Need a laptop for school in the fall. A few questions to help in my search..Thanks!

[CichliSuite]

Rather than post this in the Hot deals forum and have everyone piss down my throat, I decided to post here - the I WANNA thread there is never read, and I guess this is the next best place to ask away.

I am going to law school in the fall, and would like to purchase a decent laptop that would allow me to word process and perform ethernet tasks. I know a good deal about desktops/towers, but I've never ever bothered to learn about the laptop market.

1. At what range would I find the best bang for the buck? The top of the line is obviously out of reach and overpriced for what I want, but I'd rather not buy a p200 and end up throwing it out the window out of frustration. I'd be willing to spend up to $7-800, especially if its a good deal.

2. Are there any brands to watch out for? To look for? I've heard that IBM Thinkpads are excellent, but I'm sure they carry a premium price. Perhaps a parallel exists to desktop technology where an AMD duron/athlon system can provide as much computing power for a much better price?
3. If #2 is indeed true, are there any brands where AMD has been incorporated and used well?
4. Are there any deals you know of now, that I should definitely consider?

Thanks a bunch everyone. I really hope someone responds. I know nothing about laptops...really nothing!



Cichlisuite

 

[Hoober]

All I can say is good luck trying to find a laptop for under $1000. Or at least trying to find a somewhat decent one for that price. Just look around at Dell or Gateway. I've got a Gateway and I've never had problems with it.

 

[Workin']

I'm guessing you mean a USED laptop, for under $800 or whatever.

Against my better judgement for helping a future bloodsucker , well just tell me you are going to be a lawyer that saves rainforests and helps little old ladies....

You should be able to find something more than halfway decent for that much. A nice PII or Celeron, 13 or 14 inch TFT screen, it won't play DVD's or 3D games, but it will be good for everything else.

I'm typing this on an IBM Thinkpad 760XL, P166, that I got used for a couple hundred bucks off e-bay. I would really look at getting an IBM, mine's 4 years old and still is in perfect shape. Built to last, and I think IBM's laptop LCD panels are the best you can get, bright and sharp.

 

[RossMAN]

With a budget of $700-$800 and if you're looking for a brand new laptop it's doubtful you'll be able to find an IBM, Dell or Toshiba. Your best bet is to:

1) Build a cheap but fast AMD Duron desktop that would give you without a doubt the most bang for your buck but this also takes time to find the right components, the right prices, time and knowledge to assemble the PC also. This without a doubt will give you the most bang for your buck! I love that saying can you tell?

2) Buy a pre-built PC either Dell or Gateway. Here are two systems worth checking out:

Dell Dimension L with FREE CD-RW or $75 Rebate

Without monitor $629-$75 rebate = $554
With 17" monitor $789-$75 rebate = $714

Dimension® L Series
Intel® Celeron at 800 MHz
Memory: 128MB SDRAM
Keyboard: QuietKey® Keyboard
Monitor: Video Ready w/o Monitor
Video Card: Intel 3D AGP Graphics
Hard Drive: 20GB Value Hard Drive
Floppy Drive: 3.5 in Floppy Drive
Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® Millennium (Windows Me)
Mouse: MS IntelliMouse®
Broadband Ready/Ethernet Network Card: No Network Card
Modem: 56K PCI Data Fax Modem for Windows
CD ROM/CD-RW: FREE UPGRADE! 8x/4x/32x CD-RW Drive (Mail-in Rebate Not Available)
Sound: SoundBlaster 64V PCI LC Sound Card
Speakers: PC Speakers
Bundle Software: New Microsoft® TM Works Suite 2001 with Money 2001 Standard
Norton Antivirus® at no additional charge: Norton Antivirus® 2001
Digital Music: Dell Jukebox powered by MusicMatch 6.0
Digital Imaging Software: Image Expert® 2000, Dell Edition ($0)
Limited Warranty, Services and Support Options: 1 Year Ltd. Warranty, 1 Year At Home Service, 1 Year 24x7 Phone Support
Internet Service Options at no additional charge: 6 Month AOL Membership (add $0)

Gateway Essential 1000

$799 without monitor
$969 with 17" monitor

Intel® Pentium® III Processor 1GHz (1000MHz)
128MB SDRAM
20GB Ultra ATA Hard Drive
20X/48X CD-ROM
Integrated Intel® 3D Graphics
15" Color Monitor (13.8" viewable)
Integrated Enhanced Audio
GCS300 Speakers
Integrated 56K Voice Modem¹
One Year of America Online® Internet Access (new members only. additional phone charges may apply.)²

3) One of the best bargains is a refurbished Dell which is usually a still new Dell which was returned within their first 30 day money back guarantee period. These are all inspected, hard drives wiped clean, software re-installed and they carry the same warranty as their new computers. So you could also pick up a refurbished Dell desktop or laptop. I don't recommend refurbished or used laptops but they only have 1 refurbished laptop that is under $1,000. A refurbished Dell desktop is the way to go either a Dimension L or 4100 series.

4) Check the Hot Deals forum and search for either laptop or notebook. There are a few brand new HP and Compaq laptops available for around $800.

5) If you can spend a little more, the best bang for your buck laptop is the IBM ThinkPad T20 for $1,309 that's a smokin' hot deal!

Hope this helps!

 

[RossMAN]

Oops I knew I forgot one last option you could get a really stripped bare but brand new Dell Inspiron 2500 laptop for only $999

$1,049 - $50 rebate = $999

Intel®Celeron? Processor 700 MHz
12.1" SVGA TFT Display
Memory: 64MB,SDRAM,1DIMM
Primary Hard Drive: 5GB Ultra ATA Hard Drive
Floppy Drive: Modular Floppy Drive
Operating System Software: Microsoft®Windows® Millennium (Windows Me)
Modem: Internal 56K Capable V.90 Fax Modem
Fixed CD/DVD Drives: 24X Max Variable CD-ROM Drive
Setup Video: Inspiron 2500 Setup Video
Bundled Software: Microsoft® Works Suite 2001
Anti-Virus: Norton Antivirus®2001
Primary Battery: 27 WHr Lithium-Ion 4Cell Battery
Service and Support Options: 1 Yr Ltd. Warranty-1 Yr Mail-in Service + 1 Yr Phone Support
Internet Access Service at no additional charge: 6 Month Dellnet by MSN® Internet Access
Digital Imaging Software: Image Expert® 2000, Dell Edition ($0)

 

[kd7fhd]

If you're going to go the gateway or dell route, make sure you check into the student discounts they give.

 

[CichliSuite]

Thanks a bunch for the tips.

Workin': Actually I do plan on being one of those lawyers. I will be attending Cardozo which is home to the famed Innocence Project run by Barry Scheck - the clinical program that has used DNA evidence to overturn over 40 deathrow convictions. I am going to be a part of that, and we'll see where I go from there.....

Everyone: Thanks a bunch for the calibration. I guess that I shoul dbe looking for used ones now. . I am familiar with the T20 and the T21 since my temporary job before law school has been installing them for executives within a pharmaceutical company. I think the are beautiful, but I never thought about their price. I play with about 10 a day. Kinda ironic, no?

Rossman, thanks for the hot deals tips, I will look in the Hot Deals section.

Kd7fhd, excellent point about student discounts. I will definitely look into it. How much of a discount do they give anyway? Are the discounts significant or more of a marketing thing?


Thanks again everyone!

 

[CichliSuite]

By the way, what is TFT? Some sort of LCD technology?

 

[Burn]

http://www.jandr.com/JRProductPage.process?RestartFlow=t&Merchant_Id=1&Section_Id=244&pcount=&Product_Id=1588516&Sort=Current_Price

$1000 bucks for this

 

[rmblam]

IMO you don't need much. I have a Presario 1685 laptop from compaq that would meet your needs just fine. It has a 380mhz K6-2, 12inch TFT, and surprisingly a DVD player. I added 64MB of RAM to get it up to 128MB.

I would go for a Dell or Toshiba myself, but aside from lack of Windows 2000 support my compaq works nicely. I am just stuck using 98se; which I am not happy about at all.

The prices are falling nicely so I expect you might get a decent excess model that places might have left laying around. Compaq has a decent excess new 12XL325 model for $999 right now (as an example). The specs are not bad: Just keep shopping and watch the refurbs from the manufacturers. You'll find a good deal.

Make sure you play with a few models to see which ones you like the "feel" of. Touchpad or stick? Large screen or smaller ok? It all depends on you....


PRESARIO 12XL325

QuickSpecs
Compaq Presario 12XL325
1200 Series Internet Notebook PC
September 2000
Model Presario 12XL325
Compaq P/N - A99376-003
UPC - 720591465094
Standard Features
Dimensions & Weights
(H x W x D) Unit: 1.71" x 12.2" x 10.08" (7.3 lbs.)
Package: 15.0" x 17.13" x 7.68" (13.3 lbs.)
Processor Intel®Pentium® III processor 650 MHz
System Bus 100 MHz System Bus
Cache 256KB L2 On-chip Cache
Display 13.3" TFT Display
System Memory 64 MB 100 MHz SyncDRAM, shared memory architecture, upgradable to 320 MB - 4 MB dedicated for video memory
Hard Drive 6.0 GB hard drive 1
DVD-ROM Drive 8X DVD-ROM Drive 2
Integrated Modem 56K ITU V.90 PCI modem 3
Multimedia Graphics Trident CyberBlade 3D Graphics with 4 MB shared video memory (user-configurable to 2 MB, 4 MB or 8 MB)
High-performance 3D graphics
Maximum internal resolution of up to 800 x 600 x 16M; with external monitor - 1280 x 1024 non interlaced
24-bit color provides up to 16M brilliant colors
Video player (AVI, MPEG2 and others)

Compaq Audio JBL Pro audio speakers with Bass Reflex

Battery/Power Supply High-capacity LiIon Battery




There is an ok Dell for $780 in the refurb area.

Inspiron 3800 (Service Tag No. DXSWD01)
Inspiron 3800 Notebook, Celeron® processor, 600MHz Featuring Speedstep? ,12.1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

System Price $980.00
Promotion Discount ($200.00)
Discounted Price $780.00
Promotion End Date Jun 28, 2001

Memory: 64MB SDRAM (1 DIMM)
Floppy Drive: Removable modular 1.44 MB Floppy Diskette Drive
Hard Disk Drive: 5 GB EIDE Hard Drive (4200 RPM)
NoteBook Screen: 12.1 Notebook Screen
Modem: Internal Modem V.90 56K
CD ROM Drive: 24X Max Variable CD-ROM Drive (modular)

 

[Workin']

TFT = Thin film transistor, aka "active matrix" = bright, clear display

Whaterver you do, don't ge a lappy that has a passive matrix, dual-scan, HPA, or anything like that. The screens are dull and dim with mega ghosting.

 

[kylef]

I found my HP Omnibook 6000 with a PIII-600 and 128 megs of RAM for about $1225 brand new. It's got a sweet 14.1" TFT screen.

Good laptop deals are out there, if you search enough. I almost bought a Thinkpad 370e PIII 450 with a 13.3" screen for $995 at the LA Computer Center.

Also, computers4sure has good deals on Celeron notebooks every now and then... About a month ago they had an HP Pavilion notebook with a Celeron 500 and 13" TFT for $799. The Pavilion laptops are fairly heavy, though.

 

[mcveigh]

check with your school, sometimes they have a deal direct from the manufacturer for students.

I like dell and IBM

get a refurbished one if you have too, just do it from a reputable dealer. a friend just got a refurbished ibm p3 500 6 gb hd for 900 bucks

so it can be done

 

[wyvrn]

I have used Compaq, Dell, IBM, and Toshiba and would recommend all of them.

Well I could not resist, so here is the laptop I am trying to sell in the FS/T forum. Let me know if you have any interest, I am negotiable

For my references, check my sig

But if you absolutely must have a TFT screen, please check here.

 

[Workin']

Not to pee on wyvrn's party, but if you are smart you would never even let the terms "passive matrix", "hpa", or "dual-scan" cross your lips let alone be so dumb as to buy one. Every time you look at that nasty screen you will be reminded of what a cheap idiot you were. They don't look so hot when they are new and as they age they get even worse. On a TFT screen, if 1 pixel goes bad, it's just a little dot on your screen. On a passive screen, if a pixel goes out you lose a whole row or column. Not that you'd notice because it is so blurry anyway...