Buying a laptop and could use some advice...

[gaucho]

I an buying a laptop to in escence replace my desktop. I want a machine that has the power and capabilities for work and play. I have looked for what i want on IBM, Compaq, DELL, and Gateway websites but they all hit the 3K+ mark. Decided to see what pricewatch would show and i find a system that would suite me fine for alot less with alot more features. Xtreemnotebooks.com sells a laptop brand called ProStar. I have never heard of it but here are the specs for the system i would get:

ProStar 5694 Edge
15" UXGA 1600 x 1200 Display
ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 with 64MB DDR RAM
Intel Pentium 4 2.4GHz Processor
1024MB PC 2100/266 DDR Ram
40GB ATA/100 Hard Drive
8x8x24 DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive w/ Complete Software
Removeable 3.5" 1.44MB Floppy Drive
Smart Li-ion Battery - Standard
A/C Adapter - Standard
Sound Blaster Compatible 3D Audio
Carry Case - Standard
FREE 2 Additional Months (14 Months Total) Exp 8/31

2399.00 with shipping

Any reason why i should stay away from this? Any one have experience buying no name brand laptops?

I am programmer but also love to play games (currently high on Battlefield1942 )... am i better off upgrading my system and staying away from laptops?

Any advice is welcome, thanks!

 

[Gibson486]

Well, if you are going to get a laptop and you are getting it with a desktop processer and not move it around, I see no point in getting one. If you are going to use it for the sole purpose of saving space, buying Shuttle's SS51 XPC or the Athlon equivalent seems to be a much more viable idea.

 

[Gibson486]

one more thing, I thought Gateway's top of the line notebook was $2699. last I checked, that was the price.

 

[gaucho]

Good points. But yes my main reason for wanting a laptop is to be able to move it around between work and home as well as for travel (do some web application development on the side that sometimes requires me to travel). My worry is that this system seems too good to be true. Reminds me of when clones started comming out for the PC (now we all build our own LOL)... anyways, thanks for the response.

 

[gaucho]

Originally posted by: Gibson486
one more thing, I thought Gateway's top of the line notebook was $2699. last I checked, that was the price.

If you customize to meet the above specs you will hit well over 3K (even with only 512MB mem)... Dell came in around 2,800...

 

[amdskip]

Just get a dell refurbed laptop in the $1000 range. You shouldn't have to worry about playing games anyways while you are working

 

[Gibson486]

besides the RAM and the 2 GHz moble processer (intel mobile processers only go up to 2 Ghz), I came up with $2758 w/case- $100 rebate (promotion started today) = $2658. If I am not wrong, it has been that price (w/o the rebate) for the past month. Hey, it even comes with a bigger LCD.

Anyways, all I can say is that with the regualr desktop processer in that thing, don't type while putting the notebook on your lap, the thing will get hot. I do not know if weight is an issue, but also realize that the notebook probably weighs in around 9 lbs. However, almost all to of teh top of the line notebooks have a weight around 8 lbs, so a pound or two may not be an issue. Also, Battery time is another issue. Desktop processers are bad with bad time. If you get that notebook, you might want to keep your car adapter, A/C adapter, and if you think you need it, an extra battery handy.

 

[gaucho]

Headed over to gateway again =)

Very valid points. Thanks for the info. This will be the first laptop i buy so any advice is more than welcomed and appriciated.

Thanks!

 

[Tripleshot]

I have a Dell Inspiron 8200 I picked up new for $1500 that is absolutely a desktop replacement AND mobile. You can purchase a replicator (docking station) and be good to go. It has all that you need to game, powerpoint, spreedsheet,or process a few words. Dell offers a damn good warrenty, and I am amazed at how much improved their support has been over the years, especially for laptops. To not give them extra consideration would be a mistake. I sell and build PC's and I have access to grey market laptops. Under no circumstances will I ever sell a grey market laptop, just because of the abuse a laptop gets, and the poorer quality of every grey market laptop I have seen.

The Inspiron series is custom fit to your specs,but at bare minimum,it has usb,10/100 nic/56k modem and firewire. I have DVD/cd-rw combo with no floppy, and I'm pleased as punch with it. Hell, I can grin like a cheshire cat because I own one of these puppies. It's bragging rights, and it didn't break the bank.

I sell desktops for more than I paid for this Inspiron. I'm not sure those desktops are all that much better.

 

[MWink]

I know someone who had a Sager laptop (Sager laptops are made by Clevo, the same company that makes Prostar laptops) and it was nothing but problems from day one. That laptop had some serious design flaws and on top of that, it was unreliable. I believe their laptops are very low quality. Don't even get me started on using desktop CPU's in laptops. Let's just say their not going to be much faster in reality (they have to slow down just to keep from melting the laptop).

I recommend you look at the Dell Inspiron 8200. I have one and I'm using it as a desktop replacement and it is doing an excellent job. There is nothing my desktop can do that it can't do. The thing I really like about the Inspiron 8200 is that almost everything is upgradeable (video, CPU, HD, RAM, CD/DVD drive, etc.). If you do get a Dell, I recommend you get some of the upgrades from other sources. You can save money by buying the HD and RAM from other places like Newegg and Crucial.

 

[Siddhartha]

If gaming is important to you get a laptop for work and upgrade your current system or build a new one for gaming.

With a budget of $2400 you could:
1. Get a very nice used laptop for~$1000. Keep an eye on ebay's laptop auctions.
2. With the remaing part of you budget (~$1400) you can build a kick ass gaming system.

 

[gaucho]

Originally posted by: MWink
I know someone who had a Sager laptop (Sager laptops are made by Clevo, the same company that makes Prostar laptops) and it was nothing but problems from day one. That laptop had some serious design flaws and on top of that, it was unreliable. I believe their laptops are very low quality. Don't even get me started on using desktop CPU's in laptops. Let's just say their not going to be much faster in reality (they have to slow down just to keep from melting the laptop).

I recommend you look at the Dell Inspiron 8200. I have one and I'm using it as a desktop replacement and it is doing an excellent job. There is nothing my desktop can do that it can't do. The thing I really like about the Inspiron 8200 is that almost everything is upgradeable (video, CPU, HD, RAM, CD/DVD drive, etc.). If you do get a Dell, I recommend you get some of the upgrades from other sources. You can save money by buying the HD and RAM from other places like Newegg and Crucial.

Thanks! Just what i needed to hear. I have read from others that state that buying RAM from other sources is the way to go. I have built many desktop systems but have never opened up a laptop. Is upgrading RAM or other components hard for one to do his/her self?

 

[Tbirdkid]

I wouldnt take a dell if you gave it to me. I have one that is my companies laptop and it is a 650 with a 10 gig hard drive and let me tell you when it is running win2k i have to defrag the hard drive at least twice a week. they are straight junk.. my company uses them all over this country and it is a known problem.

 

[Gibson486]

Is upgrading RAM or other components hard for one to do his/her self?

Lots of notebboks have dedicated bays in the back of the notebook to replace or add ram and a removable harddrive.

Dell has mounted CPUs and an unintergarted videocard in the 8200 line of notebooks. However, even though people gloat to have this feature, i still have yet to hear of anyone actually upgrading the CPU or the videocard in this board, which leads me to believe that it's not as practical as it seems.

 

[ElFenix]

the people over at delltalk have changed out vid cards on the 8000 series.

 

[Eug]

Originally posted by: Tripleshot
I have a Dell Inspiron 8200 I picked up new for $1500 that is absolutely a desktop replacement AND mobile. You can purchase a replicator (docking station) and be good to go. It has all that you need to game, powerpoint, spreedsheet,or process a few words. Dell offers a damn good warrenty, and I am amazed at how much improved their support has been over the years, especially for laptops. To not give them extra consideration would be a mistake. I sell and build PC's and I have access to grey market laptops. Under no circumstances will I ever sell a grey market laptop, just because of the abuse a laptop gets, and the poorer quality of every grey market laptop I have seen.

The Inspiron series is custom fit to your specs,but at bare minimum,it has usb,10/100 nic/56k modem and firewire. I have DVD/cd-rw combo with no floppy, and I'm pleased as punch with it. Hell, I can grin like a cheshire cat because I own one of these puppies. It's bragging rights, and it didn't break the bank.

I sell desktops for more than I paid for this Inspiron. I'm not sure those desktops are all that much better.

You must be stronger than me, because the 8200 is far from mobile in my book.

IMO, the smaller the laptop is, the better, as long as it does what you need it to do. This is especially true if you already have computers at home and at work.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: gaucho

Originally posted by: MWink
I know someone who had a Sager laptop (Sager laptops are made by Clevo, the same company that makes Prostar laptops) and it was nothing but problems from day one. That laptop had some serious design flaws and on top of that, it was unreliable. I believe their laptops are very low quality. Don't even get me started on using desktop CPU's in laptops. Let's just say their not going to be much faster in reality (they have to slow down just to keep from melting the laptop).

I recommend you look at the Dell Inspiron 8200. I have one and I'm using it as a desktop replacement and it is doing an excellent job. There is nothing my desktop can do that it can't do. The thing I really like about the Inspiron 8200 is that almost everything is upgradeable (video, CPU, HD, RAM, CD/DVD drive, etc.). If you do get a Dell, I recommend you get some of the upgrades from other sources. You can save money by buying the HD and RAM from other places like Newegg and Crucial.

Thanks! Just what i needed to hear. I have read from others that state that buying RAM from other sources is the way to go. I have built many desktop systems but have never opened up a laptop. Is upgrading RAM or other components hard for one to do his/her self?

The ONLY components I would dare to replace/upgrade in a laptop are:
1) RAM, only buy 128MB that's it, you can buy quality RAM for cheaper prices from Crucial.com
2) Hard Drive, personally I wouldn't attempt to upgrade the hard drive - I'd just pay Dell for a nice 40GB high RPM hard drive.