In the market for a new small laptop or tablet

[dee001]

Hello everyone... I am in the process of buying a new laptop / tablet ..... My main purpose of the system is to allow me to support my customers on the go... I use logmein and GFI max all day but my full size laptop is way to big to keep pulling out everywhere I go and lugging that bag is getting a bit much ..... I was thinking of a chromebook because of the size and price but I went to best buy and saw the asus transformer and thought wow I could use the tablet too as a perk but my question is what are you guys thought between the asus transformer and the chrome book 2 .... also if you know of any others out there that you suggest I am open but I really need something I can sit on my lap at my son practice and be able to respond to emails and be able to remote to users systems ...... Not sure witch direction to go ..... Any suggestions

 

[Ken's PC Repair]

I bought one of these and have been very happy with it:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834231359

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

i'd say an ultrabook of some sort. I use a surface pro that I bought refurbished on ebay for 400 bucks but i dunno about using on your lap.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

I have found a 14" laptop to be the most useful. I'm a big person, 6'5" and 210 lbs...big hands, yet for the constant "on the go" to different clients all day every day, something lighter and small is desired.

YET....I still like a usable screen, usable keyboard, and most importantly..a usable resolution. You'll find once you get below a 14" screen (and even including some 14" models)...you end up with an x768 resolution or smaller....and quite frankly, I found that sucked. Having an x900 or higher resolution is more usable for RDP to servers or web admin of firewalls, switches, your RMM, etc. Less scrolling = easier faster work.

Lenovo Thinkpad series are the industrial workhorses. Strong, durable, fast, standardized quality hardware and components. You pay more...but they last much longer.

Ultrabooks are nice...my current rig that I'm typing from right now is a Lenovo Thinkpad T431s. Around 3 lbs I think.

My past prior 6 or more laptops have been Thinkpads...going back to the T20 models.

I have read many good things about Lenovo's Yoga 2 models. Convertible laptops....believe they come in 12 and 14" models.

If 14" is too big for you, check out Lenovo's Thinkpad "X" series...they have some 11, 12, and 14" models.

 

[Moltuae]

I'd agree with Stonecat about screen size. 14" is in the Goldilocks portability zone for most purposes; not too big, not too small.

For on-site work, I prefer not to use stuff that's too new/valuable. Most frequently I use an old 14" Acer Extensa 4620Z; a basic but relatively sturdy little laptop that I acquired as a repair that a customer decided not to proceed with.

I don't think there's a fits-all solution though. I also have a 10" tablet and a 10" netbook that I can throw into the glovebox for quick road-side emergency remote assistance and my smartphone (S4 Active) for instant and brief remote assistance or server reboots, etc.

The rest of the time I use a 17" Samsung RF711 laptop (which I chose for it's twin HDD drive bays; presently containing a 500GB SSD and a 1TB HDD). That's more lug-able than portable though, so it rarely leaves my desk/bench.

 

[CLC]

I use one of these for on the go/onsite work running windows 7. Always works and the extend battery lasts forever, I've even dropped it about 3 ft onto a concrete floor and she keeps on tickin. I prefer not to have an expensive laptop laying in my car for obvious reasons.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Dell-Latitu...71947436?pt=Laptops_Nov05&hash=item2a3a9c49ac

 

[dee001]

I was looking at asus transformer tf701 thinking I could use the tablet also .... but I really was excited to have a windows tablet but some of the reviews of the asus t100 scared me a bit ... but I am trying to stay focus on the real reason I need the system and that is to be able to support my customers on the go without pulling out or lugging this laptop around ... my main thing is supporting the customers and being able to sit it on my lap... kids after school practice and place like that this really comes in handy .....I went into best buy yesterday and the guy said the preformace on the chromebook would be alot better than the asus tf100 so I am still debating ....

 

[ohio_grad_06]

I'm a pc guy but when I worked in a school system they provided me with an older style white macbook. 13 inch screen. It was light and comfortable. One of the nicest laptops I've gotten to use.

 

[ThanatosOfOne]

I'm a pc guy but when I worked in a school system they provided me with an older style white macbook. 13 inch screen. It was light and comfortable. One of the nicest laptops I've gotten to use.

No two ways about it, I am a PC guy, but I was given a 13" macbook pro and I love the size of this thing. It is my carry around PC

 

[Martyn]

I use an Ipad mini for everything including documentation(PCRT) and Satnav. Funny talking about a Thinkpad, I just got hold of a T400, put in 4GB ram and a SSD and it flies.

 

[Bootman 650]

Fujitsu Lifebook's are pretty sweet. 13.3" - Nice and portable, robust yet look smart too.
Quite expensive, mind.

 

[colonydata]

if you put a gun to my head. It would be either another Surface Pro (with a type cover) or an Thinkpad X1 Carbon.

 

[dee001]

I really wish I could test both the asus tf100 and the asus t701 both for a week before buying ... i think I have decide d to go with one or the other but that really windows vs android .... i know the t701 specs are better ....anyone have used both