I need a new laptop, size & weight matters - what should I be considering

[KatyMac]

I have a 17 inch Dell I am very happy with as I enjoy the larger screen - I also tend to use font size 14 or 16 so a big screen gives me more to see

But I am having joint problems and when I replace I need very light 'whatever'

I also need voice software like dragon so I can type less but I do like having a proper full size keyboard with numbers off to the side

But I guess I could get a plug in keyboard for when I have to do loads of typing or will I become great at the voice thingie?

Help?

Is there any reason why it's got to be a laptop? A desktop would allow you to have a much bigger screen than 17", weight isn't an issue and you'd have a full sized keyboard.

Yes I do a lot in bed

Nothing to do with this thread, but I was scrolling through active coversations when the phrase Yes I do a lot in bed caught my eye - I clicked on this expectng it to be something else entirely...

Sorry to disappoint

would an iPad do? Or does it have to be a laptop?
MacBook Air? Or do you need Windows?

I don't know I guess it might

Would I need both I wonder?

Is cost a restricting factor ? Just in case someone has / sees something but outside what you want to spend.

I haven't thought

I suppose it is really, but I hadn't got that far; I think I might have some help with it tbh

Maybe keep this one on my desk - to use like a desk top, for major work

& then get something lightweight for travelling & using in bed

I nearly cried carrying this up the stairs tonight - it's just to heavy

Sorry to read of the problems you're having.

Personally I have limited experience of touch-screen or voice activation but with new 10" Android tablets having USB ports, you might find one light enough and could plug in a 'roll up' USB rubber keyboard (light weight) if voice control isn't an option.

I have an illuminated USB kbd with number-pad section (I know there are number-pad only PS/2 and USB plug-in units for laptops with no separate number pad), but you have to decide what's best, and whether an iPad or Android might do what you need.

They're still ironing out glitches with Android, but with costs below 350 pounds, seem worth a look over next few months as there is bound to be a lot of choice in much the same way as Windows PCs are at various prices and offer different features because of so much competition.

Thanks I'll have a look

I guess I am looking for ideas as I don't really know what I want/need

I like the look of this

What do you think?

Have just started reading an online review and have seen nothing negative so far...

www.trustedreviews.com/laptops/review/2010/11/23/Dell-Inspiron-Duo/p1

Had felt it quite expensive, but see from Google Shopping that Amazon is selling the 320 GB model for 380 plus a tenner delivery - but before buying, suggest you double-check. Spec seemed the same - 1.5 GHz CPU, 2 GB RAM, Win 7...

Thanks

I may not buy it but at least I know something might work

I'm going to look at that keyboard you mentioned too

In the night I read a brief review of the "launched today" Asus Transformer.

Asus is the firm which make the EEE nettop box, and there have been a number of EEE clamshell netbooks (I was using one the other day, running Win XP, with 160 GB HD and built-in 3G modem - very impressed).

Anyway, from memory the Transformer is

• a 10" tablet with approx 9 hours battery life
• running Android v3 (Honeycomb) with Flash 10.2
• has mini-HDMI port, micro-SD reader, SD card reader and 2 USB v2.0 ports

The 'transformer' name comes from the fact the tablet can be plugged into a base unit which has a keyboard, and another battery to boost usage to 16 hrs.

I'm still trying to find out the total cost - on another site, I saw the base was optional. The Computing (trade paper) review says it is 379 for the wi-fi version (3G version coming later on). Now I don't know if that fee is for the tablet alone, and the base another (say) 100, or what one gets for the money.

700 gram weight should be light enough, I'd hope but then again it may be out of the question if voice input is considered essential.

(Thought I would post as soon as I woke - been unwell and sleep pattern is broken at present, and not madee my way to the other room where I was when I read the reviews, hence no links for the moment... am going onto NewsNow.co.uk to search for "transformer" in the Technology section as that will find a pile of web reviews or announcements made over the last few days, and expect most to be about the Acer (single keyword search, hence my choice).

Thanks for this - much appreciated it looks fab!

Although the Asus Transformer was launched on Wednesday seems Ebuyer is taking pre-orders.

I saw the keyboard/battery/base unit was optional on one review and now see the cost is 50 quid (seems likely to me 60-80% of the cost may be for the battery), but a further 8 hours is worth the cash, I think.

Tiny shame you only get the USB ports in the base, but then again, I think it's a must have for anyone wanting the tablet because of the battery and keyboard to improve usability.

(I had a few hours using an iPhone last week and was cursing lack of a keyboard immediately when trying to log in on various services... iPhone is something I won't bother with again for serious text input, though I may give an iPad a go sometime.)

You won't get any useful software to run on the Transformer - it is basically a web only device (Android OS).

Beware that moving from a 17" screen to 10" you will have a screen 1/3 of the size. And if it is important to you, check the keyboard is full size because it is only just possible to fit a full size keyboard into 10" (and there will be some compromise on sizing and/or location of shift, return etc. keys).

If you are looking for a more conventional solution, how about one of these which has a 15.6" screen and this means it is wide enough for a full size keyboard with a numeric pad. I have one similar (mine has a bigger battery which means it lasts longer but weighs more, which would not be good for you) and it is brilliant - best laptop I've ever had, and I've been using them for 20 years (when the term 'laptop' was a bit of a stretch because if you used them on your lap your legs went numb after about 10 minutes).

And if you do get a Windows machine, try Windows 7 Speech Recognition (which comes with it) before you fork out for a new version of Dragon SS.