I have an x61s, and highly recommend it. Lightweight (<3lbs), durable, great battery life, performs well (Ubuntu 7.10). If you are willing to wait a few months, a mac ultraportable is in the works and likely to be released:
http://www.macrumors.com/2007/12/04/apple-orders-13-3-led-ba...
The two constraints you have that will conflict the most are lightweight and large screen. If you are using this as a primary desktop replacement, I'd go with a 20"+ LCD for desk usage.
Re:Ask YC: what laptop to buy?
by joeguilmette on Thursday December 06, 2007 @02:07AM
(#86533)
as the other poster said, you are going to have a hard time finding such a large screen in such a small package.
just get a nice lcd monitor, keyboard, and mouse. when you're at your desk you have a desktop, and when you're out and about you have a small little window into the internet.
imo, though, the thinkpad x series is the best out there. amazing how well engineered it is.
my friend just got a job at Google, and that's the laptop they gave him. it's pretty amazing. super lightweight, very snazzy dock thing. this laptop is incredibly tiny, well built, and just about perfect. like 8 hours of battery life, and you can even get a fingerprint scanner on it for like $30!
dont get a macbook pro. they are so expensive for the hardware, especially if you want to run linux.