Compaq Laptop Okay? (vs. Sony)

[GTaudiophile]

I'm looking at two laptops:

Compaq X1030US

Sony V505DX

PROs of the Compaq: Lower cost and bigger screen.

PROs of the Sony: Only 4 lbs.

The bigger screen is kind of important to me as it will be used for a lot of PhotoShop and web design work.

Comments appreciated.

 

[manko]

If you'll take second-hand info...

I hear mixed things about Compaqs, but generally they seem to have a better reputation for build quality on their recent machines and the x1000 line seems to be one of their better designs.

On the other hand, I hear nothing but bad news about Sony laptop quality and service.

I would go for the Compaq based on those reasons alone, but specifically for Photoshop and web design work I think you'll also benefit from the bigger Compaq screen size and widescreen real estate.

If you haven't checked it out, take a look at the http://www.x1000forums.com/index.php for a lot more info on the Compaq.

Also check out AT's own Notebook Forum.

 

[dnuggett]

I agree w/ Manko in that normally I would not recommend a Compaq. But the X1000 series seems to be faring well and it has been out long enough to establish any issues. That would be y choice over the Sony, which is some of the worst value in the market. I have never recommended a Sony, not becasue of the name but because I have always found a better product for less.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Well, I can get the Compaq X1000 with 1.4Ghz Pentium M, Centrino, Wifi, Radeon Mobility 9200, 512MB RAM, 40GB harddrive...for $1350.

Seems like a good deal to me.

 

[thomsbrain]

man, this is like choosing between getting poked hard in the eye or punched in the stomach.

toshiba anyone?

 

[GTaudiophile]

Heh. I just got back from all the stores (Gateway, Circuit City, Best Buy, CompUSA), and I still haven't found the one.

Toshiba doesn't do much for me either. I'm going to look closer at DELL and IBM.

 

[Abhi]

i have heard that the cost of sony spare-parts rapes you...

Using my 3 month old Dell....

So far... I m satisfied....

 

[GTaudiophile]

I'm now looking closely at the DELL 600m.

 

[GTaudiophile]

So, I can get a Compaq Presario X1000 with 1.4 Ghz Pentium M Centrino, Radeon 9200 32MB, WiFi, 40GB harddrive, 512MB RAM, DVD/CD-RW, BlueTooth, WinXP Home, 1.3" thick, 6.5 lbs. for $1418 shipped.

I can get a DELL Inspiron 600m with 1.4 Ghz Pentium M Centrino, Radeon 9000 32MB, WiFi, 30GB harddrive, 512MB RAM, DVD/CD-RW, WinXP Home, 1.2" thick, 5.3 lbs. for $1398 shipped.

PROS of the Compaq: IEEE port, BlueTooth, larger screen, 10GB more harddrive space.

PROS of the DELL: $20 cheaper, more reliable?!?

What do you all think?

 

[OJ]

I don't know if you can apply past quality of Compaq laptops to the current models, but I have a five year old Compaq laptop that has taken a serious beating (my son in college) and still works good. I was worried at the time because everyone kept trashing Compaq lappys, but mine has given me no problems.

 

[GTaudiophile]

People seem to be praising it (Presario X1000) over in the notebook forum. It offers a lot for the money, so I think that's what I'll get.

 

[aka1nas]

Is that the 9200 that is actually clocked lower than the mobile 9000? I thought someone posted about this a week or so ago in this forum.

 

[MrRobercik]

I did some extensive research a several months ago ,trying to find the right laptop for me. Compaq/HP had the best features for the money, so I ended up getting a HP. The biggest deal to me was the horizontal and vertical scrolling feature built in to the touchpad, unbeatable when working on large images or web pages.

 

[Nutdotnet]

Hey, just so you know, there are $200 off a $1500 or more purchase of an Inspiron Notebook.

 

[eLinux]

I know this wasn't an option in the original thread, but someone posted "toshiba," so I wanted to add my $.02 worth.

I'd recommend IBM, hands down.

I owned a compaq (not the x1000 series) for a few days and the thing started to smell like burning rubber after only a few hours of using it one morning...

IBM's build quality is incredible...

If you have the money to spend on Sony, I'd recommend a thinkpad.

 

[Ionizer86]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
I'm now looking closely at the DELL 600m.

My physics teacher's P-M 1.4 600m only has slightly over 1.5 hours battery life.

 

[GTaudiophile]

I agree that IBM is top-notch, but they are too expensive for what you get IMO. My budget is < $1,500 and that doesn't buy you much at IBM.

 

[Nutdotnet]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
I agree that IBM is top-notch, but they are too expensive for what you get IMO. My budget is < $1,500 and that doesn't buy you much at IBM.

Seriously man, configure a dell that's slight over $1500...use the $200 off coupon WITH the already decent Online deals dell has (don't they have a $100 MIR for the 600m right now?) And I bet that will be the one you buy.

 

[GTaudiophile]

I'm still not convinced DELL is that much > Compaq. The DELL 600m does not have a IEEE port nor BlueTooth.

I think DELL's systems are a little outdated.

 

[pillage2001]

Originally posted by: Ionizer86

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
I'm now looking closely at the DELL 600m.

My physics teacher's P-M 1.4 600m only has slightly over 1.5 hours battery life.

What are his specs???

I thought all centrino laptops are suppose to last 3 to 5 hours?

 

[pillage2001]

Originally posted by: Nutdotnet
Hey, just so you know, there are $200 off a $1500 or more purchase of an Inspiron Notebook.

Hook me up.