Laptops Ultraportable Dilemma - help me blow 75k!!!

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sunny27

sunny27

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I have been eying the Thinkpad x220 since it was released and now that I've made some money :ohyeah: at work, I want to splurge on a good ultraportable. For those of you who have no idea about the Thinkpad x220 or if you happen to be one of those who worship St.Steve and his iCrapple - the Thinkpad x220 has been rated as the ultimate ultraportable.

Reviews:-

Lenovo ThinkPad X220 Review
Lenovo ThinkPad X220 Review

I plan to order the X220 with the following specs for 1200~1300 US$ :-
Intel Core i5-2410M Processor (2.3GHz, 3MB L3, 1333MHz FSB)
Genuine Windows 7 Professional 64
12.5" HD (1366x768) LED Backlit IPS Display, Mobile Broadband Ready, 3x3 Antenna
Intel® HD Graphics 3000
4GB PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHz SODIMM Memory (1 DIMM)
720p HD Camera
320 GB Hard Disk Drive, 7200rpm
ThinkPad Battery 29++ (9 cell)
ThinkPad Battery 19+ (Slim External Battery)
Bluetooth 3.0
ThinkPad b/g/n wireless
Integrated Mobile Broadband - Upgradable
ThinkPad 12W Case Sleeve

Now just today I saw the Alienware M11x R3 with the Sandybridge Core i7 (low voltage) with the following specs -
The Dell Online Store: Build Your System
More details here - Alienware M11x Laptop | Dell India (this is readily available in India and will ship in 15 days)
My requirements:-
[1] Good battery life
[2] Good build quality
[3] office and productivity tools + photoshop
[4] HD video playback + very basic gaming like nfs/angry birds
[5] Fedora Security Labs/Backtrack and RHEL 6/ Encase
[6] 3 years warranty

The thinkpad x220 will offer me 3 yrs of international warranty and is a full blooded business ultraportable with upto 23 hours of battery life which I so dearly covet as I have to travel all over India. The Alienware M11x is a brilliant ultraportable which can offer 5-6 hours of battery life. I have no idea what to buy although I love both these notebooks and am heavily inclined towards Thinkpad x220.
I can have the Thinkpad x220 in June (a friend is getting it for me from USA) and the Alienware M11x is readily available here in India.
Please help me decide which one to buy. I have to decide within a week.
Thanks in advance.
 
Re: Ultraportable Dilemna - help me blow 75k!!!

Get the thinkad , spending so much money is about not getting whats best but getting what YOU want and thats why we work so hard, this is a no brainer, stop posting in the forum asking peoples advice when you know thats what you wanna hear from them. Get the thinkpad and be happy in life :)
 
Re: Ultraportable Dilemna - help me blow 75k!!!

As long as you dont mind the thinkpad lasting FOREVER, go for it

You can get the warranty extended to 7 years if needed
 
Re: Ultraportable Dilemna - help me blow 75k!!!

I don't understand why you want to just waste 75k on a laptop that is not worth it. I agree that Thinkpads are built like tanks but the config you're listing is not worth it.

At 75k, you can build a top-end Dell XPS15 with all the multimedia & gaming goodness. Plus the build-quality is great. The hardware would be more future-proof.

Or just save some money & get something cheaper with "Intel HD graphics" (duh!)

I know that you're looking for something smaller but a 15-incher is pretty much a standard & won't be hard to carry or use.
 
Re: Ultraportable Dilemna - help me blow 75k!!!

pauldmps said:
I don't understand why you want to just waste 75k on a laptop that is not worth it. I agree that Thinkpads are built like tanks but the config you're listing is not worth it.

At 75k, you can build a top-end Dell XPS15 with all the multimedia & gaming goodness. Plus the build-quality is great. The hardware would be more future-proof.

Or just save some money & get something cheaper with "Intel HD graphics" (duh!)

I know that you're looking for something smaller but a 15-incher is pretty much a standard & won't be hard to carry or use.
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If you have ever used a true ultraportable, a 15incher is ALWAYS going to be ultraclunky.
You could get a XPS15 for 75k with all multimedia and gaming goodness, but what if the OP doesn't care about that?
However good the build quality is going to be, it will never match up to that of a business class laptop, which is what the thinkpads are.

PS - It's not always about the config/VFM.
 
Re: Ultraportable Dilemna - help me blow 75k!!!

^^^^^its not about being insanely rich. its about my requirements-i have never liked 15 inch laptops and i believe that laptops are meant to be portable and not huge electricity and battery guzzling machines, anything above 14 inches is not portable and hence not a laptop in the true sense-i need something light and capable as i have to travel all over india(am in marketing and business development) the person you are dealing with(in my case) is usually someone way up in the corporate hierarchy and my MSI CR-400x does attract some attention--people asking what brand it is and all--which is a bit embarrassing.

my requirements are good battery life and excellent build quality. money is not a factor.

its just that I can't make up my mind about what to buy because both the laptops - alienware m11x and the thinkpad x series are something i have always wanted to own.
 
Re: Ultraportable Dilemna - help me blow 75k!!!

^^ Actually I'm taking about your budget. 75k for a laptop which hardly deserves it.

I think there are cheaper Thinkpads too. And also other business laptops like the Dell Vostro.

I don't think Alienware would be lightweight enough to carry around frequently & won't have a good battery life.

The newer sandy-bridge Thinkpads have insanely high battery life. But compare different models before settling up for the one you mentioned. For 75k, at least the processor should be core i7, 6-8 GB RAM & a Nvidia Quadro/ ATI FirePro business GPU.
 
Re: Ultraportable Dilemna - help me blow 75k!!!

Go for the ThinkPad. It is one sexy looking machine ! I know exactly what you're talking about. Laptops are meant to be portable and the ThinkPad ticks all the correct boxes. Amazing battery life , rugged build and awesome looks << very very subjective i agree >>
 
Re: Ultraportable Dilemna - help me blow 75k!!!

pauldmps said:
^^ Actually I'm taking about your budget. 75k for a laptop which hardly deserves it.

I think there are cheaper Thinkpads too. And also other business laptops like the Dell Vostro.

I don't think Alienware would be lightweight enough to carry around frequently & won't have a good battery life.

The newer sandy-bridge Thinkpads have insanely high battery life. But compare different models before settling up for the one you mentioned. For 75k, at least the processor should be core i7, 6-8 GB RAM & a Nvidia Quadro/ ATI FirePro business GPU.
Click to expand...
please read the reviews before commenting on something you have absolutely no idea about. business ultraportables are meant to be understated and elegant and not big loud and brash. the alienware lighting scheme can be switched off as well - so it can be understated when i need it to be.

i am inclined towards the thinkpad x220. i think i will go with it.
 
Re: Ultraportable Dilemna - help me blow 75k!!!

75k for a laptop which hardly deserves it.
Click to expand...

Huh!

It's a question of requirements bro...

When you get used to an ultraportable, you'd be gladly willing to sacrifice a decent chunk of performance for the sheer joy of holding the damn thing with one hand while sipping coffee from the other :)

For the OP:

If budget is not an issue, why not take a quick look at the Sony Z series

or if your usage is primarily presentations/docs/emails/browsing, and are not averse to crossing over to the dark side, the new MBAs are insanely ultraportable (esp the 11")
 
Re: Ultraportable Dilemna - help me blow 75k!!!

^iHate iCrapple!

did look at vaio z but its super expensive. i found the thinkpad x220 offers me a lot more for my money. i have decided to go for the thinkpad x220 with the 19 cell splice battery--i think its an absolutely stunning laptop and a no brainer for 1200--1300$.
 
Re: Ultraportable Dilemna - help me blow 75k!!!

sunny27 said:
^iHate iCrapple!
Click to expand...

Why?Even I do not like iphones and pads,but the new MBAs are just great(after all you are not looking into vfm stuff.)
 
^iHate iCrapple!
Click to expand...

why?

There is no point being a part of the blind bandwagon which hate Apple just for the heck of hating it?

The new MBAs are quite possibly the best ultraportables if sheer raw power is not what you are looking at
 
superczar said:
why?

There is no point being a part of the blind bandwagon which hate Apple just for the heck of hating it?

The new MBAs are quite possibly the best ultraportables if sheer raw power is not what you are looking at
Click to expand...
For some people (including me) the Thinkpads are more beautiful than the MBA :)
 
only if thinkpad has got some kind of graphics otherthan intel. my xps m1330 with 1.8kg feels not light. cutting 300 or 400gms make it right. so if u want portability,processor performance,battery life, bussiness looks go for thinkpad. i think for ur needs thinkpad with amd fusion might be enough
 
superczar said:
why?
There is no point being a part of the blind bandwagon which hate Apple just for the heck of hating it?
The new MBAs are quite possibly the best ultraportables if sheer raw power is not what you are looking at
Click to expand...
there's no way a MBA can stand the rough usage a thinkpad can...plus the x220 RAM and HDD upgrades are just a screw away :D
 
For some people (including me) the Thinkpads are more beautiful than the MBA
Click to expand...

Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder.. There'll always be some who'll put a silk smitha over a Deepika ;)

j/k mate

there's no way a MBA can stand the rough usage a thinkpad can...plus the x220 RAM and HDD upgrades are just a screw away
Click to expand...

Never said a MBA is a definite winner over a TP.. But ya, both are competitors worthy of each other
 
superczar said:
why?

There is no point being a part of the blind bandwagon which hate Apple just for the heck of hating it?

The new MBAs are quite possibly the best ultraportables if sheer raw power is not what you are looking at
Click to expand...
the x220 offers 23 hours of battery life that 3-4 times what the apple mbp offers and its better suited to my work related needs -an mbp can never be in the same league as any thinkpad(unless the design appeals to you--remember my friend---beauty is skin deep!)- already finalized on my config for the x220 thinkpad and paid 1250US$ to a friend to order it-----now the wait begins --- june 8th is when i get to lay my hands on possibly the greatest and the best ultraportable ever made till date!
 
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