| In recent years, the big players in the laptop | | | | Sony VAIO TX is truly the most portable of the |
| arena (Sony, Toshiba, HP, IBM, etc.) have begun | | | | ultraportables. |
| producing ever more portable laptop computers, | | | | That being said, not all is sunshine and lollypops. |
| weighing in as little as 2.8 pounds and offering as | | | | The TX series, in its effort to cut down on space |
| much as 9 hours playback. Often portability would | | | | has lost a little of usability in the process. Although |
| come at the cost of sacrificing functionality in | | | | by definition an ultraportable computer should be |
| favour of a smaller footprint or longer batterylife. | | | | small, In this reviewers opinion, the TX series |
| Thanks to advancements such as Intel's new low | | | | perhaps went a little too far, at least with the |
| voltage processors, and some ingenious design, | | | | screen. With a widescreen screen size of only 11.1 |
| for the most part this is no longer the case | | | | inches diagonally, and a resolution as insanely high |
| (though there are some notable exceptions). You | | | | as 1366 x 768, one gets the feeling that to even |
| can now purchase an ultraportable laptop | | | | use this tiny display on a regular basis would |
| computer weighing in at a little over 3 pounds (or | | | | require either a magnifying glass or some |
| less) and still maintain enormous functionality, such | | | | prescription spectacles. In addition to the resolution |
| as running Microsoft Windows Vista, and perhaps | | | | being dispraportionate to screen size, I also feel |
| more importantly, maintain extra long batterylife - | | | | that perhaps the trackpad could do with a little |
| as long 9hrs in some cases. | | | | more in the way of size. For such a small display, |
| There are an increasingly diverse range of | | | | controlling the cursor can be a nightmare at times. |
| ultraportable computers, so some caveats are in | | | | Pros: |
| order. For instance, we will only look at laptops | | | | - Truly in a class of its own |
| with a screen between 11 and 13.5 inches - | | | | - Carbon Fibre chassis |
| smaller and we're in the realm of handheld | | | | - High spec in a small package |
| computers. Also we will want to impose a | | | | - Integrated supermulti-drive |
| maximum weight of 2.5 kilograms or 5.5 pounds - | | | | Cons: |
| theres no point in an ultraportable if you need a | | | | - Native resolution of the display is insanely high |
| back brace to carry it. | | | | for such a small screen |
| The following is far from an exhaustive list, but it | | | | - Trackpad is too small or inaccurate for the |
| should prove as a good cross-section of the | | | | native screen resolution |
| market. | | | | - Expensive |
| Apple Macbook starting at EUR1,119 / | | | | Score: 4/5 |
| £749 | | | | Dell XPS M1210 starting at EUR1,299 |
| Ever since Apple computers' switch from | | | | Certainly not the prettiest of the ultramobiles, far |
| PowerPC to Intel processors in 2006, they have | | | | from it infact, the Dell XPS M1210 series makes |
| been increasly nudging their way into the | | | | up for the chunky looks by packing in lots of |
| traditional PC market; and nevermoreso since the | | | | functionality. With 1GB RAM, 120GB Hard Disk, 1.6 |
| release of Bootcamptm - a free program from | | | | GHz Intel Core 2 Duo and integrated DVD +/- |
| Apple that gives you the ability to install and run | | | | RW by default, the Dell XPS M1210 is arguably the |
| Microsoft Windows operating systems on Apple | | | | best value for money of all the ultraportable |
| hardware. | | | | computers. |
| The recently upgraded Intel Core 2 Duo powered | | | | It has its failings however, apart from looking like |
| Macbooks offer quite alot for their pricepoint. | | | | a plastic brick and a weight starting at 1.93KG. |
| Starting from EUR1,119/£749 the ultrathin, | | | | Thats most definitely with minimal offerings, its |
| ultrabright widescreen wonder (as Apple put it) | | | | far from being the best contender in the |
| packs in many high spec components not often | | | | ultraportable field. However if price is an issue, this |
| seen even in high specification laptops such as the | | | | machine packs alot into a very small space at a |
| built-in iSight webcam, remote control, gigabit | | | | very reasonable price. |
| ethernet. and firewire-400. | | | | Pros: |
| Unspurprisingly the cheapest model on offer | | | | - Possibly the best value for money |
| leaves you wanting, at EUR200 cheaper than the | | | | Cons: |
| next best model, you miss out on a | | | | - Truly the ugliest of the bunch |
| supermultidrive - the fancy jack of all trades of | | | | Score: 4.5/5 |
| CD/DVD writers, an additional 512MB RAM and | | | | Samsung Q35 starting at EUR1,450 |
| 20GB Hard Disk space amongst others. | | | | By far my favourite of all the ultraportables, the |
| Although the graphics processor of the MacBook | | | | Samsung Q35 offers not only great functionality |
| is far from the ideal, it is sufficient for most | | | | at a reasonable price but also does so in a very |
| purposes including video playback, and even | | | | stylish manner - both in silver and red. Unlike |
| Windows Vista's Aero glass interface, | | | | some other contenders to the ultraportable |
| remembering of course that ultraportable | | | | throne, the Q35 not only offers decent battery |
| computers aren't designed to meet the needs of | | | | life (over 5hrs), a high performance processor (1.8 |
| modern gamers, and probably never will be. | | | | Ghz Intel Core2 Duo), bags of memory (1.25 GB |
| Pros: | | | | RAM, 100GB Hard Disk), but also packs in an |
| - Can play host to either MacOS X or Windows | | | | internal supermultidrive and a 6-in-1 memory card |
| XP / Vista | | | | reader whilst still staying ultralight at only 1.89 KG |
| - Starting at only EUR1,119/£749 you get | | | | and still at a very reasonable price point. It even |
| alot of bang-for-your-buck | | | | includes a splash/water proof keyboard, which |
| - Considerably more stylish than your average | | | | anyone who has experienced the dread of |
| brick | | | | desperately wiping up a spilled beverage before |
| Cons: | | | | their laptop dies, will apreciate. |
| - Can only purchased online or at an Apple | | | | The Samsung Q35 is the successor to the Q30; |
| Retailer, which are few and far between. Though | | | | an older and slightly lighter model that was lacking |
| in recent months, more and more highstreet | | | | some vital features such as an integrated optical |
| stores are selling Apple computers. | | | | drive and whose memory lay at a now-meagre |
| - If your a windows user, you may find the | | | | 512 MB and 40GB respectively. |
| one-button mouse thing irretating. | | | | Available in both red and silver, the Q35 is a very |
| - At 2.3 KG it's at the very upper limit of | | | | stylish laptop indeed; especially when compared to |
| ultraportability | | | | the rather chunky and uninspired design of the |
| - Poor integrated graphics sharing 64MB of main | | | | Dell XPS M1210, also sporting the now defacto |
| memory | | | | standard of wireless communications protocols: |
| Score: 3/5 | | | | 802.11a/b/g and Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR. |
| Sony VAIO TX starting at EUR1,999 | | | | Pros: |
| Wild claims and high prices abound the Sony VAIO | | | | - Stylish in silver and red models |
| TX series of ultraportable laptops. With a screen | | | | - Decent battery life |
| size of 11.1 inches and with such high-end features | | | | - Integrated supermulti-drive |
| as a carbon fibre chassis, weighing in at a nearly | | | | - Reasonable price point |
| undetectectably 2.7 pounds and a battery life of | | | | - 6-in-1 media card reader |
| upto 7.5hr per charge, its no surprise that the | | | | - Wireless 802.11a/b/g and Bluetooth 2.0 +EDR |
| VAIO TX series comes in at the most expensive | | | | Cons: |
| of all, with prices starting at EUR1,999. | | | | - Hard to find replacement or increased capacity |
| If there was an ultimate portable laptop, it would | | | | battery |
| be the Sony VAIO TX. With battery life alone at | | | | - Windows XP (free upgrade to Vista Home |
| upto 7.5hr it should recieve such a title, but add to | | | | Premium) |
| that its deminutive size, its more than ample | | | | Score: 5/5 |
| memory of 1GB RAM and 80GB Hard Disk, the | | | | Comments? |