Laptop lunacy

[ffutures]

At some point in the next few months I want to get a new laptop. When I say "new" I mean "not so old and crap as the current one", which is a P200 running Windows 98. It's a Compaq Armada, fairly reliable but HEAVY, slow, not fond of most recent software, and tending to throw fits if I try to use it on any WiFi setup or network but my own. About the one good point is a 3-4 hour battery life with low usage.

What I'm looking for is something small, light, and with a VERY long battery life - ideally at least 4-6 hours with minimal disk access, since I want to be able to leave a presentation running for several hours at sites where mains power isn't available. I want it to be capable of playing DVDs, and it needs to run a web browser, text editor, and Powerpoint. It also needs to be easily networked via cable or WiFi.

What I'm thinking of here is something like a Centrino machine running XP, or possibly something like an Apple Ibook G4 if that'll run the PC version of Powerpoint (or at least show PowerPoint stuff without me having to buy the software again).

I'm not in any huge hurry for this, it's a "want" item rather than a "need" item. And I'd be perfectly happy to go with an older machine or lower spec than the current maximums if the basic needs above are met. So... any suggestions, or anyone know of anything going really cheap?

Comments

[autopope.livejournal.com]

Funny you mentioned this, because I'll be selling a (currently 12-month-old) iBook G4 which meets your requirements exactly, within the right time frame. Prod via email if interested ...

[robertprior.livejournal.com]

I've got a 12-month old 1 GHz G4 iBook, 14" screen, and the battery lasts 4-6 hours. For simple use, without running the Airport card, I get about 5 useful hours at the keyboard. Being online wirelessly drops that to about 4 hours.

[mr-wombat.livejournal.com]

I can really only talk about sony Vaios here but: Their lower end machines on sale in their stores are pretty reliable workhorses in my opinion. They've got wireless network points, decent memory and processing power and decent graphics cards. The only thing is that the absolute best battery life I can get out of them is a little more than three hours and that's while paging through RPG PDF documents (like you'd get from rpgnow.com or drivethrurpg.com - so plenty of graphics and text). I don't know of any laptops that get better battery time than that unless they're cripplingly heavy (and I used to have to lug two Dell Inspirons around with me every day for over a year so I have a high definition of heavy for laptops)

Personally I love Vaios, my first one was nicked and without a second thought I went straight out and got another one right away.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

2-3 hours is really too little, unfortunately - if it wasn't for the battery life I'd be more or less happy to stick with what I've got, the rest of the stuff is "what I'd like" rather than "stuff I must have."

[mr-wombat.livejournal.com]

some reviews here

OR I suppose you could potentially spring for a second battery.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

They mostly seem to be the sort of spec I'm looking for, but they're all more expensive than I can afford.

Can't seem to get the batteries for the Compaq, unfortunately. As I said, it's an old model.

[ckd]

An iBook with iWork. iWork includes Keynote which will show PP and is $79 US. Not sure the GBP price.

Well...

[sbisson.livejournal.com]

I have a HP tablet PC that needs a new home... Battery life excellent (it's a transmeta processor).

Re: Well...

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

That sounds interesting, but am I right to think that they don't have any sort of CD or DVD? I'd need CD at least.

[pmcmurray.livejournal.com]

I have three bits of software on my Powerbook to run presentations. you'd think I was a salesman or something...

1. MS Office, bought as the student version for about £120, complete with PowerPoint.
2. OpenOffice, got for free.
3. Keynotes, my favourite bit of software ever*. A really fun presentation tool. Version 1 was sold as standalone software for £69, but version 2 is included in iWorks for £49

*Apart from Halo, The Hobbit, Valhalla, Lemmings, Homeworld 2 - ok I mean favourite bit of work software.

[beamjockey.livejournal.com]

Keynotes, my favourite bit of software ever*. A really fun presentation tool.

Will Keynote swallow Powerpoint files? I thought it could, but I don't know how well it does the job.

I think I'd like to buy it...