Buying a laptop: which one?

rivan

Diamond Member
Jul 8, 2003
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I think I've narrowed by choices down to two. They're both a little more than I wanted to spend, but based on what I'm after, I don't know that I'll get out for a whole lot less.

My primary use will be Adobe CS3 on smaller files (I won't be working on 200+ meg .PSDs - it'll mostly be web stuff - it'll be a mix of Ps, Ai, and Fl).

It'd be nice to be able to game on it as well - but I'm not expecting 400 FPS on Oblivion's maxed settings, and I don't usually play FPSs, it's mostly MMOs and RPGs. Again, this is secondary.

Choice 1: Dell
Higher res display, better processor - far weaker video card

Inspiron 1720
Intel® Core? 2 Duo T8300 (2.4GHz/800Mhz FSB/3MB cache)
Operating System Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition
MEMORY 3GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 667MHz
LCD Panel High Resolution, glossy widescreen 17.0 inch display (1920 x 1200)
Video Card 256MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8600M GT
Hard Drive Size: 250GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
3 years service through EPP

Choice 2: Gateway
Far faster video card, $100 cheaper - lower res, slower processor have to buy from Best Buy, far shorter service term

Processor Intel® Core(TM)2 Duo Mobile 1.67GHz
WXGA+ widescreen TFT-LCD with Ultrabright technology (1440 x 900)
System Memory (RAM) 3GB
Hard Drive
250GB Serial ATA (5400 rpm)

I'm strongly leaning toward the Dell. Anyone have any other suggestions without blowing my budget?
 

rivan

Diamond Member
Jul 8, 2003
9,677
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Yeah, I looked at Lenovo, primarily for their build quality, but I'm really looking for a 17". I'm accustomed to dual displays at my (working) desktop, so cramming work onto a single screen will be difficult enough without dropping to a 15".
 

onlyCOpunk

Platinum Member
May 25, 2003
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Tough call. But for the same price as the Dell about you can order the Gateway directly from Gateway and it comes with a T7250. Or for another $400 get the next model up. Might be able to find some online coupons for Gateway as well. I'm just not a fan of the Inspirons build quality. Not to mention an 8600m GT paired with a 1920x1200 display, they just don't go together.
 

atbnet

Senior member
Jan 23, 2008
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For the Photoshop and games I would recommend a 7200 RPM drive. Have you checked out the Dell outlet? You could definitely save some cash or get more machine for your money.
 

rivan

Diamond Member
Jul 8, 2003
9,677
3
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Originally posted by: atbnet
For the Photoshop and games I would recommend a 7200 RPM drive. Have you checked out the Dell outlet? You could definitely save some cash or get more machine for your money.

I just ordered the Dell, and got the 7200 rpm drive - that was a good call.

Originally posted by: onlyCOpunk
I'm just not a fan of the Inspirons build quality. Not to mention an 8600m GT paired with a 1920x1200 display

A guy here has a 1720, and I went at lunch and looked at the Gateway. First impression of build quality put the Dell WAY ahead of the Gateway - and going through my company's EPP got me three years warranty for almost no added cost.

I do have concerns about the 8600GT and the high resolution while gaming, but gaming's really in the back seat of priorities.
 

Tempered81

Diamond Member
Jan 29, 2007
6,374
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make sure to nab a warranty, LED screen, 9 cell battery, and 2gb ram, having Bluetooth, hdr, wifi, lan, mobile broadband, etc built in is nice as well. SSD if you can afford it, and a fast core2duo. NOT core duo, or core solo.



i voted for your dell shipped, gateway suxor.
 

danyprundus

Junior Member
Mar 4, 2008
1
0
0
I have an Acer Aspire 7250G. I like it so far.
Before that I had a Toshiba. That one was a bit smaller and easyer and I liked it much.
The Acer work great, it runs vista with no problems...
 

rivan

Diamond Member
Jul 8, 2003
9,677
3
81
Originally posted by: jaredpace
make sure to nab...
i voted for your dell shipped, gateway suxor.

warrantycheck - 3 years for like $40 more than 1, with the employee purchase setup my company has
LED screendidnt see the option; I dont think this has made it to the 17"s yet
9 cell batterycheck
and 2gb ram3gb
having Bluetoothcheck
hdraudio I assume? not important to me - got the basic audio
wificheck
lancheck - they still sell them without?
mobile broadbandnope, not important to me
SSD can afford, can't justify to myself

Anyhow, I got a confirmation with an estimated ship date of 3/25 :Q:confused:

Going to call this morning to see what that's about...
 

rivan

Diamond Member
Jul 8, 2003
9,677
3
81
Here's the chatlog... nice guy, apparently trying to be helpful, but fails miserably at answering my question.

Session Started with Agent
Agent : "Thank you for contacting Dell Customer Service Chat. My name is XXXXXX. How may I help you?"
Agent : "I have not received a response in over a minute. To ensure that I have addressed all your questions or concerns, please respond within the next two minutes to allow me to continue our chat."
[me]: "I placed an order for a laptop yesterday and got a confirmation, along with a ship date estimate. The ship date estimate is a little over three weeks from now. I'm wondering if that's really accurate? It seems like quite a long wait."
Agent : "As I understand, you want to know the exact status of the order XXXXXX. Correct?"
[me]: "Well, yes... I'm more or less asking if the ship date estimate is accurate; is there something out of stock, or some other holdup?"
Agent : "I understand your concern, please do not worry."
Agent : "I will try my best to help you."
Agent : "While I pull up the information, may I have the contact name on the account?"
[me]: "[me]"
Agent : "Thank you and your email address is "xxxx@xxxxxx.com". Correct?"
[me]: "yes"
Agent : "Thank you for the information."
Agent : "Kindly allow 2-3 minutes to pull up your account information."
[me]: "no problem; thank you for your help"
Agent : "Thank you for being online."
Agent : "[me], I see that the estimated ship date for the order is 3/24/2008 shipped and there is no item which is on delay."
Agent : "I might not have an idea about the urgency of your need but please cooperate with the estimated time frame and you may receive the package even before it."
[me]: "So, there's nothing holding up the process, and the estimate may or may not be accurate... I just need to wait and see?"
Agent : "Yes, [me]."
[me]: "Is a 3-week build window typical?"
Agent : "Please do not worry, as this is only an estimated time frame and you may receive the package before it."
Agent : "I will keep a personal follow up and update you regarding the order status via email."
Agent : "How am I doing so far at resolving this issue to your satisfaction? At the end of our interaction an instant survey will be offered to you in this chat window, so please keep the window open to participate in the survey."
[me]: "I can check the online status myself; unless you have access to more advanced information than is displayed on the web?"
Agent : "There is no specific information being updated on the record."
Agent : "I will keep a follow up and update you regarding the order status via email from time to time."
[me]: "You're being helpful, but I'm not really getting any answer here. I assume you've got no greater resources to answer my concern. I appreciate your help; thank you."
Agent : "Thank you for your cooperation. Is there anything else I may assist you with?"
[me]: "I dont think so; have a good day (or evening, if you're on that side of the planet!)"
Agent : "Thank you for visiting Dell Small Business Customer Service online chat and allowing me the opportunity to assist you. I have included your case# xxxxx to reference our interaction today. Please keep this on file; it will assist you in contacting Dell Inc in the future. Also feel free to visit us again at support.dell.com
Agent : "For further assistance regarding order status and additional online assistance please visit us at: www.dellcustomercare.com, www.dell.com/public-ecare."
Agent : "Thank you for your time. You have a good day."
Agent : "You've indicated that there are no other issues you need my assistance with. With that in mind, is it okay with you if I exit this chat now?"
[me]: "yes"
Agent : "Thank you."
Session Ended
If you require further assistance, please visit us at support.dell.com
 

rivan

Diamond Member
Jul 8, 2003
9,677
3
81
So after everything, I ended up canceling my inspiron order, and getting a Precision m6300, similarly configured, with a better warranty for less from the dell Outlet.

This thing's built very solidly - but it shipped with the wrong power cord (wrong cord to plug into the brick). A little wear above the trackpad's all I see wrong with it otherwise; I'm going to use a screen tester to see if I'm overlooking any dead pixels tonight.

Just wanted to share :p