got it narrowed down to two notebooks

[RKS]

HP Pavilion zd8000
XP Home Edition with SP2
Intel(R) Pentium(R)4 processor 540 w/HT Technology
FREE Upgrade to 17" WXGA+ BrightView Wide Viewing!
512MB DDR2 SDRAM, 400MHz (2x256MB)
60 GB 7200 RPM Hard Drive
DVD+/-RW/R & CD-RW Combo w/Double Layer Support
256MB ATI Mobility Radeon(TM) X600
54g(TM) Integ. Broadcom 802.11b/g WLAN & Bluetooth
12 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
HP Mobile Remote Control

Total: $1,763.99


-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Inspiron 9200 Intel® Pentium® M 725 Processor (1.60GHz/400MHz FSB)
Windows® XP Home
17" UltraSharp? Wide Screen UXGA
512MB DDR SDRAM at 333MHz 1 Dimm
128MB ATI's? Mobility Radeon? 9700
60GB 7200rpm Hard Drive
8x CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer write capability
Dell® Wireless 1450 Internal Wireless (802.11a/b/g, 54Mbps)
Battery 80 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion
Dell? TrueMobile? 300 Bluetooth Internal Card

TOTAL: $1,903.20


I obviously don't care about weight or battery life, but I would like the 17" screen. It will be a desktop replacement used for a variety of reasons but no real specific task.

Any input is appreciated.

 

[silverpig]

I just bought an M37EW (from boldata.com)

P-M 1.8
1 GB DDR
Mobility 9700
15.4" WUXGA (god it's gorgeous, makes my 2005FPW look cheap)
60 GB hd
CD-RW/DVD-ROM (you can get a dvd burner easy though)
802.11 b/g Intel Pro wireless
built in webcam

$1734 USD

You can check out their site... they have a 6800Go P4 notebook with a 17" screen.

 

[ShellGuy]

Go with the Dell the P4 is a tinder box.


Will G.

 

[ChaosX2]

Originally posted by: ShellGuy
Go with the Dell the P4 is a tinder box.


Will G.

Same here

 

[RKS]

thanks for the input. getting the dell for the price of the hp.

 

[moonzkeen]

i got the inspiron 9200. its a good laptop. just DONT get the wuxga get the wxga. the wuxga is defective...just read the forums at dell, so many people are returning their laptops because they have a problem with the anti glare coating causing a sparkly or sandy effect.

 

[RKS]

I've heard the newer ones are not as bad. If it really sucks while trying to read a document I'll return it within the 21 days. The 9300 is due out this month!

 

[airfoil]

Check for the $500 off $1499 Dell coupon codes here.

Before you buy either of these monsters, check a 17" notebook out at your retailer, these are huge, heavy and unweildy in my opinion. You aren't going to like carrying them around much, given that weight.

 

[RKS]

Airfoil: thanks for the link but I used the 25% off coupon to save about $600 and had it shipped to a non-taxed state for an additional $125 and with free shipping I think I got a good deal.

If I can't carry an item that weighs about 10lbs a few steps from the car to my office/class/home desk then I should just turn in my man card. :laugh:

 

[fbrdphreak]

A + on the HP: It has a full size keyboard with a full size numberpad. Does the Dell? Also, I would say the P4 might be a bit speedier than the 1.6 P-M; altho both are more than adequate.

 

[RKS]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak
A + on the HP: It has a full size keyboard with a full size numberpad. Does the Dell? Also, I would say the P4 might be a bit speedier than the 1.6 P-M; altho both are more than adequate.

I went with the 1.8 Dell instead for the same price. After some research I found it performs as well/better than the P4 in the HP. It is also A LOT cooler and much more energy efficient.

 

[fbrdphreak]

That is entirely correct. Just wanted to point out the nice design consideration in HP.