Notebook Comparison

[nate83]

Leaving for college and probably want a notebook cuz I don't want to take up my whole dorm room with my comp. I'm looking at the Dell Inspiron 8000 series, but I'm open to other manufacturers. Just looking for some general advice from people who already own this system, and wondering if there was a notebook video shootout anywhere? How much actual performance is gained by 32mb GeForce Go over 16 mb version, etc. I know all about desktop video but I've never seen a comparison for laptops. Also, if anyone would like to explain the difference between SXGA+ and UXGA I would be happy to learn. Thanks.

 

[nate83]

Also, anyone know of the arrival date of the Tualatin mobile proc. from Intel, or if Dell will ever carry Athlon 4 (I know that's just a wet dream, haha)

 

[bacteria]

nate, you going to college to study or play quake eh? ditch the geforcego. and get a sony SR notebook, that way you arms won't fall-off, what they will most likely do if you have to carry that 10pound dell

 

[nate83]

Hmm... there could be studying involved, but I'm not quite sure yet. I know the little sony's look bomb, but I want a real computer (i.e. full both gaming and professional performance). If I decide to give up video games, maybe, but I'm more interested in any comments anyone has on the performance of the Inspiron 8000 or its competitors, or in comparison between mobile graphics chipsets.

 

[RossMAN]

Just bear in mind that the Dell Inspiron 8000 is a desktop replacement so it's not meant for portability and we're not kidding when we say your arm will fall-off. Since portability/price doesn't seem to be an issue I'd get the Inspiron 800 or the IBM A series. Go to the Hot Deals forum search for IBM and click on any link which mentions ThinkPad A... I have seen some LOADED IBM A series laptops (P3/850/128/32GB HD/15"TFT/DVD/Windows2000) for like $1,649 awesome price if you ask me.

 

[hans007]

the new sony sr33k for $999 is cheap. especially with the included cdrom that is like $200 alone. its on sony's site. good if you want a 3 pound laptop

 

[jaywallen]

Aw, come on, guys! What gamer (or any other computing aficionado) isn't willing to carry a 10 pound notebook? Sheesh! I'm an old man. Hell, I'm ancient! I carry a Dell I7500 around with me all the time. It's as big as, or bigger than, the I8000. I also carry 20 plus pounds of accessories with me, too. Come on! Get out there and pump a little plastic, will ya?



Seriously, nate83, if you have a bad back or rotator cuff problems, get a lighter machine. Otherwise, enjoy the fact that you're young and strong and can carry a desktop replacement. (BTW, the danged things aren't really desktop replacements. No matter how much the twits who market them claim otherwise. I say that, and yet I hardly use anything else for personal use. But they are NOT desktop replacements -- yet.)

BTW, SXGA+ is 1400 x 1050, and UXGA is 1600 x 1200. They are both outstanding screens. They're going to look even better under WinXP with ClearType. Unless you have eye problems, go for the gold! You young whippersnappers should be able to see even small text easily on the UXGA screen. Besides, it's a more "standard" resolution than 1400 x 1050. If you have games that run at 800 x 600, that is an integral multiple of pixels (2) for interpolation, so you won't see as much degradation of video quality from not running at the native resolution.

It's the ATI video display subsystems, though, that have interpolation down best. But the GeForce Go is going to be the ticket if you're serious about gaming.

Have fun with the new toys, and don't forget to study!

Regards,
Jim