AOpen Openbook 1555
The AOpen 1555 has been included in this test out of interest as a point of comparison between the ultra light notebooks on review and the next step up in a larger format system such as the AOpen. The AOpen bridges the gap between the likes of the Fujitsu at the bigger end of the ultralight scale and the fully blown "desktop replacement" notebooks.
This notebook has a slightly larger physical footprint than the Dell, but weighs 2.8kg, much more than the nearest unit in this review. Mind you the Dell has a 12.1in display while the AOpen has an amazing-looking 15in panel. This larger panel would account for the need to have such a large battery in the unit which therefore would mean a much heavier unit overall.
We hope that this can provide a decent comparison of price, features, and performance of the next step up, and seeing these devices side by side demonstrates what a big step it is. You could fit two Sony Vaios in the space occupied by a single AOpen 1555.
| Product: | AOpen Openbook 1555G |
| Price: | From AU$2499 |
| Vendor: | BlueChip InfoTech |
| Phone: | 02 8745 8400 |
| Web: | www.bluechipit.com.au |
| Interoperability: |
½
Wireless LAN, no Bluetooth. |
| Futureproofing: |
Fully loaded and quite customisable, albeit in a large format. |
| ROI: |
Its compromise on size makes it good value for money, but perhaps not quite right for this category of notebook. |
| Service: |
2-year pickup warranty is quite good. |
| Rating: |
|
Disagree with comments on the Sony. While it is loaded with a lot of stuff, the unit is, like just about every other Sony notebook ever manufactured, cheap junk. Tiny worthless little screen, "chicklet" keyboard, horrible, short warranty serviced by third party companies whose success is based on their ability to evaded their warranty responsibilities. The IBM X31 got short shrift in the review, but it is easily the best unit of all. Maybe the best ultralight ever produced. Solid (titanium case), three year warranty, great customer support, superior high quality hardware.