Are you looking for a genuine laptop or a netbook? In regards to the
 SSD failing over time, it is true but a bit exaggerated. Unless you
 set up a swap partition, don't worry about it. Also, if you do get a
 model with SSD, make sure it supports TRIM. Finally, don't get Apple.
 Their iPod and iPhone are gold, A++, uber-awesome products. Their
 computers are overprices crap.

 Vlad

Vlad,

  I suffered with Microsoft crap for years until I switched to Mac
and
have been in heaven ever since.  Not perfect, of course:  Microsoft
Excell just does not run the same on my Mac as it did on the Dell
machine, but 99% of what I do is surfing, email and wordprocessing.
Apple's strong suit was supposed to be its graphics capabilities,
so I am amazed at your feelings.  I just hate to see people miss out
on what for me has been a great ride.

Gene Kahn

I don't want this to go to my computer is better than your computer.
We are supposed to be about rotary engines.

Paul Lamar


guys, i don't know the difference. i thought a laptop was just a pc that
was
sized to take with you.-PAUL cut us newbies some slack.i did a report on
wankel in 1965 and have been sold on the rotary ever since! i now have
the
interest and talent to build a twin rotary amphibian but i don't have
too
many years to waste on mistakes and learning curves. please let the
appropriate info through. you and the group sound like a goldmine of
knowledge, that is the beauty of the internet forums!  feed me what i
need
to know. keep up the great work everyone!


--
flyboy


Laptops where sized to take with you. Now netbooks have taken up that
purpose. If you looking for something to lug with you everywhere you go,
pick a netbook. If your looking for a portable desktop, get a laptop. Maybe
I missed the info, but what are you going to use it for?
I love my msi wind. I take it to school, out to lunch, the park, etc.
But when it comes to more processor heavy applications, I rely on my dual
core compaq laptop which rarely leaves home.

BTW, I just want to make it clear, I don't dislike Apple. I just dislike
their computers. Maybe saying that they are crap is a bit over the top but
they certainly are overprices for what you get.

Vlad


I am going to chime in with yet another opinion.
My dual core Compaq (2 years old bargain model, upgraded from Vista to Win
7, only way to go)CQ-50 is running Alibre just fine, and according to my
sidebar gadgets, I have lots of processor and memory headroom left, even
with 2 PDF open and 3 drawing windows. Granted I haven't been playing with
any really large or complex surfaces yet. The CQ-50 has 4 gigs installed,
only 3 useable, due to 32 bit operating system.
At my workplace (Ford Motor Co.) There is an ongoing program of giving
engineers laptops (they look like a Panasonic toughbook, I guess I should
ask one of them what model) and then they got through a training program for
our CAD system (Catia I believe). Training rooms are being set up in all of
the major design centers, we set up the first one in the trial. Laptops can
do CAD.
My advice would be to go with at least a dual core laptop. A netbook would
be straining to run 3-d CAD, although I can run 2-d Q-cad on my HP-110 no
problem.
The advise on a gaming laptop is sound(big, heavy), but your comfort with
portability may require a compromise.
Multi Core i5, i7, 64 bit operating system, max memory if you can afford it.
Current laptops are powerful. The more complex (multi part assemblies,
complex surfaces) you expect the projects, go bigger on hardware.
I am satisfied with the performance of the CQ-50, although if I had a bigger
budget, I would have gone for more hardware performance. I have the 12 cell
battery in addition to the standard, so if I get really busy, I can swap
over.
Your results may vary.
C. Smith

I was just in Fry's yesterday looking at a dual core Atom MB for $80 with
the processor. Six inches by six inches.
1.66 GHz Intel Atom D510 (dual core) 667 MHz FSB
http://www.logicsupply.com/products/d510mo?gclid=CNLVuZeulaACFSYaawodlmDQdg

Build your own "notebook" computer like Robin did for a few hundread.
The real time guys says it works great as one core does all the background
stuff and the other core does the real time stuff.

You could boot off a 64 Gig USB stick.
No fan. Wall transformer power supply.

Supported operating systems include:
Moblin* v2-compliant Linux* distributions,
Microsoft* Windows* XP Starter and Home Editions, Windows Vista* Starter and
Home Basic Editions,
Windows* 7 Starter  and Home Basic Editions.

64-bit computing on IntelR architecture requires a computer system with a
processor, chipset, BIOS, operating system, device drivers, and applications
enabled for IntelR 64 architecture. Processors will not operate (including
32-bit operation) without an IntelR 64 architecture-enabled BIOS.

Paul Lamar

Can you carry this around with you? Doesn't look like something you can use
on an airplane, or riding the train. Or am I missing something?
C. Smith

Yes you can carry it around with you.
You can use it in a car but not in an airplane yet unless you
want to carry a small 12 volt battery.

I mostly use my computers for internet email browser in hotel rooms
where I can get wireless access.

Paul Lamar

I'm not knocking the power to dollar, or capability. I think what you have
there is the poor man's answer to the Mac Mini, but there still exits a
pretty sizeable niche for the laptop form factor. (probably unnecessary for
me to post that list) I've repaired a few myself, got 10 years out of my
last HP, still running and now in use by a high school student. On the other
hand, there comes a time when available technology has leapt so far past
what you have on your table that one has to make an adjustment in hardware.
I'm not so sure how much planning is involved in the obsolescence. There are
a lot of enabling technological breakthroughs that have led to brighter,
more defined screens, lower power consumption of hardware, ever more densely
packed and faster semi-conductor topologies.
Consumer Tech is a marketplace where you must place your best products out,
and do it now. If you try to dribble capability out to the market place, you
will be outsold by the guy who makes the big leap.
Your results may vary. 8-)

C. Smith

I agree with C. Smith. Beyond that, having a franken laptop makes a
great impression (not) when you sit down with a client and boot it up.
Besides, having to carry around a brief case for your computer defeats
the purpose, doesn't it? I would however say that unless you are
making a lightweight server or use the computer strictly for web
browsing, getting an atom for a desktop is a waste of money.

Vlad