12" Laptop

BlaYde · 25th March 2006, 11:22 PM

Hi guys,

Need your help fellas in recommending me a laptop. I'm looking for a smallish laptop something along the lines of a Sony VAIO in terms of size.

Spec wise something decent with min 512mb ram, 60+GB HDD, good wi-fi, lan, sound, and a resonable video card.

I will use this mainly for internet and office work but if the laptop could run WOW (and I don't me "just" run it) that would be a bonus. Money wise I don't wish to spend over the top but just enough to give me what I ask for. Brand wise again it doesn't have to be a "Sony".

iAl3xi · 25th March 2006, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlaYde

Hi guys,

Need your help fellas in recommending me a laptop. I'm looking for a smallish laptop something along the lines of a Sony VAIO in terms of size.

Spec wise something decent with min 512mb ram, 60+GB HDD, good wi-fi, lan, sound, and a resonable video card.

I will use this mainly for internet and office work but if the laptop could run WOW (and I don't me "just" run it) that would be a bonus. Money wise I don't wish to spend over the top but just enough to give me what I ask for. Brand wise again it doesn't have to be a "Sony".

http://www1.ap.dell.com/content/prod...=au&l=en&s=dhs

dell Inspiron 710m.. they a bit high cost.. but i belive they are pretty good

vindicator · 26th March 2006, 5:43 PM

There were several threads like this in the past month.

My reccomendation: 12: iBook or Powerbook.

Jaffa_Cree · 26th March 2006, 6:00 PM

The Asus 12" series are great. The W5 series are even the older M5N series if you can get a hold of one. They come with alot of extras and have a standard 2 year international warranty.

beeker · 26th March 2006, 11:09 PM

Only problem I have found with all the 12in notebooks (Apples excluded) are that they all come with the integrated Intel graphics driver.

The Sony Vaio SZ series is a 13.3in notebook, which will be what I will be looking at myself if I were in the market I guess..

Gecko · 27th March 2006, 5:45 AM

A client of mine just bought a Sony Vaio TX27GPB - great little machine. The guy has it sitting in his breifcase and even though he hardly uses it he doesn't care because it makes basically no difference to the weight - its only 1.3kg

BlaYde · 27th March 2006, 7:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beeker

Only problem I have found with all the 12in notebooks (Apples excluded) are that they all come with the integrated Intel graphics driver.

The Sony Vaio SZ series is a 13.3in notebook, which will be what I will be looking at myself if I were in the market I guess..

That's what I have found, doing some research yesterday that it is hard to find a 12" with a decent graphics card. Like I said in my 1st post, I don't have to have one with a beasty card because i will use it mainly for office apps / net. if I could run WoW on it at playable quality that would be a bonus but main priority is portability and speed.

The one I'm looking at at this stage is the ThinkPad X60 with Intel Core Duo CPU. Any thoughts on this?

There is also the Sony VAIO S56GPS which is a 1.8 Centrino, 512MB Ram, 13.3" WXGA TFT (1280 x 800) and it also comes with a nVidia GeForce Go 6400 (PCIe) w/ up to 128MB Shared Video RAM whihc I'm not sure how it performs against the Intel 900 chip.

The VAIO does look nice and has good specs too. The thinkpad would be quicker due to the dual core cpus

beeker · 27th March 2006, 9:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlaYde

That's what I have found, doing some research yesterday that it is hard to find a 12" with a decent graphics card. Like I said in my 1st post, I don't have to have one with a beasty card because i will use it mainly for office apps / net. if I could run WoW on it at playable quality that would be a bonus but main priority is portability and speed.

The one I'm looking at at this stage is the ThinkPad X60 with Intel Core Duo CPU. Any thoughts on this?

There is also the Sony VAIO S56GPS which is a 1.8 Centrino, 512MB Ram, 13.3" WXGA TFT (1280 x 800) and it also comes with a nVidia GeForce Go 6400 (PCIe) w/ up to 128MB Shared Video RAM whihc I'm not sure how it performs against the Intel 900 chip.

The VAIO does look nice and has good specs too. The thinkpad would be quicker due to the dual core cpus

The Lenovo X60 is a nicely spec 12.1in notebook, although it's still on the Intel integrated video, but if you are looking at that price range, wouldn't the Sony Vaio VGN-SZ15GP and VGN-SZ18GP be better value? The 18 has the same processor as the X60 and has the ability to switch from the Intel integrated and the nVidia 7400 (reboot required) for the same kind of price. The 15GP is a bit cheaper.

They are 13.3in notebooks though, same as the S56GPS. Both the 6400 and the 7400 should perform much, much better than the Intel integrated. All that said, the X60 has excellent battery life, compared to real life Sony Vaio battery life (rather than quoted)

FB008 · 27th March 2006, 9:41 AM

that's the problem with the 12" notebooks, 99% of them have integrated graphics AFAIK. except the sony ones i think, i remember seeing one some time ago (10.1" model i think it was) which had integrated radeon 9700 graphics???

if cost is no factor, go get a sony especially if u want to run WOW. i have a 12" ibook and it has integrated radeon 9550 graphics. But then again it's a mac

beeker · 27th March 2006, 9:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FB008

if cost is no factor, go get a sony especially if u want to run WOW. i have a 12" ibook and it has integrated radeon 9550 graphics. But then again it's a mac

That's about it really. I had a 12" powerbook and it had a nice graphics card. Think it was an nvidia at the time. No longer have it though. Were I to get another Mac, I'd wait until the 12in MacBook Pros come out. That should be really good!! Not for everyone though

BlaYde · 27th March 2006, 4:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beeker

The Lenovo X60 is a nicely spec 12.1in notebook, although it's still on the Intel integrated video, but if you are looking at that price range, wouldn't the Sony Vaio VGN-SZ15GP and VGN-SZ18GP be better value? The 18 has the same processor as the X60 and has the ability to switch from the Intel integrated and the nVidia 7400 (reboot required) for the same kind of price. The 15GP is a bit cheaper.

They are 13.3in notebooks though, same as the S56GPS. Both the 6400 and the 7400 should perform much, much better than the Intel integrated. All that said, the X60 has excellent battery life, compared to real life Sony Vaio battery life (rather than quoted)

Hmm this Sony Vaio VGN-SZ15GP and VGN-SZ18GP are most certainly tempting especially since they come with the nVidia 7400's which although I have not read much about, do sound beefy and would definitely allow me to play my much loved WoW as well as all the usual office apps etc... Just reading thru detailed specs to see why the 18GP is $700 more then the 15GP.

BlaYde · 27th March 2006, 4:36 PM

Looks like they are very similar bar few small differences. Seriously considering the Sony Vaio VGN-SZ15GP and I might add another 512mb ram.

Sony Vaio VGN-SZ15GP - 60GB HDD, Intel® Centrino® Duo CPU 1.66MHz, Weight 1.85Kg, 6hr Battery, Software same as 18GP minus Protector Suite QL 5.2, Roxio DigitalMedia SE 7, Infineon TPM Professional.

Sony Vaio VGN-SZ18GP - 80GB HDD, Intel® Centrino® Duo CPU 1.83MHz, Weight 1.69, 7hr Battery, Software same as 18GP plus Protector Suite QL 5.2, Roxio DigitalMedia SE 7, Infineon TPM Professional.

Sony Australia has the Sony Vaio VGN-SZ15GP listed as RRP of $2,999. I wonder if I could get a better deal elswhere?

dairyboy · 27th March 2006, 4:51 PM

I wouldn't recommend a VAIO at all

(history: 5 VAIO's starting from a F650, Z505, 2x GR series and a V505 being the latest)

The F650 and Z505 were built like a brick, overengineered purple laptop. As soon as the GR/Z/V/T/N and V505 were released, the quality is shithouse and the current batch is pretty much the same. Worst still, they aren't purple anymore looking more and more like generics

Only comes with 1 year RTB warranty (often to a contractor) and some of them are plagued with design issues (like the GR* series, RAM slot go gaga rendering the machine useless) I wouldn't touch it with a 10 ft pole.

Got a TP X31 for the last 18 months, this thing survived a couple of 1m freefall

and warranty is tops. Like one incident where I cracked the case myself, called and told them about it and they said a courier will pick it up tomorrow. That'a 11am. At 1pm, the courier knocked on the door to collect the machine. Better yet, I didn't pay a cent

and they actually give you a call to follow up on the repairs...Sony in comparison, makes you drive to their contractors, wait in the queue for an hour and takes 3-4 days turnaround just to tell you what's wrong and ordering parts etc then a further 3-4 days before you will see your laptop again.

beeker · 27th March 2006, 5:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlaYde

Sony Vaio VGN-SZ15GP - 60GB HDD, Intel® Centrino® Duo CPU 1.66MHz, Weight 1.85Kg, 6hr Battery, Software same as 18GP minus Protector Suite QL 5.2, Roxio DigitalMedia SE 7, Infineon TPM Professional.

Sony Vaio VGN-SZ18GP - 80GB HDD, Intel® Centrino® Duo CPU 1.83MHz, Weight 1.69, 7hr Battery, Software same as 18GP plus Protector Suite QL 5.2, Roxio DigitalMedia SE 7, Infineon TPM Professional.

Sony Australia has the Sony Vaio VGN-SZ15GP listed as RRP of $2,999. I wonder if I could get a better deal elswhere?

The 18 also has a fingerprint scanner, is slimmer, faster, lighter and has a carbon fibre casing. It is supposed to have a slightly different keyboard as well, but I have not had the chance to check it out.

Shop around, try digitalstar, staticice, but I doubt you will get a great deal...

As it is the only 13.1in notebook with a better than average videocard, it becomes the only choice really. Sucks, but that's life.

You can get the 3 year warranty if you want. (Extra) All that said we've got a PCG-Z1 going strongly here and it's even been dropped off a table. No cracks, no glitches, just powering along.

Not sure about your Sony warranty, but we got free next business day courier pickup from anywhere as standard for the first year. We also had the 3 year onsite warranty on top of that.

Sometimes you get lemons, sometimes you get a good one

Seishi · 27th March 2006, 5:54 PM

Speaking of 12" notebooks, has anyone had much experience with 'twinhead'?
Twinhead Australia
Should i even consider this brand at all? (specifically the Twinhead 12D)

25th March 2006, 11:22 PM	#1
BlaYde Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Perth Posts: 1,655	12" Laptop Hi guys, Need your help fellas in recommending me a laptop. I'm looking for a smallish laptop something along the lines of a Sony VAIO in terms of size. Spec wise something decent with min 512mb ram, 60+GB HDD, good wi-fi, lan, sound, and a resonable video card. I will use this mainly for internet and office work but if the laptop could run WOW (and I don't me "just" run it) that would be a bonus. Money wise I don't wish to spend over the top but just enough to give me what I ask for. Brand wise again it doesn't have to be a "Sony". __________________ MY CAMERA GEAR \|\| CAMERA CLUB MEMBER #10

26th March 2006, 11:09 PM	#5
beeker Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Sydney Posts: 533	Only problem I have found with all the 12in notebooks (Apples excluded) are that they all come with the integrated Intel graphics driver. The Sony Vaio SZ series is a 13.3in notebook, which will be what I will be looking at myself if I were in the market I guess.. __________________ Motorola V-club member #10 - v600 Asus Laptop Owners Club member #2 - W3V -- Successful purchases: Chainbolt Successful sales: Reaper, T-Bones, JonSton, Rogue, Ranchu, Peg, Kirk M., Erdem, Rickster, Argus

27th March 2006, 5:45 AM	#6
Gecko Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney Posts: 1,797	A client of mine just bought a Sony Vaio TX27GPB - great little machine. The guy has it sitting in his breifcase and even though he hardly uses it he doesn't care because it makes basically no difference to the weight - its only 1.3kg __________________ Any comments or opinions made by me are not the opinion of any of my employers unless specifically noted.

27th March 2006, 4:36 PM	#12
BlaYde Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Perth Posts: 1,655	Looks like they are very similar bar few small differences. Seriously considering the Sony Vaio VGN-SZ15GP and I might add another 512mb ram. Sony Vaio VGN-SZ15GP - 60GB HDD, Intel® Centrino® Duo CPU 1.66MHz, Weight 1.85Kg, 6hr Battery, Software same as 18GP minus Protector Suite QL 5.2, Roxio DigitalMedia SE 7, Infineon TPM Professional. Sony Vaio VGN-SZ18GP - 80GB HDD, Intel® Centrino® Duo CPU 1.83MHz, Weight 1.69, 7hr Battery, Software same as 18GP plus Protector Suite QL 5.2, Roxio DigitalMedia SE 7, Infineon TPM Professional. Sony Australia has the Sony Vaio VGN-SZ15GP listed as RRP of $2,999. I wonder if I could get a better deal elswhere? __________________ MY CAMERA GEAR \|\| CAMERA CLUB MEMBER #10

26th March 2006, 5:43 PM	#3
vindicator (Taking a Break) Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: LoNoSho Posts: 2,954	There were several threads like this in the past month. My reccomendation: 12: iBook or Powerbook.

26th March 2006, 6:00 PM	#4
Jaffa_Cree Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 1,908	The Asus 12" series are great. The W5 series are even the older M5N series if you can get a hold of one. They come with alot of extras and have a standard 2 year international warranty.

27th March 2006, 4:51 PM	#13
dairyboy Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 290	I wouldn't recommend a VAIO at all (history: 5 VAIO's starting from a F650, Z505, 2x GR series and a V505 being the latest) The F650 and Z505 were built like a brick, overengineered purple laptop. As soon as the GR/Z/V/T/N and V505 were released, the quality is shithouse and the current batch is pretty much the same. Worst still, they aren't purple anymore looking more and more like generics Only comes with 1 year RTB warranty (often to a contractor) and some of them are plagued with design issues (like the GR* series, RAM slot go gaga rendering the machine useless) I wouldn't touch it with a 10 ft pole. Got a TP X31 for the last 18 months, this thing survived a couple of 1m freefall and warranty is tops. Like one incident where I cracked the case myself, called and told them about it and they said a courier will pick it up tomorrow. That'a 11am. At 1pm, the courier knocked on the door to collect the machine. Better yet, I didn't pay a cent and they actually give you a call to follow up on the repairs...Sony in comparison, makes you drive to their contractors, wait in the queue for an hour and takes 3-4 days turnaround just to tell you what's wrong and ordering parts etc then a further 3-4 days before you will see your laptop again.

27th March 2006, 5:54 PM	#15
Seishi Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Victoria, Melbourne Posts: 26	Speaking of 12" notebooks, has anyone had much experience with 'twinhead'? Twinhead Australia Should i even consider this brand at all? (specifically the Twinhead 12D)