Portable laptop for full web browsing experience

nolegrl

Honorable
Mar 18, 2012
5
0
10,510
I'm thinking about getting a laptop/ultrabook for traveling and I was wondering what I should be looking at. Right now I usually travel with my Toshiba Thrive tablet, but I run into a problem with web browser plug-ins due to android limitations. I want something light and portable that I can get a full web browsing experience on (including plugins for flash, javascript, html5, etc.). I just want to be able to browse the web seamlessly without carrying around my 5lb laptop. I don't want to spend a lot of money, so around $500 or less is ideal. Thanks!
 
Solution
Here's an 11.6" Acer Aspire V5-171-6422 weighing in at 3.05lbs for $580.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834215625

11.6" Acer Aspire V5-171-6675 also weighing in at 3.05lbs for $450 uses Intel's previous generation "Sandy Bridge" Core i3 CPU which consumes a slightly more power so battery life is likely to be a little shorter.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834215667


13.3" DELL Inspiron 13z (i13z-8864sLV) for $630 and weighs in at 3.81lbs.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834200702
Here's an 11.6" Acer Aspire V5-171-6422 weighing in at 3.05lbs for $580.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834215625

11.6" Acer Aspire V5-171-6675 also weighing in at 3.05lbs for $450 uses Intel's previous generation "Sandy Bridge" Core i3 CPU which consumes a slightly more power so battery life is likely to be a little shorter.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834215667


13.3" DELL Inspiron 13z (i13z-8864sLV) for $630 and weighs in at 3.81lbs.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834200702
 
Solution
Small and light generally comes at a premium. The middle Acer is not as expensive as the 1st because it uses last year's "Sandy Bridge" CPU rather than a current year "Ivy Bridge" CPU. Other than the possibility of a little longer battery life in the newer Acer, both of them should do the job as long as a 11.6" screen is not too small for you to read text.
 

nolegrl

Honorable
Mar 18, 2012
5
0
10,510
That screen size should be fine, I can read just fine on my 10" tablet. I'm not too concerned with battery life, since I'm not planning on using it far away from an outlet, I've got my tablet for that. This will mainly be used for hotel rooms/guest stays, etc which is why I don't want to spend too much on it. I don't travel too much, but when I do it's always a dilemma on whether or not to bring my laptop with me because my tablet just can't give me a full web browser. I can't wait until they come out with a true laptop/tablet hybrid so that I can carry around one device and be able to watch movies for 7+ hours without having the battery die on me (like my tablet can do) and do light laptop duties/full web surfing.
 


That probably won't happen for another 6 - 8 year.