looking for LAPTOP under 800

bigben2wardpitt

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May 29, 2005
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http://www.circuitcity.com/rpsm/oid/132...ccd/productDetailSpecification.do#tabs

that computer doesnt look like too bad of a deal.

Now i sent my dell 5100 laptop to a computer place and it looks like may have found a motherboard for the computer, but if not i want to have a backup for this. I bought, a Compaq Presario V4125CL (click here for its specs),
because it was on sale (100 dollars off, and it ended that day at Costco). This comp doesnt look too bad..

Specifications:
? Intel® Cel-M 1.4GHz Processor with 1MB L2 Cache
? 512MB RAM (upgradeable to 2048MB)
? 80.0GB Hard Disk Drive
? Integrated DVD±RW (Dual Layer) Drive (Burns/Copies DVDs & CDs, and Plays DVDs & CDs)
? Audio: 16-bit Sound Blaster Pro-compatible audio; AC audio link; volume control button and mute button
? Video Graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900 128mb shared
? Touch Pad with dedicated horizontal Scroll Up/Down pad, 101-key compatible keyboard
? Lithium-Ion Battery, A/C Adapter
? 15.4-inch TFT High-Definition BrightView display (1280 x 800)
? Ports: (1) Type I/II 32-bit card bus (also supports 16-bit) PCMCIA slot, (2) Universal Serial Bus (USB) v2.0, (1) VGA (15-pin), (1) TV-Out (S-video), (1) headphone-out, (1) microphone-in, (1) RJ-11 (modem), (1) RJ -45 (LAN)
? Security: 6.45 lbs Kensington® MicroSaver lock slot, Power-on password, Accepts 3rd party security lock devices
? Integrated 56K Modem
? Integrated 10/100 Network & Wireless 54g? 802.11b/g with 125HSM/SpeedBooster? support
? Dimensions: 14.11"(W) x 10.16"(L) x1.32"(min) / 1.67"(max)(H)
? Weight: Just 2.9Kg
? Microsoft® Windows XP and Service Pack 2
? Assorted other software also bundled with this machine

Now, the same day I bought this comp. I found out that my computer guy found a motherboard for my comp and can have it ready for me in 4 days. So by tuesday he should have it in and everything, if IT WORKS! Because he has told me twice that he has had a motherboard for me, and he hasn't. He feels like i should not buy a celeron M, but i would like to know what you guys think about that..

Now if I dont get this motherboard, i want to look for another computer prob. under 800 after any deals or rebates of course. Now i gave a link to a gatway (i think) computer at the top of this post, and that looked like a pretty good deal as well.

I would like to know you opinion on this guys.
 

stevty2889

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2003
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The celeron-m doesn't have terrible performance when compared to a pentium-m at the same clock speed, it still has 1mb of cache which isn't bad at all. What the celeron-m does lack, are all the power savings features of the pentium-m, so if battery life was a major concern for you, the celeron-m is going to use up the battery a good bit faster..
 

bigben2wardpitt

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May 29, 2005
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what do u mean Hacp? Is that what u suggest? I havent seen many comps with that processor, at least in this price range. ACTUALLY the HP comp i gave a link to at the top is, u think thats what i should get instead of the compaq i have now if my dell motherboard falls through?
 

bigben2wardpitt

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May 29, 2005
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ok guys i really have a feeling this mboard thing is going to fall through, so i want to get a new laptop. so the compaq i bought, do u think i should keep that or maybe buy that HP at the top of my post or another computer?
 

Markfw

Moderator Emeritus, Elite Member
May 16, 2002
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My son got a Compaq 2410US (I think that the model number) Turion64 80 gig HD, dual-layer DVD burner, 512 meg ram for $750 AR a while back. Maybe you can find a similar deal...
 

bigben2wardpitt

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May 29, 2005
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Operating System Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP Home Edition with SP2
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Processor AMD Athlon(TM) 64 3200+ (2.0GHz/512KB L2 Cache)
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Display 15.4" WXGA Widescreen (1280x800)
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Graphics Card 128MB ATI RADEON(R) XPRESS 200M w/Hypermemory(TM)
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Memory 512MB DDR SDRAM (1x512MB)
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Hard Drive 60 GB 4200 RPM Hard Drive
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Primary CD/DVD Drive DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive
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Networking FREE Upgrade to 54g(TM) 802.11b/g WLAN w/125HSM!!
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Primary Battery 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
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Productivity Software Microsoft(R) Works/Money
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anyone else think this is a nice customized system from compaq that i customized? I think the 60gig HD is enough, i just upgraded the memory (extra open slot to upgrade) instead of the HD.

its a compaq r4000

i also upgraded the processor from the AMD 3000 to the AMD 3000 64 bit or whatever, im not really sure what that does, could anyone tell me if its important enough instead of getting more HD? like 80 gigs
 

bigben2wardpitt

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May 29, 2005
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bump, please guys please tell me what u think of the specs on the comp compared to everything else im looking at and any other comps under 800 bucks
 

allies

Platinum Member
Jun 18, 2002
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If you can wait until black friday, walmart is supposed to have a system like that hp you mentioned for $400 without rebates.
 

Philippine Mango

Diamond Member
Oct 29, 2004
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get a refurb IBM laptop, for your price range, thats about all you can get. IBM laptops are top grade and I highly recommend them (after dealing with 7+ laptops).
 

bigben2wardpitt

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May 29, 2005
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ok that black friday deal, heres the specs on that POS---

WAS up on HP the other day.
1.6 Ghz
40GB HD
15" screen
256MB Ram
6.5lbs

thats all i remember of it

thats pretty ******, i dont trust a 400 dollar laptop from walmart.

Now in terms of IBM where can i get a refurbished IBM laptop? Got any good sites? Also when i am lookign at them what should I look for that is important? processor? HD? memory?

Also alot of ppl have bad experiences with refurb. laptops, are these things going to run fast enough for me?

http://www.usanotebook.com/notebook_display_page.php?id=1102

that one looks ok, what u think? Is that proccesor better then the one i have here?--
Operating System Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP Home Edition with SP2
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Processor AMD Athlon(TM) 64 3200+ (2.0GHz/512KB L2 Cache)
edit

Display 15.4" WXGA Widescreen (1280x800)
edit

Graphics Card 128MB ATI RADEON(R) XPRESS 200M w/Hypermemory(TM)
edit

Memory 512MB DDR SDRAM (1x512MB)
edit

Hard Drive 60 GB 4200 RPM Hard Drive
edit

Primary CD/DVD Drive DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive
edit

Networking FREE Upgrade to 54g(TM) 802.11b/g WLAN w/125HSM!!
edit

Primary Battery 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
edit

Productivity Software Microsoft(R) Works/Money
edit

 

bigben2wardpitt

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May 29, 2005
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wow man, good stuff, thanks, you think thats the best in this thread? Is the turion better then the athlon and other processors?
 

Markfw

Moderator Emeritus, Elite Member
May 16, 2002
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That turion is quite a bit faster than the 2.0 ghz IBM laptops you linked, and better battery life too. My son has one and is VERY happy with it.
 

bigben2wardpitt

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May 29, 2005
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yea right now i think that laptop is my choice, even though its going to end up costing me 900 because the 50 doller rebate ends in two days, and i wont be ready by then
 

bigben2wardpitt

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May 29, 2005
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Someone around me is also selling a HP DV1000, and they are getting me more specs on it but here are some-

Great like new laptop. 80 GB 4200 RPM Hard Drive: Intel(R) Pentium(R) M Processor 750 (1.86 GHz): 14.0" WXGA BrightView Widescreen!


Still sounds like the compaq markfw900 found is better..
 

bigben2wardpitt

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May 29, 2005
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I found a slightly used comp, a HP DV1000, for 800 bucks with these specs..

Processor-Intel(R) Pentium(R) M Processor 750 (1.86
GHz)
Memory-2.0GB DDR SDRAM (2x1024MB)
Hard Drive-80 GB 4200 RPM Hard Drive
Display-14.0" WXGA BrightView Widescreen (1280x768)
Graphics Card-Intel(R) Graphics Media Accelerator 900
Primary Battery-12 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
Primary CD/DVD Drive-DVD+/-RW/R & CD-RW Combo
Networking-Integrated 56K Modem + 10/100 Ethernet LAN
Operating System-Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP

--is this one better then the computer markfw900 found?