Buying a New Laptop...

[andrew.]

Hey guys,

I need some help finding a good laptop. So far I'm leaning towards the Sony Vaio Z13 series. It's really expensive though so hopefully you can find something similarly spec'd but cheaper. If not, I guess I'll order the Vaio.

Anyway, here's my criteria:
- small (<14") and light (<7 lbs)
- decent power (dedicated graphics and an i5 or better)
- good battery life (>4 hours)
- preferably a BD drive, but this isn't crucial
- not a Mac; I currently have an 08 MBP and I need a Windows computer. It's a long story and hard to explain.

So far I've researched many computers and have tried some in stores. So far the only suitable computer is the Sony Vaio Z series. Also I'd like to add that I really hate the computers with no physical mouse buttons because the trackpad doesn't work smoothly IMO when your thumb rests on the "button", which is something I do regularly.

Yes, I know I'm picky and that's why I need your help.

Thanks a lot,
Andrew

P.S. I know someone's going to ask about using Windows on the Mac so let me try and clarify here. Although I could use Bootcamp, Crossover, or a VM, i prefer not to. In the case of the VM and Crossover, I find them too resource hungry, slow, inconvenient, and sometimes they don't interface with my physical hardware (i.e. Certain USB devices) correctly. Bootcamp for me simply isn't viable because of the poor power management with the 08 MBPs in Windows. The battery life is reduced and the computer gets hot (I don't know if all MBPs are like this but mine is and always was). The heat makes me extremely uncomfortable.

[SmokeMonster]

Vaio Z13 series is way overpriced for what you're looking for. This Gateway http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/gateway-gateway-14-intel-core-i5-430m-laptop-id49c02h-silver-id49c02h/10155052.aspx?path=8a299eaee38b045a808a6e6f4713f211en02 fulfills your requirements with the exception of dedicated graphics, but its about 1/3rd the price of the Viao ($650). This samsung http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/samsung-samsung-14-intel-core-i5-520m-laptop-r480-i5-red-r480-i5/10148076.aspx?path=091e62ddbbb308ee94ece1f088db0577en02 covers all your requirements including dedicated graphics for $900 less than half of Z13. I found these searching for 5 minutes, I'm sure I could have found better deals had I looked around half an hour but it's late and I need to go to bed. You can always buy a separate usb or wireless mouse, they are not that expensive. Spending almost 2 grand on a laptop (after taxes) is not a good idea, the technology is gonna become dated in 3-4 yrs and you're probably gonna wanna replace it or atlease upgrade it by then, spending so much money buying one now just doesn't make sense. Keep the the price under $1000 if possible, unless you are made of money.

[ProgrammingFun]

I would recommend the following:
http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/hewlett-packard-hp-15-6-intel-core-i5-460m-laptop-dv6-3134ca-dv6-3134ca/10156188.aspx?path=4746349e47f7bf530d0110ebc56dd330en02
It is a little bigger than you want but meets the requirements...it is also on the affordable side...
However, I do not like the video card...but you might...

Otherwise:
http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/hewlett-packard-hp-pavilion-15-6-intel-core-i5-460m-laptop-dv6-3174ca-aluminum-dv6-3174ca/10155095.aspx?path=96958ca8ae9c98585321ce26ffa33351en02

I recommend these two because I have one from the same series (from Q1 2010) and it is very good so far (mine has nVidia graphics tho)...

I would agree with Smoke about keeping it under $1000...

[andrew.]

Thanks for the help, but I forgot to mention: the ability to switch between dedicated and integrated cards is important, especially because I want to conserve battery during lectures, but use a dedicated GPU at home.

Edit: I wanted to reply about the computers you listed:
- Gateway: My friend has this exact laptop and I don't really like the trackpad.
- Samsung: I will consider it, but the GPU is worse than what I have now and it has the awful bilingual keyboard.
- HP and HP Pavilion: I tried these already in the store. The trackpad is horrible IMO.

I think I was spoiled by my Mac's trackpad...

[SmokeMonster]

I haven't looked up any data on it but I highly doubt having a dedicated video card has *that* much effect on the battery life if you are in the lectures just using the word processor, internet or an IDE. As long as you are notwatching movies or playing games or any such video card intensive activity on it, it shouldn't be a huge issue. And besides if it's that big of a deal you can always buy a 12 cell battery for around $60 which lasts way longer than the default 6 cell,

I don't understand what the issue with the trackpad is, I haven't used a mac that much but most windows laptops have pretty much the exact same trackpad, that might be something that you might just have to get used to.

[andrew.]

I mean that I like to rest my thumb on the mouse button, but if the mouse button is integrated into the trackpad (like the HP computers mentioned above) then it affects how the trackpad works (choppy and jumps all over the place).

With the Macs, resting your finger on the button has no effect whatsoever on the operation of the trackpad.

[ProgrammingFun]

I didn't notice that about those laptops...
The one I have has a separate buttons...

I wouldn't recommend Gateway, I was looking up reviews and many had the screen dying after a few months....

[andrew.]

I think I'm ordering the Vaio Z today. I think it may seem a bit overpriced now, but because of the portability and speed, it should actually last at least 3 years.