Considering New Laptop - Developing on a 13.3" screen...

[matt-]

Hey all,

Im considering purchasing one of these:

http://vaio.sony-europe.com/view/Sho...ry=VN+S+Series

If that link doesn't work, its a Sony Vaio VGN-S4XP

Basic Spec:

Intel® Pentium® M processor 760, 2.0Ghz, 533 MHz FSB, Supports Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® Technology

13.3" X-Black LCD 1280x800 WXGA

1GB Ram, 100GB HD, Nvidia Geforce Go 6200

This will be used for constant web development work, I go on the occasional business trip, 2-3 times a year. But mainly I want the small footprint and portability for working anywhere in the home and maybe the occasional beach bar

At the moment, I have a Sony Vaio with a 16.1" screen, its nice, but its way to big to even move, let alone the battery only lasting about 20 minutes.

Do you think this will be OK for development with the small screen? Anyone have experience with this?

I know theres the middle range ones, 14.5" etc, but they're all so damn plain and ugly! ultra portables are so wantable

Matt.

[momos]

apple 12" would be my idea of a good time

[drochili]

Should be ok if it's got a widescreen. One of my concerns with the ultra portables are the keyboard key size... aren't they usually a bit smaller than a regular keyboard's? It might take time getting used to a smaller layout. Just my thought..

[Egor]

apple 12" would be my idea of a good time

I considered that tiny beast while shopping around for a lappy last year. Decided to go for a 14" instead.

matt-, if you are a student, you should really consider one of the Mac's. They are nicely discounted.

[krohnathlonman]

I have a 17" widescreen Compaq and I know what you mean about not being portable...

I went with a 15" Dell inspiron when they had that 750 off $1500 purchase

[vgarcia]

I considered that tiny beast while shopping around for a lappy last year. Decided to go for a 14" instead.

You do know that the 12" and 14" are the same resolution right? All you really get with the 14 is bigger pixels, not more pixels.

[ethanp]

I second the 12" iBook. I purchased one not too long ago and I'm very happy with it. It also is very portable.

[Egor]

You do know that the 12" and 14" are the same resolution right?

Me? Yeah. I just felt the 12" was a bit too small.

[wwb_99]

A nice IBM X40 is all a man really needs . . .

[AnOmAlY_]

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[matt-]

Thanks for the replies all, looking over the responses it seems people are generally comfortable with smaller screens for coding purposes.

Egor - No im not a student, and although the mac laptops are very nice indeed, its not really an option for me since im an asp.net developer.

wwb_99, AnOmalY - thanks for the suggestions, I checked out both models and I have to say that I do have a strong preference towards sony laptops, I had a dell latitude work laptop once and I wasn't keen on it at all. I think im pretty set on the sony laptop, just debating whether the screen size is good enough for development purposes.

So now I guess i've just got to part with my hard earned cash

Matt.

[MaxS]

Why Sony? They are overpriced.

[matt-]

I just prefer sony, they look nice and are quite reliable. The screens are excellent, better then i've seen on any other laptops, think it has something to do with the Oynx Black technology. This would be my third Sony Vaio.

I've had a toshiba before, that was very reliable but wasn't very tough, it was falling to pieces by the time I replaced it. Also had a Dell Latitude, but I found that to be awful, the touch pad was too sensitive, the keyboard keys were too hard to press, and the monitor was dim.

I guess its just sticking with what you know

[AnOmAlY_]

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[matt-]

Thanks for the link AnOmAlY