Are there any reasonably high spec Windows laptops with <13" screen?

S

slicendice

Suspended / Banned
Messages
72
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi everyone
My current laptop is pretty much dead on it's feet and it really is time to upgrade but I'm really struggling to find a suitable replacement. The laptop that I have is an old Sony Vaio VGN-TX1 with an 11.1" screen - it's lasted me incredibly well (>8 years) and I'd ideally like something similarly sized (I use it a lot when travelling) but with beefed up internals (i5+ Haswell, SSD, 8GB+ RAM) - I believe the term these days is "ultrabook"! The trouble I'm having is that most small laptops seem to be lower spec and as I often use it for Photoshop whilst out and about, I need something with a bit of oomph. The newer Sony Vaio Pro looked like it would have been ideal (expensive, but good!) but it seems that Sony have decided to bow out of the PC market altogether so bang goes that idea (I know there may be second-hand ones flying around on eBay but I'd prefer to buy new and have the manufacturer's warranty).

I've wondered about getting a MacBook Air, but all my software is Windows-based and I don't fancy having to lay out a bunch of cash just to get the same software on Mac. I've also considered putting Windows on a MacBook, but from looking around online, it seems that people have mixed experiences of doing this (although I'm always happy to hear more...?).

I'm not interested in "convertible" laptops that somehow morph into a tablet, or can fold themselves into all sorts of weird angles just so you can stand them up - I'm sure there are those for whom this is useful, but I'm not one of them. I just want a laptop that is...well, a laptop!

Options I've looked at:
  • Lenovo X240 - looks OK, but appears to be let down by poor keyboard and trackpad
  • Lenovo Yoga 2 - also looks OK, but impossible to spec anything other than i3 processor and 4GB RAM
  • Dell XPS 12 - possibility but it's a "2-in-1" with "convert to tablet" mode that I'd never need. Keyboard and touchpad don't appear to be good and there seem to be numerous reviews of issues with the screen (image retention) although this may have been resolved in newer models. Also seems to be marked as "currently unavailable" on the Dell website...
Does anyone have any experience of either some of the above or any other small but well-spec'd laptops that might fit the bill? Budget is reasonably flexible so I'm happy to hear upper end of the spectrum.

Thanks
 
Dell XPS 13. Has a full res HD 1920x1080 screen, i7 and good spec. I'm dead happy with mine.

Or, macbook air...
 
itsdavedotnet said:
Dell XPS 13. Has a full res HD 1920x1080 screen, i7 and good spec. I'm dead happy with mine.

Or, macbook air...
Click to expand...

I'd originally dismissed the Dell XPS 13 as I thought it was 13.3" and I was hoping for something slightly more compact, but I just noticed on the website it says "The most compact 13" Ultrabook™ features a 13.3" display in a size similar to an 11" laptop"...is the chasis noticeably smaller than for "normal" model with a 13.3" screen?

I've thought long and hard about the MacBook and read lots of reviews of putting Windows on one...it seem that, while it's by no means a guaranteed disaster, there are quite a lot of stories of people trying it with mixed results...and if I was going to lay that much cash on a new laptop, I wouldn't really want "almost working"! But maybe I'm just being picky...I guess there are a lot of people who've done it successfully but just haven't written a web page about it!
 
Last edited:
stupar said:
Hard to advise without a proper budget but what about this from Chillblast

http://www.chillblast.com/Chillblast-Defiant-2-Mini-13-Gaming-Laptop.html

or this from PC Specialist

http://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/notebooks/optimusV-13/

Both can be customised to suit your exact needs
Click to expand...

Yes I've had a peep at the Chillblast models and whilst they are impressive when it comes to performance, they're not so impressive when it comes to battery life - real-world figures suggest ~3-4 hours. I'm ideally looking for 6+ so can use on longer journeys, flights, etc (sorry, should have mentioned battery life in original post...).

Re budget, I'm pretty flexible to a degree...I'd probably be able to go up to ~£1,100 or thereabouts.
 
I have windows 7 ultimate installed on my Macbook Air, and haven't had a problem with it although I only use it for a handful of windows only software.
 
slicendice said:
I'd originally dismissed the Dell XPS 13 as I thought it was 13.3" and I was hoping for something slightly more compact, but I just noticed on the website it says "The most compact 13" Ultrabook™ features a 13.3" display in a size similar to an 11" laptop"...is the chasis noticeably smaller than for "normal" model with a 13.3" screen?

I've thought long and hard about the MacBook and read lots of reviews of putting Windows on one...it seem that, while it's by no means a guaranteed disaster, there are quite a lot of stories of people trying it with mixed results...and if I was going to lay that much cash on a new laptop, I wouldn't really want "almost working"! But maybe I'm just being picky...I guess there are a lot of people who've done it successfully but just haven't written a web page about it!
Click to expand...

I'm not entirely sure, I don't really come into contact with many laptops other than macbooks and my own, but it's certainly very much an 'ultrabook' - it doesn't feel like it's taking up a lot of space. This picture shows the differences quite well... http://www.spk.la/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/dsc08817.jpg
 
I've never seen windows run better than on my MacBook installed with boot camp which are the apple drivers. Very good, super stable and full machine support. Only other machine that it ran as well one was my old Sony Vaio z600 series. Which was too be fair in the same cost category and build quality like my MacBook.

These days I'm fully switched to Apple. Although still run windows 8.1 in a virtual machine. Haven't come across anything yet that doesn't run on it.
 
Just a point to note about the 11" Air... Its screen resolution is only 1366 x 768... That was fine 5 years ago but screens have moved on a long way since then. Even then anything under 800 pixels high was awful.

There were rumors of Apple releasing a 12" MacBook at their next event very soon. Could be worth waiting for that, alternatively the Surface Pro 3. That's what my GF ended up getting (and my sister is getting) after this very same debate. Yes it's a "convertible" but it's much smaller and lighter than the other ones...


EDIT: Hattrick of SP3 posts... I only came on here to look for a decent card reader...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top