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Samsung X125

RH Numbers

The X125's rather nice exterior holds within it parts that ought to make for a decent notebook: reasonable software bundle, plenty of hard drive space, integrated graphics that are above the norm, and even Bluetooth 3.0. If the trackpad is a little on the small side, at least the calculator-style keyboard is good to use. The battery life isn't amazing, but it is above average. No, the problem here is that Samsung has chosen to fit a single-core processor, which means the machine puts in a sub-netbook performance that really nags when you start running more than one app at once. It only has a 32-bit OS, and doesn't come as cheap as other one-core laptops here.

Samsung X125

Reg Rating 70
Price £450
More Info Samsung

Toshiba Satellite T110

RH Numbers

Toshiba's 11-incher is one of the glossiest, smartest looking and slimmest laptops here, but like a number of its rivals it comes equipped with a single-core processor. That, plus the Intel graphics, don't make for a performance machine, leaving it as little more than a netbook with a bigger, higher res display. The quid pro quo is a strong battery life, a 64-bit OS and Toshiba's extensive array of bundled utilities. But with a more advanced model, the T210, just launched - and yes, one was requested from Toshiba - it's hard to recommend the T110 unless you can pick it up at a discount.

Toshiba Satellite T110

Reg Rating 60
Price £399
More Info Toshiba

11.6in sub-notebooks

Nostalgia

Anyone else miss the old 12" 4:3 sized machines. Especially the old 12" G4 Powerbook. Not everything has to be wide screen, for web browsing and general work I'd rather have the relative screen hight.

6
0

believe it or not...

...the entire world doesn't revolve around Apple. Mac.

3
0

Thinkpads all the way.

I'd rather splash out £200 on an IBM X61s off ebay, pretty much the same spec and I can spend any left over cash on a decent SSD and more RAM. Honestly, you only need to use a proper Thinkpad (not the e100 jobby) once to be converted.

1
0

+1

My desktop monitor is mostly used portrait.

1
0

11 inch

Thank you for this. I have been looking forward to an article on 11 inch machines. They seem to be quite out of fashion. I have contended for a while now that 11inch is an ideal compromise between portability and functionality. I have started at 15 inch, went down to 14, then to 11, then to 10. I had to go back to 11 inch, as the resolution on 10 inch makes so many things a pain, or completely unusable.

In respect to processor, personally I prefer a fairly slow single or dual core part, balanced by the longest possible battery life. I have been using full time a Philips Freevents 11NB5000 (a Twinhead F11Y in reality) 11 inch sub-laptop for 3.5 years - and it has been an excellent work companion. However, I need quite often the optical drive - and the Packard Bell seems to be the only choice with one at 11" in the entire market.

I know they have been out of production for years - but a word of respect for the Sony TT/TZ/TX lines of yonder. All 11 inch machines, amazing build quality, some of them 9 hours of battery at the time, optical drive integrated (some of them BluRay writer!), even optional integrated 3G. Expensive but what a feat of engineering. Long gone now, I'm afraid. Those were the days. Sigh.

1
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