Centrino suggestions?

[ababiec]

Looking for a centrino laptop, this is what I'm looking for: Pentium M (any kind), good battery life, 512 MB, 40 GB+ (5400), DVD (CD-RW nice extra), USB 2 and Firewire. It also needs to have a port replicator as an available option.

I heard good things about the IBM T40 but it has a smaller screen then I would like (14") and no Firewire. The Dell D800 lattitude was next, nice 15.4" screen but it might be too heavy for my tastes. I'm also considering the Toshiba Satellite Pro M10, but I heard the screen was dull/fuzzy - will check it out myself @ Best Buy later today. I wanted the bigger screen because I can't stand 1024x768, but the Toshiba only offers that even with 15" while others offer higher resolutions on smaller screens - so I'm rethinking that requirement. The new Sony Z1's are nice but seem to be the most expensive.

Game performance not an issue. Need at least 14" screen - so no super lightweight laptops - looking for something between light and heavy in terms of weight (~5-6 lbs).

Any other recommendations? Any manufacturers I should stay away from due to questionable reliability factors?

 

[esaleris]

If you have access to the following countries -

China
France
Germany
Hong Kong
Japan
Korea
United Kingdom

then I highly recommend the Samsung Sens X10. It puts the T40 to shame on the specs sheet, but I have not seen the build quality. They have never introduced Samsung laptops in the United States, so I doubt they will make forays into the market for some time to come. It was only after I realized this that I bought the T40. This laptop was my first choice.

Samsung Sens X10 Preview @ vr-zone.com

I would highly consider the Thinkpad T40. With the usual sales of about 10-15% every month or two, add a shareholder discount (buy one share through e*Trade or something) for a total of 15-20% discount. (The 15% discounts are offered at the beginning of introduction; then prices fall and there is a 10% discount. They come out to be the same.) If you are part of a small business, first time IBM computer buyers get 20% off - even better.

I work with a lot of MBAs at my university at my undergraduate part-time job; they are required to have laptops and many of them have chosen Dells. In my opinion, if you are going to carry them around, stay away - I have little respect for them after seeing the IBMs go through years without problems.

HPs make beautiful machines, but they are typically lagging in technology. I'm not sure if they have Centrino yet.

 

[Pennstate]

ibm sharholder discounts can not be combined with other sale prices.