New laptop excerpts

[Josef Lowder]

.
Article today in USA Today on four new laptops:

usatoday.com/tech/columnist/edwardbaig/2008-05-28-small-notebook-computers_N.htm

Still not what I'm hoping for. My wish list is below these 
excerpts: 

Asus Eee PC 900 - 8.9 inch screen w better resolution $550
Get it with either Linux or Win XP. The Linux version has 20 gig
vs 12 GB. Add storage via SD card slot. Intel Celeron processor
w 1 GB of RAM, three USB ports and a 1.3-megapixel camera.
It is a challenge to type on. Slightly larger touchpad recognizes
"gestures" -- pinch fingers to enlarge a photo. Battery life about
two hrs 40 mins.

HP Mini-Note 2133 - 3-pound unit is sturdy, encased in aluminum.
Nice but not quite full-size, keyboard. Left and right mouse buttons
flank the touch pad instead a typical position above or below it.
8.9-inch high-res but must squint to make out small characters.
Priced $499 to $789, 1 GB RAM, optional webcam, 120 GB HD.
VIA processor, battery less than two hours. 2 USB ports, SD slot,
ExpressCard slot to add optional wireless cellular broadband
when Wi-Fi isn't available. Ran a little hot.

Intel Classmate PC - briefcase-style leather handle attached to removable
protective leather covering for easy carry. Aimed at school kids.
$469 at Amazon. 7-inch screen, 30 GB HD, 3.3 pounds w a high-capacity battery.
Amazon has a 9-inch display, 40 GB drive, 512 MB of RAM.
Screens have poor 800 by 480 resolution, cramped, water-resistant keyboard.
Celeron processor.

Lenovo IdeaPad U110 - slim, 2-pound, red magnesium-aluminum cover.
Touch-sensitive controls light when you boot. $1,899.
11-inch display, Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 120 GB hard drive, 2 GB RAM.
Ample ports, 3 USBs, memory card reader, no CD/DVD drive. 2 batteries
Face recognition log in.

I wish someone would make a laptop the size of my Thinkpad with a 14" 
screen and 20-gig of flash memory but no HD or CD so as to cut the 
weight to about 1 pound and less than 3/4" thick for travel convenience.
It really shouldn't be difficult to do that to sell for about $400,
should it?