I'm currently using an HP Mini, which is tiny. Less than 2 years old. The newer models sell for less than $300. No CD/DVD drive.

Great for travel. I don't use it for much more than surfing the net and typing up the occasional word document. Limited battery life though - not much more than an hour.

If I get a job soon I suspect that I will need something more "professional". My brother swears by the IBM Thinkpad, he just replaced the old 2nd hand Thinkpad he has had for years with a new one. I like the look of it and the fact that he gets 5 or 6 hours use on the battery (should be enough for just about any meeting). I won't need it for much more than preparing Powerpoint presentations, preparing up documents in Word, that sort of thing.

Any other suggestions? I'd prefer to spend less than $1K.

If you can get the thinkpad i'd agree with your brother. They're famous for being extremely well built.

^^^ good choice

Go with what seems right with more research.... then again the Think-pad seems like an excellent choice.

This post was last modified: 02-03-2011 06:08 PM by Genesis.

If you need it for your job shouldn't your employer provide it?

Limit your search to the models which are intended for enterprise usage. In general they are much sturdier and better suited to haul around. The Lenovo Thinkpad is a good example (IBM sold it's PC division to Lenovo in 2005). A $1K budget will give you plenty of choice.

Thinkpads are made of Nintendium. I can only think of one tougher type, and that's the Panasonic Toughbook.

This post was last modified: 02-03-2011 09:18 PM by ῦ.

Ima get a thinkpad as soon as my card is blank. Can't wait.

It depends on the role. Traditionally the employer would provide a laptop, but the trend seems to be for IT consultants to be expected to provide their own - particularly for contractors.

That is why I am not buying one until after I land a job. I will wait and see.


Thanks for all the replies and suggestions. The way things are looking I might need a sand-proof laptop.

This post was last modified: 02-03-2011 11:38 PM by 142857.

I need one of those!  I'll have to keep that in mind for the future.  

What on earth is Nintendium?  Is that what those bricks in mario were made of?  If so I don't think they're indestructible

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.ph...Nintendium

See this?

It was dug out of a barracks that was hit by an airstrike during the Gulf War.

IT STILL WORKS.

That's Nintendium.

This post was last modified: 02-05-2011 04:21 AM by ῦ.

See this?

It was dug out of a barracks that was hit by an airstrike during the Gulf War.

IT STILL WORKS.

OMG, another casuality of war. How sad. Disfigured and burned, but still ticking.

That would explain why the kids can't seem to break their DS's despite aspie kiddo's compulsion to throw things off the balcony.  I thought it was the foamy nerf cover on them.  

I want everything I own to be made out of this miracle material!