Advice on Q35

Hi,

I'm thinking of buying a Q35. You can see the FAQ I filled out here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=118758

Basically I'm after a portable laptop that I can write on. So the keyboard quality has to be very good, keys that don't cramp up your fingers in prolongued typing, and so on. Can anyone give their experiences with the keys on the Q35? Anyone use it to take notes for instance where they have to type quickly?

I also plan to use it outdoors, and have heard that the glossy screen is not best suited to that. Is that a real problem, or is it only apparent on things like DVDs etc?

Finally, I know the Q45 is due out soon. I imagine that will lead to a Q35 price drop, so do you think it's best holding on for a few months (though I'd much rather get the laptop now)? I can't see what the differences are aside from upgraded specs - the design and weight and so on appear to be the same. Is that correct?

Thanks a lot,

Jon

 

Regarding the use outdoors, I think any LCD apart from one of the special ones (transflective, if my memory is correct) will be far from good. However, if you can get yourself positioned in the shade and with a dark background (or the weather is cloudy) then the Q35's display is usable. You will need the LCD brightness turned up, which will hit battery life. The foregoing applies to all notebooks without a transflective display. If you are really keen on outdoor use under any conditions then look at Portable One and you will see that their Trioview display adds another $369 to the price.

As for the Q45, the fact that documents are appearing on the Samsung web site could well mean that it will appear at around Santa Rosa lauch date (mid-May?) and may be listed before then. It was only a few weeks between the R20 documentation getting published and the computer being on the shelves. As you have discovered, the differences between the Q35 and the Q45 are, apart from the new Intel chipset and the option of a more potent GPU, largely cosmetic.

However, what we don't know until retailers start to list the Q45 is whether it will move in alongside the Q35 or displace the Q35. Shiny black may not be everyone's preference although it makes a refreshing change from silver and keeping the Q35 would provide some choice of colour. History suggests that there could well be some discounting of the existing models when new ones appear.

I would expect the Q45 to be listed by retailers within the next month even if they are waiting for stock. You would then be better able to make a decision. However, I would also recommend that you complete your current research and decide what specification you are looking for and at what price level. Then, if the right product appears at the right (reduced price) you can grab it before someone else does. That's what happened when I got my Q35. I had concluded it was the most suitable of the available 12" machines and when Comet found they had a box of them to sell off (a pre-Vista clearout of models with XP) I grabbed one quick. The offer was only up for a few days.

John

 

Thanks for your reply, John.

I saw the Pink Q40 in PC World yesterday and thought it was very smart, but I haven't seen a Q35 in person yet. Are the two devices pretty similar to look at? The Q35 is heavier I believe; is the unit itself bulkier? I was very impressed with the neatness of the Q40.

Finally, have you had a chance to try the Sony TX series? How do they compare to the Q35? I'm particularly interest in the keyboard quality.

TIA.

 

The Q35 is significantly thicker than the Q40, which has a separate optical drive.

I've never tried the Sony TX series. It has a size smaller display and the keyboard must have shrunk as well.

I see that you are also looking at the Sony SZ. If you can find one that you can afford then I think it would be a good choice because of the slightly larger keyboard and display with no weight penalty. I had an earlier S series as my main notebook, but the display was too small for working with spreadsheets and I was getting some eyestrain. The build quality was good (apart from a loose battery, which seems to be a feature and is fixable) and the display was excellent. I would happily have the SZ (bloatware and all) as an alternative to my Q35 but can't justify the extra cost.

John