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What is the best laptop in the $2000-3000 range?

C

creation

Senior member
Just found out that I'm required to buy a laptop for NYU. So you guys have any good ones in mind? I want something that will not become a dinosaur in a 2-3 years.
 
IBM All the way... I wouldn't buy anything else. My dad is on his 3rd Thinkpad, and loves evey minute of it. Couple a nice Thinkpad with a docking station/port replicator, file/print server, and a broadband connection of your choice... mmmm 🙂
 
I've been looking around, and am leaning towards Dell over IBM. I like the swapable (sp?) devices (ZIP 250, CDRW, etc). Especially the ZIP, I use my zip drive for everything. I also like the built in ethernet/modem.
 
creation - I would go with either Dell or IBM, will you be carrying around the laptop a lot (i.e. from class to class) or will it mostly stay in your dorm? I'm asking because weight may be a big factor. Both Dell and IBM have some great offers going on right now, the Dell offer expires tonight I believe.

What are the minimum specs you'd like to have in a laptop? Will you be doing any gaming on it? Is a DVD or CD-RW important to you?
 
First off I wanna thank everyone for your help.



<< creation - I would go with either Dell or IBM, will you be carrying around the laptop a lot (i.e. from class to class) or will it mostly stay in your dorm? I'm asking because weight may be a big factor. Both Dell and IBM have some great offers going on right now, the Dell offer expires tonight I believe.

What are the minimum specs you'd like to have in a laptop? Will you be doing any gaming on it? Is a DVD or CD-RW important to you? >>



I will be carrying this laptop around all day- i don't live in the dorms. Minimum specs for me would be at least 800mhz, preferably around 1 gig or more, and dvd is required, but cdrw is not as important. I was always thinking of buying only IBMs and Dells for their style and design.
 
NYU now requiring you to buy a laptop?...dang..they get more expensive every year, plus they buying up so much property too...glad to be outta there...hehe..

IBM Thinkpads are awesome!...they run linux smoothly too!
I've had a 600x and a T20...both are kickass! 😀
 


<< NYU now requiring you to buy a laptop?...dang..they get more expensive every year, plus they buying up so much property too...glad to be outta there...hehe..

IBM Thinkpads are awesome!...they run linux smoothly too!
I've had a 600x and a T20...both are kickass! 😀 >>

Uhhh... i'm not going for undergraduate
 
<< Man I hate thinkpads...get a Vaio. >>

isnt VAIOs a lot more expensive?

Yes Sony VAIO's are easily a lot more expensive, they are good if you want something ultralight but I have heard their warranty/RMA policies suck compared to Dell and IBM. If you have A LOT of cash to blow and don't care about warranty then I would consider a Sony but a Dell or IBM will give you a lot more bang for your buck.

Here's what I have narrowed it down to and it's a tough choice hopefully people will toss in their 2 cents:

1) $1,309 IBM ThinkPad T20
Intel P3/700Mhz,
128MB RAM,
12GB Hard Drive,
DVD,
14.1&quot; 1024x768 display,
TV out,
built-in Ethernet &amp; 56k Modem
Windows 2000 Pro

2) $1,532 Dell Inspiron 4000
Pentium®III processor, 700MHz 14.1&quot; XGA TFT Display
Memory: 128MB,SDRAM,2DIMMs
Primary Hard Drive: 20GB Ultra ATA Hard Drive
Floppy Drive: Modular Floppy Drive
Operating System Software: Microsoft® Windows® Millennium (Windows Me)
Modem: Internal 56K Capable V.90 + 10/100 Mini-PCI Combo
Modular CD/DVD Drives: Free! 8X Max Variable DVD-ROM Drive (Mail-in-Rebate Not Available)
Inspiron 4000 Setup Video: Dell Inspiron 4000 Setup Video
Bundled Software: New Microsoft TM Works Suite 2001 with Money 2001 Standard
Anti-virus: Norton Antivirus® 2001
Primary Battery: 53 WHr Lithium-Ion Battery with ExpressCharge?
Service and Support Options: 3 Yr Ltd. Warranty-3 Yr Mail-in Service + Lifetime Phone Support
Internet Access Service at no additional charge: 6 Month DellNet by MSN® Internet Access
Digital Imaging Software: Image Expert® 2000, Dell Edition ($0)

As tempted as I am with the IBM I like being able to configure your own Dell laptop and the ability to upgrade or downgrade your warranty (from mail in service to next business day onsite to the ultimate complete care service). However the Dell offers you A LOT of bang for your buck and their legendary &quot;high build quality&quot;. The Dell offers a FREE 8x DVD-ROM upgrade if you order by midnight central time tonight. But the IBM does come with W2K pre-installed instead of Win ME.

A lot of AnandTechers own the Inspiron 8000 which is an awesome laptop (media bays and GeForce 2 Go graphics) but it's also big, heavy and more of a desktop replacement than something you want to carry around all day long.

It's a tough choice, please don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions about either model.
 
Check the hot deals forum. There's a deal on a thinkpad thats quite nice for like $500 under msrp or something. I'd go for it, but tuition is going up and I've got to pay it all. Thinkpads are rugged as all heck. I don't know about Dells. Thinkpads also have a swappable bay, although it requires a reboot for them to function (I dont know if dells is hot swap or not). The keyboard light on thinkpads is pure genious....I don't know why other laptops don't have it.
 
Go into Best Buy and take a look at the Fujitsu C-6581. Pentium III 800 Mhz, 14.1&quot; TFT, 128 MB RAM, 20GB HD, DVD/CD-RW Drive for like $1699. It comes with a Firewire port and 4 USB's. I've always like Fujitsu laptops for their quality and the price/performance point they offer.

 
That Fujitsu laptop sounds impressive and seems to pack a lot for your buck but I couldn't find reviews on either CNET or ePinions.

Here's ePinions reviews of the Dell Inspiron 4000 laptop, of 28 reviews 89% of them recommend it.

and of 52 people who reviewed the IBM ThinkPad T20 92% of people recommend it.
 
Dell Inspiron 8000 all the way. Accept no substitues.

Yes the Inspiron 8000 is the primo laptop but it's also big, heavy, bulky and is more of a desktop replacement than a mobile laptop.
 
Thanks to everybody who replied, it's great help. Special thanks to Rossman, you the man. My friend has a fujitsu that he bought awhile ago, silver and light, very nice. However, I think I would go for Dell or IBM for there name, but I hate the weight of them, which i have to lug around the whole day. 🙁

Anyone know what's the best time to buy cheaper laptops?
 


<< check out my rig profile for my laptop and get back to me...

nate

btw 60FPS in Counter Strike at 1024x768 nuf said >>

How much did you get it for nate?
 
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