Help me spend up to $2300 MAX on a laptop!

[MIDIman]

Hi all again - I originally started this thread comparing the Dell 9100, 700m, and other models. The purchase was put on hold, and is now back with a bit more available.

Some ground rules:

1) This is a laptop for webcasting, VERY light video/audio editing, and general graphics/office work.
2) Needs dedicated video with VGA and S-video - no built-by-Intel crap video sharing ram.
3) Needs 1gb ram, DVD-RW, and 7200 rpm HD (particularly hard to find the 7200rpm HD as an option!).
4) Needs firewire.
5) 15" screen, at least SXGA.
6) Max price is ~$2300-$2400 and includes all accessories - case, mouse, battery, etc.
7) no reflective screen - am I the only who can't stand this?! Why is this useful?

In my last thread I had ended on the Dell 8600 - it seems to provide the best cost effectiveness between weight (~8 pds?) and performance (2.0 ghz P-M), as I don't entirely want to drudge around with a beast of a unit, like the 9100 and similar desktop replacements. The lighter the better, but I understand that things like the 7200rpm drive only come on the heavier models. I also like the idea of sticking with one of the biggies when it comes to brand name, as this is a business oriented purchase (Dell, Sony, IBM, HP, Compaq, etc.).


All opinions welcome. I'm buying this early tomorrow. Thanks in advance, and I'll post what I end up with.

 

[jvarszegi]

The ABS zForce F2. With a MR 700 128MB, 2Ghz Dothan 755, 1 GB RAM, and 7200 RPM HD, it comes in at around $2100. ABS has great customer service-- they're not a hole-in-the-wall place. Their laptop designs and customer service have won awards. This machine is also very significantly lighter than the Inspiron 8600, at 6.3 pounds. Check it out for yourself:

http://www.abscomputer.com/app...ilyno=10&series=73

The Inspiron 700m is an overpriced hunk of junk (without dedicated graphics), the 600m overheats and has other problems (and has older 64MB MR9000 graphics as its maximum available), and the 8600 is way heavy (and has older MR 9600 graphics as its maximum available, still slightly better than average). If it weren't for your dedicated-graphics requirement I'd recommend the Fujitsu S6000 series, which you can get from portableone.com with a 7200 RPM drive.

I predict in advance you'll end up picking a Dell, even if you get nothing but a thousand contrary opinions. It'll be interesting to see what you post tomorrow.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Check out IBM T42p. Available 15" UXGA (or SXGA+ in the T42), 60GB 7200RPM, 64MB Radeon 9600, CD-RW (Not sure if they have built-in DVDRW), and ~5-6 lbs. Avg batt life 3.5-4 hours w/6-cell battery. And you can't beat IBM for build quality. Not sure if it'll fit in your price range, but definitely consider it.

 

[MIDIman]

I was a pound off on the 8600 - its rated at 6.9 and 1.52" thick.

Originally posted by: jvarszegi
The ABS zForce F2.

Thanks - this is the kind of stuff I'm looking for. Those odd balls that aren't as well advertised. Will check it out. Looks like the ABS zForce F2 is around $2200 - quite nice.

I was looking at IBM before but didn't see them with 7200rpm drives, and they're of course quite a bit more expensive. With new funds, I might be able to afford one.

<time passes> - just looked at the IBM's...they just seem WAY too much for what you get. A comparable T-series model is around $3000.


I've seen some new laptops with whopping 17" screens. Can anyone recommend one to at least look at?

 

[Grailyn]

laptops with 17" screens are great if your lookign for a pure desktop replacment. They average over 9 pounds, and are so wide they feel like a giant frizbe to me.

You can get a T42 with a 1.7 cpu 1 gig ram, 60gi 7200rpm drive, 15" display Cdrw/dvd for about $2300. IBM for some reason makes about a $500 jump form the 1.8 to teh 2.0 CPU, but only about $100 from the 1.7-1.8. It's also about $300 jsut to go form a T42 to a T42p with about the same options. Is anything different other than the higher screen reso?

Carefull with ABS. When I tried to config one there was no options for more than the base 1 year warrentee. Other than that they have nice specs at a cheap price. I'm not sure hwo the quality is, or if the support is worth bothering with.

 

[MIDIman]

You can get a T42 with a 1.7 cpu 1 gig ram, 60gi 7200rpm drive, 15" display Cdrw/dvd for about $2300

Maybe its just me, but I'm not quite seeing this. The IBM T42 comes in well over $3200 with the same options as the Dell 8600...attractive, but still too expensive.

 

[Grailyn]

IBM web price is high. Get a vendor have them config it and it comes out alot cheaper.

Yes an IBM with a 2.0 CPU right now is goign to be over $3000. Not sure why they are upping the price so much to go from 1.8 to 2.0 cpu's when everyone else isn't.

T42 INTEL PENTIUM M 1.8GHZ 15.0 SXGA
60GB 7200RPM HDD CTO
256 PC2700 DDR SDRAM CTO
THINKPAD T40 SERIES HIGH CAP LI-ION BATTERY 9C
INTEL PRO WIRELES 2200 B/G
MICROSOFT WINDOWS XP PRO
THINKPAD CDRW/DVD COMBO II ULTRABAY SLIM DR

Cost is $2406

The other trick is not to buy IBM memory. Cost another $180 to ditch that RAM and get 2 512MB SODIMMS.

The Dell will always be cheaper. It's a matter of do you like the 15.4 ot 15" screen aspect's, Can you live with Dell's support? Do you need IBM's quality contruction?

For personal use the Dell probubly wins. If it's for work the IBM probubly wins. Which is just the way both companies want it.

 

[MIDIman]

Well gang - here's what I'll probably be getting today unless someone can think of something better...with a $400 off at Dell @ Home, I think this will be tough to beat:

Unit Price $2,810.00
Dell Home Customers: Save $400 - Expires Monday, October 04, 2004
TOTAL: $2,410.00 incl shipping

SYSTEM COMPONENTS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Inspiron 8600
Intel® Pentium®M Processor 755 (2GHz/400MHz FSB)
15.4 WSXGA+
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
1GB DDR SDRAM 2 Dimms
128MB DDR ATI's MOBILITY® RADEON? 9600 PROTURBO
60GB Hard Drive at 7200RPM
8x CD/DVD burner (DVD+RW/+R)
Integrated 10/100
Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200 Internal Wireless (802.11 b/g, 54Mbps)
Dell 2-Button Scroll Optical USB Mouse
Primary Battery 72 WHr Primary Battery
Power Adapter AC adapter - 65w, 19.5v 65W
Dell Leather Carrying Case

 

[MIDIman]

IBM web price is high.

Awesome comments - thanks!

 

[ActuaryTm]

Originally posted by: MIDIman
Well gang - here's what I'll probably be getting today unless someone can think of something better...with a $400 off at Dell @ Home, I think this will be tough to beat:

Unit Price $2,810.00
Dell Home Customers: Save $400 - Expires Monday, October 04, 2004
TOTAL: $2,410.00 incl shipping

While unfortunately I do not possess the time at present to post as thorough of a reply as may be required, thought at the very least would include two bits of information at the moment, with hopes of returning to this thread at a later time.

This thread may prove helpful, as it mentions a number of makes and models of machines similar in class to the Inspiron 8600.

Briefly configured an NP3790 similar the above specifcations for approximately $2,200 to $2,500 depending on operating system choices, display choice (WSXGA+ v WUXGA), warranty preference, etc.

Regardless, good luck with your impending decision.

 

[fbrdphreak]

You forgot one thing with the Dell: some kind of extended warranty. I personally wouldn't get any laptop without some kind of extra coverage over their 1-year-Send-It-In-&amp;-Wait-4-Weeks-For-Us-To-Tell-You-That-You-Have-To-Pay-For-It warranty. Esp with a Dell, IMO.