Teach me quick!

[Hermskii]

I'm about to buy a laptop for my wife. I'm up to speed on full size desktop CPUs but I don't know a thing about how to compare the mobil chips that come in laptops like Centrinos vs AMD vs Pentium M chips and all. I tend to lean towards AMD but not if Pentium has a better laptop chip in it for the money or just by design.

I'll buy from www.frys.com most likely. They have Toshiba, HP and all the big names. I could order from Dell. Please throw me a bone. I need quick advice. I'm looking to spend about $1,400 total.

Comparison site links would be good too. I'm in a big hurry to do this by end of this weekend. Thanks!

 

[Cooler]

If you want dual core for laptops then you want an Intel.
P-M are on par clock for clock with AMD chips.

 

[DrMrLordX]

I agree with Cooler. The upcoming Yonah processors will help Intel hold on to their lead in the laptop market. Dell will probably have Yonah laptops shortly after the processors are available, which should be January 6th. I guess that's tomorrow.

 

[themusgrat]

In laptops, Mobile Intels rock, especially the new dual core ones... Like the guys above said. But so you know, AMD is said to be concentrating on the laptop market this year, more so than ever before, though it will be a year or two before we see anything.

 

[cheesehead]

The Pentium-M is a dandy processor. If you're spending 1,400$, I'd wait for Yonah.
IBM is generally the way to go for laptops. NewEgg sells them at a reaonable price.

 

[Furen]

I'd say Yonah too (you'll see this as Core Duo/Solo)...

 

[scottish144]

Turion PWNS Pentium M
http://www.laptoplogic.com/resources/detail.php?id=17

 

[DrMrLordX]

Turion processors are fine, but when will the dual-core Turion procs come out? For now, if you want dual-core in the laptop, it's Yonah or nothin.

 

[DrMrLordX]

Oh look, Anandtech just reviewed a Yonah laptop. Check it out here:

http://www.anandtech.com/mobile/showdoc.aspx?i=2663

 

[Viditor]

The platform will probably be the most important part of your choice...
Turions are about the same speed and battery draw as the Dothan (single core P-M), but the Yonah is the only dual core available.
The question is, how will you use the laptop?
Will it be mainly a desktop replacement (DTR) or will it be carried arond a lot?
Will you use it for games?
Do you want 64 bit?
Do you want a wide screen?
What kind of warranty do you need?

There are a LOT of questions to ask...

BTW, you absolutely won't get a Yonah based system in that price range...

 

[carlosd]

Yonah if you want dual core
Turion if you want single core

 

[Viditor]

Buying from Fry's, and keeping the limit at $1400, My suggestions are:
This one
Or this one

Both the Centrino and the Turion systems are about 8 lbs (which can be a bit heavy if you are carrying them around alot), but they both have 17" WS WXGA screens.
The Centrino is a bit pricier, and maybe just a hair slower (lower clockspeed), but you won't notice the difference...

 

[Hermskii]

I won't use it. My wife will. She'll email, surf web,
It will be a desktop replacement that my wife won't carry around a lot.
It will not be used for games.
I want 64bit but my doesn't care.
I want a wide screen but my wife doesn't care.
We don't care about the warranty so much.
Again, this laptop is for my wife.
It won't need dual chips.
It will be plugged in usually.
eBay is not an option for her.

What is the difference between Centrino and and Pentium M?
What is the difference between Turion and AMD64?

 

[Avalon]

Centrino is just a brand name that means that the laptop is using a certified Intel chipset, integrated Intel wireless, and a Penitum-M processor.

Turions are similar to A64s in that they use the same K8 core, but do not have dual channel memory bandwidth. They are also binned for low voltage. They perform close to an A64.

 

[Viditor]

Originally posted by: Hermskii
I won't use it. My wife will. She'll email, surf web,
It will be a desktop replacement that my wife won't carry around a lot.
It will not be used for games.
I want 64bit but my doesn't care.
I want a wide screen but my wife doesn't care.
We don't care about the warranty so much.
Again, this laptop is for my wife.
It won't need dual chips.
It will be plugged in usually.
eBay is not an option for her.

What is the difference between Centrino and and Pentium M?
What is the difference between Turion and AMD64?

She will probably appreciate the 17" screens on the models I linked. Of those 2, I would choose the HP for her...it's $1200, and does everything she'll need for years to come.

 

[Hermskii]

OK! I think I have gathered enough info to make the decision but I'll be taking her for a drive by today. She'll certainly prefer one over the other we'll see. Later and thanks everyone!

 

[Hermskii]

So here is what I got and let me say that the picture does zero justice as it is actually a very attractive laptop.

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/HP-Pavil...atOid/-12963/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

It is an HP Laptop. It has a Turion64 2Ghz processor. It has 100GB hard drive. It has 1GB 2700 DDR ram. It has a wide screen for the DVD movies (15.4 in). It came with Windows XP Media Edition OS. It has built in lan and wireless lan network cards. It has an 8X DVD Reader/Burner w/ lightscribe, CD Rom Reader/Burner. It has tons of expansion ports, media card readers, USB2 ports, a firewire port, TV out port, 56k modem, and finally it has a Radeon Express 200M video card that produces right at 100FPS while playing UT and looks great!

This second. I am very happy with the purchase. My wife loves it. I went AMD for the 64 bit capabilities for the future programs.