Budget Laptop Recommendation...

[Abhi]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
Personally I do not classify the 5100 as a true desktop replacement. However it is more suited as a desktop replacement than a 1100 is. I would add an extra $200 and get either of these: Exp 11/5. Dell Home has Up to free Shipping + Up to $250 Rebate + Up to 60GB free Hard Drive Upgrade on select notebooks. no tax for most states. Better yet, right now save more w/ $25 off $500+ coupon code on any systems: , exp 2/29/04 Inspiron 8500 Notebook w/ P4-2.2GHz-M, 15.4" WXGA display, 256MB DDR, 32MB ATI mobility Radeon 9000, Free 60GB upgrade, DVD, USB2.0, Firewire, Modem, NIC, XP Home, 1yr warranty for $1499 - $25 dell coupon code - $250 rebate = $1224 w/ free shipping. Add to cart and apply the coupon code. Wide Aspect Display on the Inspiron 8500. 20% larger than 15.1". WXGA (1280x800), WSXGA+ (1680x1050), or WUXGA (1920x1200). Inspiron 8600 Notebook w/ PentiumM-1.3GHz, 15.4" WXGA screen, 512MB DDR, 40GB, 32MB Radeon 9000, DVD/CDRW combo, 802.11b wireless LAN, Modem, NIC, XP Home for $1599 - $350 instant discount - $50 dell coupon = $1199.

Thnx for the info ... will pass it on.

Have ordered an Inspiron 8500 for myself 🙂

Really lookin forward to it...

 

[RossMAN]

Good choice on the 8500, if I were in your shoes I would have done the same.

Except for I would have held out for a better deal.

Did you order through Dell Home or Dell SB?

What was your price and configuration?

 

[dnuggett]

Good decision on the 8500. I think you will find it is a suitable desktop replacement even though I'm a little confused becasue you haven't said what you will use it for... just your friend.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: dnuggett
Good decision on the 8500. I think you will find it is a suitable desktop replacement even though I'm a little confused becasue you haven't said what you will use it for... just your friend.

Yep that confused me also but I'm glad he went with the 8500 instead of the 5100 or even worse the 1100.

 

[Abhi]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: dnuggett Good decision on the 8500. I think you will find it is a suitable desktop replacement even though I'm a little confused becasue you haven't said what you will use it for... just your friend.

Yep that confused me also but I'm glad he went with the 8500 instead of the 5100 or even worse the 1100.

I ordered mine around 15th Oct... (I still didnt get it because of some official importing hassles, not exactly dell's fault)

My config was (thru SB)

Mobile Pentium®4 Processor,2.4 GHz,15.4 WSXGA+
512MB, DDR, 266MHz,
60GB Ultra ATA Hard Drive
Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem
24X CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive
64MB DDR NVIDIA® GeForce? 4 4200 Go AGP 4X Graphics
Dell TrueMobile? 1300 WLAN (802.11b/g, 54Mbps) miniPCI Card
72 WHr Primary Battery
Dell True Mobile 2300 Router 1 yr warranty w/ TM 1300 or 1400 card
2 Year Limited Warranty plus 2 Year On-site Service
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
Dial-Up Internet Access 6 Months AOL,Featuring the Netbusiness Service for Small Business

Unit Price: 1,984.00 - Discounts - 10% coupon + $93 tax and Free Shipping... Total came to $1654

I wanted the UGXA screen, but couldnt afford it... also ... didnt go for the 8600 because didnt need the extra battery life...

 

[Abhi]

Originally posted by: dnuggett
Good decision on the 8500. I think you will find it is a suitable desktop replacement even though I'm a little confused becasue you haven't said what you will use it for... just your friend.

I primarily wanted it for a lil gaming, movies, internet, work. Nothing too fancy or hi tech. I would basically only move from one office desk to another.

I went for (in my opinion) a high config because i ll have to live with this machine for 2 yrs, minimum.

Was also considering the 5150 (loved the power) but decided on this.

I budget was 1500$ ... and i over-shot it 😛

my friends budget is 1000$, so its gonna be pretty tuff getting him what he wants....

 

[Vcize]

I would check out compaq's x1000 series off of hp's site.

I've had mine a couple months now and I love the thing to death. You get a centrino processor, ati 9200 vid card, widescreen, and solid build quality at a great price.

Check out the x1000 forums if you want info on how to get the best price. There's a 10% off coupon posted there and if you order the base config and add 256mb more of ram on your own (for 512 total), it comes out to around $1200 after a $100 MIR.

 

[RossMAN]

Abhi - I'm glad that you were working with a realistic budget ($1500) but your friend is going to have a difficult time finding what he/she wants for only $1000. Good luck!

Your 8500 has some sweet specs and should easily last at least 2 years. I can't wait for Bluetooth and DVD Burners to become commonplace.

Vcize - I agree with the Compaq X1000 recommendation, I saw a Compaq X1000 for $1024 after $100 rebate with free shipping 🙂

Intel 1.4GHz, 30GB, 256MB, DVD, 15.4 inch WXGA (1280 x 800), 32MB ATI Mobility Radeon 7500, modem/NIC, XP Home for only $1249 - 10% coupon - $100 rebate (exp 3/1/04) = $1024 w/ free shipping.

Choose 30GB, 32MB Radeon 7500, 56k+NIC. Upgrade DVD/CDRW combo for $50. The X1000 is a very good value according to this review.