Looking for a cheap, lightweight laptop for travel

LTnetennba on 06/12/2012 - 00:59
Last edited 06/12/2012 - 11:42 by 1 other user

Hi there,

I'll soon be travelling to Japan and Korea (Feb-Mar 2013) and will be needing something to hook up to the WiFi that most of the hotels I'm staying at will have. I was going to take my phone, but I figured it would be easier to take a small laptop to actually do stuff on (browse the web in downtime, it's not terribly fun to do this on a phone's crappy wifi, and I'm using skype as means of communication - so a webcam would also help).

Anyway, I was hoping someone might be able to suggest a good deal on a laptop, preferably 13.3 inch screen or smaller, and light. I'm open to spending up to $600, and will happily buy an ultrabook provided it has the right specs (will be using it for uni in 2014)

Netbooks are cheap, small and light, but I'm not really sure they're all they're cracked up to be. From my experiences using friends netbooks, they're slow and honestly quite horrible to use for any amount of time. This was a while ago, so if there's a good netbook out there, i'll definitely have a look at it based on your recommendations.

tl;dr: small, light laptop, preferably not netbook. <13.3" screen. webcam is a bonus, mic is a must. Decent specs. ~$600 max (will splurge if necessary).

Thanks a million! (btw this is my first post, sorry if I did something wrong).

This one from dick smith comes out as $531 delivered after my staff discount, which is nice, it's just a little dated and I'm not too sure on how well it performs.

http://dicksmith.com.au/product/XC8421/acer-13-3-quot-aspire…

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  mskeggs on 06/12/2012 - 09:26

  Flingshot had some Samsung ultrabooks at this price point, and still have an HP (not that I would especially recommend it).
  http://flingshot.com.au/collections/computers-ultrabooks
  I suggest watching the site for a few weeks and jumping on the first suitable deal.
  If it were me, I would consider an ipad and keyboard combo as the weight really adds up when travelling.

  • 

    Tnetennba on 06/12/2012 - 14:06

    Thanks for that link, I've got it to email me when they get more stock.

    @iPad, I'm not a huge fan, if anything, I would save myself a bunch and get a nexus 10 or similar, but I've had a tablet in the past and it wasn't very useful (even with a keyboard) to type on in lectures and stuff.

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  Sunny84 on 06/12/2012 - 09:39

  which city are you based in?

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  cezasu on 07/12/2012 - 01:28

  how about hp dm1, comes with 11" screen, saw it on specials recently at jb.

  read more here:
  http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1799014

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    Tnetennba on 07/12/2012 - 01:32

    It looks a little dated and not terribly high performance.

    I think I'm going to go down to JB hi-fi tomorrow and have a look at some of the models they have on offer. There was a deal on flingshot for a samsung with an i5 3rd generation and heaps good specs :( Out of stock unfortunately (thanks ozb :p)

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  Tnetennba on 08/12/2012 - 02:21

  +1

  I suppose this can be locked now, I went for a tablet instead (samsung galaxy note 10.1 16gb wifi, got for $517 at dick smith, $579 listed price down to 545, then down some more from my woolworths staff discount).

  Couldn't pass up a bargain like that, heh.

  I suppose this can be locked now or something.

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  ethansamuel17 on 27/12/2012 - 17:08

  -1

  I suggest to go with iPad2 or iPad mini. It is the best option for businessman.

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    Tnetennba on 27/12/2012 - 21:54

    iPad mini is more or less a Nexus 7, except more expensive with worse specs (cpu/resolution/etc).

    iPad 2 is a bit old, isn't it? Either way, I don't really have any desire to buy an iPad with the various cheaper options around which are just as able to perform the tasks of the ipad, at a much lower price.

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  bich.light on 27/12/2012 - 23:41

  I'd say get an Macbook Air if you could afford.
  Maybe try gumtree/ebay and look for a decent second hand with high specs; or even a low spec one for cheaper?