laptops

[desh]

Researching 12-inch laptops. Which do you think looks best?

Note: I'm not looking for a Mac/PC holy war. I'm looking at value for the money, both in terms of features listed here and in terms of other things you may know about these computers. I'm also looking for key features you think I might have forgotten to include. Stuff like that.

	Apple 12.1" iBook G4	Dell Inspiron 710m	Dell Latitude D410	Dell Latitude X1
Default weight	4.9 lbs.	4.1 lbs	3.8 lbs.	2.9 lbs!
Screen	12.1" conventional	12.1" widescreen	12.1" conventional	12.1" widescreen
Processor	1.33 GHz G4	1.70 GHz PM 735	1.73 GHz PM 740	1.10 GHz ULV PM 733
HD	40 GB	40 GB	40 GB	30 GB
RAM	1 GB	1 GB	1 GB	768 MB
CD	DVD / CDRW	DVD / CDRW	CD-ROM (external!)	CD-ROM (external!)
Keyboard	full size	not quite full size	no idea	looks full size, I think
Bluetooth	yes	no	yes	yes
base cost	$1099	$999	$1179	$1284
cost w/ 3 yr warranty	$1349	$1239	$1179	$1284
cost w/ warranty I'd want	$1349	$1159	$1179	$1284

Comments

[conana.livejournal.com]

I'm generally sketched by friends' experiences with Dells; Apples seem pretty solid, although I have a couple of friends with recurrant problems that Apple is not good about fixing. I assume you would not be looking at the iBook if you were considering running Linux. I'd be uneasy buying a PPC machine now, since Apple killed the line, but if you're running fairly mainstream software you probably don't need to be so paranoid. The weights on the Dells are pretty sweet; any idea how they pulled that off?

[desh]

Actually, I would want to run Linux if I got a PC. With a Mac, I'd consider it, but it wouldn't be so important. I just miss a CLI enough that I want one of my two main computers (I'm not getting rid of the desktop) to have one. Why is Linux an issue with the iBook, and do you know of any other potential Linux issues with any of these other ones?

And as for the weight: the two lighter ones are weighed without the CD drive. Maybe the Inspiron is too, or maybe it has a crappy battery; I'm not sure. (Maybe they actually just engineered it better.) I wouldn't be too impressed.

[desh]

And I'd consider a MacBook, but they're just so absurdly priced right now. They're going to have to support PPC for at least another two years, I bet.

[peneli.livejournal.com]

Yup.

It's going to take that long to get Mac OS/Intel versions of everything, in my estimation. Also, my basic rule with technology: NEVER EVER under any circumstances EVER buy the first generation of significantly new technology. It always has stupid bugs that get ironed out in the second generation. I'm waiting at least a year to get an IntelMac, unless my laptop (which is for the record a 2001 12" iBook, 500mhz PPC G3, 640MB RAM) stops working, which so far looks unlikely.

Also, just cuz it's a Mac doesn't mean you shouldn't take any security precautions.

For what they have/cost the Inspiron seemed like the best deal, unless you care about bluetooth or having a Mac.