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My sister's getting a laptop - which of these two would you choose?

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My dad's going to get my sister a laptop to replace her old Gateway P166 MMX system. I saw these two systems, and couldn't decide between the two - let me know which you think is better:

Toshiba Satellite S274
  • PIII 1.1 GHz processor
    15.0" TFT display (don't know resolution)
    256 MB SDRAM
    Trident CyberAladdin-T graphics controller, with 16MB external UMA VRAM video memory
    20 GB HDD (don't know speed)
    CD/RW + DVD combo drive
    10/100 NIC
    WinXP Pro
    7.39 lbs.
    1.7" thick
Price @ Best Buy: 1349.99 after rebates

OR...THIS ONE:

Compaq 715US
  • AMD Athlon 4 @ 1.2 GHz
    14.1" XGA TFT display
    256 MB SDRAM
    20 GB HDD (don't know speed)
    4X AGP with VIA ProSavage KN133 Graphics
    16M video memory (user upgradeable to 32MB)
    10/100 NIC
    CD/RW + DVD combo drive
    10/100 NIC
    Li-ion battery
    WinXP Home
    6.39 lbs
    1.64" thick
Price @ OfficeDepot: 12.99.99 after rebates

So, which is better? A faster proc, or a bigger display? Her main activities on the computer are word processing, email, and music, but she may be going to grad school in the near future. My dad's budget is $1,400, so if you've got another system to suggest, don't make it above that.

Thanks.
 
What video card's on them both? What type of screen (ie UXGA, SXGA, XGA)? How fast are the hard drives (ie 4200 or 5400RPM)?
 
I'd check Dell if I were you. My sister got an Inspiron 4100 and it's great, fast and very portable. You can probably find a good deal on a refurbished system through them as well.
 
Toshiba Toshiba Toshiba! Compaq's suck major major arse (speaking from experience 🙁 )

You might also want to look at the following:

Sony VAIO PCG-FXA47 w/ Athlon 4 1.0GHz, DVD/CDRW combo, 14.1 XGA TFT, 256MB RAM, ATI Rage Mobility graphics, Firewire port, 10/100 ethernet, 56k modem, LiIon battery, 7.1lbs, 2" thick, Windows XP - $1299.99 @ Best Buy
 
I don't like Toshiba normally (after warranty is up, they don't help you unless you give them your credit card number :| ),
but that Toshiba looks better than the Compaq. PIII 1.1 will have enough power, and is not a lot slower than the Athlon.
I am a sucker for big LCDs...

If she can spend a little more 1599, here is something that I just ordered (have not received it yet though):

Fujitsu Livebook with 512 MB and 15" screen

Can't say much about Fujitsu, though.
Dell would definitely be another option.
 
Ok. Well, I truthfully, would have to say from a configuration view, the Toshiba because she'll get much better battery life with a P3-M than a A4. But, I'd definately look into Dell laptops. Theyre the only ones I'd ever buy.
 
the alladinT chipset in the toshiba really sucks. It takes performance down a few notches, so that will only be about as fast as a p3-900 or so on a intel chipset.

plus that is the sat 1800 series i'm figuring and its got a desktop chip.

for $800 or so you can get her a toshiba sat 1005 with an intel chipset (still integrated graphics but faster) 1.06 ghz celeron chip (actually would be faster as this celeron is mobile, 133 bus with 256k cache, while the desktop one in the toshiba is 256k cache 100fsb older non tualatin design).


The compaq is pretty good for the price though. its got integrated graphics also, but the KN133 is still a better chipset than the alladin T
 
hm for that price u should be able to get mobil geforce video chips right? things are decently impressive🙂

hm hows the athlon for battery life now anyways?


she's gonna be using it for typing only most of the time right?

which ones quieter😛
 
compaq,

but really the two are fairly equal

some factors

compaq ways less, is thiner, costs less, and has better video card
 
My wife bought me the Compaq z700 for christmas, and it is a pleasure to use. We use it everyday. I as a owner would like to dispell the myth about the overheating problems I hear of. The one I have has never overheated. I use it, my wife uses it, the kids use it to play DVD movies off of when their friends stay over. Does it get warm, sure but never so hot that you'd have to shut it off. It's a great all around laptop, and I'd buy another if we needed it. Just my $.02.
 
Like they said, both are fairly equal. Except both are NOT true laptop IMO.
Both of them are BIG and heavy, not very portable. If your sister doesn't really play games, you might want to consider trade little speed for the weight.....Sony SR or SRX series. (or R505JL w/ docking system at Sony Direct)

Otherwise, you might save more money just buy a 15" LCD monitor and Desktop pc. 😉
 
Get the Toshiba. Bigger screen, and I can't stand the keyboards on Compaq laptops. If she is going to use it mostly for word processing, the keyboard is important, and Toshiba (along with IBM) has among the best laptop keyboards there are.

Nack
 
Well, she got the COMPAQ - and I've got to say, it's REALLY cool - I didn't expect a 14.1" display to be as large as it is - IMHO, she's not losing much screen real estate (I looked at both a 14.1 and a 15).

First thing I did, though was wipe the HDD (get rid of all the XP home Compaq/Disney crap) and installed my "unlimited license" XP-Pro (academic version).

Boots much faster now.
 
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