Comments on: Meanwhile back in the engine room of creative destruction . . . http://clubtroppo.com.au/2007/11/03/meanwhile-back-in-the-engine-room-of-creative-destruction/ Sun, 12 Feb 2012 10:02:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: HeathG http://clubtroppo.com.au/2007/11/03/meanwhile-back-in-the-engine-room-of-creative-destruction/#comment-198380 HeathG Tue, 06 Nov 2007 10:19:55 +0000 http://clubtroppo.com.au/2007/11/03/meanwhile-back-in-the-engine-room-of-creative-destruction/#comment-198380 I looked at an ultra-portable when purchasing my current laptop (now 1 yr old). At the time there was (and perhaps still is) quite a price differential if you wanted a really powerfull laptop that you can use as a desktop replacement. Re: the carrying weight- I use a backpack, rather than should bag for my laptop, so the weight isn't as much of an issue. My "work" laptop is a bit of a clunker (Toshiba with 15" screen). but again, it spends most of it's time in use on a desk, and even on the train I don;'t find it a bother. As conrad suggested, if you want really portable, get a PDA, or even a smartphone such as the Nokia N95 or Samsung Blackjack. I looked at an ultra-portable when purchasing my current laptop (now 1 yr old). At the time there was (and perhaps still is) quite a price differential if you wanted a really powerfull laptop that you can use as a desktop replacement.

Re: the carrying weight- I use a backpack, rather than should bag for my laptop, so the weight isn’t as much of an issue. My “work” laptop is a bit of a clunker (Toshiba with 15″ screen). but again, it spends most of it’s time in use on a desk, and even on the train I don;’t find it a bother.

As conrad suggested, if you want really portable, get a PDA, or even a smartphone such as the Nokia N95 or Samsung Blackjack.

]]> By: David Rubie http://clubtroppo.com.au/2007/11/03/meanwhile-back-in-the-engine-room-of-creative-destruction/#comment-197998 David Rubie Sun, 04 Nov 2007 06:44:17 +0000 http://clubtroppo.com.au/2007/11/03/meanwhile-back-in-the-engine-room-of-creative-destruction/#comment-197998 Even lighter is a subscription to something like GoToMyPC and a desktop back at the office. Then beg, borrow or steal access to the net wherever you are. Not quite as convenient as a laptop but an alternative if most of your work is not luggable. I have one of the old Macintosh Plus machines out in the shed - the carry handle on the top and the MacPac bag it came in indicate a certain amount of portability, but including the HDD the setup weights about 25kg. Complaining about 2kg seems strange once you pick that lot up. Even lighter is a subscription to something like GoToMyPC and a desktop back at the office. Then beg, borrow or steal access to the net wherever you are. Not quite as convenient as a laptop but an alternative if most of your work is not luggable.

I have one of the old Macintosh Plus machines out in the shed – the carry handle on the top and the MacPac bag it came in indicate a certain amount of portability, but including the HDD the setup weights about 25kg. Complaining about 2kg seems strange once you pick that lot up.

]]> By: conrad http://clubtroppo.com.au/2007/11/03/meanwhile-back-in-the-engine-room-of-creative-destruction/#comment-197985 conrad Sun, 04 Nov 2007 04:16:46 +0000 http://clubtroppo.com.au/2007/11/03/meanwhile-back-in-the-engine-room-of-creative-destruction/#comment-197985 At least for airports, the reason I don't care about the weight of my laptop is that excluding BA (who I wouldn't take anyway given their punctuality/serivce), I can take it on as a separate piece of luggage. That includes airlines like Qantas, who I have noticed have begun to weigh carry on luggage of late. Since I inevitably carry more weight in books/papers, the overall weight isn't a problem (in fact size is a bonus -- as I can shove heavy things like books in the laptop bag). In addition, if I really wanted to have something portable and lightweight because I was just flying in and out (which I do sometimes), a PDA with Powerpoint is probably a better bet. At least for airports, the reason I don’t care about the weight of my laptop is that excluding BA (who I wouldn’t take anyway given their punctuality/serivce), I can take it on as a separate piece of luggage. That includes airlines like Qantas, who I have noticed have begun to weigh carry on luggage of late. Since I inevitably carry more weight in books/papers, the overall weight isn’t a problem (in fact size is a bonus — as I can shove heavy things like books in the laptop bag).

In addition, if I really wanted to have something portable and lightweight because I was just flying in and out (which I do sometimes), a PDA with Powerpoint is probably a better bet.

]]> By: Nicholas Gruen http://clubtroppo.com.au/2007/11/03/meanwhile-back-in-the-engine-room-of-creative-destruction/#comment-197969 Nicholas Gruen Sun, 04 Nov 2007 01:14:08 +0000 http://clubtroppo.com.au/2007/11/03/meanwhile-back-in-the-engine-room-of-creative-destruction/#comment-197969 Carrying laptops between their alternative offices. I see a lot of people doing that in their briefcases - not their hold luggage, which means they have to carry them and they're heavy. At least some of us notice an additional 2 kilos and we'd rather do without it. And if these machines are just going from one office to another, why do people mind trading off long battery life - given that they can take the charger to their second office? (Personally I don't crave long battery life, but I do crave small size. Still other people have their (different) preferences. Obviously they're entitled to them, but I am surprised by them. Carrying laptops between their alternative offices. I see a lot of people doing that in their briefcases – not their hold luggage, which means they have to carry them and they’re heavy. At least some of us notice an additional 2 kilos and we’d rather do without it. And if these machines are just going from one office to another, why do people mind trading off long battery life – given that they can take the charger to their second office? (Personally I don’t crave long battery life, but I do crave small size.

Still other people have their (different) preferences. Obviously they’re entitled to them, but I am surprised by them.

]]> By: Yobbo http://clubtroppo.com.au/2007/11/03/meanwhile-back-in-the-engine-room-of-creative-destruction/#comment-197944 Yobbo Sat, 03 Nov 2007 23:40:48 +0000 http://clubtroppo.com.au/2007/11/03/meanwhile-back-in-the-engine-room-of-creative-destruction/#comment-197944 The reason lightweights aren't so popular is that for most people they are completely unnecessary. Laptops don't really need to be so portable. They are most used in hotel rooms or in actual buildings, very rarely on airplanes or actually on a work site away from the office. They only need to be portable enough to be carried easily from place to another before being set back on a desk. That is to say they are mostly used in the same role as a desktop computer is, but on 2 or more different desks in different locations. Price isn't the only trade-off either. You are also trading away screen space and quality (for longer battery life) which most people are unwilling to give up. The reason lightweights aren’t so popular is that for most people they are completely unnecessary.

Laptops don’t really need to be so portable. They are most used in hotel rooms or in actual buildings, very rarely on airplanes or actually on a work site away from the office.

They only need to be portable enough to be carried easily from place to another before being set back on a desk. That is to say they are mostly used in the same role as a desktop computer is, but on 2 or more different desks in different locations.

Price isn’t the only trade-off either. You are also trading away screen space and quality (for longer battery life) which most people are unwilling to give up.

]]> By: Cars and other stuff » Blog Archive » Meanwhile back in the engine room of creative destruction . . . http://clubtroppo.com.au/2007/11/03/meanwhile-back-in-the-engine-room-of-creative-destruction/#comment-197886 Cars and other stuff » Blog Archive » Meanwhile back in the engine room of creative destruction . . . Sat, 03 Nov 2007 09:17:31 +0000 http://clubtroppo.com.au/2007/11/03/meanwhile-back-in-the-engine-room-of-creative-destruction/#comment-197886 [...] To have a read for yourself please click here [...] [...] To have a read for yourself please click here [...]

]]> By: harry clarke http://clubtroppo.com.au/2007/11/03/meanwhile-back-in-the-engine-room-of-creative-destruction/#comment-197885 harry clarke Sat, 03 Nov 2007 08:50:29 +0000 http://clubtroppo.com.au/2007/11/03/meanwhile-back-in-the-engine-room-of-creative-destruction/#comment-197885 I have bought two lightweight laptops for kids and need a third for my son soon. One was a Dell and the other a Lenovo. They were about $2200 each and weighed under 2kgm. With 13.5" monitors and running Windows Ultimate with 2B Ram and 120G hard drives they are great little machines - when I've paid them off I'll get myself one! Lightness and small-size are key attributes in laptops. I bought large attachable monitors for both machines and kept old large scale keyboards but they are never used by my kids. They use them on desks, in bed while reading and at the dinner table as I seek to converse. My own machine is a monster Dell weighing about 5 kgm with 17" screen. I hate it everytime I carry it through an airport. It doesn't do anything I need that a much smaller machine will do. A good post that I will check out thouroughly. A $500 machine woiuld be a dream. I have bought two lightweight laptops for kids and need a third for my son soon. One was a Dell and the other a Lenovo. They were about $2200 each and weighed under 2kgm. With 13.5″ monitors and running Windows Ultimate with 2B Ram and 120G hard drives they are great little machines – when I’ve paid them off I’ll get myself one!

Lightness and small-size are key attributes in laptops. I bought large attachable monitors for both machines and kept old large scale keyboards but they are never used by my kids. They use them on desks, in bed while reading and at the dinner table as I seek to converse.

My own machine is a monster Dell weighing about 5 kgm with 17″ screen. I hate it everytime I carry it through an airport. It doesn’t do anything I need that a much smaller machine will do.

A good post that I will check out thouroughly. A $500 machine woiuld be a dream.

]]> By: Niall http://clubtroppo.com.au/2007/11/03/meanwhile-back-in-the-engine-room-of-creative-destruction/#comment-197883 Niall Sat, 03 Nov 2007 08:31:39 +0000 http://clubtroppo.com.au/2007/11/03/meanwhile-back-in-the-engine-room-of-creative-destruction/#comment-197883 I'm not one for picking up the latest & greatest in techno wizardy, in fact, I've always found the ultra-compact laptop-type computer to be clumsy in it's miniaturisation. My fingers are only so small, and I prefer a near-standard keyboard being a two finger typist. On the issue of miniturisation for the deprived nations at reduced cost, I suppose the technology has merit, but only in a very narrow band of acceptance. My laptop weights two-point-something kilos and has everything built-in that I could want. Why would I want to go smaller for the same equipment capability and a smaller keyboard which my fingers fall all over, if only to save a few hundred grams? I’m not one for picking up the latest & greatest in techno wizardy, in fact, I’ve always found the ultra-compact laptop-type computer to be clumsy in it’s miniaturisation. My fingers are only so small, and I prefer a near-standard keyboard being a two finger typist.

On the issue of miniturisation for the deprived nations at reduced cost, I suppose the technology has merit, but only in a very narrow band of acceptance. My laptop weights two-point-something kilos and has everything built-in that I could want. Why would I want to go smaller for the same equipment capability and a smaller keyboard which my fingers fall all over, if only to save a few hundred grams?

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