005 at 3:31 PM.

5th April 2005, 3:40 PM	#5
yoink Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 2,762	I use a Dell D400, it doesn't have a built-in optical drive, so it's quite light - it's slightly larger than most 12.1" notebooks, as it has titanium casing, which is approx 2cm wide around the screen VS the normal of about 1cm. I quite like it as it has a very "solid" feel to it. The other Dell notebook I've been looking at is the 700m, 12.1" wide screen, looks very nice, but it's a bit heavier, and has the drive built in. __________________ Over 200 trades and counting! BatteryFree Mouse! Where is your avatar? Fake Memory Cards Paxjs vobiscum!

5th April 2005, 3:54 PM	#6
Wink Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Hills District NSW Posts: 9,291	I use a Benq Joybook 6000N which I purchased for around $1900. Here's a place which sells it for <$2000: http://www.thx.com.au/product_detail...%2D6000N%2DV03 __________________ P4 2.4@3.0ghz \|Abit IS7 \|512MB OCZ Premier \|Powercolor 9700Pro \|80GB WD \|30GB Seagate \| 250GB Seagate (eSATA) \|500GB Samsung \|Sony DDU1621 \| LiteOn LH18A1P \|802.11B \|Antec SLK2650 \|Antec TP 430W \| LG 32LC2R 32" LCD TV \|Logitech Media Keyboard Elite \|Razer Copperhead \|Logitech G25 \|Creative DTT2500 5.1 \|D-Link DSL-G604T \|Lenovo T61 \| Toshiba NB205 \| iPod 5G 30GB \|Sony PS3 \|Sony PSP \|Xbox 360 \|Apple iPhone 3G \|Sony DSC-T70 \|1997 TRD Chaser \|

5th April 2005, 4:13 PM	#9
pingu Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: brisbane Posts: 690	Are the Celeron M a lot slower compared to the Pentium M? __________________ http://www.stereo.net.au

5th April 2005, 4:22 PM	#12
pingu Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: brisbane Posts: 690	I'm also keeping the 12" apple in mind as well, but I am concerned about external USB HDD for them. Can macs read NTFS? __________________ http://www.stereo.net.au

5th April 2005, 4:29 PM	#14
-=Alfonzo=- Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Redland Bay, BrisVegas Posts: 7,191	If you could afford a further $599 I'd recommend the Acer TravelMate 380. 1.6GHz 'Dothan' Centrino, 12.1" LCD @1024x768,, 40gb hdd minimum, 1.6kg. Where's your checklist: * Wireless - check. 802.11b/g integrated * USB - check. 2x on board, 1x large firewire * Optical - check. External, connected and powered by 1x firewire port. * LAN - check. 10/100 & 56k modem * VGA out - check. __________________ successful trades \| car