DEAL OVER Compaq laptop 4GB RAM, 250GB drive $399.99 AR

[VinylxScratches]

The Dell Vostro seems like a better deal.

 

[Harvey]

Originally posted by: VinylxScratches

The Dell Vostro seems like a better deal.

If you're talking about this deal, you've got to be joking. It has half the RAM (2GB) and a smaller hard drive (160GB), it costs a little more ($420), and the deal is from Dell so you'll have to pay for shipping, instead of walking into your local Staples and walking out with the machine.

The Core 2 Duo E7400 CPU is nice... until you want XP, instead of Vista. Then, good luck finding the drivers, let aloner getting any help from their tech support for the effort.

The Vostro may be a decent machine, but this Compaq works well, and it's got so much more going for it as a hot deal.

 

[13Gigatons]

Originally posted by: 13Gigatons

I'd rather have the Intel Dual Core model then AMD right now. The Toshiba is still listed but in store only.

I'd rather have a Lenovo for the quality of their build or a Compaq/HP for the quality of their tech support. I've dealt with other companies' tech support when trying to help friends, and many of them are somewhere between pathetic and non-existent.

And, as I posted, my experience has been that the XP drivers for machines with an Athlon 64 and nVidia chipset seem to be easier to find than Intel based products.

Lenovo is China owned company. I've heard most of their laptops are low grade now compared to when it was an IBM company. The Compaq deal at Best Buy with an Intel Dual Core machine and 3GB for $399 was white hot then.

The Toshiba deal this week was ok though for $349.00.

 

[VinylxScratches]

Originally posted by: Harvey

Originally posted by: VinylxScratches

The Dell Vostro seems like a better deal.

If you're talking about this deal, you've got to be joking. It has half the RAM (2GB) and a smaller hard drive (160GB), it costs a little more ($420), and the deal is from Dell so you'll have to pay for shipping, instead of walking into your local Staples and walking out with the machine.

The Core 2 Duo E7400 CPU is nice... until you want XP, instead of Vista. Then, good luck finding the drivers, let aloner getting any help from their tech support for the effort.

The Vostro may be a decent machine, but this Compaq works well, and it's got so much more going for it as a hot deal.

Nope, I'm talking about this one for 479.

http://configure.us.dell.com/d...644-227502-153359-n-10

Dell Vostro 1510 Intel Core 2 Duo 1.8GHz 15.4in Laptop (3GB/250GB) $479, Feb. 14 8 AM


Dell Small Business has the Dell Vostro 1510 Intel Core 2 Duo T5670 15" Notebook Computer for $479.00. $19.99 Shipping. Tax in most.

Dell Vostro laptops feature magnesium alloy chassis, mylar sealed keyboard, and NO PRE-INSTALLED TRIALWARE.

5.7lbs; 15.4"; Intel Core 2 Duo T5670 @ 1.8Ghz; 3GB RAM; 250GB HDD; 802.11b/g; DVD burner; 802.11b/g; Vista Home Basic; 6-cell; 1yr warranty

 

[Harvey]

Originally posted by: VinylxScratches

Originally posted by: Harvey

Originally posted by: VinylxScratches

The Dell Vostro seems like a better deal.

If you're talking about this deal, you've got to be joking. It has half the RAM (2GB) and a smaller hard drive (160GB), it costs a little more ($420), and the deal is from Dell so you'll have to pay for shipping, instead of walking into your local Staples and walking out with the machine.

The Core 2 Duo E7400 CPU is nice... until you want XP, instead of Vista. Then, good luck finding the drivers, let aloner getting any help from their tech support for the effort.

The Vostro may be a decent machine, but this Compaq works well, and it's got so much more going for it as a hot deal.

Nope, I'm talking about this one for 479.

http://configure.us.dell.com/d...644-227502-153359-n-10

Dell Vostro 1510 Intel Core 2 Duo 1.8GHz 15.4in Laptop (3GB/250GB) $479, Feb. 14 8 AM


Dell Small Business has the Dell Vostro 1510 Intel Core 2 Duo T5670 15" Notebook Computer for $479.00. $19.99 Shipping. Tax in most.

Dell Vostro laptops feature magnesium alloy chassis, mylar sealed keyboard, and NO PRE-INSTALLED TRIALWARE.

5.7lbs; 15.4"; Intel Core 2 Duo T5670 @ 1.8Ghz; 3GB RAM; 250GB HDD; 802.11b/g; DVD burner; 802.11b/g; Vista Home Basic; 6-cell; 1yr warranty

With shipping, that's $100 more than the Compaq with less RAM, I still prefer Compaq's tech support, and I already found the XP drivers. The Dell may be a good machine, but there's no way it's a better deal than this machine.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally posted by: HarveyAs a 32 bit OS, XP can't use more than a little over 3GB of RAM, but the video uses shared memory so the with 4GB, the machine will have all the RAM it can use available to Windows, even with the video maxed out.

So, the video card can use the RAM that 32-bit Windows is unable to use? It doesn't have to go through Windows to get at it?

 

[Harvey]

Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper

Originally posted by: Harvey

As a 32 bit OS, XP can't use more than a little over 3GB of RAM, but the video uses shared memory so the with 4GB, the machine will have all the RAM it can use available to Windows, even with the video maxed out.

So, the video card can use the RAM that 32-bit Windows is unable to use? It doesn't have to go through Windows to get at it?

I'm not sure, but I think so, for the same reason that memory for a separate vid card doesn't rely on Windows. I think the shared memory architecure is controlled by the chipset.

 

[Inspector Jihad]

Originally posted by: Harvey

Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper

Originally posted by: Harvey

As a 32 bit OS, XP can't use more than a little over 3GB of RAM, but the video uses shared memory so the with 4GB, the machine will have all the RAM it can use available to Windows, even with the video maxed out.

So, the video card can use the RAM that 32-bit Windows is unable to use? It doesn't have to go through Windows to get at it?

I'm not sure, but I think so, for the same reason that memory for a separate vid card doesn't rely on Windows. I think the shared memory architecure is controlled by the chipset.

i was under the impression that it was 4 gigs max, including the video memory.

 

[Thump553]

Originally posted by: Harvey

Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper

Originally posted by: Harvey

As a 32 bit OS, XP can't use more than a little over 3GB of RAM, but the video uses shared memory so the with 4GB, the machine will have all the RAM it can use available to Windows, even with the video maxed out.

So, the video card can use the RAM that 32-bit Windows is unable to use? It doesn't have to go through Windows to get at it?

I'm not sure, but I think so, for the same reason that memory for a separate vid card doesn't rely on Windows. I think the shared memory architecure is controlled by the chipset.

I'm certainly no expert, but I'm pretty sure you are wrong Harvey I think the OS and on board memory both share the same 3.xx GB of memory. I have a machine set up like that (on board video, Win XP and 4 GB memory) but I won't have a chance to look at it again until Tuesday.

 

[AliasX]

Shows up for >$600 now and I Cant find it on the add... any link?

Edit: Found it.

I hope they have some in stock when I get there...

 

[AMD K9]

Damn, I bought the US210 from 2 weeks ago. I installed Windows 7 on the second Partition already. I want to get the new model though so I get the extra 2GB of memory without any extra charge. Lightscribe I will never use and I think it's a joke you have to buy proprietary discs to make it work. I will probably return it for the 4GB model even with the hassle of backing up my stuff from the US210 and going through the exchange process at Staples. Has anyone had any problems doing this?

 

[AMD K9]

Anyone? Allisolm?

 

[allisolm]

Originally posted by: AMD K9
Anyone? Allisolm?

Sorry. I've never tried to return a laptop. You only have 14 days so you are probably out of time anyway.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

I don't feel so badly about having bought it three weeks ago, but then again I got lucky and the cashier accepted a 10% off customer appreciation coupon that I'd printed off the Internet, making the final price before taxes and after rebate a hot $357 AR. I also picked up a Solo-brand laptop case for $18 (originally $30 but had a $10 coupon and the 10% was applied to that too). That having been said, I think I'd have rather paid $400 AR and have the 4 GB of RAM plus 64-bit Windows. Now I'm just waiting for a hot deal on DDR2 SoDimm.

 

[thujone]

just got home from staples. was there at open and there were a bunch of other cars sitting in the parking lot waiting. got there about 10 mins before open. decided to wait at the door as more people show up in the parking lot.


after we all get inside... i was the only one there for the laptop. i was shocked.

 

[Fayd]

Originally posted by: Thump553

Originally posted by: Harvey

Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper

Originally posted by: Harvey

As a 32 bit OS, XP can't use more than a little over 3GB of RAM, but the video uses shared memory so the with 4GB, the machine will have all the RAM it can use available to Windows, even with the video maxed out.

So, the video card can use the RAM that 32-bit Windows is unable to use? It doesn't have to go through Windows to get at it?

I'm not sure, but I think so, for the same reason that memory for a separate vid card doesn't rely on Windows. I think the shared memory architecure is controlled by the chipset.

I'm certainly no expert, but I'm pretty sure you are wrong Harvey I think the OS and on board memory both share the same 3.xx GB of memory. I have a machine set up like that (on board video, Win XP and 4 GB memory) but I won't have a chance to look at it again until Tuesday.

yes, it's like that. the more video memory you have, the less of that address pool you have available to system memory.

 

[AliasX]

I went to one Staples that opens at 10 and got one, as I walked in two people walked out carrying it and then after I purchased it someone walked in looking for one but they were out. They had 6 before open. Then headed over to a Staples that opens at 11 and bought another. There were a bunch of cars and people, about half got the laptop the other half got the hard drive.

 

[AMD K9]

Originally posted by: allisolm

Originally posted by: AMD K9
Anyone? Allisolm?

Sorry. I've never tried to return a laptop. You only have 14 days so you are probably out of time anyway.

I knew I should have waited for a better deal. Damn it.

 

[gigahertz20]

Don't forget to use this $90 coupon for purchases $300 or more to take a further $90 off the price of the laptop,


http://rapidshare.com/files/198576635/Staples.pdf.html

A BIG YMMV, since you are not suppose to use printed coupons, but alot of times the cash register person will just scan the bar code and not even care. A person on slick deals used it for a laptop and got the $90 off, so it does work.

I would provide a link to the slickdeals post where the person uploaded a receipt scan of the coupon working, but apparently Anandtech doesn't allow links to other hot deal sites.



Also, the coupon can only be downloaded 10 times off the rapidshare link above since it's one of those free file uploading sites, so if anybody can upload it to some place else and post a link.

 

[AliasX]

May not be combined with any other coupon or instant savings. This laptop is on sale after instant savings so yeah, big YMMV

 

[skyking]

Thanks( I think!) for the link, Allisolm. I directed my uncle to get himself one today and he was able to get one.
I am fearful because he is 78 and this is going to be his first computing experience. He went all the way and got a verizon 3g USB connection.
I'll be on the hook for tech support and lessons

 

[Shummy007]

Got in for one.
Went to Staple at 11am and nabbed one...great deal

 

[nvalhalla]

Originally posted by: meangreen
Does this come with a Vista disc so it can be reformated without all the crapware on it?

NO ONE does that (except for me and the computers I sell). You're lucky if it comes with a disk WITH the bloat, most of the time there is just a recovery partition.

 

[thujone]

yeah... just a recovery partition.


i came home and made recovery disks then formatted and put x64 ultimate on. it was pretty slow at default with all the bloat.

 

[j0j081]

I work part time at Staples. We had exactly 10 of these when we opened and were sold out by about 1:30 pm (opened at 10). Our manager wasn't too happy because only two people bought our service plan on them.