Looking for a laptop

[johnjbruin]

I am looking for a laptop in the $2500-$3500 range.

Some requirements:
MUST be sturdy and built tough.
MUST have parallel port. [edit: this is not a must - Can live without this, but the serial port is a MUST]
MUST have serial port.
Around 1.8-2.0GHz Mobile P4.
2Gig RAM
80GB+ HDD

Any suggestions are higly appreciated.

RossMan - any ideas?

 

[rh71]

You don't have to go that high for cost... just look at the Thinkpad T series.

 

[Cal166]

Originally posted by: rh71
You don't have to go that high for cost... just look at the Thinkpad T series.

+1

 

[jondercik]

Alienware 7700m maxed out.

 

[Drakkon]

Dell Latitude D810

 

[SparkyJJO]

Dell Inspiron XPS

 

[ravana]

Originally posted by: SparkyJJO
Dell Inspiron XPS

XPS2

 

[MrBond]

Thinkpad T-Series hands down. Built like a tank, super easy to use and very portable.

Not sure about parallel/serial ports on them, I'm pretty sure mine has a serial port, I have no use for a parallel port so I don't remember if I even have one

The docking station adds those ports for sure.

 

[dug777]

Toshiba if the budget stretches...

bulletpoof

my olds have worked all over the tropics with them, and they take it all without complaint.

My p120 Tecra only died last year cos a drunk/stoned yank pi$$ed on it

 

[Phoenix86]

I agree with the Thinkpad T series machines. They are ROCK solid and light, everything you want in a laptop. I support a lot of these machines and they rarely fail.

I'm about to get a T-42, it has parallel builtin, but serial is only on the docking station.

 

[Czar]

ibm's just dont have serial, but you can get a usb dongle that acts as a serial

 

[Drakkon]

Originally posted by: ravana

Originally posted by: SparkyJJO
Dell Inspiron XPS

XPS2

from the 1 i saw the thing was nothing but a giant brick o crap....i mean it had good preformance but it was heavy as heck and had so many vents and lights and things that could break...

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: Czar
ibm's just dont have serial, but you can get a usb dongle that acts as a serial

the Thinkpad A21m I'm using now has a serial and parallel... maybe it's just the T-series...

 

[imported_FishTaco]

Get the Thinkpad T series, but I don't think it has a serial port built in, you'll need a docking station or a usb to serial adapter for a serial port. It does have a built in parallel port.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

http://forums.anandtech.com/categories.aspx?catid=51

http://forums.anandtech.com/categories.aspx?catid=45

 

[SparkyJJO]

Originally posted by: ravana

Originally posted by: SparkyJJO
Dell Inspiron XPS

XPS2

yes, thats what I meant, XPS2 (thanks for clarifying )

 

[silverpig]

I'd say Thinkpad T as well, or look at the Clevo laptops. I've got one and it's great. It's got a serial port, but no parallel port though. Main thing I like is the 15.4" WS 1920x1200 screen on it

 

[imported_Phil]

Toshiba Centrino-based machine - you won't really notice the difference between that and a Mobile P4 (except in some benchmarks), and you'll get a) much better battery life (like, double), and b) a thinner, lighter, quieter and cooler (heat-wise) laptop.

 

[sisq0kidd]

IBM x40 :: drool ::

 

[DaWhim]

IBM T43

wait for X32 or X41 for lighter weight, if you are looking for ultraportable.

 

[aphex]

Thinkpad T series... I LOVE MINE!

 

[Phoenix86]

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: Czar
ibm's just dont have serial, but you can get a usb dongle that acts as a serial

the Thinkpad A21m I'm using now has a serial and parallel... maybe it's just the T-series...

I feel for you. We have gone through more A series machines (dead displays and mobos) than I care to count, all A31s though. We won't buy them anymore, something like 35% failure rate after a year...

A21s are a little older, I'd expect a serial/parallel port on those. Not sure about the current models, wouldn't touch them.

 

[Merlyn3D]

Thinkpad T series, definitely, once you get one, you'll think all other laptops are trash by comparison.

 

[sniperruff]

the crowd has spoken. a T-series with a dock.

 

[BHeemsoth]

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: Czar
ibm's just dont have serial, but you can get a usb dongle that acts as a serial

the Thinkpad A21m I'm using now has a serial and parallel... maybe it's just the T-series...

A21 is also a very old machine.

I service T40's 42's and A31's.

The two T series do not have Serial, but have parallel.

A31's have both.