Light weight laptop needed - has to be carried often

JeanTheWidow

I am a self employed bookkeeper and have to carry a lap-top to some clients premises on public transport. Being a lady of "certain age" my current one feels heavy at the end of a long day.

I need a lightweight, reasonably priced, reliable laptop, able to take SAGE accounting and Word, Excel etc. (with DVD drive)

Also think an external HD would be a good idea, but my knowledge is limited. I store client's info and need to be sure.

Any help/advice would be appreciated.

Currently using a Samsung R530 15.6 inch Laptop Intel Pentium Dual Core T4400 2.2GHz, 2Gb, 320Gb, DVDSMDL. which weighs 5.25 lbs

J :j

paddyrg

Have a look at anything calling itself an 'Ultrabook' - ultrabooks are a spec describing pretty much what you're after (lightweight, powerful, mobile, etc)

Figment

http://www.techradar.com/news/mobile-computing/laptops/best-ultrabook-16-top-thin-and-lights-for-2012-1054355

I don't think (m)any Ultrabooks have built-in optical drives so you may need an external DVD drive too.

SuperHan

Why do you NEED a DVD drive? I find most people think they need one, but will in fact never actually use it. You compromise a lot on weight if you do get a built in DVD drive

JeanTheWidow

SuperHan wrote: »

Why do you NEED a DVD drive? I find most people think they need one, but will in fact never actually use it. You compromise a lot on weight if you do get a built in DVD drive

Because I load my SAGE Accounting software from a disc, recently bought an up to date version and not ready to buy again

Figment

JeanTheWidow wrote: »

Because I load my SAGE Accounting software from a disc, recently bought an up to date version and not ready to buy again

Do you load it from the disc once (i.e. install it) or each time you use it?

paddyrg

You know you can install it from a USB dvd drive, one-off load , then not have to haul it around with you making your nice ultrabook all heavy and ugly. Surely SAGE aren't saying you can only run from the DVD? That is a massive battery drain and a terrible idea.

tombruton87

you can download it off there site to do a discless install and just use your serial, btw ultrabooks start at around 600, but most good book keepers that shouldnt be an issue for

JeanTheWidow

Figment wrote: »

Do you load it from the disc once (i.e. install it) or each time you use it?

Yes I install it, but having bought the software I need to load it on the new laptop/ultrabook or whatever I purchase.

Sorry, although a very capable user of IT, my knowledge of how they run is limited.

Figment

JeanTheWidow wrote: »

Yes I install it, but having bought the software I need to load it on the new laptop/ultrabook or whatever I purchase.

Sorry, although a very capable user of IT, my knowledge of how they run is limited.

OK so you need a one-time install. Will you be keeping your current laptop, or do you have another computer with DVD drive at home?

Reason I ask is you can share a DVD drive across a network, so installing SAGE onto a laptop without an optical drive is possible.

JeanTheWidow

Figment wrote: »

OK so you need a one-time install. Will you be keeping your current laptop, or do you have another computer with DVD drive at home?

Reason I ask is you can share a DVD drive across a network, so installing SAGE onto a laptop without an optical drive is possible.

It is already installed on my current laptop, which I intend to keep as a personal one and use the new one for clients.