to go ultraportable or not to go ultraportable.......that is my question

Forums › Laptops and mobile computers › to go ultraportable or not to go ultraportable.......that is my question

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188 posts

Master Geek

#44388 20-Aug-2006 20:00

I have the Toshiba Portege R100; best laptop I've had - its only ULV 900MHz and about 768MB of Ram but more than enough for Internet, Word Processing and even movies. No internal CD ROM tho. It also has a separate video card

Derelict

33 posts

Geek

#44389 20-Aug-2006 20:10

Yea, I definately need a dvdrw in the comp. im not into carting an external with me.

As for the sonys, I was checking them out rescently and was close to buying one until I saw the SZ series has no s-video out, unbelievable, $3000 for a laptop with no svideo , I want to be able to plug it into a TV and watch movies etc, plus ive heard bad things about the keyboard being kinda squashed and problem with the spacebars.
If it has an svideo i would get it, as its size and coolness is definately rad.

But, alas i think i will go with the asus a8jc, has what I need, cept the weight and battery life are not so hot, the price more than makes up for it being only $2200 incl gst.

will keep looking around to see whats out there, but if nothing else comes up i think ill stay with the asus.

lyonrouge

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#44390 20-Aug-2006 20:20

Ah, true, my bad for not reading your post carefully. The S series Vaio sadly does not have S-Video, I'm used to displays with VGA so I havn't missed S-Video. I use a Palm keyboard, so the Sony keyboard layout is comfortable, but others could find the configuration quite odd. I've only had it a year, but no problem with the splace bar so far.

Derelict

33 posts

Geek

#44415 21-Aug-2006 10:18

hhhmmmmmmmm well some more investigation seems to have turned up yet another laptop for me to consider.
Asus A8F, key point, only weights 1.9KG, but lacks a GFX card, question is, do i really need a dedicated card, and it has a Duo 2400, tad faster than the a8jc's 2300.
Can I do without the GFX card....hhhhhhhmmmmm, im not really into the machine for gaming, but it would be nice to have the option of having a quick play on cs source or something if i ever feel the need. Without the card I dont think the laptop stand a chance of playing anything.

lyonrouge

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#44416 21-Aug-2006 10:27

Most users perception of machine speed is dependant on video card and RAM combinations, processor speed only becomes a factor for tasks like intensive video processing or batch work, i.e. decompiling a video into it's component fames etc. Don't get to excited about Duo, there are few (if any) applications fully utilising it.

portege

188 posts

Master Geek

#44417 21-Aug-2006 10:43

Agreed, i personally dont feel much difference between my 900MHz Ultra Low Voltage and my 1.7GHz Centrino. But I only do excel work and browse the net. Duo Core feels like the flop the MMX was, and I had a 133MHz MMX back in the old days, no games supported it.

Derelict

33 posts

Geek

#44418 21-Aug-2006 11:07

yea but the main use for this laptop when im overseas will be storing digital photos (doesnt require naything really), but also storing and editing video from my digital video cam. as well as making dvds from them.
That is probably the main purpose for this machine.
RAM is easily upgradable - i will most likely but a 1GB Chip so I get a nice 1.5GB of RAM, that shouls hold me well for quite some time.
Just wondering if having a gfx card, or not having a gfx card will have any impact on my video editing and creation tasks that I want to be doing.
Plus the A8F weighs only 1.9KG :O
that is also a biggy for me, as i will have to be carrying it around along with my pack and everything g I own on my back. The less weight the better.
So really I can do without the ability to game on this laptop, but will it hinder my video editing.

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portege

188 posts

Master Geek

#44419 21-Aug-2006 11:21

My Toshiba that Ive had for more than 2 yrs is sub 1KG

lyonrouge

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#44420 21-Aug-2006 11:30

Derelict: yea but the main use for this laptop when im overseas will be storing digital photos (doesnt require naything really), but also storing and editing video from my digital video cam. as well as making dvds from them.
That is probably the main purpose for this machine.
RAM is easily upgradable - i will most likely but a 1GB Chip so I get a nice 1.5GB of RAM, that shouls hold me well for quite some time.
Just wondering if having a gfx card, or not having a gfx card will have any impact on my video editing and creation tasks that I want to be doing.
Plus the A8F weighs only 1.9KG :O
that is also a biggy for me, as i will have to be carrying it around along with my pack and everything g I own on my back. The less weight the better.
So really I can do without the ability to game on this laptop, but will it hinder my video editing.

Video editing requirements vary on the software you are using, i.e. do they depend on Direct X. When it comes to weight, also consider total burdon, i.e. power adapter. Many of the laptops get their weight down and then have an enourmous power supply.

Derelict

33 posts

Geek

#44421 21-Aug-2006 11:38

software will be adobe premiere (if i ever get enough time to use it effectively) probably windows movie maker (for small quick edits) winDVD creater for making the dvds, autoGK for the encoding to keep small version on my laptop.
all pretty memory and processor intensive apps I woulda thought. Ive run them on my home PC, and they definately chew up alot of resources.

lyonrouge

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#44422 21-Aug-2006 11:52

Derelict: software will be adobe premiere (if i ever get enough time to use it effectively) probably windows movie maker (for small quick edits) winDVD creater for making the dvds, autoGK for the encoding to keep small version on my laptop.
all pretty memory and processor intensive apps I woulda thought. Ive run them on my home PC, and they definately chew up alot of resources.

Movie Maker will require DirectX compliant a Graphics Processor and I would expect the other would also, so this loops back to your question about having a dedicated Fx chipset, from your requirements I would say yes.

Derelict

33 posts

Geek

#44432 21-Aug-2006 14:06

that is a real bummer if I need the gfx card to run video editing s/w.
The Asus A8F has "Integrated Intel 945GM UMA-128MB" questioning the weight of it now, some sites say 1.9kg other 2.4, guess that must be with and without battery.
In that case, the A8Jc would be my best option, same weight + a gfx card, slightly slower cpu, but hardly noticable difference i wouldnt think, i thought a 0.5KG weight difference was quite a big jump with only slight differences.

ah well, maybe time to find the best price for the A8Jc and the extra 1GB RAM stick.

SilentOne

290 posts

Ultimate Geek

#45064 31-Aug-2006 11:48

How'd you get on Derelict?

Derelict

33 posts

Geek

#45068 31-Aug-2006 14:24

well after alot of thinking and looking and deciding and looking some more and still looking and reading i finally think I will go with the Asus A8Jc, has the features I want, a bit heavier than i wanted, but its way cheap - $2300 incl GST. This has been a big deciding factor as ive had some big bills roll my way lately, mainly a $800 dentist bill which has stung the pocket hard, not to mention all the coin I need for moving to japan + buying flights etc.
I figure with comps chaning as fast as they do, with the money I save I can easily get one in the future if i see the weight being a big issue. For now ill see how I go.
Now I just have to buy one, will be checking one out in htown this weekend @ pb tech, then probably order online as I can get it cheap from a store in aucks, unless pbtech match the price which would be sweet.

I do have one question , if anyone knows - i think im right but want to double check.\
With electronics that charge through a 'power box' i.e the black box between the cable in the wall and your machine, like a laptop, digital cam, video camera etc. They say Input 100V - 240V, 50/60Hz Output XX.XXv

This means that all i need to use these in Japan is a simple plug converter, not a whole power transforming unit right? becuase japan voltage is 100V and 50-60Hz these electronics should all be fine?

dont want to get this wrong and blow up all my stuff.

SilentOne

290 posts

Ultimate Geek

#45071 31-Aug-2006 15:11

I was under that same impression, as most laptop maufacturers do that now to their power packs, I guess it takes away that little switch people used to have.. on PSU's and CRT motitors for example... to stop those tutu gingers from blowing things up *glares at a little cousin up north*

Can anyone else confirm this?

Btw: Few prices from Pricespy for the same model..

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