What's the best light-weight laptop available?

[shad0w*]

To name a few I might be interested in are:
iBook, Dell's 700m, Asus Z33A, Thinkpad X series.
I really want the ibook, for it's sleek design though I can't be gaming on it which I would like to do sometimes.
Also my budget is around maybe under $1500? I know I can't afford the 700m or any of the X series.
I wanna know your inputs before I buy.

[bubble.tea]

...as opposed to an a-portable laptop?

[corrupt123]

checkout sony, i know they just released some REALLY tiny ones. They're pricy though.

*edit*

yeah, the sony viao TX series. REALLY TINY - but also quite pricy. link here (http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_BrowseCatalog-Start?CategoryName=cpu_VAIONotebookComputers_TXSer ies&Dept=computers)

http://www.sonystyle.com/intershoproot/eCS/Store/en/imagesProducts/650x650/TX670PB.jpg

look at that, just in relation to the size of the CD. DAMN tiny.

[shad0w*]

...as opposed to an a-portable laptop?

Sorry, I word it wrong in light-weight and small, is what I meant.

[obiwantcp]

Get something without 802.11x. Seriously. I have an aquaintence friend who chat with me at Starbucks. He often has to leave his laptop at home when he tries to study at Starbucks because the free (from a near by company, Starbuck's wifi cost money) wifi just draws him to the infinite internet. He can't get any work done. So with that in mind, Dell's B120 is your last best hope. It's cheap. It's got no wifi. It's got nothing really. You'll be lucky to play a 2D game or two. It just screams productivity (or rather, lack of anti-productivity). Something to think about, and for a while it was going for CAD$549 (now CAD$599). That way you can concentrate on your study/work, get some extra GPA points/income and get something really genuinely bad for your productivity--like a girlfriend.

[bubble.tea]

Sorry, I word it wrong in light-weight and small, is what I meant.


chuckle..;) no worries bud., just showering some Holiday cynicism :D

[shad0w*]

well, internet ready is key to laptops for me.
But I know what you mean.

[itsmypostoffice]

thought i'd chime in on behalf of Dell users (yes, i used to service thinkpads so i have a warm spot for them too). RFD members rupture & eranthdegree recently switched to 12" widescreen models. purchasing a 12" ultra-light, regardless of whether it's Dell/IBM/Sony/Apple, requires planning because these are premium models and manufacturers levy different price points on them. this is why they're rarely on sale while standard systems continue to drop in price. it's easy to design a black chassis w/ 15" and 7lbs -- but to cram your top components into a 12" XGA, 5hr+ battery, dvd burner w/ firewire at 4lbs is genius. and professionals love portability...can the average consumer purchase Sony's 3lb wonder? nope.

balancing performance & pricing is difficult because aside from Averatec there's no competition. every manufacturer staked out a claim -- you want thinkpad durability? buy IBM. want Vaio's built-in multimedia functions? buy sony. mesmerized by the beauty of white candy-coated shell? buy Apple. on a budget but you want your laptop back by a good warranty? there's Dell.

here's the main difference: try to purchase with a goal in mind. research reviews and determine if it offers everything out of the box. we can't tell you which is the BEST because we don't know. 700M has won the best in its segment for 2yrs but i can't argue with professionals familiar with iBook's interface & battery life. they're that good! money + warranty + peace of mind = good purchase. i'd start there.

[rupture]

I'm going to be bias by only speaking about the wonders of the Dell 700m. I simply love this machine, I have since the day that I layed eyes on it and knew that it was the laptop for me. The functions, portability and the price were the perfect combinations I was looking for in a laptop.

I agree with most posters in this thread that people can only offer advice as to which laptop is suitable for you. It all comes down to your decision: what functions you are looking for, what you will be using the laptop for and how much you are willing to spend.

With the style, functionality, reliability and descent price for its class... you can't go wrong with a Dell 700m. It does what I need it to do, internet, email, word processing, minor gaming - all in one light and portable package.

Hope this helps.