Dell D600 shortcircuited! Plz help me find a new notebook!

Aug 9, 2007
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While surfing the net on Christmas Eve my Dell D600 from 2003/2004 finally died on me.
The power just went out and now it can't be turned on again.
When I plug the AC power adapter into a power socket, the green light is on and as soon as I connect it to the laptop the light dies and nothing happens (indicates a short circuit).
This notebook went through heavy usage during the last 3 years, was with me on film sets and travelled through all of Europe. The frame got more and more unfirm and wobbly and a year ago one of the metal bolts that connect the LCD display broke.
I suspect that some tiny little power running metal thing on the mainboard is now broken and no way on earth for me to find the exact cause and repair it.

Now after some hours of moaning and mourning I decided to reuse the harddisk as a USB device, put the ram sticks into my uncle's notebook and try to find a new one.

I want to spent around 1000? Euro not much more.

It should have:
A Core 2 Duo with 1,8Ghz or more
2GB Ram
Nvidia Mobile Geforce8400 or better (Maya, After Effects OpenGL capability)
not bigger than 15'' screen
160GB+ HD
Firewire port (video cam connection)
If possible the frame should be robust and have a good build quality and if possible have somewhat decent looks.

I'm kind of pissed with Dell right now, so no new Dell.

I read some reviews of a MSI GX600 that sounded pretty positive?
Or a Samsung R70 type? Acer? Someone with a Sony Vaio?
Is there a good trusted site which has reviews of some newer notebooks?
 

dclive

Elite Member
Oct 23, 2003
5,626
2
81
Originally posted by: frythecpuofbender
While surfing the net on Christmas Eve my Dell D600 from 2003/2004 finally died on me.
The power just went out and now it can't be turned on again.
When I plug the AC power adapter into a power socket, the green light is on and as soon as I connect it to the laptop the light dies and nothing happens (indicates a short circuit).
This notebook went through heavy usage during the last 3 years, was with me on film sets and travelled through all of Europe. The frame got more and more unfirm and wobbly and a year ago one of the metal bolts that connect the LCD display broke.
I suspect that some tiny little power running metal thing on the mainboard is now broken and no way on earth for me to find the exact cause and repair it.

Now after some hours of moaning and mourning I decided to reuse the harddisk as a USB device, put the ram sticks into my uncle's notebook and try to find a new one.

I want to spent around 1000? Euro not much more.

It should have:
A Core 2 Duo with 1,8Ghz or more
2GB Ram
Nvidia Mobile Geforce8400 or better (Maya, After Effects OpenGL capability)
not bigger than 15'' screen
160GB+ HD
Firewire port (video cam connection)
If possible the frame should be robust and have a good build quality and if possible have somewhat decent looks.

I'm kind of pissed with Dell right now, so no new Dell.

I read some reviews of a MSI GX600 that sounded pretty positive?
Or a Samsung R70 type? Acer? Someone with a Sony Vaio?
Is there a good trusted site which has reviews of some newer notebooks?

Can't speak for Europe, but in the USA you can get such a laptop for us$500-$700 quite easily during sales.
 

Parasitic

Diamond Member
Aug 17, 2002
4,000
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Lenovo T61? The 15" comes with Nvidia Quadro NVS140 (8400GS level stuff).
Or the Macbook Pro?
 
Aug 9, 2007
150
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Ok i had the chance to look at some MSI books: The build quality looks like handsprayed or modded piece of china plastic.
I'm now in the terrible situation that I might have to buy a Dell again.
Anyone already got a XPS M1530? Are they made of aluminium? Good build quality?
Anyone with a good Sony Vaio? Are they sturdy or just sleek looking?
 

dclive

Elite Member
Oct 23, 2003
5,626
2
81
You're almost in MacBook Pro territory - (1000E is about $1447 US$) - that would be a fantastic, thin, fairly light machine....
 
Aug 9, 2007
150
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Only problem is: I'm kind of the mac anti-christ. When I see a guy on the train typing on his macbook, then a call comes and he answers his I-phone and then listens to his I-Pod my pulse rises. I somewhat dig the designs, but I hate steve jobs marketing and branding brainwashed zombies.
And to buy a machine and then first get rid of Leopard? Ugly...