Ask Jack

Ask Jack

Looking for a lightweight

I have been searching for a lightweight notebook but I have been unable to identify a machine which has a screen of over 180mm high. Computers such as the Sony VGN SZ, or the ThinkPad X300, appear to be designed for DVD watching rather than working on text, which is my main use for the machine. My present ThinkPad T60 has a 15.4in screen which is 230mm high, but it is too heavy to carry around. Adrian Zuckerman

JS: I don't think such a thing exists. The "ultraportable" equivalent to the ThinkPad T60 is the Lenovo/IBM ThinkPad X61, which is almost half the weight (1.2kg against 2.3kg) but only has a 12.1in screen - around 180mm high. This is the standard screen size for ultraportables. For each inch of screen diagonal that you add, you can expect to add about a pound in weight (though you may also reduce the price). The latest generation of ultraportables, such as the ThinkPad X300, Dell XPS M1330 and MacBook Air, have 13in-wide screens that sound larger, but of course, they're only wider. They don't give you any more screen height than a traditional 4:3-format LCD, though they are bigger and heavier than old-style ultraportables.

One drawback with current ultraportables is the limited native screen resolution, and the ThinkPad X61s only offers 1,024 x 768 pixels. Newer widescreen designs such as the Dell M1330 have 1,280 x 800 pixel screens, so you won't see less text, though it might be slightly smaller text. On the other hand, there is a flood of cheap ultraportables coming out, led now by the Asus Eee PC901, which puts 1,024 x 600 pixels on an 8.9in screen. I expect to see similar models with 10.2in screens and usable (90-95% size) keyboards later this year. It's not what you asked for, but if you try one, you might find it's a good compromise at the price.

Gmail revisited

Thanks for answering my query last week. However, I still can't open Gmail! Deborah Fox

JS: I suggested using the ui=1 address (eg to get the Older Version of Gmail, which I assumed would work for people who had been using that quite happily until the Newer Version was imposed. Two alternatives are to attempt a secure connection by using (note the extra s), or by using to get the simpler HTML version. I assume quite a few people are having problems because Google has a troubleshooting link on the mail page that says "I cannot access my account", and tackles a list of "known issues" at Gmail Help Center. There is also a trouble-shooter here. But remember that you can pick up your Gmail using a standard POP3 email client such as ThunderBird or Microsoft Outlook/Outlook Express etc at no extra charge. Not only does this allow you to work offline, it means you have backup copies of emails even if you can never log on to Gmail again.

Lost email links

I have Windows XP SP2 and Firefox. A problem with email in Outlook Express is that I cannot access web links. Don Curtis

JS: The Windows Live Mail. I'd upgrade to that before trying to fix Outlook Express.

Mini-DVD longevity

I use Sony DVD-R with my camcorder. What are the projected lives of these discs? Colin Jones

JS: The 8cm (3in) mini DVD discs used in most camcorders are made in the same way as their larger siblings, so good ones should also last for 25-50 years or so. However, DVDs can be pressure sensitive so they may require more careful handling. The DVD Identifier and similar programs can usually identify the source. As always, avoid using DVD-RW (or CD-RW) for anything you want to keep. These "optical phase change media" were not designed to last.


Malcolm Myles-Hook wanted faster Wi-Fi (and fewer dead spots) and asked about upgrading his network to the draft 802.11n version, which is still being standardised. Two of our most knowledgeable blog commenters promptly suggested using HomePlug equipment - which sends signals over the mains wiring - instead. HomePlug 1.0 has a theoretical speed of 14Mbps while HomePlug 1.0 Turbo offers 85Mbps and HomePlug AV gets close to 200Mbps. There are also HomePlugs with Wi-Fi that can put Wi-Fi into any room on the same mains ring as your ADSL router.

· Get your questions answered by Jack Schofield, our computer editor at

Today's best video

Today in pictures