I like small laptops - what should I get?

[WalmartSniperLX]

I don't want to pay too much (maybe no more than $2,500). I just want it to be small. I don't want to limit to any certain specs because I don't know what I want in specific except I know I want good portability. Im going to use it for college - programming and possible drafting as well. I'm not picky when it comes to hardware either as long as it performs above average for simple computing. However I do prefer dedicated gpus :P So, what's the best deal? O yeah and I will be putting Ubuntu on it :P

And, it doesnt have to be a 3D beast with a super powerful cpu/gpu. Ill probably do most of my drafting at home on the desktop anyway if not in class on their systems.

[cantormath]

I don't want to pay too much (maybe no more than $2,500). I just want it to be small. I don't want to limit to any certain specs because I don't know excatly what I want except I know I want good portability. Im going to use it for college - programming and possible drafting as well. I'm not picky when it comes to hardware either as long as it performs above average for simple computing. However I do prefer dedicated gpus :P So, what's the best deal? O yeah and I will be putting Ubuntu on it :P

I would stay away from sony, they are small but they suck bad, especially with over heating and just not being compatible. Also, DO NOT GET ATI VIDEO CARD. Look for a linux bios, or something that is compatible so that your bios and acpi works well.

I have and LOVE the IBM X40 series. SOOOOOOOO LIGHT. Get the extended battery, it sticks out alittle, and it still waaaaaaaaay light. Its the best built laptop around. Its got a magnisium case and metal monitor hinges. Battery lasts for like 6-7 hours.

my 2 cents.

[maniacmusician]

the System76 Darter sounds perfect for you, except for the dedicated gpu bit.

[WalmartSniperLX]

I would stay away from sony, they are small but they suck bad, especially with over heating and just not being compatible. Also, DO NOT GET ATI VIDEO CARD. Look for a linux bios, or something that is compatible so that your bios and acpi works well.

I have and LOVE the IBM X40 series. SOOOOOOOO LIGHT. Get the extended battery, it sticks out alittle, and it still waaaaaaaaay light. Its the best built laptop around. Its got a magnisium case and metal monitor hinges. Battery lasts for like 6-7 hours.

my 2 cents.

Thanks a lot. I had a ati card on my old desktop and that was hell. Thanks for the tips. I was thinking about sony because they have some real small laptops lol. But, since you (and others) are reporting negative things about them, Ill take the word and steer clear :P Ill check out IBM too.

the System76 Darter sounds perfect for you, except for the dedicated gpu bit.

I was just looking at System76. I can sacrifice the dedicated gpu since I have a desktop to fall on. As long as the thing is portable and can run Linux well (and this thing comes with Ubuntu, woah) then Im practically sold. :D

[maniacmusician]

I was just looking at System76. I can sacrifice the dedicated gpu since I have a desktop to fall on. As long as the thing is portable and can run Linux well (and this thing comes with Ubuntu, woah) then Im practically sold. :D

Yeah, it's pretty amazing as far as "portable" goes. Look at the battery life on that thing.

IBM computers are really good too, if they're from the thinkpad serieis. Their newest computer, the T61, is quite exciting, and I'll probably get that one. But it's bigger than what you want. (14 inch screen, choice between nvidia and intel graphcis, but battery life is not as good as previous thinkpad models)

[RAV TUX]

I don't want to pay too much (maybe no more than $2,500). I just want it to be small. I don't want to limit to any certain specs because I don't know what I want in specific except I know I want good portability. Im going to use it for college - programming and possible drafting as well. I'm not picky when it comes to hardware either as long as it performs above average for simple computing. However I do prefer dedicated gpus :P So, what's the best deal? O yeah and I will be putting Ubuntu on it :P

And, it doesnt have to be a 3D beast with a super powerful cpu/gpu. Ill probably do most of my drafting at home on the desktop anyway if not in class on their systems.

Fujitsu has two awesome computers at 2.2 lbs:

LifeBook P1610 (http://store.shopfujitsu.com/fpc/Ecommerce/buildseriesbean.do?series=P1610)
LifeBook Q2010 (http://store.shopfujitsu.com/fpc/Ecommerce/buildseriesbean.do?series=P1610)

under 3lbs:

LifeBook P7230 (http://store.shopfujitsu.com/fpc/Ecommerce/buildseriesbean.do?series=P7230)

3.17 lbs:

LifeBook B6210 (http://store.shopfujitsu.com/fpc/Ecommerce/buildseriesbean.do?series=B6210)

and more options under 5 lbs:
http://store.shopfujitsu.com/fpc/Ecommerce/xbproductcompare.do

[timpino]

http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/xpsnb_m1210?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19

Dell XPS M1210 is 12.1'' has an option for a dedicated GPU. Weighs in at 4,37lb so it's not über-light, but not a fat cow

You have the option of a 6 or 9 cell battery, so battery life should be good.

It's well under your $2500 budget

Of course I would chose Apple Macbook if you don't really need the GPU.

[RAV TUX]

Fujitsu has two awesome computers at 2.2 lbs:

LifeBook P1610 (http://store.shopfujitsu.com/fpc/Ecommerce/buildseriesbean.do?series=P1610)
(http://store.shopfujitsu.com/fpc/Ecommerce/buildseriesbean.do?series=P1610)LifeBook Q2010 (http://store.shopfujitsu.com/fpc/Ecommerce/buildseriesbean.do?series=Q2010)

under 3lbs:

LifeBook P7230 (http://store.shopfujitsu.com/fpc/Ecommerce/buildseriesbean.do?series=P7230)

3.17 lbs:

LifeBook B6210 (http://store.shopfujitsu.com/fpc/Ecommerce/buildseriesbean.do?series=B6210)

and more options under 5 lbs:
http://store.shopfujitsu.com/fpc/Ecommerce/xbproductcompare.do


After looking at all these options and after taking my wifes LifeBook T4215 (http://store.shopfujitsu.com/fpc/Ecommerce/buildseriesbean.do?series=T4215)
to work today I decided to buy one for myself.

This is truely the best ultra-portable notebook(convertible) I have ever used.

Take a look, LifeBook T4215 (http://store.shopfujitsu.com/fpc/Ecommerce/buildseriesbean.do?series=T4215), this is the same computer I loaded a dual boot to Ubuntu on a friends computer, so everything simply just works with Linux on Fujitsu.

[igknighted]

I don't want to pay too much (maybe no more than $2,500). I just want it to be small. I don't want to limit to any certain specs because I don't know what I want in specific except I know I want good portability. Im going to use it for college - programming and possible drafting as well. I'm not picky when it comes to hardware either as long as it performs above average for simple computing. However I do prefer dedicated gpus :P So, what's the best deal? O yeah and I will be putting Ubuntu on it :P

And, it doesnt have to be a 3D beast with a super powerful cpu/gpu. Ill probably do most of my drafting at home on the desktop anyway if not in class on their systems.

Honestly, I would get an Intel Mac. You get pure choice of OS (OSX, Windows or *nix) and you get a sleek computer with quality parts. Plus the new macs are usually cheaper than equally spec'd windows PCs. The other alternative you have would be to buy a Dell Ubuntu PC. That'd be nice to support.

[RAV TUX]

Honestly, I would get an Intel Mac. You get pure choice of OS (OSX, Windows or *nix) and you get a sleek computer with quality parts. Plus the new macs are usually cheaper than equally spec'd windows PCs. The other alternative you have would be to buy a Dell Ubuntu PC. That'd be nice to support.except they weigh a ton, he said he wants a small laptop, you can't beat the 2.2 lbs Fujitsu's, if you want high performance go with the T4215 at 4.3 lbs.....Mac's don't even come close to light weightiness or performance.

[Titus A Duxass]

I have a JVC XP3210 sub-note book.
It weighs about a kilo and has a long battery life.

Along with a WPC11 wireless card and xubuntu it is a fantastic little machine.

[igknighted]

except they weigh a ton, he said he wants a small laptop, you can't beat the 2.2 lbs Fujitsu's, if you want high performance go with the T4215 at 4.3 lbs.....Mac's don't even come close to light weightiness or performance.

He never once said light, he just said small. If the laptop is to go in a backpack, whats the difference between 2 and 6 pounds? Compared to a textbook, not much. But there could be size constraints. Who knows, I'm just throwing it out there. As far as I know they make a 12" version of the macbook, yes?

EDIT: WOW, they dropped the 12"... I'm so disappointed, that was the perfect size for a laptop screen...

[ButteBlues]

I agree - a 5 lb. laptop really isn't that heavy at all.

[WalmartSniperLX]

Thank you so much for the posts. I know I didn't mention weight but it is nice, however not a neccesity, to have a lightweight computer as well. But, a 5 pound mac probably isn't too bad. But I agree they are heavy and pricy for the hardware you get, but the nicest thing about macs is the operating system and quality/compatibility :D

Those lifebooks are awesome :D I was also considering a mac too but I wanted to have a wider variety of options before I I spend my money. Besides I still have 2 months to decide. And, I didn't know a better place to ask for a laptop with good linux compatibility other than here :P

I was also curious in lenovo computers but not sure if they are of the higher quality. Anyone know? I know they sell IBM laptops but what about the lenovo marketed ones?

[Alterax]

Best Ubuntu (Feisty) laptop experiences here were;

Mac iBook G4, 12" screen with 30 gb HD/512 MB Ram (small, long battery life, uses PPC architecture. Have it set up for using MOL (Mac-On-Linux) for those rare occasions where I need it)

IBM (Lenovo) Thinkpad X60s. 12" screen, even smaller than the iBook with comparable battery life. Nice. (uses 64-bit x86 architecture, so you can use WINE for some windows programs if you must)

Both of these have done really well. I will forewarn you that the Mac does have special needs; especially since Canonical dropped support for the PPC architecture with Feisty. You can still download the ISOs from the unofficial repositories, and apt-get dist-upgrade works just fine.

The Lenovo pretty much roared to life right out of the box. I was really impressed with it: Beryl went in fine; screen was very clear, and even the wireless worked immediately.

--Alterax

[mips]

Thinkpad X series
Fujitsu Lifebook series
Flybook for really small & mobile

[mips]

Double post

[Flump5000]

get a macbook and dual boot osx

[Anthem]

I love my Dell XPS M1210. But I agree with the other guys. Get a MacBook and dual-boot it. Heck, you can triple-boot it!

If you can wait a few weeks, you could get a very nice updated MacBook Pro.

[maniacmusician]

Thank you so much for the posts. I know I didn't mention weight but it is nice, however not a neccesity, to have a lightweight computer as well. But, a 5 pound mac probably isn't too bad. But I agree they are heavy and pricy for the hardware you get, but the nicest thing about macs is the operating system and quality/compatibility :D

Those lifebooks are awesome :D I was also considering a mac too but I wanted to have a wider variety of options before I I spend my money. Besides I still have 2 months to decide. And, I didn't know a better place to ask for a laptop with good linux compatibility other than here :P

I was also curious in lenovo computers but not sure if they are of the higher quality. Anyone know? I know they sell IBM laptops but what about the lenovo marketed ones?
Lenovo doesn't produce "IBM" computers. They produce Thinkpads, which used to have an IBM logo on them. However, that logo has been discontinued. So they're not IBM thinkpads, they're just Thinkpads.

Their quality is indeed very high. A new computer from them came out just a couple of weeks ago; The thinkpad T61. It's quite nice, and I'm probably going to get one myself. The other Thinkpad models are a little older, but they're still great. The reason I want the T61 is that it has onboard firewire, and the previous T series Thinkpads didn't. (there's many types of thinkpadsl; R Series, Z series, T series, X series, and X60 Tablets).

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/special-offers.workflow:ShowPromo?LandingPage=/All/US/Landing_pages/ThinkPad_notebooks/2007/2007_05_TP_memorial_day&ipromoID=hpa00082&