laptop advice, hp zd7000 series

[area123]

Just looking for advice, want to spend less than $1300 or so.

I am seriously looking at the zd7010 w/ 17" widescreen & 3.06 p4 HT. I can get it for $1300 w/ 512mb ram after rebate and supplier discount. I am looking to replace my desktop, so portability is not that important other than I do want to use it at the kitchen table, living room etc, no traveling with this. I will use it mainly for internet, typing, an occaisional dvd & some light gaming by my son.

I have also considered the Dell 8500 but only has a 15.4" and is about the same price for similar options as above.

Looking for opinions on these two laptops & other recommendations.

thanks,
daniel

 

[wutwjd]

Wha? Huh? How'd you get the price so low? Care to share?

Sorry, didn't answer your question but I must know how you got it so low. =)

 

[area123]

Well, they have a $100 rebate going now on hp website. + I found a 10% coupon floating around which you can easily find too (not supposed to post here). I get about 6-7% through the hp epp discount. I'm not positive if the 10% will work with my epp but I think it will, even if not it is only about $90 discount.

Anyway, anyone can get this notebook now for about $90 more than this, about $1390 w/ the 10% coupon, free shipping.

I'm basically a little concerned how they can offer this notebook so much cheaper than Dell, which only has a 15.4". I could be missing something here. The hp has a 64mb video vs Dell 32, 40gb hd vs. Dell 30, not to mention bigger lcd & 400mhz faster processor than std 8500. So I'm looking for 2nd opinions.

 

[wutwjd]

Well, if you're looking for a 17" screen at that price, I don't think there are any options other than your HP. I'm looking to spend a little under 2000 on mine, and I've found that the Gateway M675 seems a better choice than the HP. Better graphics card, better build quality (IMO), cheaper price.... well, until you told me how cheap you can get yours.

I personally haven't used an HP before (nor have I ever really used a laptop, I'm still shopping for my first one). But based on the Inspiron 5150 that I had for a couple of weeks, I would think that it's pretty safe to say that HP's build quality is better than Dell's (again, keep in mind that I haven't used the 5150 much, the HP not at all). And I'm afraid you might be comparing an HP with a surprisingly low price to a Dell at that same price; I wouldn't think too much about whether there's something wrong with the Dell or not.

[edit]
Okay, stupid me, I was so enamored by the M675 that I had failed to check up on other 17" notebooks. Prices have fallen, w00t w00t. =)

 

[area123]

The 17" is not a firm requirement. Doing a little more investigation, the hp is only WXGA, they don't have WSXGA or WUXGA like Dell on this model.

Even with a 15.4", Dell can't touch this hp deal. The fastest you can get on a dell is p4 2.6 on the 8500. If you want faster you have to get a 5150 which is only 15" and still more than the zd7010.

 

[wutwjd]

You know, I haven't been able to find a (reasonable) laptop with a 17" screen that has a higher resolution than 1440x900. HP, Toshiba, Gateway, Apple, Sager (I think), all have the same resolution. I guess the cost of these huge LCDs is too much right now? Whatever it is, I, personally, am willing to give up a higher resolution for the ability to have windows of code side by side. Ah, *drools*. hehe.

 

[Bbc84]

Heh same laptop im looking at. I can also get that education discount. Hmm maybe ZD7000 should be my choice, but the Gateway one (M675) is good too, but I also like the Sauger ones.

I wonder if Gateway has some kinda education program discount too.

 

[wutwjd]

I've asked, begged, and implored Gateway for some sort of discount, telling them that I'd buy it soon if I could get a discount, threatening to go ask that other associate for a discount, etc, all to no avail. I don't know, maybe I'm just not good at getting discounts but, as far as I can tell, they don't have any right now. =\

 

[area123]

Mine is an employer discount. Cause my company only buys hp. But maybe the same program as your educational discount.

Do you know if the 10% off coupons will work for these discounts.

 

[area123]

1440 x900 on a 17" seems a little too much?? I have my 21" set to 1152x864 and it is just right.

I am not a laptop user though, how does this resolution look on an lcd screen? Do dvds look good at that resolution?

 

[Bbc84]

I dont know about the extra 10%, but when people were doing the X1000 Compaq laptop deals i think they might of discussed it.

So far every computer lab i been to on my campus has Compaq computers, which is now part of HP so I should get some discount. But you also get a 5% discount if your a college student on HP if i remember.

 

[Bekker]

I had different results with Gateway, since I had heard that they still matched or beat other's deals. I found a Dell loaded with lots of rebates and then called a Gateway rep. He said he would have to see the Dell deal first to be certain I could get that package for that price. He actually went to the Dell pages to find it, but by then the rebates had expired so no go. Try first getting a price on one with similar features from another brand that can be verified and then call Gateway. Good luck

 

[area123]

For our HP epp discount you have to use an access code to login. So you will have to get a code or pwd from some mis people at your school who buy the hardware. I'm not sure what % it is but it is not huge.

 

[Bbc84]

you sure? i regesterd an account on their site and all it asked was my school, location and my student ID number.

 

[area123]

Not sure for students but I know that for my discount, I have to have an access code from my company. The discount is only about 7-8% or so, I'm not sure.

This is still by far the best deal I've found for my needs. Let me know if you find a better deal somewhere, we seem to be looking for similar laptops, except I don't care about battery life that much, I don't even know what the 7000 has for battery life.

 

[Bbc84]

im guessing some where between a little over 2hrs and under 3hrs.

Battery life is kinda important since i need to take it to class, but i guess i can buy a second battery.

Besides if im working at the libary, or the cafe, dining room, mc donald. they all have power outlets on the booths, and also LAN or wireless connection is avaliable in almost every building on campus.

 

[BlueRhino79]

I was looking at the same laptop from HP, the only thing it's heavy. So if you want to take it to school or somewhere else, and you don't mind lugging a 9.3lb laptop around then go for it. I'm still debating if I want to do that or not.

 

[wutwjd]

Oh geez, I'm so tempted by the 7000's low price... With the discounts and stuff, this notebook, packed full of the best stuff, would still be within my budget.

BTW, CNET posted a review of the Gateway M675. http://shopper.cnet.com/Gateway_M675_series/4505-3121_7-30592179.html?tag=promo2

The only thing that's holding me back from buying the HP is the graphics card. Ya think HP will come out with a 7000 with MR9600?? If they did, I would sooooo buy it.