Good DTR laptop?

[crimson117]

A guy from my church has finally decided to get a new laptop - he's currently on an old Win95 Pentium 100-something.

So since he likes to get a lot of mileage out of his laptop, I think he could use a Desktop Replacement model, one with a high end desktop processor rather than a slower mobile processor. With as long a warranty as possible, and MS Office Basic 2k3 (word/excel), it should be under $1900, the farther under the better.

We tried looking at the R3000Z from compaq with an athlon 64 3700, but he didn't like the large palm-rest area in front of the keyboard.

Any suggestions?

 

[TDiddy]

emachine m6811

 

[crimson117]

Originally posted by: TDiddy
emachine m6811

that has a mobile processor, and can't find a good warranty on that site...

 

[Connoisseur]

What sort of apps does this friend of yours use? If it's office/productivity apps he doesn't need a monstrously powerful system. If he's a gamer, there's no way in hell you're gonna find a lappie that lasts for a long time. I second the vote for the M6811 system. It's large enough to be comfortable yet still reasonably light (~7.5lbs) so he can tow it around without thinking about it too much. The A64 3400+ should be PLENTY for ANY app he wants to run (since it seems this friend of yours isn't too big of a gamer). He can even run apps like Photoshop, Visual Studio etc. without a hitch. And it's pretty cheap at ~1350. BTW just because it's a mobile processor, it doesn't mean it's slow. Making it mobile just means selecting the coolest running cores out of the desktop lineup and adding powernow features. If your friend REALLY wants something that'll last him a few years tell him to get Best Buy's plan and he can hock the laptop in a couple of years for anyther system of his choice as long as it's the same price as the M6811 system. Total price of the laptop + PSP = 1350 + 300 = 1650

 

[ShellGuy]

I also agree with the 6811 or what ever Emachine is up to now.. LOL>.. The moble processors just run cooler and use power better than their desktop brothers.. Upgrade the lower stick of ram to 1gb and that puppy will last him a good 5 yrs...


Will G.

 

[crimson117]

Cool, I'll check it out then. What kind of warrantie are available? And what's the best buy warranty you mentioned, Connoisseur?

 

[Abhi]

Hmmm, If i needed a laptop which would last for 5 - 10 years... I would be looking at nothing but IBM.

They are expensive, but certainly are built to last.

 

[Abhi]

Try IBM R series. However, note that you will get a lower config on an IBM than an emachines for the same prices.

p.s. There is a 12% discount on at IBM currently.

 

[Connoisseur]

Originally posted by: crimson117
Cool, I'll check it out then. What kind of warrantie are available? And what's the best buy warranty you mentioned, Connoisseur?

The only warranty best buy offers is the 3 year PSP for $300. Basically, in 3 years, if there's ANYTHING wrong with your laptop (stuck pixel(s), cracks, defects, outright failures), you bring it in and they'll immediately repair your lappie OR allow you to trade it in for another lappie that is the exact same price as your laptop was when you bought it. It can be ANY other laptop system and, if you wish to buy a more expensive system you can basically just pay the difference. I actually went back to BB a couple of days ago to ensure that this is what the service plan really does. I've had a single dead pixel in the corner of my screen since the day I bought my M6805. It's not a problem at all but I'm just saving my time until a decent successor comes for this lappie and i'll take it back and replace it .

However, to be fair Abhi is also right about IBM's. They are the best QUALITY laptops (very sturdy and reliable). If you have the money, they're definitely worth it. You will be paying a decent premium for this quality though, and I'm not sure what sort of replacement policy they have.

It's very difficult to find ANY single system that'll last a person up to 10 years nowadays. Programs are evolving at a rate where just about any high end system nowadays will be low end in just 3 years or so.

 

[fbrdphreak]

I second all of what has been said above. eMachines M68xx is an awesome series for the money. BBY's service plan is among the best available from a 3rd-party company, as you always have someone to bitch at in store and they guarantee PERFORMANCE, which includes the battery. That's right, you get a free battery every year. And I believe you have the option to renew the plan at the end of the three years. Or just trade it in on the service plan and buy another plan w/the new one

 

[crimson117]

Alright, I'm all into this laptop now, but I can't find any emachines notebooks for sale at bestbuy.com

Can you buy it separately, then buy the warranty at bestbuy??

 

[wjgollatz]

Emachines do not have any models at any Betbuys. In fact, I am betting there won't be any more. Gateway is introducing a spec for spec version of the M6811. Emachines replacement for the 6811 was due in October. Just go to Emachines.com - and hit buy now for the model - nothing will come up at Bestbuy. The lowest grade laptop might come up at the other store. No one whom I've been able to contact at Emachines has any clue if there will be any more laptops or when they might come out.