Ultimate notebook?
I'd like some ideas on the ultimate notebook.
OK, the ultimate notebook for ME.
I'm pretty-much resigned to the fact that it's going to be in the "heavy" category.
Basics: Pentium IV-M, 15" or larger screen, 40-60GB hard drive, 512M-1GB RAM, ~2000 mHz, 1400x1024 or better, CDRW/DVD combo, bays for extra battery and extra hard drive, 802.11 preferably built-in.
I write software for a living. I need to be near a computer with a development environment (Visual C++) each (extended) business day, able to make changes to software that I support and upload them to a server over the Internet. Since I don't currently have a notebook computer, this has left me with the inability to take a vacation for even a few days. Unfortunately, nobody can take over for me, and the consequences of not being able to respond to a problem would be "expensive".
I plan on updating my Verizon service to "Express Network" (up to 144kbit/sec data) and getting a phone with a connectivity kit. I figure between that, modem, Ethernet, and 802.11, I've got connectivity covered just about anywhere.
I suppose just about any reasonably-fast notebook with a decent-sized hard drive would do the job of freeing me from my desktop for a few days. But I'm toying with the idea of taking some extended vacations where I would actually work (rather than just respond to problems over a shorter period). As long as I have Internet access to upload a modest-size executable (<500K) I can work from anywhere.
So, speed and display become more important, and portability less so. (I could live with a slow system with a small screen for an occasional 2-line change - not so for several hours of programming at a time.) I'm used to working with two 22" CRTs, with 1600x1200 resolution. Backup capability is also VERY important - I would like to be able to easily clone hard drives, probably leaving a copy at home for safety.
I've looked at the high-end notebook LCDs, and think I can live with a much smaller LCD than my 22" CRTs, as they are much sharper. But I still want to get the largest LCD I can.
Two points of reference on displays - I was sorely disappointed at the Sony 16.1" display - too bad, becuase it apparently is the biggest one out there. It appeared washed-out and hard to view at wide angles. (But maybe somebody fiddled with it at the store. I did try to adjust it, without very good results.) On the other hand, I really liked the display on the Toshiba Sattelite Pro, though it isn't as high a resolution as I'd like.
One thing I noticed that erased a concern - Windows XP seems to deal with high resolutions on small screens much better than 2000 (I use 2000 at home, but do plan on useing XP Pro on the notebook). Neither text nor icons seemed too small to read, and it looks like they play some games with outlining icon text to good efect.
(I realize I won't get as much stuff on the screen as on my home display with a bigger font. But I'd rather have 1600x1200 with a big font than 1024x768 with a smaller, less-defined font. My concern was that if I go with 1600x1200, I would be stuck with tiny characters and tiny icons, or else having to set the screen to a lower resolution, which is NOT a good idea with an LCD.)
I like the Dell and IBM 1600x1200 top-of-the-line displays, at least on paper (I haven't actually seen them). I suspect they use the same panel - 170 degree viewing angle and 500:1 contrast ratio.
It LOOKS like (with perhaps some screwdriver work) I can interchange hard drives between the internal hard drive and a hard drive in the UltraBay 2000 hard drive adapter on the IBM A series. (The person on the phone wasn't very knowledgable, and thought that the UltraBay 2000 adapter used an EXTERNAL drive - but the picture shows clearly that the drive fits inside the slide-in adapter.) This is important - in the case of a hard drive or software failure, I want to be able to simply replace the internal hard drive with a pre-built replacement, and want to be able to make frequent backups by copying to a hard drive in the plug-in adapter. (I don't want to have to copy back to to internal drive or run from the plug-in drive.) What would be ideal - which I don't think anybody makes - would be to simply have two externally-accessable drive slots - but I suppose this is asking for too much...
The Dell doesn't seem to have such easy (if any?) interchangability between the internal and slide-in hard drives.
It strikes me that my needs are very similar to those that a trader who wants to go on the road might have. (I can see a trader adding a second, LCD screen.) So, there probably are some people here with some experience with the types of notebooks that I am looking for.
Anything that I should be considering other than IBM A, Dell 8200, and Toshiba Sattelite Pro? (Dunno if they have a slide-in hard drive option? I just liked the look of the display...)
Oh, yes, hurry. I need to do this by the end of the year. Uncle Sam and Uncle Davis are paying 42% of the tab... |
