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New laptops: IBM T23 vs. Sony GR300 series, what do you think?

Hulk

Hulk

Diamond Member
I'm looking for a new laptop and have narrowed it down to these two. Any comments?

Important for me:
1.4" thick or less
1400x1050 screen resolution
TV out
 
I have used an IBM T21 and it was great. It was light and durable. IBM also has a kick ass warranty of 3 years that come standard. I haven't used Sony so I can't really comment on them.
 
gr series had mobile radeon faster than the savage chipset in the ibms

gr has firewire but no old school ports (the word for that escapes me)

ibm *i think* has a better warranty


 
I would have to go with the Sony as it has a 15" screen, uses the ATI chipset instead of the S3, and has a touch pad. I have played with a couple of the sony machines and currently have three deployed in our business and have not had any problems with them. I think they are a little on the heavy side, and not the quickest machines on the market.
 
Just got the GR370. Very nice lap, i have to agree the 16MB mobile radeon rocks the S3. also, the touchpad is much better then the IBM "mouse". but it doesn't come with a floppy drive, if thats important to you
 


<< Just got the GR370. Very nice lap, i have to agree the 16MB mobile radeon rocks the S3. also, the touchpad is much better then the IBM "mouse". but it doesn't come with a floppy drive, if thats important to you >>



I think you've got to be thinking about other things other than your constraints. If not, the IBM is a much higher quality laptop that is not a multimedia powerhouse in any sense. Three years warranty is standard and excellent. I have never been put on hold, and I have always talked to someone who was extremely courteous.

The only cons to my laptop are:
$$$
S3 Display
3 hour battery life
No firewire

I still love it though, and when someone offered to trade me their Powerbook 550 plus $500, I refused because my T23 was just too damn reliable, functional and more of an economically sound purchase. But that's a Mac Powerbook vs. an IBM T23. Against the Sony, I really think it comes to how much you're willing to pay and how much faith you have in that you never have a problem with the Sony.

The only other laptops that would cross my mind based on my requirements are the new P4 notebooks, and the Powerbook line. I would have been happy with the 12" iBook too🙂
 
I would seriously go with Sony. Don't buy IBM. Even though they have 3 year warranty, their product is not as good as what they are used to be. I am using A21 laptop right now and I've sent this sh!t for 3 times in 3 weeks because they couldn't fix it. I think so many people complaint that their hdd clicking. Even though now they system still crash by itself. Everytime I call them all they say is I have to send the system back to them. Don't trust their QA dept. cause whatever you complaint, they ain't do nothing about it.


If you have the old IBM, then yes it's one heck of a system but nowadays they are doing like they used to.


I would go with Sony or maybe toshiba if I want to go with laptops in the future.


Darno


ps: you could PM me if you need more detail. I can go on and on and on....






 
the sony i think has a 16mb radeon mobility and the ibm has a 16mb s3 supersavage ix. the super savage ix isnt that slow, and the radeon mobility (non 7500) really isnt that fast, the radeon is probably only 10% faster . (radeon ve core, no t&l, crippled etc).

both chips have 2 pipelines and support multitexturing so its really not that much different.
 
Thanks for all the opinions guys. I'm still not totally decided but am leaning toward the IBM side.

My wife uses a 600E at work and it's such a solid machine, and the keyboard is laid out really well.

The Sony does have the Radeon graphics, firewire port, and larger screen going for it. I checked one out briefly at CC and though the keyboard felt a bit light. Who knows though, if you have any preconceptions when checking these things out they usually come true.

The Toshiba 2000 is nice but I wanted something 1Ghz+ for a little video editing and DivX moving watching on the side. Less than 1Ghz tends to struggle with 640x480 higher bitrate DivX video.

What about buying these things off e-day? Seems like you can get a new one for a pretty good discount. Then again, you usually get what you pay for.

It's funny, everyone who responded to this thread had some really good points. Both machines are very good...

Thanks again
 
one more thing. Dont buy the portege 2000. its a p3-750 which is not that fast. but add to it that it has a the UMA ali cyberalladin-T chipset. this brings is performance down to about that of a p3-650 based laptop using the 440bx/zx/mx series.


also sony's service and support is far worse than ibm. probably one of the worst in the industry RMA wise from what i've heard. They take REALLY long.

i bought my laptop on ebay and i can say its a great place to buy laptops. Got my new in box HP zu1155 for $1000 shipped and i mailed in my $100 mail in rebate for a total of $900 . Retail is $1500 -$100 rebate, not tomention there is tax and shipping ontop of that $1400.
 


<<

What about buying these things off e-day? Seems like you can get a new one for a pretty good discount. Then again, you usually get what you pay for.

It's funny, everyone who responded to this thread had some really good points. Both machines are very good...

Thanks again >>



I bought mine from electro-depot on Ebay. $2300. I waited over a month and a half for it. Worth the wait? Eh...that's questionable. I'd much rather buy from an online retailer or from in store.
 
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