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#1 2008-03-27 11:26 am
- danimalxc
- Member
- From: Rochester, NY
- Registered: 2001-11-17
- Posts: 54
Perfect Subnotebook?
My girlfriend and I were hoping that the MBA would be closer to the 12" PB in dimensions, connectivity, drives, etc... so now we're going through the unpleasant task of finding an Apple alternative.
We're looking for a laptop wi th a small screen (12" matte preferred), with optical drive. Specific chipspeed, hard drive capacity, etc. are not crucial so long as it is able to handle current word processing/operating system functions now and into the forseable future.
Can anyone recommend a subcompact that meets what we're looking for? Maybe a VAIO or something similar?
Thanks in advance!
Dan
"When the sun comes up, you better be running!"
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#2 2008-03-27 1:02 pm
- dv
- Negusa Negest
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- From: Minneapolis, MN
- Registered: 1999-08-30
- Posts: 16974
Re: Perfect Subnotebook?
VAIO, like Apple, are typically overpriced and overly fashionable.
A quick perusal of CNET's Editor's Picks shows the Toshiba Portege R500 as being an okay one, as well as the Lenovo ThinkPad X300 (although it's a 13.3" screen model, like the MacBook and MBA) andf the Sony VAIO TZ150N (11" screen.)
Those are all "ultraportable" models. Oddly for a PC-centric site like CNET, the highest rated "thin-and-light" laptop (one step larger) is the basic MacBook.
Newegg has several models of 12.1" notebook. FWIW, Asus gets pretty damn good reviews.
"Now commences the process of cutting off the head, which generally takes from an hour to an hour and a half by an expert workman with a sharp blade." -Reuben Delano, Wanderings and Adventures
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#3 2008-03-27 1:33 pm
- FutureDreamz
- 1.1.2.3.5.8.13.21.34.55
- From: カナダ
- Registered: 2007-01-07
- Posts: 4511
Re: Perfect Subnotebook?
so the 12" PB is unusable for your purposes?
Thanks for clicking.
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#4 2008-03-27 1:51 pm
- dv
- Negusa Negest
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- From: Minneapolis, MN
- Registered: 1999-08-30
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Re: Perfect Subnotebook?
FutureDreamz wrote:
so the 12" PB is unusable for your purposes?
The 12" PowerBook? Single Core G4? No thank you.
Apple's Intel-powered successor to the 12" Powerbook is the 13" MacBook Air, which if you compare it to a 12" PB, really isn't all that small.
"Now commences the process of cutting off the head, which generally takes from an hour to an hour and a half by an expert workman with a sharp blade." -Reuben Delano, Wanderings and Adventures
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#5 2008-03-27 1:57 pm
- FutureDreamz
- 1.1.2.3.5.8.13.21.34.55
- From: カナダ
- Registered: 2007-01-07
- Posts: 4511
Re: Perfect Subnotebook?
dvpierce wrote:
FutureDreamz wrote:
so the 12" PB is unusable for your purposes?
The 12" PowerBook? Single Core G4? No thank you.
Apple's Intel-powered successor to the 12" Powerbook is the 13" MacBook Air, which if you compare it to a 12" PB, really isn't all that small.
no, but it has a full keyboard, and it will fit in with a bunch of paper, so it's small enough.
Thanks for clicking.
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#6 2008-03-27 2:36 pm
- dv
- Negusa Negest
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- From: Minneapolis, MN
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Re: Perfect Subnotebook?
FutureDreamz wrote:
dvpierce wrote:
FutureDreamz wrote:
so the 12" PB is unusable for your purposes?
The 12" PowerBook? Single Core G4? No thank you.
Apple's Intel-powered successor to the 12" Powerbook is the 13" MacBook Air, which if you compare it to a 12" PB, really isn't all that small.no, but it has a full keyboard, and it will fit in with a bunch of paper, so it's small enough.
The OP specifically said the MBA was too big. 
This link shows the product sizes in 3D, for comparison. Big enough difference that if you had a bunch of form-fitting cases and stuff for the 12", you might not be able to cram an MBA into the same bag. Accessories can add up.
"Now commences the process of cutting off the head, which generally takes from an hour to an hour and a half by an expert workman with a sharp blade." -Reuben Delano, Wanderings and Adventures
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#7 2008-03-28 12:40 am
- NAG
- A witch!
- Royal Wombat
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- Registered: 2000-09-22
- Posts: 30229
Re: Perfect Subnotebook?
Yeah, the MBA won't fit into some backpacks or whatnot when by 12" AlBook could. I still like mine because it is really light and being thin is actually really nice too.
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#8 2008-03-28 1:37 pm
- danimalxc
- Member
- From: Rochester, NY
- Registered: 2001-11-17
- Posts: 54
Re: Perfect Subnotebook?
THe 12" PB suits our needs now, for sure, but we're looking for a computer to use for the next four years or so. DVPierce, thanks for the advice... we'll be checking out your recommendations in the next couple months.
"When the sun comes up, you better be running!"
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#9 2008-03-30 7:35 pm
- egalsim
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- Registered: 2008-03-26
- Posts: 2
Re: Perfect Subnotebook?
My ex wife was using the Vaio TZ series. She is a flight attendant and it is very small, has optical drive, camera, and enough computing power for a couple years. The screen size is 11.1 inches and i think it only weighs about 3 lbs.
http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/sto … ryId=16154
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#10 2008-04-13 4:48 am
Re: Perfect Subnotebook?
dvpierce wrote:
The 12" PowerBook? Single Core G4? No thank you.
Apple's Intel-powered successor to the 12" Powerbook is the 13" MacBook Air, which if you compare it to a 12" PB, really isn't all that small.
got my powerbook love it, then the music industry moved to intel.
got a blackbook core 2, sucked balls. and no it wasnt a bum unit, i got a new replacement unit and still sucked balls
single or not altivec pwns joo
went back to my powerbook
------
the x60 series is a 12" from lenovo and packs a lot of power with an optical at non x300 mac air flash prices
Core Mini 1.66ghz 2048ram 320gb
DLSuperDrive Tiger uses for stupid intel stuff
12 Aluminum 1.5ghz 1280ram 250gb
SLSuperDrive Panther uses for Logic Express
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#11 2008-04-13 8:00 am
- Cobalt60
- Member
- Registered: 2002-04-17
- Posts: 1315
Re: Perfect Subnotebook?
Rumors are that the Macbook is going to get a complete redesign at the next iteration. Supposedly it will be aluminum and a bit thinner as they take some of the Air features and transfer them to the Macbook. It's also supposed to have a new chip that is less power hungry and cooler.
That still might be too big for you but if you're not in a hurry you might wait until the latter part of this year to see what shows up.
I'm not a doctor but I'll take a look!
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#12 2008-05-18 1:57 pm
- mdensch
- Member
- Registered: 2003-05-08
- Posts: 31
Re: Perfect Subnotebook?
danimalxc wrote:
THe 12" PB suits our needs now, for sure, but we're looking for a computer to use for the next four years or so. DVPierce, thanks for the advice... we'll be checking out your recommendations in the next couple months.
I'm sure that a later-build 12" aluminum PBook will be useable for the next four years. In fact I'm counting on it since I own one. You mentioned that you would be using it mostly for word processing and web surfing, not really high-horsepower applications.
(I have a PBook Pismo that's going on 8+ years old and it's still going strong.)
PowerBook G4 12" 1.5gHz
iBook G4 12" 1.33mHz
PowerBook Pismo 400mHz
Time Capsule 500gig,iPod Touch 16gig and iPod nano
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#13 2008-05-19 7:37 am
- nayrk
- User Error
- From: Outland
- Registered: 2004-05-01
- Posts: 626
Re: Perfect Subnotebook?
My PBook Lombard died 3 months ago 
I really like the notebooks that ASUS has at the moment, mostly the EeePC. Although it probably won't suit your needs.
Since the transition to Intel used PowerPC based macs have really come down in price. The money you might save on a used or refurb G4 PBook might suit you well a few years down the road and get a nicer machine then.
Roses are red
Violets are blue
I'm a schizophrenic
And so am I
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#14 2008-05-26 12:08 am
- Temetka
- High Priest
- From: Behind the altar...
- Registered: 2002-07-02
- Posts: 2149
Re: Perfect Subnotebook?
I wont buy a MB as they are plastic crap.
The 12" AlBook is a great laptop.
I love my 15" 1.67 HR G4 that I have now. This machine is awesome and I know it should still be running strong in a few years considering it is performing great right now.
Puddlemonkey said: My High Priest Rules!
Jdude wrote: Anything in the name of Temetka, I suppose.
Metallica wrote: Obey your Master!
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