Ultraportables

[Jean Louise Finch]

Hi all,

I was wondering if any of you have some advice for me re: solid, stable ultraportable notebooks. I want to be able to toss it in a bag and take it to the cafe, on the plane, and whereever else. I also want it to have wireless built in, and a DVD player. I prefer the short and squat over the normal screen but super thin.

It will primarily get used for word processing and internet/email, but also needs to be able to run SPSS or STATA at a reasonable speed with moderately big datasets. I do have a bigger desktop at home for most of that kind of work, so it's not the primary concern.

There are a few that seem highly recommended:
Fujitsu P7010 and P7010D
Sony VAIO TR1A, TR2A or TR3A
IBM ThinkPad X40 or X31
and i thought I would ask if anyone has any thoughts.

Thanks!
Jean Louise

[welshTerrier2]

1. c/net reviews

i'm not familiar with any of the machines you mentioned so no help there ...

however, if you haven't checked out c/net, you might find these ultraportable reviews helpful:

http://reviews.cnet.com/Notebooks/4521-6527_7-5021302-4.html?tag=subnav
http://reviews.cnet.com/Sony_VAIO_TR_series/4505-3121_7-30557478.html?tag=pop
http://reviews.cnet.com/4852-3121_7-30557478.html?tag=uo
http://reviews.cnet.com/4503-5_7-0.html?qt=fujitsu+ultramobile&do=1&segment=583528&ds=1&smp=3

you also might want to check out this review (others?) on epinions.com:

http://www.epinions.com/content_150361640580

hope this helps ...

[Nite Owl]

2. I have a little Averatec

notebook. It weighs in at about 4lbs. That's what I got it for, traveling, the cafe, sitting in the kitchen surfing. I really find that I am using it more than I though. It wasn't very expensive either, at least compared to a Sony. It's enough for me with the desk top for work. It has wireless and is thin but not the short squat screen.

http://www.averatec.com/

Best Buy has it online but Circuit City has it in the store if you want to see it up close. There are various other places on line to get one too like Amazon.

[Old and In the Way]

3. Bought one for my daughter a year ago.

It is a slick little laptop. I love her screen (very bright and sharp). Has the CD burner (important for 16 YO's) and built in wireless. Price is very reasonable, too. Keys are a bit small, but she loves it.

[kaitykaity]

4. Do you know if it works over the road?

Like in a rest stop on the highway in
North Dakota or something?

I don't even know how to ask the question.

[Nite Owl]

5. It works at a hotel

and at Panera (free wireless, good coffee = heaven!).

It should work at a rest stop if the signal there is good. I have some spots in my house that the signal is weak. It's the construction of the house I guess. One side of the wall good, other side not so good.