Thinking of buying a new laptop. Need recommendations.

[MWink]

Well, I'm thinking about buying a new laptop again. I'm pretty much looking for the most bang for the buck. Right now I will consider almost any brand. I plan to spend about $1800, maybe up to $2000 (MAX). I'm looking for a "desktop replacement". I don't care about weight or battery life (to a point).

My primary concern is the video chip. I would strongly prefer an ATI Radeon 7500 w/64MB DDR. I could settle for a GeForce 4 GO or Radeon 32MB (maybe even as low as a GeForce 2 GO, absolute MIN). I also want a 15" screen (1024x768 or 1280x1024 (higher res is not better)). I don't really care what CPU it has. Actually I would rather a P3-M over a P4. Speed does not matter as long as it is 1GHz+.

I want at least 256MB RAM though it does not have to come with it if it is cheaper to add it myself. I also want at least a 30 or 40GB HD (and as with RAM, if it's cheaper to upgrade it myself, I will do that). As for the optical drive, I want a 8X CD-RW at the least (I would like a CD-RW/DVD combo drive if possible) (speed is not important). It also need built in 56k modem and LAN (most have that).

I want a 1 year warranty min. I don't care at all about software. I would actually perfer if it came with no software or OS. So, what do you recommend? I will probably buy it sometime in the next month. Right now I'm leaning toward the Dell Inspiron 8100 but that depends on the next set of offers (as the current ones expire in 2 days). (BTW Rossman, don't even say it!!!)

 

[SteelCityFan]

Why would you say higher res is not better?

Have you seen a 1600x1200 laptop screen compared to a grainy looking 1024x768 laptop screen?

 

[MWink]

Higher resolution is not better because I don't like things too small. I run 800x600 on a 17" monitor and 1024x768 on a 19" monitor. I have used high res laptops and I don't really like it. 1280x1024 is quite small on a 15" LCD. I can't imagine 1600x1200 on a 15" screen.

 

[evergreen96]

Dell Inspiration 8100 series about $1129 after rebate has all of the stuff you want plus you get memory and Hd updrages for FREE

.......or 8200 $1499

Purchase any new InspironTM 8100 notebook ONLINE and take $250 OFF your final system price with mail-in rebate!

Scroll down for more offer details.

Rebates are redeemable after purchase at regular system price (before rebate price).

Rebate offer valid on new Inspiron 8100 notebooks purchased online by 4/24/02 11PM CT. Rebate coupon must be postmarked by June 5, 2002. Rebate checks are ordinarily processed within 8-10 weeks.

Specifications, availability and terms of offer subject to change without notice. Offer valid on new U.S. Dell Home Systems Co. system purchases online only. Dell cannot be responsible for errors in typography or photography.

Inspiration



Other Notebook I would considering would be the ChemBook and Winbook

 

[hans007]

the new compaq presario 2800 is $1400 on their site after coupon. the $1400 config has


1.4 p4
128mb ddr
14" xga
24x cdrom
5.7 pounds
lan/modem
20 gigs
radeon 7500 32mb

you can upgrade everything, an upgrade to 15" xga is $50 , 15" xga+ is $100, uxga is $200 , processor upgrades are there up to 1.7 ghz, dvd is $60, $150 more i think for a 64mb radeon. etc.

 

[MazerRackham]

Dude, you're gettin' a Dell!

 

[MWink]

<< Dude, you're gettin' a Dell! >>



My response to the Dell guy:

"Dude, you're getting a bullet in the head!"

 

[jcmkk]

This Toshiba looks nice! The only bad thing about it is the 32MB GeForce 4 GO. This Gateway is also very nice. It even has a 15.7" screen, but only a 20GB HD. The Dells actually don't look too appealing to me right now. Usually those are the notebooks I recommend.

 

[MWink]

BTW, does anyone know how the GeForce 4 GO 32MB compares to the Radeon 7500 64MB? I'm much more inclined to go with the ATI as I had a laptop with the GeForce 2 GO and it had some major problems. Also, even in my desktop systems I have had trouble with nVidia cards while ATI cards work perfectly (including the Radeon 8500 when it first came out!).

 

[envisioncs]

I noticed yesterday that Gateway and Alienware both have P4-M laptops with DDR memory. I don't know any more than that, but it sure sounds promising.

Gateway Link: link

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: MWink


I want a 1 year warranty min. I don't care at all about software. I would actually perfer if it came with no software or OS. So, what do you recommend? I will probably buy it sometime in the next month. Right now I'm leaning toward the Dell Inspiron 8100 but that depends on the next set of offers (as the current ones expire in 2 days). (BTW Rossman, don't even say it!!!)

Wait a sec, I thought you were Mr. Dell sucks?

 

[kuk]

This fits your needs nicely ...

$1799 (after rebate) gets you:

Toshiba Satellite Notebook with Intel® Pentium® III Processor 1.1GHz

Intel® Pentium® III processor 1.1GHz, with 100MHz system bus; 512MB SDRAM for multitasking power
15" UXGA ASV display
40.0GB hard drive
DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drive; SmartMedia slot; Secure Digital card slot
nVidia GeForce4 440 Go graphics controller, with 32MB DDR external VRAM video memory
Integrated 10/100 Ethernet LAN card
Built-in Harman/Kardon stereo speakers with subwoofer
V.90 high-speed fax modem
Weighs approx. 7 lbs./about 1.8" thin for easy portability; rechargeable, removable LiIon battery

Edit: Damn you jcmkk! Got there before I did ... oh well

 

[rudder]

This one.. Just look at the gaming benchmarks. I am considering ditching my desktop and busted HP notebook and snagging one of these.

 

[MWink]

Wait a sec, I thought you were Mr. Dell sucks?

Shhh... Quiet!!!

/kicks thread under the rug and looks around the room suspiciously.

(I decided to give them another chance. After all I have had a whole year to cool down.)


As for the Toshiba, NO WAY! I just worked on the S504 (lower end model of the same series) and it is suck. It's huge (bigger than the Inspiron 8x00), the keyboard sucks, the battery life is terrible (1 hour), and it has a desktop chip (which runs too hot).

As for the Compaq, I just couldn't stand the idea of owning something with Compaq's name on it (even if it isn't made by Compaq).


I guess I should have mentioned that I already got a laptop. I went with the Inspiron 8200 (I thought the 8100 was no longer available :| ). So far I'm very VERY happy with it. They seem to have worked out most of the bugs that were in the I8000 I had last year. I have been really impressed with the performance. I was able to run UT at the LCD's native resolution (1400x1050) with no noticable slow down! I can also tell that the P4-M really does run cooler. I have not seen the fans go to full speed once by themselves. (even when playing UT). If you want to see the specs look in my sig.