My super diverse laptops that make you jealous (PIC INSIDE)

[pianowizard]

These six laptops have six different aspect ratios, five different operating systems, and are made by five different brands. They range from Pentium III to 4th-gen Core i5, 1.23 lbs to 9.43 lbs in weight, and 8.0" to 17.0" in screen size:



From left to right (tallest aspect ratio to shortest):

Dell Inspiron 7500 (700MHz Pentium III, 5:4 15.4" 1280x1024, 9.43 lbs, Windows XP Pro)

Panasonic Toughbook CF-Y7 (1.60GHz Core2 Duo L7500, 4:3 14.1" 1400x1050, 3.23 lbs, Windows 8.1 Pro)

Apple PowerBook G4 (1.67GHz PowerPC G4, 15:10 15.2" 1440x960, 5.44 lbs, Mac OS 10.5)

Gateway NX860X (1.66GHz Core2 Duo T5500, 16:10 17.0" 1920x1200, 7.95 lbs, Windows Vista Home Premium)

Sony Vaio SVP13213CXB (1.60GHz Core i5-4200U, 16:9 13.3" 1920x1080, 2.33 lbs, Windows 8.1)

Sony Vaio VGN-P530CH (1.33GHz Atom Z520, 25:12 8.0" 1600x768, 1.23 lbs, Windows 7 Home Premium)

It would be boring to have just two or three aspect ratios (4:3, 16:10, 16:9), two operating systems (XP and 7), and one brand (Thinkpad). I pity you guys!

[filmbuff]

It would be boring to have just two or three aspect ratios (4:3, 16:10, 16:9), two operating systems (XP and 7), and one brand (Thinkpad). I pity you guys!

just goes to show that variety ain't all it's cracked up to be. a lot of mediocrity in, just means a lot of mediocrity out.

seriously, the only two systems worth mentioning are the toughbook and 13" Vaio. the rest are either forgetable or run-of-the-mill [unremarkable] representations of their time. if some of those were early ultra-portables from their respective brands, it would probably be more interesting.

i'm frankly a little surprised that you have full(?) Win8 driver support on the CF-Y7. i had a bit of a try to get Win7 drivers for my CF-W8. good thing, i have no interest in running win8 on it - Panasonic's driver support is for the birds even if they do make a nice laptop.

ps. if you had one of the early Fujitsu ultraportables, i'd give you some props. i rarely see them around and the odds are skewed even more since they were much more uncommon from a north american POV.

[elray]

Oh yeah, we're seething with envy, at the prospect of spending three months to "master" using those trackpointless (well, just pointless...) keyboards.

The new Sony is really nice, and almost type-worthy.
Its really unfortunate they're leaving the marketplace.

[Medessec]

There are a couple of gems in there that I would love to have... but there are numerous better examples of the 1920x1200 16:10 laptops. That Gateway is a bit of a relic... and it's a bit underpowered for such a nice screen. There's no info on that laptop and FRUs don't pick out a WUXGA screen... so that laptop in that configuration has gotta be rare.

The Vaio VGN I've always eyed for some time... I remember seeing it brand new when I bought my Toshiba Satellite A305-S6916 brand new. It seems like a pretty cool little trinket, but it was way too pricey for what it was. That screen is ridiculous though.

The Dell Inspiron is probably the other shining star in there. I applaud you for getting your hands on that- that particular machine as well as the 13.7" screen Thinkpad 770Z are one of the only laptops ever to be made with the 5:4 aspect ratio.

I'm not going to peel your eyelids out for going against the forum's etiquette and post a laptop collection that is absent of Thinkpads either... that's always respectable to go and stick toothpicks in people's sides, because hey. Why not.

[pianowizard]

seriously, the only two systems worth mentioning are the toughbook and 13" Vaio. the rest are either forgetable or run-of-the-mill [unremarkable] representations of their time.

Two out of six, that's infinitely better than the ones in your sig! I owned most of these Thinkpads at one point.

if some of those were early ultra-portables from their respective brands, it would probably be more interesting.

Been there, done that. The rarest ultraportables I've owned are the Sony X505ZP, the i Series 1124 (even rarer than the 240Z), and the S30. I did have an early ultraportable 10.4" Fujitsu with a multi-touch screen that was contemporaneous with the 240X. For non-ultraportables, I think my 14.1" 1600x1200 T42 and QXGA T43p were fairly rare, too. But rarity no longer interests me. I am now into variety.

The new Sony is really nice, and almost type-worthy.
Its really unfortunate they're leaving the marketplace.

So is your beloved trackpoint. Get ready to lug around an external trackpoint keyboard!

but there are numerous better examples of the 1920x1200 16:10 laptops.

And I have owned quite a few better examples as well, including my all-time fave, the Latitude D820.

That Gateway is a bit of a relic... and it's a bit underpowered for such a nice screen. There's no info on that laptop and FRUs don't pick out a WUXGA screen... so that laptop in that configuration has gotta be rare.

I was surprised too. I bought the Gateway really just for its 500GB HDD. It was around the peak of the "Thailand HDD crisis", and I needed a 500GB drive to hold my MP3 archive of my entire CD collection. This laptop had a 500GB HDD but was only $90 shipped, just a couple dollars more than the cost of a new 500GB HDD on Newegg at that time, so I bought it. The seller didn't say anything about screen res, but I didn't care because I was only interested in the HDD anyway, and was going to sell the rest of the laptop for parts. The WUXGA screen was such a pleasant surprise.

The Dell Inspiron is probably the other shining star in there. I applaud you for getting your hands on that- that particular machine as well as the 13.7" screen Thinkpad 770Z are one of the only laptops ever to be made with the 5:4 aspect ratio.

Thanks for appreciating how unique 5:4 is for a laptop. The Inspiron 7500 was actually quite popular, but most people bought the 4:3 15" configurations with either XGA or SXGA+, partly because they looked nicer -- the 5:4 lid looks odd because it is larger than the bottom chassis. The back of the display lid sticks out about one inch!

[sysiphus]

Interesting collection, thanks for sharing. Though I suspect you actually meant envy, not jealousy, haha.

Your priorities in laptop choice are rather different than my own, but it's fun to see some of the less mainstream items, nevertheless.
(For my part, a quad-core CPU and a pointing stick are must-haves--while I'm quite proficient with a touchpad, I like not having to move from the home row to use the cursor.)

[Temetka]

I really like the look of the Toughbook and the Powerbook. I also like the Dell. The rest are meh, IMO.

I've heard you mention that Toughbook many times over the years glad you found a machine you really love. It's like how I feel about my E6500.

[ajkula66]

Love the Y7 and the Mac. Clean, timeless designs.

I don't think I've ever seen the Gateway that you own in person. An interesting piece of laptop history for sure, as is Dell.

As for the two Sony units...I do understand what you like about them, but definitely not my cup of tea by any stretch of imagination.

Then again, that aspect doesn't matter. They belong to you, not me.

[Temetka]

That was very well said aj.

They are his machines and I hope he get's years of service out of them.

@OP: Ignore the naysayers. I am glad you are happy with you boxen.

[dr_st]

Indeed.

I wish people would be more friendly here. Some of the responses here were too aggressive and completely uncalled for.

That is not to say that pianowizard's initial post was not provocative. Boring? "Pity us guys?"

We all have our own collections, and we all value different things.

[Medessec]

That is not to say that pianowizard's initial post was not provocative. Boring? "Pity us guys?"

Well, it is always good fun to poke each other in the sides... we just gotta know each other's limits, and try not to take things too seriously or get carried away.

We all have our own collections, and we all value different things.

There's nothing anybody could tell me about my personal collection that would change my view of my collection, and laptops as a whole. It's definitely true-we all look for different things in a laptop, we have different levels of bonding, enjoy different unique traits, and benefit from different characteristics of the laptops we own.

It's always refreshing to see something different, see how differently people view their computers and their collection. Which is why I post mine on here sometimes, and why I really don't mind looking at other's collections on here.

[pianowizard]

Love the Y7 and the Mac. Clean, timeless designs.

This particular Mac isn't as common as some might think. It was the last configuration that Apple issued in Oct 2005, with 1440x960 resolution instead of the 1280x854 or 1152x768 that the previous configurations had. Also, the 1440x960 configuration was sold for only about 3 months before being discontinued. To make it even less common, I upgraded the stock HDD to a 320GB PATA drive, which as you know is highly coveted. My Inspiron 7500 has a 250GB PATA drive.

I really like the look of the Toughbook...I've heard you mention that Toughbook many times over the years glad you found a machine you really love.

Actually, I don't like the Toughbook's curved lid at all, as I find the curvature kind of ugly. Usually I like a laptop because of its looks (e.g. the X2* and X4* Thinkpads, the i Series 1124, the Latitude D820), but in this case, it is its specs that I like.

Some of the responses here were too aggressive and completely uncalled for.

Don't worry about it, my friend. I think they were all done in a tongue-in-cheek manner. I have to admit I do get serious in the trackpoint vs. touchpad debate, or when responding to blanket statements like "All Dells are crap". But in my opening post, I was definitely in a frivolous mood when saying "I pity you guys" and "my laptops make you jealous".

[dtwalters]

This thread is making me reminisce. I don't have pictures, but I have owned an Osborne One portable computer (about as portable as my mother's sewing machine), a NEC laptop running the CPM operating system (it had a Z-80 processor) and several laptops running only DOS. I only upgraded to Windows when I was unable to find a machine that would run my dos financial management program, Money Counts (I was finally able to get Money Counts to work again with XP). Boy, those were the days!

[unix_joe]

Love the CF and the PowerBook.

How well does Linux run on the Toughbook? I am keeping them in mind for a future purchase, but the documentation is either all Japanese or Windows-centric.

[Saucey]

Nice laptops! I find it amusing that the PowerBook is heavier than the ToughBook, but I thought they were the same size at first. So it makes some sense that the PowerBook is heavier even if its an Inch bigger in display.
That Dell is huge! Looks bigger than an A31P

Also that Vaio on the far right has an awesome display, 1600 pixels wide? What is that res, VWXGA+ (Very Wide eXtended Graphics Array Plus)?
And those monitors in the back, is this desk one you have work that or in your home?
I've been looking for a corner desk that isn't too steep in price... I really like that one!

[QWERTY Andreas]

I really love the design of the Sony Vaio VGN-P530CH.

It is a very, very nice machine in many aspects! (i migth be biased because i in general favour UMPCs)

Small size, Good screen, decent HW, long batterylife (IIRC), nice keyboard with a good size, trackpoint etc. etc. Its just sad that it doesn't have a touchscreen, and its too long (making it shorter would make the keyboard smaller and then it would Loose its best advantage. All UMPCs are a mix of compromises.)

[pianowizard]

How well does Linux run on the Toughbook? I am keeping them in mind for a future purchase, but the documentation is either all Japanese or Windows-centric.

I will have to let others answer this question. I always install Windows when the machine comes with a COA sticker. In my view, if I get a computer that comes with a Windows COA sticker but don't use it, it's not called boycotting Microsoft, but is instead ripping myself off because I would be not taking advantage of something that I've already paid for.

And those monitors in the back, is this desk one you have work that or in your home?
I've been looking for a corner desk that isn't too steep in price... I really like that one!

These monitors are at work but they all belong to me. I dislike using other people's (including my institution's) computers, and so I always buy and use and maintain my own computers, monitors and other accessories (UPS, keyboards, etc.) See this thread for photos of my setups at work and home:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=52525

Small size, Good screen, decent HW, long batterylife (IIRC), nice keyboard with a good size, trackpoint etc.

Not just any trackpoint, but possibly the best trackpoint on any device. Tapping works amazingly well on this particular trackpoint, and I use this feature a lot. I wonder if most Vaios' trackpoints are so good. I had an X505ZP but its trackpoint was quite stiff, and I never had a chance to trying tapping on it.

Its just sad that it doesn't have a touchscreen, and its too long (making it shorter would make the keyboard smaller and then it would Loose its best advantage. All UMPCs are a mix of compromises.)

To me the size of this quasi-UMPC is perfect. It's just big enough so that I can type reasonably comfortably on it, and yet it's just small enough to fit inside a pants pocket. I bought it specifically for the latter reason: sometimes I don't want to bring a laptop carrying case or backpack. This is also why I own a 7" tablet, which also fits in a pants pocket.

[QWERTY Andreas]

Not just any trackpoint, but possibly the best trackpoint on any device. Tapping works amazingly well on this particular trackpoint, and I use this feature a lot. I wonder if most Vaios' trackpoints are so good. I had an X505ZP but its trackpoint was quite stiff, and I never had a chance to trying tapping on it.

That is actually very nice to hear. I have not really tried it myself, however.

To me the size of this quasi-UMPC is perfect. It's just big enough so that I can type reasonably comfortably on it, and yet it's just small enough to fit inside a pants pocket. I bought it specifically for the latter reason: sometimes I don't want to bring a laptop carrying case or backpack. This is also why I own a 7" tablet, which also fits in a pants pocket.

You have some big pockets

But yep, i know the feeling. Most of the time id rather bring my F-07C than my laptop, because it is much more convienient. And no laptop gets anywhere near 400 grams, with laptop and charger and battery etc.

[Temetka]

My Nook Tablet fits fine in my jeans pocket.

[pianowizard]

If you weren't jealous before, now you should be, because I just received a Panasonic Let's Note CF-Y9! I won't have time to replace the photo in my opening post, but at a distance, this Y9 looks almost exactly like the Y7, and I am running Windows 8.1 on it, so you can just pretend the second laptop from the left was a Y9. It's the very last of Panasonic's Y Series Toughbooks, and also the rarest. Like the Y8, it was sold only in Japan, where Toughbooks are called Let's Note. It came with a Japanese/English keyboard, which I dislike, and so I swapped it with the Y7's U.S. English keyboard. I will hold on to the Y7 for a while, probably for playing DVDs, but will sell it eventually.

My Nook Tablet fits fine in my jeans pocket.

And my Nook HD (7" 1440x900) does too. A slate tablet isn't very convenient unless it fits in a pants pocket.

[ajkula66]

If you weren't jealous before, now you should be, because I just received a Panasonic Let's Note CF-Y9!

Congrats!!!!

I always wanted one of those...now I AM jealous...

Green with envy, shall we say...

[Tasurinchi]

If I'm honest with you, I wasn't feeling jealous at all with your collection. Well, a little bit for the Y7, but since I also have a Toughbook my jealousy level was low.

But now that you have a Y9 my jealousy level is increasing

Good catch! Enjoy it!

[pianowizard]

If I'm honest with you, I wasn't feeling jealous at all with your collection.

No problem at all, since the feeling is mutual!

The only way a Thinkpad collection can make me jealous would be if it includes an i Series 1124 (because I sold mine long ago but now regret it) or a 240Z with XGA (because I never owned one). But I don't think any of this forum's active members have either model.

[Temetka]

I got an HP TC1100 from a client the other day. Got the dock, keyboard, powersupply. Now I need an HP whitelisted wifi card for it. I've read up on removing the whitelist and a lot of people have ended up bricking their machines and I do not want to do that.

[pianowizard]

There are a couple of gems in there that I would love to have... but there are numerous better examples of the 1920x1200 16:10 laptops.

Now I do have a (much) better example of 1920x1200: the HP EliteBook 8740w! I am either selling the Gateway NX860X or loaning it to a member of my lab. I bought it because I wanted something faster than the Gateway, while staying with 17" 1920x1200. Although there are several features of this HP that I dislike, on the whole I think it's a very fine business-class product. BTW, the LCD panel is LG's LP171WU7-TLB1 which is NOT the Dream Color IPS panel. Nonetheless, the viewing angles are respectable, and weight and power consumption are probably a bit less than if it were IPS.

Who else has the 8740w? It gets mentioned quite often on this forum but I am not sure anyone actually owns one.

[Tasurinchi]

I have the previous gen, the 8730w, (albeit with an old dark WSXGA+ panel). I'm lurking for a WUXGA Dreamcolor but the prices are horrendously high... Maybe I'll get a "normal" WUXGA if you say the quality is decent.

[Medessec]

TuuS or RBS, I think awhile back, were selling multiple units on the forum here for really cheap. Dunno how much attention they got.

I've always wanted an 8730w or 8740w... I keep hearing so much about these Dreamcolor panels.

Maybe I'll get a "normal" WUXGA if you say the quality is decent.

I think I've mentioned before on this forum- that I haven't seen a 17" WUXGA panel yet that is in any way- "bad", in terms of quality. I've owned a W700 and W700ds, several WUXGA-screened Clevo monster laptops, and I've seen an Inspiron 9300. I guess since laptop makers realized that these panels are only going in laptops people are spending a few-thousand on anyways, they might as well make a quality screen.

[RealBlackStuff]

TuuS or RBS, I think awhile back, were selling multiple units on the forum here for really cheap. Dunno how much attention they got.

'twasntme... Never even seen one.

[ajkula66]

It was TuuS...he had several of these 17" HP monsters...

Do bear in mind that 8730W in its top configuration has the original DreamColor panel which is very nice but NOT an IPS screen.

IPS came with DC 2 in 8740W.

[Tasurinchi]

IPS came with DC 2 in 8740W

Would it be compatible with the 8730w?