Ultralight Laptop for CS & IT?

Doc Daneeka · 10 Jun 2013 at 10:24

Hey, I've just accepted a place on a computing and information technology conversion degree which starts this September. The problem is that I'm probably going to have a 60 mile round trip (40 in train, 20 in bus) as accommodation around the university is ridiculously expensive. This means that I am keen to get a light laptop for the commute. To back this laptop up I'll have my HP Envy 17" and a 24" monitor sitting at home as a workstation.

So I'm after an ultralight laptop, but I'm not sure what would be best. The only thing that came to mind was the MacBook Air, but I'm not sure if that is going to be suitable (if it helps, I will have general courses in computer programming, information technology, and I am hoping that I'll be allowed onto a few software engineering courses as well).

If anyone has experience of this then I'll be grateful for some advice!

Nymins · 10 Jun 2013 at 10:47

Where are you doing CIT may I ask? I done (or rather still doing) CIT at Queens in Belfast. A Mac probably isn't the best choice as at some point you will be using Visual Studio, of course you could bootcamp if you wanted.

Something like the Dell XPS13 with the 1080p screen would be good. Hopefully they'll announce Haswell refreshes soon.

snitcher · 10 Jun 2013 at 10:55

an ultrabook with hdmi would suit you well.

Doc Daneeka · 10 Jun 2013 at 11:16

Nymins said:
Where are you doing CIT may I ask? I done (or rather still doing) CIT at Queens in Belfast. A Mac probably isn't the best choice as at some point you will be using Visual Studio, of course you could bootcamp if you wanted.

Something like the Dell XPS13 with the 1080p screen would be good. Hopefully they'll announce Haswell refreshes soon.

St. Andrews. I might email the programme coordinators and see if they have any thoughts but I know that there are both iMac and Windows computer suites on campus for CS students. Just to refer back to the school on this:

The School's computer systems are a mixture of Unix (including Apple OS X) and Windows. This means that almost any modern system, desktop or laptop, will be compatible with our systems. The University provides an institution-wide wireless network that you can use for internet access.

So I guess it's not all that important if I go for Windows over Mac or vice versa, although I think I'd prefer to return to Mac.

I'll have a look at the Dell and yeah, I'm planning on holding off until late August/early September to actually buy anything so hopefully I should get the latest upgrades.

snitcher said:
an ultrabook with hdmi would suit you well.

Agreed.

gregorius · 10 Jun 2013 at 11:44

If it's any help, I've been very happy with my Samsung 900X3a. Costly, but the windows equivalent of a Macbook Air.

Doc Daneeka · 20 Jun 2013 at 18:31

Bump, what would you guys think of something like the microsoft surface pro with a type keyboard?

brendy · 20 Jun 2013 at 18:37

Buy a backpack and carry the 17 incher, thats what I do when heading over on the plane etc.
Waste the rest on alcohol and loose women..

Subliminal Aura · 21 Jun 2013 at 09:53

I'm also interested in this.... Currently looking at the t-series vaios and the pro 13's.... Ideally weight < 1.6kg - No need for touchscreen gimmicks or duos - Processor i7 QM or better. Easy access to upgrade everything from the back

There are custom barebones laptops that can satisfy my power requirements but they're ~2.1kg and I'm not sure of the build quality

InfiniteNoise · 21 Jun 2013 at 14:26

By custom barebones laptops, do you mean the likes of Sager/Clevo? If so, the build quality is decent.

AMDPower · 21 Jun 2013 at 23:45

what is your budget?
what size screen?

Subliminal Aura · 22 Jun 2013 at 00:12

Idartalis said:
By custom barebones laptops, do you mean the likes of Sager/Clevo? If so, the build quality is decent.

Yep... Good value but lacks sheen. I might just go back to Sony