Anyone using a Small (12" or less) Notebook for SolidWorks

I'm looking for an ultra-portable notebook that can be used with
Solidworks.

I'm looking for something that will allow me to work on parts and sub
100 part Assy's - obviously the more power the better but I can trade
off some power for battery life.

I guess the biggest beef with something like this is going to be the
graphics power.

Anyone using anything out there that fits the bill?

Kev

 

may I suggest dont do that ?
im using 15.4" lappy and its very painfull....
always makes me regrets not taking the 17" one....
anywhoo.... my lappy only comes with a standard Intel graphic
accelerator.. and it can handle my assy just fine.

*so far only dare to open small sub assy though.. less than 100 part.

 

I'm not using a ultra portable - but I do use a Dell M20 and its fine.
I take to to business meeting and clients for on site discussions on
projects and its never failed yet. It has the appropriate tested
graphics card for sw2007 and once using the driver from the sw site
and not the loaded dell version it is fine. The installed dell driver
was no good with lines etc missing and moire patterns on the screen.

I think the graphics card is the item you have to get correct and I
believe its a risk stepping away from the tested list. So its a
question of finding a the smallest laptop that has a graphics card on
the SW list. Hope that helps in narrowing down your list of
candidates.

Jonathan

 

As far as Graphics cards go, I know HP has been working with Solidworks to
make machines run their software better.

Maybe take a look at HP's web site.

 

Dell's M65 has received good marks from several users but is 15", but
I've not seen an M20, nor any 12" Laptops w/SolidWorks myself.

The CLOSEST I have seen is the 13" MacBook from Apple running
BootCamp/WinXP Pro and SolidWorks, which was nominally priced less than
the Dell M65, & seemed to run just fine (MacBook models starting at
$1100, $1300 & $1500).

Myself I use a Dell M60 (now 3 years old on SWKs 2006) in the 'office'
and my Apple MacBook Pro 15" when 'outside' using BootCamp/WinXP Pro,
and it handles what I do with dozens of parts in my assemblies OK. I
can't claim that my choice is the best. I add a RadTech BT mouse and
sometimes a small PC keyboard from Addesso so I don't have to do some
workarounds for PC keys.

www.parallels.com offers another solution to run WinXP like another
software application, simultaneously with Mac OSX programs, but doesn't
offer the highest graphics performance, as I've read, though I haven't
tried Parallels virtualization software myself.

My personal preference is to arrange things so I don't get bogged down.
Connecting XP to the Internet has sooner or later caused slowdowns &
glitches for me, so I've kept my online work on MacOSX. Other people
don't want to be bothered with 2 OSs, but to me, it is now just another
piece of software, and I am never "down". Whatever works.

Let us know what you find at 12".

Later - Bo

 

MacBooks can now be ordered online with Windows XP Pro SP2 installed on
Parallels or BootCamp with your Mac order from www.macmall.com.

This SIMPLIFIES the whole process immensely. Two PC laptops in one
box. Not perfect, but I haven't heard of anything that is yet...

The Blurb:

"TORRANCE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MacMall (www.macmall.com,
1-800-MACMALL), a brand of a wholly owned subsidiary of PC Mall, Inc.
(NASDAQ:MALL), is making it easier than ever for computer users to run
both Windows and Mac OS X applications on a brand-new Mac. MacMall is
offering configured bundles pre-loaded with Microsoft Windows XP Home
or Pro software on new Apple MacBooks, MacBook Pros, iMacs, Mac Pros
and Mac minis. The bundles are available with either Nova
Development's Parallels Desktop for Mac or Apple's Boot Camp Public
Beta."

Bo

 

Here is a review of a m20

seems its in the same case as Latitude D610

It has a 14" screen.



http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2353


Jonathan

 

The Lenovo ThinkPad 60P is available with a 14" screen. It is certifed
by SolidWorks and weighs under 5 lbs. (Note: Only the "P" models have
certified FireGL graphics)

http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/notebooks/thinkpad/t-series/tseries_byo_t60p.html

 

The Lenovo ThinkPad 60P is available with a 14" screen. It is certifed
by SolidWorks and weighs under 5 lbs. (Note: Only the "P" models have
certified FireGL graphics)

http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/notebooks/thinkpad/t-series/tseries_byo_t60p.html