Super-Widescreen Laptops: My Lap Isn’t THAT Big!
Author: Nick
Category: Money
Topics: technology
Like many others, I switched to using notebook (or so-called “laptop”) computers years ago after realizing that having a computer I could bring with me anywhere meant I’d never have to decipher my own chicken scratch in a paper notebook ever again. That was the clear distinction between a notebook and a desktop computer: portability. Sure, you could throw your LCD monitor, 20-pound desktop tower, keyboard, and mouse into a large backpack and take it anywhere you like, but the idea of hauling around something in the sub-six-pound range was a lot more appealing.
My current notebook has a screen that’s roughly 14 inches wide. (As with TVs, the width of a computer screen is measured diagonally from one corner to the opposite.) When I first got it nearly five years ago, that was a relatively standard size for notebook screens. Today, notebooks are much more commonly found in sizes ranging from 15 to 17 inches, and there are already several notebooks on the market above 20 inches! These monsters won’t fit into most standard notebook carrying bags… or most non-standard bags. In fact, your best bet for hauling around these giants is stealing a pillowcase from your bedroom and shoving it in that!
While the 20-inchers are typically priced at the high end ($2,000+), an alarming trend has appeared in recent months: wider notebooks are actually cheaper than their smaller counterparts. Most of the major manufacturers—Dell, HP/Compaq, Gateway, Sony, and others—offer customizable screen sizes for the same notebook configuration, and you’ll generally have to pay anywhere from $50 to $200 more to downsize from a 15.4-inch screen to a 14.1 or 13.3. The reasons for the price premium are many:
- Smaller screens mean smaller parts needed. The extra inch or two provided to wider notebooks means you can cram bigger parts in that are easier and cheaper to manufacture.
- Smaller screens are often viewed as more desirable. People really do want the smaller notebooks, but since notebook makers aren’t really listening to that demand, they can charge more for the smaller ones because people will buy them right up.
- Businesses are willing to pay more for smaller screens. Companies with lots of money to invest in notebooks for its employees are usually first in line for the smaller-sized notebooks. Smaller notebooks work best for companies because they take up less office real estate and won’t cripple their workers who carry them to and fro.
The funny thing about these 17-inch+ notebooks is that the classic “laptop” designation given to notebook-sized computers really no longer applies to them unless you’ve got an extra-large lap. And I doubt there’s anyone with a 20-inch lap who has fingers small enough to use a notebook keyboard. A new phrase was coined to describe these big machines—”desktop replacements,” meaning they’re as powerful as your three-year-old desktop computer, but you can probably still tote it around if needed.
So the next time you’re in the market for a notebook computer, you’ll definitely want to give ample consideration to the appropriate screen size and weight for your needs. All too often, I’ve run into people who only paid attention to things like processor speed and disk drive space when purchasing their notebooks, and they’re always complaining that they hate lugging around their 17-inch, nine-pound monstrosity.
As for me, since my notebook is still in Stage 3 of its lifecycle, I’m hoping a good deal on a sub-15-inch notebook will come along this summer because I absolutely refuse to buy one that’s bigger than what I have now. In fact, I might try to hold out for Dell’s upcoming mini-laptop offering, shown here at almost actual size! Okay, at nine inches, it’s slightly bigger than pictured, but it’s still a far cry from those 20-inch behemoths that’ll keep chiropractors in business for the next half-century.
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51 Responses »
1.
s. jennifer rose
June 11th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Most of the “mini” or extremely thin laptops aren’t designed to be someone’s main computer — in my experience they are very slow. (Or at least slower than their normalish sized companion.) I suppose it depends on what your needs are, but I’d only get a super small/thin laptop for me as a second laptop to take traveling to conferences to give presentations, etc. Running code on them? Probably not. They’re so cute and alluring though…
2.
shraz
June 12th, 2008 at 3:53 am
notebooks are now replacing desktop computers for people who don’t really play a lot of games. No wonder the screen is getting bigger and bigger.
I love my Dell 700m 12.1 inch screen
Good to carry to class, vacation, and on my bed.
3.
Maria @ Frugal Homesteading
June 17th, 2008 at 6:40 am
I don’t have a laptop, so I carry my computer tower in a backpack and hold my monitor under my arm when I head to the coffee shop for free wi-fi and expensive lattes.
4.
The Gas Credit Card Reviewer
July 6th, 2008 at 4:23 am
Yeah I actually just bought a 17″ at Best Buy, great features and brand, and it was actually cheaper than most of the ones with smaller screens. I like it better anyway because I’m blind as a bat so I need the bigger screen, actually I need the 20 foot screen in the cartoon haha.
5.
Gadget Mania
September 17th, 2008 at 3:30 am
I really liked the sketch, as always it was brilliant.
I really don’t care about my laptop size or screen size. I am only worried about the performance most of the time.
6.
Tech Forum
September 22nd, 2008 at 7:34 am
I like a small laptop better. I think it is more handy and its easier to carry it around. He he the drawing is funny.
7.
Peter
September 27th, 2008 at 10:02 am
I am a frequent traveller, and hate big laptops. In the late 90′s I used a tiny mini Toshiba called “Libretto”. It had limited memory, limited diskspace, hardly any accessories, but i could almost carry it around in my pocket… And I was happy, until the harddisk crashed way after Toshiba discontinued the Libretto and I could not find the software to rebuild the harddisk.
so nowadays I use a X60 Lenovo… Still relatively small, but powerfull with a great battery lifetime.
P.
8.
lenovo deals
October 11th, 2008 at 7:41 am
the sketch is pretty funny. I would not like a 20 foot laptop, but my cat would love it chasing the vista bubbles screen saver… lol
nice article
9.
insight
October 20th, 2008 at 6:33 am
have to say I’ve never seen a 20″ laptop in the flesh, but we sell 18″ ones at work. I’m a bit of a geek, but I actually like this whole thing. Used to be you’d have one 14″ laptop for everything. Now you can have a 9″ one for the train/travelling & a 20″ one for your desk at home.
10.
GadgetAdvisor
December 12th, 2008 at 7:20 am
laptops are being used everywhere these days.. instead of desktop computers..
where ever u go .. u can see laptops..
they r ruling the computer world right now..!
11.
Online Auction
April 24th, 2009 at 8:00 am
Even I agree we should consider the screen size and weight when buying a laptop. Small screens look better. I have an old laptop and even I am considering to upgrade to one which is not heavy and has a small screen.
12.
Business Computers
June 8th, 2009 at 11:30 am
You may not realize how important it is to consider the overall weight of a laptop until you attempt to carry one about every single day in a week. It will then dawn on you that you will be willing to trade off some speed or even functions for a lighter notebook.
My boss told me that, before I bought my Toshiba, but it didn’t make sense to me. Now I know better. My Toshiba is 14″ yet I feel the weigh on my shoulder.
13.
Small Laptops
June 22nd, 2009 at 8:24 am
I’m a big fan of the netbook/small laptops market. Small laptops are so portable and the newer models are high spec. The price is also much cheaper than your normal notebook.
14.
hialeah computer pc laptop repair
July 11th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
I really liked the sketch, as always it was brilliant. I love Laptops.
If you’re planning to buy a laptop i suggest you go for ASUS Ezee PC.
They’re not only cheaper but also have good performance.
If money is not a problem then go for high-end DELL XPS Studio Laptop, extreme performance.
Why don’t you use Deep Freezer From Farconics. After installing it you’ll never run a Virus scan again. I’m using it for 2 years till now my computer haven’t crashed nor infected with any malware,spyware,virus etc.
15.
Computer Blog
July 22nd, 2009 at 5:18 am
i also love laptop, i have 2 laptop but the old one had me sold already. now my laptop is just using intel celeron, then i want to buy the new one again that have more advanve processor. the technology so faster growing today.
16.
Manhattonf
September 3rd, 2010 at 7:11 am
I don’t have a Laptop . But some times I really need one. For some works i do, such as Internet Surfing and Listing to music. When i go some where i really need to connect with friends via Facebook, But mobile phones don’t support for that much.So Some times I think if i could bring my computer with me. According to your Post I think the best way to bring my computer is taking it with a pillow cover.
So
Any way thanks for the Info
17.
alomda
November 11th, 2010 at 7:05 am
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December 5th, 2010 at 3:13 pm
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December 28th, 2010 at 3:29 am
That’s a very interesting post I have come across. I like the small Laptop very much. Because it is more handy and easier to carry it around.Anyway, thanks…
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p90x
February 2nd, 2011 at 1:59 pm
nice share thanks very funny photo, thanks a lot
23.
laptop sling bag
February 10th, 2011 at 8:30 am
I really don’t mind about the screen though….I just make sure that the performance is up-to-date…it suprising really for me that with the price of my asus 3 years ago I can get very powerful laptop today…technology are really growing…
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alarabforum
February 14th, 2011 at 7:28 am
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business intelligence technologies
June 8th, 2011 at 1:30 am
As laptops are meant mostly for personal and business purposes which may include much of travelling, its most likely to be compact and weightless. So people really like them tiny yet powerful for the use. even me too.. The technologies are getting innovative faster as its sizes is getting redued to as much as it can be.i have preferred to take a netbook instead of the 15inch laptop and is much happy as it gives satisfying performance, mainly in while using the business dashboarding softwares.
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