Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with ultraportable

What European country will offer the lowest price for the same mini-laptop?

gttommy — Sat, 30 May 2009 04:58:53 -0800

What European country will offer the lowest price for the same mini-laptop? (list of countries inside) This is really a 2 part question...

I would like to buy a cheap, super fast, long-battery-life mini-laptop, solely for going on to the internet at places which provide free wi-fi. I will emphasise the need for fast load up time, and switching between several web browser windows without lag. Eye-candy is not important.

For under 200-400 USD what should I get? (cheaper is good)

As I am travelling around Europe, in what country should I get it?

Countries: England, Sweden, France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands, Monaco, Vatican City

Considering currency exchange rates, tax regulations, and anything else you can think of.

Thanks in advance.

Which netbook should I get?

bshort — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 09:08:16 -0800

What's the perfect netbook for me? I've searched all over the internet but I'd like some input from the hive mind. So here's the deal:

I'm looking for a netbook that is small enough and cheap enough that I can throw it into a man bag without thinking twice about it.

I would like the following features:

1. WiFi (obviously).

2. A decent keyboard.

3. Bluetooth (I would consider one of those mini-dongles, but I'd prefer that it was built-in.)

4. Excellent battery life. I'm looking for a minimum of four hours in actual usage.

5. At least 2 USB ports.

6. Enough internal storage for a couple of movies. The Dell Mini can be configured with a 16GB SSD, but I'd prefer upwards of 30GB of storage.

7. The ability to install either Ubuntu or the Ubuntu Netbook Remix and have everything on the computer actually work. This is an absolute must. If there's a random LED that doesn't quite show the WiFi signal, then that's fine, but I need all the ports to work, I need a working Ethernet port, working webcam, etc.

8. I'd prefer a webcam, but this is optional.

9. A low low price. I'm looking for a "netbook" not a carbon-fiber, wafer-thin piece of precision engineering.

What say you, hive mind? Does my perfect on-the-go device exist?

What's a cheap laptop that I can use for DJing?

clcapps — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:22:45 -0800

I'm trying to build an ultra-mobile DJ setup. What laptop can I get that has the lowest cost-to-usefulness ratio? I have an M-Audio Torq Xponent. I've been using it with my iMac, because I like the screen real estate, but I'm getting pretty sick of lugging it around, so I'm looking at low-cost laptop alternatives. I'd probably also use this laptop for pretty basic web-browsing / emailing / word processing, also. Would a netbook like one of the higher-end Eee PCs or an MSI Wind be able to function in this capacity? I'll be using it with a USB soundcard , so i'm not concerned with the sound specs, just the processing. I'm usually a mac guy, but their laptops are out of my range and I don't know much about the PC market. What should I be looking at?

Where to follow the booming subnotebook/ultraportable market online?

meso — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:01:25 -0800

What's the best online place to follow the latest subnotebooks and ultraportables to arrive on the market? I'm particularly eager to be in the starting blocks when Dell's E becomes available. Bonus points if the website isn't USA-centred, but also features international updates.

Is an ultraportable laptop a suitable primary computer?

Mr Bunnsy — Wed, 07 May 2008 12:58:36 -0800

Ultraportable laptop as primary computer? Yea or nay? I'm looking at replacing my beloved but dying 5-year old Vaio with a newer, smaller model. I am particularly interested in the Sony TZ series with 11" screens. I am wondering whether there's enough computing power in one of these to serve as my only computer. I'll be carrying it with me to class every day, so weight is of the essence, but I'll also be wanting to occasionally use Photoshop and mess with large Excel files. Otherwise I'll mostly be using it for web surfing, IM, Skype, maybe watching movies or downloaded TV shows.

Will it be so slow and crashy as to drive me insane? Will the tiny screen drive me insane? (I am looking at Sony in particular because they have great-looking screens; only Macs have better ones in my opinion, and Mac support is crappy at my school.)

If anyone uses an ultraportable in this way, please share your experiences. And please recommend any specific models you've had good experiences with - I'm prepared to spend $3000+ on a Vaio but wouldn't at all mind spending less.

SWM seeks a simple ultraportable

tylermoody — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 10:02:16 -0800

Suggest a small, linux-compatible laptop. I'm aware of the eee, but I want to look at the competition. I need great wireless, solid construction, and full linux support. I want a 10-12 inch screen, a high capacity for RAM, and good battery life. I don't need a touchscreen, camera, fingerprint thing, huge hard drive, intense graphics, card readers, firewire, microphone, or modem.

The eee worries me; the small screen and ~3 hr battery life might show up on every "not as bad as you'd think!" list, but they're also in every "what I'd change" article.

I will be using this computer for coding, writing, going on the internet, and email. I don't mind buying used, but I'd prefer to avoid ebay and my local craigslist is pretty slow. I am willing to spend around $1000.

Eee PC?

dersins — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 09:16:59 -0800

Do I want an Asus Eee PC? I'd love to have an ultra portable (fits in my coat pocket?), ultra cheap computer for writing and internetting. Is the Eee the machine for me, or is the keyboard too small to type on for extended periods of time? (My hands aren't ginormous or anything, but they're not exactly dainty, either.) Anyone have any experience trying to write on one? Any alternate suggestions at a similar price point?

Will 12" satisfy me?

mendel — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 17:41:43 -0800

Am I going to regret getting a 12"-screen ultraportable laptop? I'm going to b-school in the fall for an MBA and am shopping for a refurbished laptop to use for school. Since I'm going to be lugging it around, I'm thinking of picking up an HP nc4000, a 12" subnotebook. It's got a full-size keyboard and otherwise meets my specs, but I'm wondering about that 12", 1024x768 screen and the general practicalities of subnotebooks.

Currently I've got a work-provided 14" screen laptop with 1400x1050 resolution. (I don't want to use my work laptop for school.) The refurb places around here have had no SXGA laptops, so the alternative to the nc4000 will probably be a 1024x768 14" screen.

Am I going to regret going with a little laptop with a 12" display? (By which I mean: Do you regret having had or not had an ultraportable 12" laptop?)