Putting my $$ where my mouth is: My new CULV notebook

[Hombre de Maiz]

In line with the earlier "netbook killers" thread and following my own advice, I put my $$ where my mouth is, and traded in my business laptop for a CULV notebook, a Toshiba Portege T110. For Rp$ 6.3 million, only Rp$1.5 million more than some of the newest Atom-based netbooks, I got a machine with the following features:

Pentium Dual Core SU4100 processor (1.3GHz, 2MB L2 cache, 667MHz FSB, 10 watts)
Windows 7 Home Premium
2GB DDR3 RAM
320GB HDD with shock absorbers
11.6" WXGA LED Backlight TFT screen
Ethernet 10/100 LAN/WirelessLAN/Bluetooth/HDMI/3USB ports with Sleep&Charge/WebCam
11 hours (claimed) battery life
External USB-powered DVD drive
One-year plus Norton Internet Security
Two-year warranty


http://images.stuff.tv/productimages/179900c08mn.jpg

[Mas Fred]

I can see your point but portable is more important than spec for many.
That extra size and 50% increase in weight kills it for me.

My internet netbook is about yo snuff it so I'll be giving this to my wife to play with, using my newish one as an internet machine and buying something new for other use.
After the 'netbook killer; thread I looked at these but the relatively poor portability removes it from consideration.

[Hombre de Maiz]

1,600 grams and a footprint smaller than an A4 piece of paper is a dealbreaker for you?

[Gratilla]

Very nice "executive toy", but what are you going to DO with it.

Launch Jupiter shots? Write better prose for the forum? Bake steak and kidney pies?

???

[Hombre de Maiz]

Hardly an "executive toy" or a business laptop. I traded in my laptop, sacrificing processing power for longer battery life and smaller size & weight.

What do I hope to do with it? Nothing different from what others do with their computers...

[Mas Fred]

1,600 grams and a footprint smaller than an A4 piece of paper is a dealbreaker for you?

Against <1kg and a footprint not that much bigger than A5, Yes.

[Hombre de Maiz]

Well, in any case. For those of you interested in this type of machine, perhaps my experience and info can be of help. I was looking also at the Acer Aspire 1810TZ. What swayed my decision in favor of the Toshiba? Nothing particularly compelling, really. It just came down to a hunch, and perhaps to i.) a deliberate decision to try a Toshiba after having owned several Acers, ii.) a slight edge of the Toshiba in looks and build quality, and iii.) a subjective feeling that the Toshiba display was sharper/brighter. In this niche/size/price point, it'd be hard to go wrong with either machine.

[lantern]

Very nice "executive toy", but what are you going to DO with it.

???

Are you suggesting it might be a bit of a Chelsea tractor?

[Mas Fred]

Are you suggesting it might be a bit of a Chelsea tractor?

It does seem to have a spec and cost way over what it would be used for.

[Hombre de Maiz]

You really think that a GBP 450 laptop is a Chelsea tractor?

[Mas Fred]

You really think that a GBP 450 laptop is a Chelsea tractor?

Again yes. If it was a full size laptop I would say it was fine. In the netbook market it's way OTT.
450 quid against 259 quid just fails for a netbook.

I fully realise the spec is good and the battery life amazing but it's just wrong on all the rest

[Hombre de Maiz]

It is not a netbook. That's the whole point.

Granted, it is not as small as a netbook, but no reasonable person would say it is lacking in "portability".

[SamanthaB]

I bought this (http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11539108&whse=BC&Ne=4000000&eCat=BC%7C84%7C56670%7C4774&N=4017754&Mo=4&pos=8&No=3&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&cat=4774&Ns=P_Price%7C1%7C%7CP_SignDesc1&lang=en-US&Sp=C&ec=BC-EC10590-Cat56670&topnav=) refurbished HP computer for $499 from Costco.com in the States last year-- and domestic overnight shipping was free!

I flippin' love it, although I don't carry it around with me-- it's 5.5 lbs/2.5 kg and 15.6 in/39.6 cm. It's too bulky to be a portable computer, so I use a netbook for that.

It's got 4GB memory, 320GB harddrive, an integrated webcam, an 8x dual-layer DVD-RW with 'LightScribe', a six-cell battery, Bluetooth/WiFi/LAN, etc...

I shopped around like crazy and this was, hands-down, the best deal I could find. Even if you had to pay for the shipping from the States to Indonesia, I don't know if you could beat this deal. I never ship electronics, though-- I always wait until I have someone visiting and then have them 'mule' it for me. That's also how I got my Kindle (http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Wireless-Reading-Display-Globally/dp/B0015T963C) and Acer. ;)

[Hombre de Maiz]

By the way, the guy who sold me the machine was named Manfred Tan. Maybe his father listened to Demolition Man and Blinded by the Light too many times...

[Mas Fred]

It is not a netbook. That's where you are wrong. "It's just wrong on all the rest", really? Since you know more about how I plan to use it, tell me more. Tell me how I could have been better served and gotten more value from a netbook.

For me it's wrong on the lot. too big and too powerful for a netbook sized machine. Strikes me if you have that sort of computing power you will be doing things that need a larger screen. I only need something capable of getting me on line, coreldraw, audacity and a few other things that an atom powered netbook will do easily.

You may need the Chelsea tractor of the not a netbook world.

[Alia]

Very nice "executive toy", but what are you going to DO with it.

Launch Jupiter shots? Write better prose for the forum? Bake steak and kidney pies?

???

Hombre : " To have a better look and clearer view of my bokong semok picture collection"

[Hombre de Maiz]

Horses for courses, horses for budgets...So far I am very pleased and astounded by the level of performance, weight, build quality and battery life of this little machine. Excellent value for the price.

[Hombre de Maiz]

.....

[Hombre de Maiz]

Here's a side-by-side size comparison with a Lenovo netbook...

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll96/mauricio_28/IMG_2781.jpg

[Alia]

This is what I saw this morning when I started my laptop.....:whoo:

3976

[Hombre de Maiz]

What's that?

[K&M]

Cracked screen me thinks

[Alia]

(crying...)

Yes, the lcd is broken ...

(tissue .. tissue...)

[Hombre de Maiz]

Time for a new laptop? Need recommendations?

[Alia]

Yes, it seems like it. She's been with me for 4 years, and doing well, til today.. :( My maid must be carelessly putting it in my car.

The color was the one attracted me, white and small, 12". 4 years ago, its very expensive for a laptop, 14,4 juta. (sob..)
No way I'm going to buy it my own again now, I'll ask the bosses to pay for it.

Yes, recommendation needed please. I dont actually need the sophisticated one, its easy works that I do, mostly just Microsoft office. And fashionable one. I dont like black things. White or red and small would be my choice.

[Hombre de Maiz]

Mine (Toshiba Portege T110) comes in red, but it is more like a reddish maroon.

[Alia]

Ya, I like maroon or blood color, not the ferari one. I'll look for it. Thanks.

[R35553H]

That looks really nice, Hombre. I am glad you like your purchase though I still disagree with paying that price point. However, while browsing for a new replacement for my old and tired Powerbook G4 Titanium, I found this at Bhinneka.com: Advan P3N-51125 Gold (http://www.livinginindonesiaforum.org/Putting%20my%20$$%20where%20my%20mouth%20is:%20My% 20new%20CULV%20notebook)
Spec Atom DC D510 (1.66Ghz)/1GB DDR2 Ram (1 slot/4GB Max)/250GB HD/GS45 (4500GMH)/13,3" LED/1366x78 res/6-cell battery/WebCam/WiFi b/g. I know...it's a netbook on steroids...in a bad way but it's quite affordable at 2,8jt.

However, I was at Advan's stand at the Mall Artha Gading computer show and found its older brother: Advan U3-23125 Grey (http://www.bhinneka.com/products/sku00508233/advan_u3-23125_-_gray.aspx)
Spec: Celeron DC SU2300 (1.2Ghz)/1GB DDR3 Ram(2 slots/4GB)/250GB HD/GS45 (4500GMH)/13,3" LED/1366x78 res/6-cell battery/WebCam/WiFi b/g.
It is on sale at the show for a cool and low 2,5jt. It does not have the fancy Nvidia ION/ION2 graphics or fancy Intel CPU with "SpeedStep" tech like your SU4100 does but it will definitely take care of my needs and I won't have to spend another 2,5jt to get the Asus 1201N.

Now, I have read stories about stuck/dead pixels and what nots but with that price, I'll take my chances to be free from the weight penalties that I have to endure with my mac.

What do you think?
(http://www.bhinneka.com/products/sku00207178/advan_p3n-51125_-_gold.aspx)

[Hombre de Maiz]

I am not familiar with Advan, mate. Over the years I've been purchasing smaller and smaller notebooks. A 12-incher is as big as I want to buy now. For me that is the right size, not too big, not too small. Your mileage may vary, of course.

[abdinegoro]

This is what I saw this morning when I started my laptop.....:whoo:

3976
There's a shop in Dusit Mangga Dua that specialize on selling LCD Screen replacement. Prices vary from 1,2 to 2,4. You might wanna try visiting it if you want to have other laptop for spare after you bought your new one

[Alia]

I'm in Surabaya, Abdi. Hello ....

[R35553H]

Yes, it seems like it. She's been with me for 4 years, and doing well, til today.. :( My maid must be carelessly putting it in my car.

The color was the one attracted me, white and small, 12". 4 years ago, its very expensive for a laptop, 14,4 juta. (sob..)
No way I'm going to buy it my own again now, I'll ask the bosses to pay for it.

Yes, recommendation needed please. I dont actually need the sophisticated one, its easy works that I do, mostly just Microsoft office. And fashionable one. I dont like black things. White or red and small would be my choice.

Mbak, cek Forum Jual Beli at Kaskus.us. I remember in the computer section some vendors that sells LCD screens at affordable price.


I am not familiar with Advan, mate. Over the years I've been purchasing smaller and smaller notebooks. A 12-incher is as big as I want to buy now. For me that is the right size, not too big, not too small. Your mileage may vary, of course.

I concured on your case of having smaller machine.

However, to me, the 12 inchers comes with way premium prices nowadays if I want to go to CULV route. The price are at least 50% more than laptops of similar size with regular voltage CPUs.

This 13 incher CULV is the cheapest I've seen in a long time. I want to see if I can talk to the engineers about coming up with a slightly powerful version powered by SU4100 + ION2.

Intel moving away from the separate chipset system of the old and into the SOC (CPU+I/O+GPU in one) for its partner future products.

[Hombre de Maiz]

My ideal machine would be a 12-incher with one of those ULV i5 processors, but it would cost a pretty penny.

[K&M]

Follwed your route went for the Toshiba T210, very happy thus far, good battery life, good performance good size.
Great recomendation

[rabbit_39]

K&M, what is the battery life on your Toshiba as you use it in real life?

[K&M]

a good 5 or 6 hours

[rabbit_39]

Thanks! As I will have a commute of 2 hours or so each way, I'll be looking for a smaller laptop than my 3D modeling capable 15" laptop with a good battery life. The Atom 10" netbooks (Asus) can get 10-11 hours...but the Protege can do more...but the protege is twice as much...but the netbooks are lighter...

[K&M]

much better processor and capabilities, I decided I did not want ATOM, I looked at another one of similar size, but latest processer, twice as much again

[Hombre de Maiz]

Follwed your route went for the Toshiba T210, very happy thus far, good battery life, good performance good size.
Great recomendation

Glad to hear it.

[abdinegoro]

I'm in Surabaya, Abdi. Hello ....
Ooops sorry, my bad.. come to Jakarta some time will ya ^^

[iamajim]

So, Hombre-how's this machine working out for 'ya? With Christmas fast approaching I'm thinking the netbook could be the way to go now what with the ease of portability and all. Mostly concerned with internet connectivity first and processing power second, kind of a "cloud based" using experience where you don't really need a big hard drive for casual every day use.

[Hombre de Maiz]

I agree with you about the need for a big hard drive. After all, the size (the speed is another matter) of the HD has minimal impact on performance. If all you are going to use your machine for is to surf the Net, sure, a netbook will do. If your concern is internet connectivity, I would first look to an "always on" large-screen smartphone.

[iamajim]

Yeah, thanks for the reply. It's really more for the Lovely Wife. She has time during the day for computer activity and has been lugging her Sony Vaio around. The size is starting to wear us down, it's cumberson and frankly worries me a bit. What with the new netbooks now that are so powerful and portable I'm thinking thats the way to go. Those always on phones just don't provide the same 'surfing' experience imo. You certainly seem happy with yours and I was wondering now that you've had it for a while if you recommend the brand, they seem to have a good rep and I'm hearing this holiday season there could be some price wars.

[Hombre de Maiz]

I gravitate towards Acer and Toshiba. In fact, I've now owned three Acers.

[rabbit_39]

Personally, I add Asus in there. I prioritize things in order of "bang for the buck" and in that order my personal brand choices are:
- Asus
- Acer
- Toshiba

There are many others of course, and I'm not counting full fledged desktop replacement laptops. Only 12" or smaller laptops of limited capabilities (as compared to the desktop replacements ones)

[K&M]

The T210 i bought was for the wife, she had one previously many years ago, which was eventually binned, for no other reason than it was too old, still going strong when we canned it.
I have to say this new one seems to have a similar or better build quality than the previous and certainly better than many I looked at.
performance wise as a tool for the wife it performs well although she is struggling with the new feaures in Windows 7
Anyhow I am well happy with the Toshiba. I did look at both ASUS and ACER, but the overall package and processor in the Toshiba sold me, even if more expensive

[Mas Fred]

I picked up a Acer D255 last week. Rp3,400,000 means I have a low cost and, portable machine that will cover anything I need a computer for.
However a mate in in China at the moment so he'e trying to find me an epad. It's an Android powered pad available in 7 and 10 inch screens and it should come in at less than Rp1 juta. (7").
Ideal for internet on the hoof.

[Hombre de Maiz]

I've seen those Acer D255s. It is one of the first netbooks with dual-core Atom processors, and with dual operating system, Windows 7 and Android.

[Mas Fred]

Yes. You have the choice to boot to Android or Windows. I've tried Android. Very fast but no real advantages as far as I can see on the surface.
Should be fine for a pad device but no for a netbook that has to do more than just play internet.
You may know better.

[Hombre de Maiz]

To be honest, I was for the first time tempted to pull the trigger on a notebook after seeing that Acer D255...From what I've read, the limitation of Android is the lack of applications...Close, but no cigar. I would rather put that $$ towards a BB Playbook or a large screen smartphone.

[Mas Fred]

I can see that BB tablet being a hit. It's main advantage seems to be the number of BBs out there and the fact you don't need an independent ISP as it uses the BB for it's connection.
Even more so if it will interface with other phones for that connection.

[Hombre de Maiz]

I hope you can use the Playbook without a BB, just like you can get Wi-fi on the Ipad without an Iphone...

[Alia]

Flash news Hombre, just came home from new netbook shopping.

Yes, netbook, and the winner goes to HP Viviene Tam, very cute little one..!

[Gratilla]

Pink?

[Hombre de Maiz]

Congrats. Let me know if you need some help with optimizing performance.

[iamajim]

BB Playbook, yes, I think that's going to be one sweet tablet, depending on the price of course. Still, I think the Lovely Wife would prefer a netbook; well see what Santa has in his bag eh!

[Alia]

Pink?

Hehe.., no Grat.., I'm not that girlie. Here she is :

4530

Dont know much about computer, just fall in love with the color and the butterfly.. :becky:

[tjamail]

Pink?

Pink is a beautiful color ;)