Laptop Advice

[Venner]

Ok. Time to get a laptop. I'm currently leaning towards a Dell Inspiron 8200 or a Compaq Presario 2100.
I genally dislike Compaq, but I borrowed a Compaq laptop for a while, and seemed fine.

Budget: $1000-$1200
Want (min.):
Screen : 15", the more res. the better.
Vid : ATI Mobility 9000 or Geforce 440 Go
CPU : P4-1.7Ghz or AMD XP1800+, AMD preferred
Mem : 384Mb min, 512Mb better
HDD : 30Gb fine, more preferred
CD : DVD Rom, combo w/CDWriter only if no additional cost
LAN : 10/100 Lan a must. WiFi a plus, but not necessary.
Ports : USB 2.0 and IEEE 1394


Notes:
- I like the Dell UltraSharp screen. Nice. Anything comparable out there?
- No idea what video chipset is in the Compaq
- If you can get it OS free for less money, that would be cool. I can get 2000 or XP Pro for free as a CompE Student. Or just
use Linux By the same token, I don't need any other software for it.
- Use for Academics/Professional, but I guarantee I will end up playing games on it, and my hobbies include 3d Modeling and Video
editing. The Sony Vaio GRX series with the 17" screen and DVD-R (not to mention multiple batteries) is really cool, just $$$$.

I can scope out a Dell for just a bit above my budget, after rebates, etc. Seems to be the same for the Compaq. Any other options, suggestions? And of course, any really rich people out there wanting to upgrade might care to sell me their "old" Notebook on the cheap, eh?
Thanks in advance!

 

[dannybin1742]

i say that sony 17" one in best buy the other week, and DAMN is it nice!!!!, nicely configured too, 512mb ram, huge screen, 30gb hd, dvd-writer, nice gfx card, and to top it off i think it was 1799, which is an awesome price for that kind of power!!

 

[Gibson486]

Sony has a 17 in. out? How much is that and how heavy is it? Anyways, with yoru budget, sorry, you not getting what you want. with tah budget, an ATI mobility 9000 and nVidia 440go is just a tad bit out of yoru league. Also, AMD laptsops usually have awful video chipsets.

 

[Eug]

Originally posted by: Venner
Ok. Time to get a laptop. I'm currently leaning towards a Dell Inspiron 8200 or a Compaq Presario 2100.
I genally dislike Compaq, but I borrowed a Compaq laptop for a while, and seemed fine.

Budget: $1000-$1200
Want (min.):
Screen : 15", the more res. the better.
Vid : ATI Mobility 9000 or Geforce 440 Go
CPU : P4-1.7Ghz or AMD XP1800+, AMD preferred
Mem : 384Mb min, 512Mb better
HDD : 30Gb fine, more preferred
CD : DVD Rom, combo w/CDWriter only if no additional cost
LAN : 10/100 Lan a must. WiFi a plus, but not necessary.
Ports : USB 2.0 and IEEE 1394


Notes:
- I like the Dell UltraSharp screen. Nice. Anything comparable out there?
- No idea what video chipset is in the Compaq
- If you can get it OS free for less money, that would be cool. I can get 2000 or XP Pro for free as a CompE Student. Or just
use Linux By the same token, I don't need any other software for it.
- Use for Academics/Professional, but I guarantee I will end up playing games on it, and my hobbies include 3d Modeling and Video
editing. The Sony Vaio GRX series with the 17" screen and DVD-R (not to mention multiple batteries) is really cool, just $$$$.

I can scope out a Dell for just a bit above my budget, after rebates, etc. Seems to be the same for the Compaq. Any other options, suggestions? And of course, any really rich people out there wanting to upgrade might care to sell me their "old" Notebook on the cheap, eh?
Thanks in advance!

I warn everyone who wants an Inspiron 8200: I hope you have a strong back, because you're gonna need it lugging that thing around.

 

[Gibson486]

Where are you seeing this 17 in Sony? I did not see it in best Buy. Also, 1799 seems a little to cheap. 2799 seems more feasible.

 

[IgoByte]

Originally posted by: dannybin1742
i say that sony 17" one in best buy the other week, and DAMN is it nice!!!!, nicely configured too, 512mb ram, huge screen, 30gb hd, dvd-writer, nice gfx card, and to top it off i think it was 1799, which is an awesome price for that kind of power!!

What are you talking about? Sony has a notebook out with a 17" screen? Give us the details...

 

[Baronz]

Originally posted by: IgoByte

Originally posted by: dannybin1742
i say that sony 17" one in best buy the other week, and DAMN is it nice!!!!, nicely configured too, 512mb ram, huge screen, 30gb hd, dvd-writer, nice gfx card, and to top it off i think it was 1799, which is an awesome price for that kind of power!!

What are you talking about? Sony has a notebook out with a 17" screen? Give us the details...

I know Best buy has a 16" sony at best buy, dunno bout 17" though...seems sort of large for a laptop.

And venner with those specs you're looking at something between 2000 and 2500$

 

[Gibson486]

with the 44go, he can get it for 1349 from dell(shipping not included). Its actually a good deal if you ask me. no USB2.0, disk drive, or combo drive though, but that price, it beats half the notebooks on the market.

 

[IgoByte]

Recommendation:

For your price range, either wait for a deal on the Inspiron 8200 or get one of those HP notebooks over at Staples.

@ Staples:
HP Pavilion ZE5200: P4 2.0Ghz (desktop proc., I think), 15.0" SXGA+ screen, 512MB PC2100 DDR SDRAM, 40GB HDD, DVD-CDRW Combo Drive, Floppy Drive, 56K & NIC, ATI mobility Radeon, XP pro
Total: $1634.00 - $200.00 IR + $75 shipping + tax - $100.00 HP MIR

@ Staples (#2):
HP Pavilion ZE4000: P4 1.7Ghz (mobile), 15.0" SXGA+ screen, 512MB PC2100 DDR SDRAM, 20GB HDD, DVD-CDRW Combo Drive, 56K & NIC, ATI mobility Radeon, XP Pro
Total: $1489.00 - $200.00 IR + $75 shipping + tax - $100 HP MIR

Personal Recommendation: IBM ThinkPad A Series
P4 1.8Ghz (mobile), 15" SXGA+ screen, 128MB PC2100 DDR SDRAM (upgrade it yourself, it's cheaper), 30GB HDD, XP Pro, DVD-CDRW Combo Drive
Total: $1884.00 + shipping + tax from IBM directly or else look for it at www.warehouse.com. 256MB PC2100 DDR SODIMM: $72.89 @ crucial
http://www2.warehouse.com/product.asp?pf_id=CP19760&cat=pc&blind=

 

[OverVolt]

err read this Ghz dupe on Dell Smartstep250. If i were you i wouldn't buy a desktop processor inside a laptop since it will run much slower off battery power. As for gaming on a laptop get a Nvidia 440go or a radeon mobility7000 are all good video chipsets. $1200 is a tight budget for a laptop and your min specs are a dream there.

 

[Fjive]

get a 5400rpm hdd for your laptop, do not go for the 4200rpm

i think 5400rpm drives are available from 40gb onwards....

even if you have a p4 proc ... the whole laptop will be slow down by the hdd...so get the best u can get...

 

[Venner]

Hmmm. Thanks for the advice all. After careful consideration, I think I am going to wait a few months on the laptop & have a little more to spend on it (and there are some nice things like the Geforce4 4200 go coming out!) Also, I should have mentioned that I could get a laptop from Dell or HP/Compaq tax & shipping free, but oh well

For right now I'm going to get something for the ol' desktop to tide me over and keep the tech-hunger at bay. Either a new hard drive or maybe a DVD writer. Anyone seen the significantly Sony DRU500A cheaper than $350? That'd be the ideal writer since it is fast and can do both DVD-R amd DVD+R. Of course, my video card has gotten very dated now... Ack, decisions, decisions. I should just put my money into a Bond so I can't spend it!

Oh, BTW, the Sony Vaio with the big screen is 16.1" viewable, but the sticker on it in BestBuy says 17". Still a mighty fine machine. www.sonystyle.com