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In my recent travels I had a bit of a re-think on where and how often I use my personal laptops/netbooks. Currently I have a custom 15 inch Sony Vaio bought new earlier this year, where I upgraded to the 1080 display and some other tweaks over standard. But I just don't find myself using it often. On the other hand, I have an Acer One netbook, which I use quite frequently, but I wish it had a little bit "more" everything.

At one airport shop window, I did notice an Acer something... wish I made a note of it now. It looked in between a netbook and laptop. Don't know what size it was now. I do remember while it looked quite thin, it had a Core i5-something and 320GB hard disk in it, so it isn't necessarily castrated on spec.

In a quick search, I think it was an Acer Aspire S3. Reviews... ok, not that glowing so far, but it seems there are more options in this area for me to look at. They seem to use the term "ultrabook" - anyone else use this category and care to comment on their use relative to netbooks or traditional bigger and heavier laptops?

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

I've always found the 15" standard size laptop a bit big and clunky. I currently have a 13.3 Dell XPS laptop that is basically the size of an A4 folder.

Its not fast but it does EVERYTHING I need it to from picture editing to using mapping software. I only have one machine and this is it. Because I'm pretty mobile though work a desktop isnt an option and neither is a netbook or tablet as yet.

It would be great if it was lighter and thinner but tbh the screen size suits me just about right. Big enough to work off but not so big it makes the whole package unwieldy.

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Canon EOS 550D (with Magic Lantern)
18mm - 135mm Kit Lens, 50mm f1.8, Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM
430EX II Flash with Phottix Strato Wireless Tigger Set
Manfrotto 190CXPRO3 with 496 Ball Head. Gorilla Pod SLR
Canon Powershot A720IS with CHDK and intervalometer script. Pentax Optio W90

My Blog - http://www.ianganderton.wordpress.com

Actually I don't care about thinner, since that doesn't really gain me much. But a smaller area while still maximising the screen would be good.

In further looking, the category I'm looking at is called ultrabook and the one line summary more reviews seem to use is that it's the Windows answer to the MacBook Air. They seem to be around the 13 inch screen size ball park.

Mini-rant - why the stupid gloss screens that everyone seems to use now? The old non-gloss ones were great at preventing unwanted reflections. Where have they all gone?

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

I'm a big fan of the 13.3 size screen for exactly what you describe. Small enough form factor to fit in things but not so small to have a useless screen

Just looking at Dell's website, they have plenty of business class laptops and notebooks in the 13.3" screen size but in the home use side of things they seem to have moved to a 14" screen size. I wonder how much bigger that actually makes then in 'real life'

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Canon EOS 550D (with Magic Lantern)
18mm - 135mm Kit Lens, 50mm f1.8, Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM
430EX II Flash with Phottix Strato Wireless Tigger Set
Manfrotto 190CXPRO3 with 496 Ball Head. Gorilla Pod SLR
Canon Powershot A720IS with CHDK and intervalometer script. Pentax Optio W90

My Blog - http://www.ianganderton.wordpress.com

Usage of the laptop is now increasing. A laptop can provide great flexibility to their user to carry it at any where. So you can work at anywhere at anytime. laptop also allow you to access Internet in any WIFI zone.

Good thread.
I almost exclusively use a desktop with at 24" monitor, but am looking at a laptop. Main reason is that as shiftworker, nighshifts and weekends give me a bit of flexibility with doing stuff at work.
I am also getting a caravan in a few month and will be doing a lot of travelling with the family.


I am looking at a laptop with a focus on photo editing.

My wife does everything on a 17" Asus Laptop and after being used to a 24" monitor I find that a bit on the small size for looking and editing photos. But reality says that 15.6" is better for bang for your buck.


For email and internet I am not fussed about screen size, but for PP what size screen what do you consider a good size?

I think I want a 24" Laptop

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Canon Powershot S95, Canon 7D, 15-85, Canon 85 1.8 USM, Sigma 30 1.4, 50mm 1.8, Canon 100 2.8L IS Macro, Canon 70-300L IS USM+Kenko 1.4 Pro 300DGX, Canon 430EX II and RS 4 Classic

The screen quality is as important as screen size for editing. I can't use my work laptop at all for that as the screen in it is horrific. My current personal one is a 15 inch which I paid to upgrade to the 1080 resolution, which is near enough the same as my desktop 24 inch. Yes, everything looks pretty small.

It is a tough balance...

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Yes agree, with screen quality.
I found was that the dell monitor is really good at getting colour and brightness spot on. On the wife`s laptop I had to fiddle around to get it looking similar results. Still not really that happy with it. The new laptop screens seem to throw out brightness, contrast and colour.

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Canon Powershot S95, Canon 7D, 15-85, Canon 85 1.8 USM, Sigma 30 1.4, 50mm 1.8, Canon 100 2.8L IS Macro, Canon 70-300L IS USM+Kenko 1.4 Pro 300DGX, Canon 430EX II and RS 4 Classic

Saw a Lenovo U300S the other day - seems to be very thin and light, core i7/i5 - looked a classy piece of kit - 13inch screen though but maybe worth checking out?

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Nikon D90
Nikkor AF-S DX 18-105 f/3.5-5.6G VR, Nikkor AF-S DX 70-300 f/4.5-5.6G VR, Nikor AF-S DX 35 f/1.8 G