Best Laptop for $1500-$1800 budget

[dejacky]

I'm really looking for a solid AS-GLITCH-FREE-AS-CAN-BE laptop computer and my budget is $1500-$1800 max. I've noticed over time some of the "best" laptop/notebook computers had small glitches like the moving mouse cursor on those fingerpads and sometimes typing over the finger pad over time would cause the keyboard to go crazy. I hate that and just want this laptop to work properly and NOT BEING ANNOYINGLY LOUD. The laptop doesn't have to be SUPER fancy, it will be used by a medical student who also plays Half-life Counterstrike game when time permits. I would appreciate any brand/model recommendations .

 

[triska]

powernotebooks.com
extremenotebooks.com
rivalry...diff comps
for diff needs...but pretty good
recommending the 128 meg of video
and the 7200 rpm as deemed requirements for a 1500-1800 system

 

[fbrdphreak]

I've got two main options for ya. While you didn't mention whether it would be something used portable or just a desktop replacement kinda thing, we'll go towards a general mobile computer.
Regardless, look at Centrino (or Pentium M) based notebooks. For the money, I like HP & IBM.
You want no-hassle, high quality, good sh!t? Then go with IBM. You CANNOT beat them for build quality, reliability, and customer service from a laptop IMO. You might look at a T41/T42 or even R50 series. If you're a med student, look into IBM's educational discount program or even better: check out what offers your school might have (that's where I got mine).
For a little better price, look at the HP zt3000 series. The nice thing about the zt3000's is the 15.4" widescreen. You can of course configure it exactly how you want it from HP and get more features for your money than IBM. I would get a higher resolution screen, 64MB Radeon 9200, and whatever other goodies you want.
Whichever way you go, look into extended warranties. IBM has an awesome warranty plan, even with just depot service. But make sure you get ThinkPad protection! (Accidental damage coverage) HP's extended factory warranty kinda sucks IMO, 'cuz if you read the fine print it tells you that they will do one replacement of each major component during the life of the machine. Check out Best Buy as they carry one or two zt3000 models in store, can customer order them as well, and have a very good warranty overall (Plus side: they replace batteries for free Negative: no accidental damage coverage). Any other questions about these models, PM me and I'll be glad to help you narrow it down.

 

[dejacky]

I've used older IBM thinkpads in the past and I do like their build quality, but even these newest IBM notebooks would seem weak for Counterstrik gaming imo. Having good build quality (strong and comfortable keyboard especially) are priority, but I was hoping IBM would include better video cards in their notebooks like DELL does. I was looking at the Inspiron 9100, but wasn't impressed with their prior models build quality...especially keyboard comfort.

 

[dejacky]

this needs to be purchased..any further insight and recommendations would be VERY helpful fellow anandtechers...any1?

 

[Corporate Thug]

POWERBOOK!

 

[gtd2000]

I'd recommend the Emachines m68xx series m6811 @ Best Buy.

If you want to stay up in that price range, opt for the m6811 with AMD 64, 80GB HD, DVD burner etc.

Pop down to your local Best Buy for a test drive.

Overall the eMachines is very well screwed together and oozes quality compared to my Compaq 2199.

There are rebates available too ($100 to $250 depending on current offers), as well as Reward Points (maybe $50 worth) to be gained by purchasing at Best Buy

If you feel that eMachines are not a brand that you want to be associated with, just be advised that this is actually an Arima notebook as used by Voodoo PC which are way above your budget normally and in no way compares to their budget desktop reputation

You should be coming out at somewhere around $1450-1500 with tax & AR.

 

[way]

Originally posted by: shady06
POWERBOOK!

Ditto.

 

[HoMeZ]

If you have a friend that went/goes to Harvard you can get a pretty good Thinkpad 42 for around your budget that would be fine for Counter-Strike. They come with a FireGL T2 128megs which is basically the Radeon 9600

 

[Wuzup101]

Powerbook... drop CS and play UT 2004....

 

[dejacky]

If you have a friend that went/goes to Harvard you can get a pretty good Thinkpad 42

What if he went to Duke and is studying medicine in Ireland?

 

[jvarszegi]

If you have a friend that went/goes to Harvard you can get a pretty good Thinkpad 42 for around your budget that would be fine for Counter-Strike. They come with a FireGL T2 128megs which is basically the Radeon 9600

That's some discount! On IBM's site the T42p, which is the one that comes with the FireGL card, is three thousand smackers and up. Wish I had a friend at Harvard.

 

[imported_theEman]

Amen to the PowerBooks but if you wanna go Windows, buy something IBM (ThinkPad X Series) .

 

[Icefingers]

I just bought a T42 (2373-3XU) for school and it ended up costing me about 2k. I am going to be a frosh in college so all my friends got laptops and we all got different ones. I am the only computer nerd in teh group so I tested out all of their laptops (ranging from Toshiba, to Dell, to HP, to Sony) and am comfertable to say that my IBM is the best. I got the upgraded video card and the display on this computer is wonderful. It is pretty light and very good mobility. Battery really only lasts 3~3.5 hours and there is no windows key (you can change a key to be the windows key, but still a hassle). I would recommened the T42 and just get a lesser model of it. Anyway you go, this is a solid laptop that won't let you down.

If you cannot find a T42 that you like, a friend got an R series and I liked that aswell, T series casing is much nicer and lighter, but R is cheaper and almost as good.

 

[NordicNINE]

A couple to look at would be the Acer Travelmate 4000 & 3200 series.
Both are about $1500 with 60gb hard drive, 512mb & a Radeon 9700.
The 4000 series has a 15" WXGA screen and the 3200 has a 14" XGA screen.
The 4000 is about 6.2lbs and the 3200 is about 4.8lbs.

 

[bigal40]

Originally posted by: gtd2000
I'd recommend the Emachines m68xx series m6811 @ Best Buy.

If you want to stay up in that price range, opt for the m6811 with AMD 64, 80GB HD, DVD burner etc.

Pop down to your local Best Buy for a test drive.

Overall the eMachines is very well screwed together and oozes quality compared to my Compaq 2199.

There are rebates available too ($100 to $250 depending on current offers), as well as Reward Points (maybe $50 worth) to be gained by purchasing at Best Buy

If you feel that eMachines are not a brand that you want to be associated with, just be advised that this is actually an Arima notebook as used by Voodoo PC which are way above your budget normally and in no way compares to their budget desktop reputation

You should be coming out at somewhere around $1450-1500 with tax & AR.

In my mind there is no question that for that budget you should gou with the emachines m68xx. Like dejacky said this laptop is much different than some emachines cheap desktops i have seen. it is very sturdy. I havethe m6805 which has a amd 64 3000 60 gig hd and 512 mb of ram(all m68xx has 512mb ram) I can play DOOM 3 at medium quality at 1024x768 with 45 fps. I play UT2004, Americas army and serious sam with no problems. IT has a ATI 9600 mobility 64mb. for the price and the performance it is unmatched

 

[Zephyr106]

Sager 3790 at PCTorque

Dothan Centrino
Mobility 9700
WSXGA or WUXGA
5-6 lbs

Zephyr

 

I play Doom3 just fine on my new T42 with a Radeon 9600. Counter-strike wouldn't even make my machine sweat.

 

[trikster2]

toothykal was your T42 between $1500 and $1800? I can't find a T42 with the 9600 for that price, everything comes with the gosh old 7500. What did yours cost?

 

[trikster2]

oh and what kind of battery life does that monster emachines get? Looks like a great deal for $1450 AR, but how long will it last playing games on a plane?

 

I paid a hair under $2,000, and that included the 3 year warranty with the Accidental Damage Protection upgrade. List price without that upgrade was in the $1,650 range.

If you own any IBM stock, or a mutual fund that holds IBM, you qualify for the Shareholder Purchase Program, which has some great discounts, particularly on the Express models.

 

[trikster2]

No stock but I do get decent student discounts, and I have a friend that can get me into the employee purchase program, and nothing equiped with a 9600 comes close to the price you got.

How much does a share of IBM stock go for these days?

 

[trikster2]

ok I had a friend get me into the stock web page and found a system for 1650 with the radeon 9600. Got the number of the laptop and searched on the education side of the house and it is 1750.

Really confusing thing is that model is much less than similary configured systems with the radeon 7500.

You don't get something for nothing, or with ibm it is so confusing maybe you do.

My main concern is keyboard and screen, are those two still great on your T42?

 

Yes. I have the 2378FVU, which I'm assuming is the one you found.

The LCD and keyboard are excellent. I thought the same thing about the low price, but I haven't found the "catch" yet. It just seems to be a great deal.