• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Thinking about getting a laptop...

G

gentobu

Golden Member
Im looking for a laptop with a decent amount of power. Right now Im seriously considering this Dell 8100. I was just wondering if this is a good deal. Also what is the difference between superxga+ and ultraxga? thanks in advance
 
SyahM: I'm not a mac person...

Ryan: I like the way that one looks too, only thing is that the screen is too small 12"

ElFenix: I will be doing light graphics work (flash, some 3d modeling), im also learning how to program so I will probably be doing that on it as well. And of course the occasional round of CS or something. I already have a fairly good desktop so I just want something that I can take with me that will be able to do most of the things that I can do on the home machine. As of now that dell seems to fit everything that im looking for (power,price, screen size) so Im wondering if there is any other brands that I should be checking out.
 
sxga+ is 1400 x 1050 native resolution

uxga is 1600 x 1200 native resolution

Both look superb with ClearType enabled in WinXP.

I've had terrible luck with Dell notebooks insofar as quality of construction is concerned. Oddly enough it seems that qc is worst on their higher end Inspirons.

I don't know if you're going to be thrilled with any notebook for 3D modeling or Flash. I guess it depends on how aggressively you'll use it. If there's any way for you to actually get your hands on the candidate machines to test them with the software you'll be using, I'd highly recommend it. Remember that Dell has a 30 day return for refund policy, unless that has changed. Don't hesitate to return a poor specimen. They don't age well.

Other manufacturers you might consider: Toshiba (Tecra, or even Satellite Pro), IBM or HP. Look at the specs carefully -- especially video. You can't upgrade them. (Well, that's true of almost all notebooks.) And, like I said, get your hands on them if you can. Test them on your lap, on a tabel / desk, in the kind of lighting conditions you expect to exist where you do your work. If the human factors design doesn't fit you, a notebook can be horrible to work with. If the ergonomics suit you, they can be wonderful tools. I've been using notebooks for many hours every day since they had 8088 chips in them. I've been happiest with Toshibas. But HPs look very good (haven't had any, though), and IBMs are excellent (had two that were perfect).

- Collin
 
I purchased the Inspiron 8000 back in late April, and I've been so satisfied with it. It really is the desktop replacement. I got it with the UXGA screen, so 1600x1200 is fabulous! Although you do have to like a really really tiny desktop. 🙂

As far as stability and performance, I reformatted it when I got it (it had crappy WinME on it), put Win2k, ran great for 5 months and I just put WinXP on it a few weeks ago, with no hitches. My only gripe is that it gets a bit hot if you put it on your lap after a while, but thats normal.

Definitely a good choice to purchase the 8100 though.
 
If you get an Inspiron 8100 or one of the higher end Toshiba Satellites, you can get a Geforce2Go video card inside. It's not desktop fast, but it's comparable to a Geforce2 MX for 3D applications.

I do some 3d CAD work on mine and it's more than adequate. It also plays Wolfenstein quite well at 1024x768.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top