Need Help Choosing Between Dell & Sony Viao

[student007]

I have about $2500CDN to spend on a laptop. What do u guys recommend? I don't think i want a mac, because its difficult to get software for it (from my experiences) and am considering a Dell or a sony Viao. WHat do u think?

 

[robphy]

Motion LE1600 Tablet PC http://www.motioncomputing.com/
(I have the first generation M1200... this new one is the third model since mine.)

 

[scienceguy89]

get a Sony Viao
one of the better laptops I've had

 

[student007]

hey robphy, is that motion company a well-established, reliable company? Besides, i went on the link, but couldn't find any laptops - just tablet PCs. I'm looking more for a notebook.

Anyways, i found this sony notebook, here's the link:
http://www.sonystyle.ca/commerce/servlet/ProductDetailDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&productId=1001585&navigationPath=32009n32160n100079

Considering my budget, what do u think?

 

[robphy]

Motion is a relatively new company that makes only TabletPC slates.
I think folks are generally happy with them. Arguably, they are the best TabletPCs.

http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=25 (Motion Tablet PCs)
http://www.tabletpcbuzz.com/

If the apparent lack of a keyboard is bothering you, there are keyboard accessories
https://www.motioncomputing.com/store/Default.ASP?WCI=wiInventory&WCE=wtcategoryDetails&Category=Input%20DevicesLE

Note that TabletPCs run a extended version of Windows XP Pro... so it can run everything that an ordinary laptop can run.

I use a TabletPC because I lecture with it... if I had to upgrade (and had the funds to do so), I'd get that Motion or the new IBM/Lenovo ThinkPad X41 Tablet.


Considering your Sony link, it looks okay... but I guess it depends on what you want out of your laptop.

For me, 6.5 lbs is heavy. My tablet is about 3.5lbs. I need an easily portable machine, as opposed to a desktop replacement. Of course, I realize that this Sony has some on-board components like a DVDRW.

Certainly, this Sony is much faster and more powerful than my 2-year-old tablet. However, that new Motion LE1600 is comparable in speed.

Last year, my wife got a nice Vaio, the V505DX. The V505DX is small, weighs 4.3 lbs, and the battery lasts about 5 hours. Be warned, however. Check the battery life for the model you choose. A friend of hers got a different Vaio model (Z series, P4?) with a big screen, and it lasted only about 2 hours.

 

[dduardo]

iBook or Powerbook

 

[robphy]

iBook or Powerbook

Given the recent Apple-Intel announcement, is this a good idea (unless one needs it now)?
[I don't really know the details on timelines. I just googled and found these articles:
http://www.powerbookcentral.com/columns/hildreth_moore/roadmap.shtml and http://arstechnica.com/columns/mac/mac-20050608.ars ].