most durable notebook for business travel??

[sna]

I need some new notebook the 533 bus one with pci express VGA card and ddr2.

one of these notebooks I can thorw in my brief case and dont worry about it.

I dont want it to be desktop replacement, and not a home PC , I want a slim , durable, shock/drop resistant notebook, while mostadvanced and powerfull CPU at the same time.

I tried the Dell latitude b4 and I DONT LIKE IT AT ALL. it does not have style nor good design. and few options too.

I am looking at TOSHIBA,IBM,SONY.

I need the new 2.1G 533 sonoma , 1G ddr2 ram, x600 or x700 mobile (or nvidea equivalant, DVD writer, 7200 or 5400 HD , and at least 4 HRS battery life. wide screen 15.4 or 14.2 is a bounus but not important. also I ve seen these new bright screen technology and I need your advice about them are they good ? also, the only thing I loved about DELL was their high resolution screen upgrade option, but all what i find at IBM,TOSHIBA,SONY are not customizable...

anyway plese give me some recommendations. I think the Toshiba TECRA is good (but low on specs , they use 6200te nvidia)...

the most important thing is it to be slim, fast, and durable with every needed option (with modular DVD writer/second battery swap) (I dont wantto carry around external devices or docking stations...

[kpxgq]

ibm.. hands down....


only non apple consumer laptop to use active hard drive shock protection

[sna]

Originally posted by kpxgq
ibm.. hands down....


only non apple consumer laptop to use active hard drive shock protection

any particular model???

I wish I can get Apple but lacks the software I need... Alos, I Must pay for every software again to get APPLE, that is buy new MS Office, Project, Premavera, and AutoCAD... (I already have the programs, and it will cost me a fortune to get an Apple besides the hight price of the hardware ...

[SkyDog]

In general, I'd recommend an IBM ThinkPad. Or a Panasonic Toughbook if you need it to be really durable.

[sna]

this is really !@#@$##$ bad,

These guys at IBM are still using ATI 7500 7500!!!!!! in their notebooks...

and one model with 5200 which I dont like

I like the T serie but come on 7500???? STONE AGE???

come on at lease x300 or x600....
yes I dont need the 6800UGO or x800GO to be in a notebook , but not that low to ATI 7500 or intel extreme (shared memory is expensive in notebooks and very slow too)

they dont even have the new sonoma 533 cintreno.. why are they doing this???

about the Panasonic Tough books wow I love them BUT NOT at 3500$-6000$ (are they crazy?? even top model IBM is 2500$ (which is expensive) man they defeated APPLE pricing...

any way ... I am out of options here... sad really... looks like I am getting normal notebook,,,

I also need openion on these new xbrite screens go for them or get normal one with more resolution???

[sna]

mann

Panasonic tough books are cool
but pricy

I looove this one

Toughbook 73




this comes with
1.86 533 cpu
512 ddr2 ram
80G hd
DVD/writer
1024x768 (XGA) outdoor-readable
and poor but acceptable ATI9000/or 915G

guess the price ????
3750$$$$$$$$$$

http://www.mobilemag.com/content/100/334/C3815/



http://catalog2.panasonic.com/webapp...s&displayTab=F


there is another one with ULV 1.4 processor costs 4500$-6000 with 13.3 wide screen 1400x1000 but fully rugged and big (thick)



now I love them but also saying GET LOST

I can get 2 notebooks with similar or better specs (1900x1200 lcd plus x600) for 2000$ each but not "durable" HEH so be it man I can "Break" 2 notebooks b4 paying the same price ... and it is mostly a HD or lcd screen so we are talking 500$ for lcd or 100$ for HD... I dont know what are these people of PANACRAZY aiming at??? AT least IBM sell dor good prices with protection..

[freedon]

Originally posted by sna




this is really !@#@$##$ bad,

These guys at IBM are still using ATI 7500 7500!!!!!! in their notebooks...

and one model with 5200 which I dont like

I like the T serie but come on 7500???? STONE AGE???

They aren't gaming machines.

[anubis44]

Originally posted by sna




this is really !@#@$##$ bad,

These guys at IBM are still using ATI 7500 7500!!!!!! in their notebooks...

I hear you, brother. There IS an IBM T43 machine with an X300 graphics chip just out now, and it has the Sonoma chip, too.

Click here: http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000170028098/

[kpxgq]

Originally posted by sna




this is really !@#@$##$ bad,

These guys at IBM are still using ATI 7500 7500!!!!!! in their notebooks...

and one model with 5200 which I dont like

i think the T-42 has a 9600 option

[SkyDog]

The Panasonic Toughbooks are expensive because they're built to take a SERIOUS beating. They're often used in industrial, construction, or military applications where a regular laptop wouldn't survive. A number of their models are built to withstand impact, water, dust, shock, and vibration. You might be able to buy two cheaper laptops for the same price, but the Toughbook will outlast both of them under harsh conditions.

Also, don't make the mistake of looking at a unit's list price. Whether it's Panasonic, IBM, or most any vendor, the retail list price is way overinflated. That Toughbook 73 you said costs $3750 can be found in the $2500-$3000 range (depending on options) if you look at price comparison web sites like pricegrabber.com.

You said you wanted durable, but maybe super-durable is a bit too expensive.

[kent1146]

Originally posted by sna

I dont want it to be desktop replacement, and not a home PC , I want a slim , durable, shock/drop resistant notebook, while mostadvanced and powerfull CPU at the same time.

I tried the Dell latitude b4 and I DONT LIKE IT AT ALL. it does not have style nor good design. and few options too.

I am looking at TOSHIBA,IBM,SONY.

I need the new 2.1G 533 sonoma , 1G ddr2 ram, x600 or x700 mobile (or nvidea equivalant, DVD writer, 7200 or 5400 HD , and at least 4 HRS battery life. wide screen 15.4 or 14.2 is a bounus but not important.

the most important thing is it to be slim, fast, and durable with every needed option (with modular DVD writer/second battery swap) (I dont wantto carry around external devices or docking stations...

A single notebook that can do everything you ask for does not exist. What you basically listed was EVERYTHING that EVERYONE wants in a notebook. And you want it all. If such a notebook existed, then everyone would just buy that notebook, and every other notebook manufacturer would go out of business.


Slim, fast, x600 or x700 GPU. Well, there are only like, two notebooks right now that satisfy that criteria... I'd look at the Acer Travelmate 8100.

Slim fast, durable.... IBM Thinkpads

Slim, fast, portable, battery life... Sony S series.

Fast, battery life, extremely powerful GPU... Dell Inspiron 9300 or Dell Inspiron XPS2