A64: Looking for performance laptop with longetivity

[FusionTech9]

I am currently looking at the M6805 and M6809 from EMachines. The 6805 is a A64 3000+ with 512 MB DDR memory, 60 GB HD (presumably 4200rpm), CDRW/DVD, ATI 9600 64 MB dedicated, built in 802.11g. The 6809 is a A64 3200+ and has an 80 GB HD and a DVD+RW/CD+RW drive; everything else is the same.

My purpose is for this to be a portable DTR during my college years. I'll be in college 30 minutes away and plan to spend many weekends at home. I've used Athlons in desktops for three years now, but this will be my first laptop. Gaming used to be a big factor for me, but has decreased greatly in recent months. Really the main focus of this laptop will be productivity (MS Office, Media Management[photoshop, picasa, maybe limited use of premiere, cd ripping, etc.], limited gaming use, DVD playback).

My main hesitation in a laptop was performance in 3 years and damage/theft factors. If productivity is my main focus, and I purchase an A64 laptop, will that be the best bet for me? I plan to counter-act damage with a dreaded Best Buy PSP warranty (cheapened by price checking with the EMachines warranty). Theft...I will just be careful. If I aim to have a working/relevant laptop in a few years, is there a better option? The way I figure, the 64-bit deal will be in full swing in a few years, and I won't need to upgrade, at least not urgently, because it is 64-bit ready.

I've read a lot of good things about this laptop, and some negative comments too. I've also read a lot about EMachines turn around, which is a good thing. Comments and advice is appreciated. I do plan to probably exchange the hard drive with a 5400rpm version. I read an article on Tom's about that and it seemed to increase performance a lot.

Again, I appreciate any help I receive. I don't think I've left out too many details, but if I have, just ask. Thanks.


-edit-

The 6805 is currently 1250 after rebates at BB, and the 6809 is 1350 after rebates. These deals have been going on for awhile now. Do you guys think this price will go south before August 1. My gut tells me they will probably be around this mark for a couple more months, but I could be wrong, I haven't been reading too much. Any help on that would be appreciated.

 

[CombatChuk]

i'd go for the emachines. It may be worth it to go with the M6809 for the bigger storage. I believe there's a bigger difference in the mobile versions of 3000+, 3200+ since the difference is now 200Mhz instead of half the cache

 

[MatthewF01]

just graduated high school and i too am off to college in a few months, so i picked up an m6805 a few months ago. Its my first laptop and my first Athlon64, all the iterations of my desktop have been Athlon/AthlonXP (along with all the compies I build for people!)

this thing rivals the power of my desktop, its phenomenal and I absolutely love it to death! An added plus is that it overclocks like a BEAST! The 9600 mobility overclocks like a breeze, and ive taken the CPU up to right around 2ghz.



Definitely a solid product choice... as far as productivity is concerned, this thing is gonna handle whatever youve got to throw at it! Ive used Premiere to edit film for my senior english class (won every award by the way hehe, gosh im a badass), I can play games with the best of them (theres no greater feeling than walking into a lan party with a backpack while everyone is struggling with big dumb CRTs and full tower cases!), I watch movies, operate my website, photoshop... all the good stuff.

And 11,557 3dmarks[2001] on a lappy aint bad either


and its better than those FUGLY toshiba widescreens!

 

[FusionTech9]

Nice, I appreciate the responses. My dad was whining about the cost today (i am paying for like 75% of it anyway) and i was like - "look, i really don't think there is anything for a better price on the market"

I mean that's true, right? if i buy a Dell laptop for $1000 (the m6805 will come to 1500 with discounted warranty and tax), it will pretty much suck in a year (assuming it doesn't explode). The A64 can really be productive for two years. I really don't think it's overkill to go for this system because it should last, right? I mean i'm on a tight budget, but i still think this is a phenomenal deal.

I am recommending my friend get one too. She will be doing mainly picture stuff and music and Office type stuff. Will this machine be overkill for her, or is it the best bet for long term use?

 

[ShellGuy]

if you ask me the 6809 is the best bang for buck lappy around and will last a nice long time with the BBY 3yr warranty program. Make full use of it. Free batturies and all...

Will

 

[DeeKnow]

Originally posted by: FusionTech9

... I mean that's true, right? if i buy a Dell laptop for $1000 (the m6805 will come to 1500 with discounted warranty and tax), it will pretty much suck in a year (assuming it doesn't explode). The A64 can really be productive for two years. I really don't think it's overkill to go for this system because it should last, right?

true obsolescence is a fact of life but people tend to get carried away a little, I think

I have been using my Toshiba Tecra 8100 (700 MHz) for 3 years now and it still does everything I need it to do... at home I have an IBM desktop with a 700 MHz PIII (which I upgraded from a 450MHz not so long ago) and it handles pretty much everything ..

last night I finished editing 8GB of DV into a DVD on this machine... so come on people, dont just throw cash after the fastest CPU's ... you can do a lot with older hardware yet

 

[LasombraB]

Get one of the eMachines, either the m6805 or m6809. The differnce in CPU's is only 200mhz, not that much at all. If you have a need for 20gb more of storage and a DVDBurner then get the m6809, otherwise don't waste the money. Personally I'm going to get the m6805. My friend has one and he loves it.

 

[FusionTech9]

I bought the laptop (using it now) a few days ago. I'm loving it. I pull a retard move and forgot to turn on the wireless for a day or two, so I returned it for a new one (unbelievable, I know), convincing the tech at BB it was broken.

So now I got a new one and it's a gem like the last one (M6805). Only problem is the clock speed appears to be 1.6ghz...and it should be 1.8ghz

 

[MDE]

Try running a CPU intensive program (like Folding@Home or Prime95) and see if it returns to 1.8GHz. Check the clock speed with CPU-Z.

 

[mudboy]

I've had my M6805 for a week now, and it's amazing. The only downsides (for me) are that I need XP Pro, and one of the sticks of memory is close to inaccessible -- I wish they had put 1GB of RAM in it like it deserves in the first place, I would have gladly paid the $100+ premium. Other than that, great laptop, very well built, VERY fast, and at $1250, I don't think there is a better deal out there anywhere.

Pete