My 5 year old Dell Inspiron 3500 weighs a ton and is slow and outdated. I don't need anything fancy because I won't use it for heavy duty work, just emails, surfing, posting, ICQ, submitting sites, etc. I may buy something stronger later, but right now, my main requirements are lightweight and cheap :)

No, I don't want to do this stuff on my phone or Sidekick-type thing - I DO need more power than that.

Comments from the Peanut Gallery?

Sony Vaio 505. It's not cheap but it's light and you'll love it.

Thanks, I'll check it out :)

I agree with KK the Vaio's are a nice little machine,
but definitely not cheap.

I also don't mind the Toshiba Tecra's they are lite weight with a good size monitor. ( I am as blind as a bat ) :P

May I suggest:

http://www.etch-a-sketch.com/assets/...onlineetch.gif

Works for me :okthumb:

FINALLY something I can afford, and if I get one of those key chain sized one, very lightweight :)

May I suggest putting the call out to our very own Tech TV geek?
The girl do know her stuff on top of being squeezable!

I've got one of the Sony Vaio's.. bought it new in 1999. Its only a 333... not fast but its small enough that you can loose it in a stack of magazines.. I've actually lost it on my desk several times. Its literally the size of a magazine. Here's one on Ebay..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...3474086031&rd=1

They are only asking $259 for it.. that is freaking cheap! I paid twice that much just for the cd drive.. this one doesn't come with the cd drive.. btw.

Check it out.. less than 1 inch thick and weighs less than 3 lbs.

Sony makes the coolest laptops.... but they are normally expensive.

Yeah, that's what I'm seeing :( But they DO seem cool, so I might bite the bullet.......then again, it really has more than I want anyway.....

*sigh* I suck at making decisions, lol!

Yeah they use to make one with a camera built in.. that one was really cool. I started to buy it but the screen was about half the size of the one I have and it had the little nub thing in the middle of the keyboard that acts as a mouse .. instead of the touch pad mine has. I prefer the touch pad over the little nub thing. The one with the camera is half the size but twice as thick.. probably weighs about the same.

Found one on Ebay.. when I bought mine the sales guy told me that a lot of airline pilots bought this machine because of the camera. They could go out of town and video conference back to see their kids and stuff.. really cool little machine.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...ssPageName=WDVW

Sony used to sell factory refurbished computers on their site, check and see if they still do maybe --

Ohh.. I like the new little one..

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP....TR3AP1&Dept=cpu

Its even got the camera.. but its still not very fast. I think I may get one of the new wide screen Toshiba's. Those are cool.. not as portable but still cool.

I'm finding the price of laptops did NOT drop like the price of desktops. :( I only paid $2K for my semi-loaded Dell 5 years ago!

If you just looking for a machine to use when your out of town.. or for light work.. no graphics work.. then I would check out that link I posted above for the little Vaio machine. I have one a little newer than that and I've really enjoyed it. Its not the strongest machine around but it works fine for writing code, email, and surfing the web. You can get that one for $250. That is a good deal.. I wouldn't sell mine for $250. If for nothing else but to use when you travel its a great machine. It doesn't weigh a thing.. the monitor is only 10 inches but you really don't notice. The resolution is outstanding.. very clear.

If you just looking for a machine to use when your out of town.. or for light work.. no graphics work.. then I would check out that link I posted above for the little Vaio machine. I have one a little newer than that and I've really enjoyed it. Its not the strongest machine around but it works fine for writing code, email, and surfing the web. You can get that one for $250. That is a good deal.. I wouldn't sell mine for $250. If for nothing else but to use when you travel its a great machine. It doesn't weigh a thing.. the monitor is only 10 inches but you really don't notice. The resolution is outstanding.. very clear.[/b][/quote]
It would be fine - if it CLOSED! :P

Dang, I really like this one, but there's no feedback, new user, Canadian :awinky: etc. :(

Sony Vaio 505

I'm going to keep an eye on it - it may be worth the risk if it stays around that price.

Your dreaming.. that one is much newer.

Your dreaming.. that one is much newer.[/b][/quote]
A girl can dream, can't she? ;)

Now I'm back to looking at the Dells. I can get a decent one with a network card and a wireless router (it's a REALLY pretty day today and all of sudden I thought "Hey, I could be out on the deck working!") for under $1K. And it upgrades with a 24X DVD player so I can watch movies on the plane. Unlike Shok, I won't watch porn though! :unsure:

Dell has an Inspiron version of their Latitude D600 now that is pretty reasonable for a lightweight notebook. I believe it is the Inspiron 600m. It's under 5 pounds and around an inch thick.

I've had good luck with Dells and for a notebook, I'd never recommend bargain shopping. Stick with the big brands because they are generally not serviceable without a trip back to the factory if they break.

I tend to tote everything but the kitchen sink in my computer bag anyway, so strolling thru the airport with a desktop replacement notebook that weighs 10 pounds doesn't bother me. I forget which number mine is, but it's an Inspiron that was loaded and top of the line when I bought it last year. I tend to only get about 3 years out of a notebook as I use it more than I do the desktop. Wireless has totally spoiled me.

Dickinbush has the original Sony Picturebook, which is the predecessor to the TR series....that thing is freaking tiny and seems to do the job for him just fine for just being able to get online for email and surfing while on the road.

OK, I was looking at the 1150 which is less expensive and has more power...but is 50% heavier...which still just puts it at 7.5 pounds. FOR ME....is size the only thing I'd be paying $200 extra for?

Comparison

OK, I was looking at the 1150 which is less expensive and has more power...but is 50% heavier...which still just puts it at 7.5 pounds. FOR ME....is size the only thing I'd be paying $200 extra for?

Comparison[/b][/quote]
Yup, you're paying for the smaller size and perhaps a little longer battery life.

I had not noticed the 1150, that's actually a hell of a deal.

I like this HP I got around Xmas with the $500 rebate.

it aint light though, it's also powerful enough to be considered a desktop replacement.

I'm happy with my Toshiba M35 with the wide screen :)

found it for $1550 befor the $150 rebate.. added on a $299 service plan so total out of pocket ran about $1700.

Its really a nice thin case and not all that heavy.

1.5mhz Centrino
512mb mem
60G Harddrive
Nvida geoforce video
DVD/CD burner combo

Very happy with it so far although I am thinking of wiping the XP home edition and going with XP pro or 2000.

edited in: weight around 6.5 lbs (I had to go weigh it :))




Last edited by sarettah at Apr 15 2004, 09:48 PM

it aint light though, it's also powerful enough to be considered a desktop replacement.[/b][/quote]
It is a desktop replacement. I been working on one of them CNote Servers up until then!

anything toshiba take your pick

I've owned a half dozen toshibas, it was my brand of choice until 2-3 years ago. Their quality seems to have slipped a bit. Build quality on the last two units I had was just piss poor.

Last one had to be retired due to the hinge on the screen failing.
Damned thing needed Viagra, it wouldn't stay up. You could try to balance it vicariously, but as soon as you start typing rapidly, it'd slam your knuckles.

The fix? Replace the entire screen...which costs as much as a new notebook.

OK, I think I'm going to go with the 1150. I'd rather have the power and a couple of extra pounds and I don't mind the Celeron - that's what's on my old laptop. :)

Thanks everyone!!