Laptop for my Mom

Hi Everyone... I didn't really want to post this in the general forum as I wanted the opinion of the known crowd here...

I would like to get my Mom a laptop. She's 75 years old and still volunteers for the county. She needs something with a good battery life and a standard sized keyboard as she will be bringing this to the courthouse, library, etc.

My first thought was (dare I say) a Dell but I've had several Dells in the past and the battery life has never impressed me. I have a Sony Viao that I was going to give her but it is too small with only a 10" screen and small keyboard. (But has a 6+ hour battery life!) So I really need something in between. Standard size with a 3-4 hour battery life that is light enough for her to carry in a backpack or canvas bag. I don't want her to have to carry a laptop bag as she has a purse and usually a few other things to carry.

I know many of you have many laptops other than Toughbooks... What would you recommend. I would be buying used on ebay. If any of you have something you want to part with... PM me please. (Toughbook crowd only please)

 

You mean you don't want to get her a five thousand (spelt out to sound better ) Toughbook?

I've seen excellent battery life from IBM T4x (T40/T41/T42/T43/T43P) with the extended battery.

You should be able to get a T42/1.7Centrino/1GB/60GB+/WIFI B/G/combbo drive for around $300-$$350. Then spend an extra $100 and get NEW OEM (not generic crap) extended battery

Here's one here: http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-T42-BLACK-FRIDAY-SALE-notebook-war-cheap-laptop-9_W0QQitemZ200293307837QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLaptops_Nov05?hash=item200293307837&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

and a better one here: http://cgi.ebay.com/IBM-T43-wireless-notebook-war-cheap-laptop-xp-pro-thin_W0QQitemZ390019828983QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLaptops_Nov05?hash=item390019828983&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

That seller (protoncomputers1) is a good reputable company that is actually based out of my home town (used to work for them a long time ago)....

 

That kind of depends on the budget.

My only real experiences with laptops though are either Macs or Toughbooks. Everything else was only used for a few hours.

 

Also consider a nice Dell D620 or D630 those both have excellent battery life too (4+ hours just like the IBM)

 

I'll say panasonic CF-73. It is semi rugged with handle too and has 13" screen not heavy as the fully rugged toughbook. The brand new battery last up 4 1/2 hrs. and considering a media bay battery and you will have up to 8+ hrs.


teo

 

I was just going to suggest this as well
With the media bay battery It will last for quite a while
I have several with the media bay batteries
Mk-2 or higher I would recomend

Maybe a bit more than other options, but its a toughbook with a handle
Windows xp ,bright screen light and durable
When someone see's your mom's laptop and comments how unusual it is and where to buy one , she can tell them about you, Rick


Alex

 

I have had a few HP's over the years (one lasted for over five until the dog knocked it to the ground, now it is a hangar queen), and they were well worth the money. The quality of the HP's seems to have remained constant and they usually have good-great marks for customer service. I generally got very good time on the batteries also. Remember, now most parts (including batteries) are made by only a few companies, so no matter what you get the choices are limited in the end. With the better Li-Ion batteries and low voltage systems, she should be able to go off battery for quite some time. I would beware of Circuit City though...:laugh:

 

I would have to second Silver Trooper's HP suggestion if you MUST consider (shudder) another brand. Two of my kids have them. They are built well and priced reasonable, although I cannot speak too much on the battery life of them. They game on them a lot, so they leave them plugged because they forget to watch battery life and they always manage to shut off in the middle of a big battle.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions guys... I wanted to stay around $500 or below... All she neds is Word and maybe PowerPoint and to be able to maybe check her email. Another reason I'd like to get this is so that she won't have to trudge up and down the basement steps to go to her desktop unit. I've tried to talk her into letting me move the desktop upstairs but she won't have it. So the addition of the laptop there would be good too.

I'll poke around for a little while and let you guys know what I decide...

 

I'm kind of leaning toward the Dell D610 or 620.... At 4.4 lbs... That looks good. I wonder what 2 more lbs and a handle would do with the CF-72?

 

I like the thinkpads because they have the best keyboard. They are strong and tough also.
The T43 doesn't get the same battery life as a T42 for some strange reason. I have owned both. Go with a T42.

"The IBM ThinkPad T43 delivers similar performance but lesser battery life than the identically designed ThinkPad T42; we think the latter remains the better buy" -cnet

 

The cf-72 battery capacity is horible
Not a good choice for use with batterys


Alex

 

Actually, I don't expect that you would have a problem with a Dell Inspiron with either battery life or your budget limits. Go to Dell's configuration site and play with builds. I have had good experiences with the Latitude but that will probably configure outside your budget limits. Based on your Mom's age, I would think that the lighter the better. Bless her for an active life.

 

Rick,
I lugged a Dell 620 Latitude around for about 4 years, its still in the shop in a dock with an external monitor chugging away. The lcd finally crapped out. We have probably 25 620s in the office and we have never had a problem. The job supers lug them back and forth to the job sites daily and they are not kind to them. If you do get one for mom let me know, I've got a couple of good media bay batteries for most Latitudes and would be happy to send one to your mom. One often missed deal can be found on the Dell SMALL BUSINESS site. You might get a good deal on a refurbished or scratch and dent Latitude. They are still making them for business users, they just don't advertise them any more.
CAP

 

WTH? I have set the two side by side with BRAND new extended batteries and the T42 lasted 3 hours 58 minutes and the T43 lasted 3 hours 50 minutes... If they think that 8 minutes is a big deal then I don't know what they are thinking really ... The T43 has WAY BETTER video and a higher res screen (1600x1200 on most) so that's probably why.

8 minutes to me is worth it for much better performance.

 

I've used Thinkpads before... I hate their touchpad area... I could never get used to it. I feel the Dell is much better having an actual button instead of a little rib of plastic... But I guess it is all in what you get used to...

 

The ones I used to sell had both a touchpad and a trackpad nipple

 

I am still for cf-73 it is design for executive too.


teo

 

Bump for Toughbook Toughbook



Alex

 

How about a CF48 or CF50 with a greentab? should get plenty of life out of one of those!

 

How is the weight?... I know that she will be carrying it. Everything I see shows 6+ pounds... The D620 is only 4.4 lbs... I know that 1-2 pounds doesn't mean much to us... But then it might after another 20-30 years go by.. If you know what I mean..

 

The cf-73 is just less that 5lbs


Alex

 

TB -

The Dell d620s are a decent machine but the power pack is pretty bulky & heavy. If you think she can work on a 12" screen, the d420 might be a bit better; they weigh in about a pound lighter than their 14" cousins and get noticeable better battery life due to the more efficient screen.

The HP NC6000s are now coming off lease in large numbers; good machine, plus they come with a tiny power pack about half the weight of the Dells. I can personally recommend the NC4000 (12" model); It has full size keyboard, pentium M processor, plus both Touchpoint and J-mouse pointing device, as well as a built-in SD slot, FAXMODEM/NIC, single PCMCIA, 2 USB & S-Video out as well as available built-in Wifi & Bluetooth. They too are coming off lease , and are available pretty cheap(As in $150-$250 COMPLETE). I built one for my wife because she had similar issues; she needed something light to carry in her schoolbag, but with a fullsize keyboard so she could actually type on it. Hers gets approx 3 hours runtime with the (apparently) original battery; this is roughly similar to my TC1100 of the same age. Those Pentium M/Centrino chipsets are REALLY frugal on the power. They had an available DD880A external battery pack ( see here: http://cgi.ebay.com/Genuine-HP-Comp...|240:1318|301:0|293:1|294:50#ebayphotohosting ) That doubles battery life but is a bit bulky.

The drawback of both the D420 & NC4000 is of course that they are an "ultralight" or "sub-notebook" model; this means they are a "single-spindle" design - No floppy or CDROM, you use a USB optical drive with them.

mnem<~~~ Cheap Bastahd-Dwagon*

 

Still Cf-73. I have one of those and bring it when I am applying for a job as look like an executive. And then I gave it to my nephew to use it in collge. I bought it again fo me, just waiting a hardrive caddy. Eventhough I work in the most unlikely place for few.


ohlip

 

These actually come with the ATG version of the D620/D630 but they are smaller and lighter. They also come with an adapter for a car or airplane power outlet using the same power supply. And you get a cool little carying case for all the cords. The only down side is that they are only 65 watts. The battery charges pretty slowly with these, but it does work.

Overall, a very slick contraption. I have it in the back of my mind to try and modify a ToughBook power supply to do the same thing.

 

I've got a Dell AC/DC/Air adapter but its huge, bigger than the regular Dell adapter. I got it for my Latitude years ago when I was spending a lot of time on airplanes. That little one is neat and they seem to be available from the usual suspects:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Dell-PA-12-Auto%2FAir-Slim-AC-Adapter-Power-Supply_W0QQitemZ220343906169QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20090113?IMSfp=TL090113111002r34612

CAP

 

Thats why it must be CF-73



ohlip

 

Ohlip, I'm gonna smash your CF-73!!!

HAHA *snickers*

 

ohlip -

The CF-73 is a sweet little laptop; but it's bleeking heavy for its size. (Almost 6 lbs). If TB-mom can do without a built-in optical drive, I still think the d420 or NC4000 would be a lot more user-friendly; they're both around 2.5 lbs.

Wyrm -

Those "Dell" all-in-one power packs are really a rebranded Kensington model; one of several I've been recommending on this forum for a LONG time. GREAT unit, VERY small, and MOSFET-powered for high efficiency & low heat buildup. They ARE a bit more finicky about their input power as Cap'n (I think it was Cap'n, anyways) has mentioned; they won't keep running down to 10 volts input like the Lind models he likes for camping with battery power.

mnem
Shave 'em dry...

 

Well, If all you guys just want to bash a perfectly good toughbook , and promote the Dell products here,I would ask for a Mod to move to the Dell forum
Is there a Mod around here


Alex

 

Alex, we're not bashing Toughbooks lol... Rick is a Toughbook guy, so I think he should stay in the Toughbook forum...

Thats all

 

Oh! yeah, its a toughbook. lol

No matter what still for CF-73. Its not heavy even a 4 year old kid can carry the unit easily.



ohlip

 

Well leave it here then
I don't think the other forums would understand our humor anyways LOL


Alex

 

probably not hahaha

 

Guys, the CF-F8 was mentioned in the other thread and sounds like a good candidate for Rick's mom. Is it not considered for some reason other than price?

 

Price is all... 500-600 is what the requirement is

 

Yup - price was the reason.

That's the big thing the HP nc4000 has going for it - right now, they can be had for $150-250; this leaves Rick a LOT of leeway for all the "lil extras" one ALWAYS gets involved in with the "just a simple machine for my mom" projects... just a little "extra" here & there & before you know it you've spent double your intended budget & you're wondering "WHAT THE FRELL IS WRONG WITH ME...?"

mnem
Pure draconium.

 

Go for CF-73. I just bought it for $250. Anyway, I also bought what Mnem...recommend for my daughter The HP NC4010 for only $175.00

teo