Hi,

My main work computer is a desktop PC (running Windows XP) and is likely to remain so for a while. However, I'm thinking of getting a laptop, so that I can work when I'm away from the desktop (like over Xmas/New Year, when I'll be in Perth for a couple of weeks).

I'd like something that's robust and compact, with a couple of Gig of memory and several hundred Gig of hard disk. I'd also like it to have built in CD/DVD, so that my son can play movies and games on it (hence it needs to be robust).

I've looked at the offerings in JB Hi-Fi and Harvey Norman etc and found great compact models, but they had "optional" external CD/DVDs and great ones for playing movies (that looked better than my TV), but they were huge (well, largish).

Of course, it would be a work laptop, too, so it needs to be able to run WAMP/XAMMP and Joomla. Oh, and I don't want to spend much more than $1500.

So, what should I be looking at? Will a Joomla dev environment work okay on Windows 7? Should I take a leap of faith into the Mac world? Do I need to spend more money? Or should I just take a couple of books to read in Perth?

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Regards,
Robert

Hi Robert....

I moved from my desktop to a completely mobile environment with a notebook on the desk. I found it much easier to pack up my notebook with EVERYTHING on it when I had to go and see a client or just ... "go".

I have a HP with 4Gb RAM and 400Gb HD. It's a step down from the power available from a desktop machine, but all life is a compromise. It has worked very well for me to date.

Now I've just purchased a BENQ Joybook with 10.5inch screen because the notebook wouldn't fit easily on my motorbike.. LOL. Anyway, now I can go for a weekend away easily with the netbook and if a client breaks something, I can fix it without a dash for home.

Cheers,

Thanks for your thoughts. Your netbook gets a good review on ZDNet.com.au:

"Possibly the first netbook to be drop tested and equipped with a 16:9 aspect ratio display, BenQ's first Atom-based model is a hardy number with an interesting design."

I may have to look more into "netbooks" as opposed to "notebooks".

Regards,
Robert

Rick, I would certainly be interested in your experience with using a net book - can it run an external monitor for when you are at a home location? I think I have seen "super" USB Hubs designed to support and speed up a range of peripherals such as external monitors and hard drives that might make it tenable to use a net book as a main machine - but am understandably interested in learning from others' experience first.

Currently I use a Dell XPS M1210 notebook as my very portable main machine - and it has worked very well but I will probably retire it in the next 12 months.

David