Comment Re:Panasonic R7 (Score 1) 1218
Good points and I presume true, but the Panasonic doesn't run Leopard... ;-)
Now my editorial: Laptops are like shirts. One size doesn't fit all.
The new ultra thin models are terrific for my daughter as they fit in her shoulder bag without causing bodily harm. But, with even the terrific portability advantage of ultra light weight and convenience of a 12" sub notebook, she often finds herself wishing for a larger screen and more processing power almost daily when she's out on projects. When she's at her office, she uses a 20" external monitor, so screen size ceases to be a problem. Still, using the Adobe suite, and rendering video for DVDs, she can use all the memory and processing power she can drag along.
I'm a user on the other end of the spectrum. I use Windows-XP Pro/Server, Leopard, Tiger, Suse Linux and RedHat Linux every day. I need HUGE internal storage and a fast-as-I-can-afford processor, that runs several virtualized OSs simultaneously, all while away from my office... Try crowding three or four OS windows onto your 12" or 13" screen.
That being a fact of life, I choose a larger laptop and the productivity, ease of maintenance, and ease of support that OS-X gives me, any day. For my usage patterns, I gladly give up the 8 cool colors for a low-maintenance OS any day. (By the way, I run a computer applications lab for a Fortune 10 company, and I have my CHOICE of systems. I still drag around a 17" MacBook Pro, as there's no substitute for horse-power, large storage, and HUGH screen real estate for productivity, I frequently run Windows (no Vista allowed here), Linux, and Unix (OS-X) simultaneously all day long.
My current system has a 17" 1680x1050 screen and a 256 MB Video card, a 2.6 GHz Core2Duo Proc., 4 GB RAM, 320GB internal storage, and tips the scales at just under 7 pounds. I'm in good enough shape at my old age to drag the other 3+ pounds around for the performance and productivity difference.) It still fits in my briefcase, and the briefcase has wheels. Beats the heck out of dragging multiple small systems to China, India, Europe, and Asia. AND, the 17" screen makes it a terrific movie machine for those long flights and foreign hotel rooms.
Do I think everyone should drag around a 6.8 pound 17" laptop? Nope, that's nuts for most folks. Pick what fits YOU. In your case, you clearly enjoy the features and size of your Panasonic system running Windows (or perhaps Linux).
However, IF smaller is better for you and you want an OS that doesn't get in the way or abuse you every day, I think the MacBook Air deserves consideration, especially in the absence of the PowerBook 12".
My wish list is: A folding computer, with 17"-19" screen, at least 2ea. 4-GHz Xeon-class 4-core procs, 8 GB RAM, 1+ TB of storage and 10 hour battery life, and what ever other silliness I can dream of, all weighing less than 2 lbs. All I need to do is wait until I buy my next system. That dream system will be available a week later. ROTFLOL
Opinions are like lower body orifices, everybody has one. I hope mine doesn't offend you.
Steve J.
Now my editorial: Laptops are like shirts. One size doesn't fit all.
The new ultra thin models are terrific for my daughter as they fit in her shoulder bag without causing bodily harm. But, with even the terrific portability advantage of ultra light weight and convenience of a 12" sub notebook, she often finds herself wishing for a larger screen and more processing power almost daily when she's out on projects. When she's at her office, she uses a 20" external monitor, so screen size ceases to be a problem. Still, using the Adobe suite, and rendering video for DVDs, she can use all the memory and processing power she can drag along.
I'm a user on the other end of the spectrum. I use Windows-XP Pro/Server, Leopard, Tiger, Suse Linux and RedHat Linux every day. I need HUGE internal storage and a fast-as-I-can-afford processor, that runs several virtualized OSs simultaneously, all while away from my office... Try crowding three or four OS windows onto your 12" or 13" screen.
That being a fact of life, I choose a larger laptop and the productivity, ease of maintenance, and ease of support that OS-X gives me, any day. For my usage patterns, I gladly give up the 8 cool colors for a low-maintenance OS any day. (By the way, I run a computer applications lab for a Fortune 10 company, and I have my CHOICE of systems. I still drag around a 17" MacBook Pro, as there's no substitute for horse-power, large storage, and HUGH screen real estate for productivity, I frequently run Windows (no Vista allowed here), Linux, and Unix (OS-X) simultaneously all day long.
My current system has a 17" 1680x1050 screen and a 256 MB Video card, a 2.6 GHz Core2Duo Proc., 4 GB RAM, 320GB internal storage, and tips the scales at just under 7 pounds. I'm in good enough shape at my old age to drag the other 3+ pounds around for the performance and productivity difference.) It still fits in my briefcase, and the briefcase has wheels. Beats the heck out of dragging multiple small systems to China, India, Europe, and Asia. AND, the 17" screen makes it a terrific movie machine for those long flights and foreign hotel rooms.
Do I think everyone should drag around a 6.8 pound 17" laptop? Nope, that's nuts for most folks. Pick what fits YOU. In your case, you clearly enjoy the features and size of your Panasonic system running Windows (or perhaps Linux).
However, IF smaller is better for you and you want an OS that doesn't get in the way or abuse you every day, I think the MacBook Air deserves consideration, especially in the absence of the PowerBook 12".
My wish list is: A folding computer, with 17"-19" screen, at least 2ea. 4-GHz Xeon-class 4-core procs, 8 GB RAM, 1+ TB of storage and 10 hour battery life, and what ever other silliness I can dream of, all weighing less than 2 lbs. All I need to do is wait until I buy my next system. That dream system will be available a week later. ROTFLOL
Opinions are like lower body orifices, everybody has one. I hope mine doesn't offend you.
Steve J.
