Looking to purchase a small laptop/netbook. What would you pick?

[dlpowered89]

Hello guys,

I'm in the market to purchase a small portable laptop that I can carry everywhere with me. I do have a Retina Macbook Pro but its size and a price tag does not make me want to carry it around everywhere I go. I am not looking to spend big dollars ($350 MAX) so I have been looking around and funnelled down to these two machines:

FYI, both of these machines are brand new.

ThinkPad X200 (7458-RB7) - $340

Based on 7458-CTO: P8400(2.26GHz), 2GB RAM, 160GB 5400rpm HD, 12.1in 1280x800 LCD, Intel 4500MHD, Intel 802.11agn wireless, Bluetooth, Modem, 1Gb Ethernet, Secure chip, Fingerprint reader, 4c Li-Ion, WinVista Business 32

Acer - 11.6" Aspire One - $300
Intel Celeron 877 w/ 2MB Cache
2GB Memory
320GB Hard Drive
Intel HD Graphics

I have been purchasing Lenovo products due to their rigid casing but when I made a visit to the local Bestbuy last weekend, Acer felt very nice and had everything I wanted (I originally wanted HDMI port) but I know I will lose the Thinkpad quality if I decide to purchase acer. (I heard many horror stories about Acer too which makes me worried)

What are your opinions on these two products and which one would you purchase? I will be upgrading the machine to 4GB RAM (I have a spare set at home) and put SSD in there.

Thanks for your help in advance.

Don

 

[COLGeek]

Of these 2, the Lenovo is the better choice for only a few $$$ more. I rarely recomend Acer products because of their flaky track record.

 

[dlpowered89]

Thanks for your opinion.

Do you think gain of the Thinkpad quality outweighs the loss of HDMI port? I was hoping to have some sort of digital out for it as I was hoping to have it connected to a local TV.

 

[COLGeek]

Yes I do. How many times will you actually use the HDMI port?

 

[dlpowered89]

Yes I do. How many times will you actually use the HDMI port?

Right now, I would say quite often as this will be my primary laptop when I am on the move. It really kills me to know that X200 does not offer HDMI. (There is one option available and that is to purchase a dock. But it does not support audio.)