What Laptop to Get

[VTboy]

A friend of mine needs to decide between these two laptops.

IBM T41

1.7 Pentium-M
14.1" SXGA
64MB Radeon 9000
512 MB RAM
60G 7200rpm HD
CDRW/DVD
$2200

vs

Dell 8600

1.7 Pentium-M
64 MB Geforce
15.4" WUXGA
512 MB RAM
DVD+RW
60G 7200rpm HD
$2200

Both are brand new

 

[Junaid0]

me, and most everyone at this site will tell u or u're friend to go w/ the t41, build quality hands down blows away the dell... only reason to get the dell is if u wana do some serious desktop work, but still need to be able to move from time to time...

the 8600 isn't nearly as portable as the t41... batterry life would be better w/ the t41 because of the smaller screen and slower HDD... (hrm, i don't know if u can get a t41 w/ that fast a HDD) so... if u're friend really NEEDS the DVD+RW get the 8600 otherwise the T41 is million times better... and checkout new egg for that same system, a comparably equipped t41 slower procesor and less ram goes for like 1859

 

[Abhi]

I own a T41 as well as a Dell 8500 (Thats a 8600 with Pentium 4M)

So i guess i am a good person to ask.

T41 is a amazingly good quality. The keyboard is a pleasure to type on.... and built quality is so good, that its not comparable to dell ...

But .... I ended up giving the t41 to my dad and sticking to my 8500... I know i am crazy. 🙂 My reasons were:

1) Amzing screen on the Dell...
2) GPU on the dell...

They are much much better than the T41 (I have the performance config btw) ...

For any other queries... PM me...

 

[aamsel]

Is your T41 the T41p or just the regular T41. I am considering the T41p, but am concerned about its screen resolution of 1400X1050. With just a 14" screen I am quite sure that fonts will be too small for my "aging eyes" at that resolution. Does this screen scale well (like down to 1024X768), or is it only ok at the native resolution?? I would like to get a model with the FireGL but a lower-resolution screen, but there are none available. Same for the R50p. No way to get a good video card and a screen that is not super high-res from what I can see. Is the build quality of the R50p as good as the T41p??
Thanks!!!
Andrew
Austin, TX

Originally posted by: Abhi
I own a T41 as well as a Dell 8500 (Thats a 8600 with Pentium 4M)

So i guess i am a good person to ask.

T41 is a amazingly good quality. The keyboard is a pleasure to type on.... and built quality is so good, that its not comparable to dell ...

But .... I ended up giving the t41 to my dad and sticking to my 8500... I know i am crazy. 🙂 My reasons were:

1) Amzing screen on the Dell...
2) GPU on the dell...

They are much much better than the T41 (I have the performance config btw) ...

For any other queries... PM me...

 

[fixthefoo]

The T41p's native screen resolution is 1400x1050, no TFT screen looks very good at any resolution other than it's native resolution. That is just a physical fact of a thin film transistor display.

 

[heresiarh]

if you want the extras, go for the dell with the bigger screen and cdrom. 2200 is a steep price.

 

[aamsel]

There does not seem to be any way to get an IBM with a decent video card and LESS than SXGA+ screen???
Andrew
Austin, TX

 

[SKC]

OP-- I didn't know that a 64mb radeon solution was available for the t41... For general notebook usage, I would get the t41 without a doubt. The build quality on the inspirons is widely variable. If you need a larger desktop-replacement-style notebook, you might consider dell, or maybe the compaq x1000 series... compaq really turned their reputation around for notebooks with this series. (Thin, light, widescreen, fantastic battery life).

Aamsel-- I have owned a dell 600m with a 14.1" sxga+ screen. I had no problems using it. Currently, though, I have a 15.4" wuxga widescreen (1920x1200), which has given me noticeable eyestrain, to the point where I may have to trade it in. Just a heads up; you may appreciate the extra real estate given to you by the higher resolution.

 

[aamsel]

I started pricing out an X1000. They "start" at $999 after rebate. By the time I got everything I wanted in one, I was well over $2,000 and hadn't even added in extra warranty or accidental protection yet. Would it be nuts to put that kind of money into an HP/Compaq product of this type??
Andrew
Austin, TX

Originally posted by: SKC...maybe the compaq x1000 series... compaq really turned their reputation around for notebooks with this series. (Thin, light, widescreen, fantastic battery life)...

 

[KevinH]

Aamsel - Yes. Pick components at their sweeet spot. You're stripping down the ram down to the minimum right? HPShopping really reams you for ram. Also, as for as cpu's go, consider the 1.5 or 1.6. at most. Personally, between a 1.3 and a 1.5 for example (I own an Acer 800lci and a 1.5 Dell 8600), I notice NO differencebetween the two. I selected the 1.5 as it was at a nice price point when I bought my 8600. I think the 1.6 is now the new sweet spot. Can you list your config so we can maybe give input? 2000 seems an awful lot.

*edit* - I forgot to mention that there's often a 10% off coupon that's stackable with the MIR. I don't think there is one currently but if you are definitely going for an HP/Compaq, I'd suggest holding off until it becomes available.

 

[Abhi]

Originally posted by: aamsel
Is your T41 the T41p or just the regular T41. I am considering the T41p, but am concerned about its screen resolution of 1400X1050. With just a 14" screen I am quite sure that fonts will be too small for my "aging eyes" at that resolution. Does this screen scale well (like down to 1024X768), or is it only ok at the native resolution?? I would like to get a model with the FireGL but a lower-resolution screen, but there are none available. Same for the R50p. No way to get a good video card and a screen that is not super high-res from what I can see. Is the build quality of the R50p as good as the T41p??
Thanks!!!
Andrew
Austin, TX

Originally posted by: Abhi
I own a T41 as well as a Dell 8500 (Thats a 8600 with Pentium 4M)

So i guess i am a good person to ask.

T41 is a amazingly good quality. The keyboard is a pleasure to type on.... and built quality is so good, that its not comparable to dell ...

But .... I ended up giving the t41 to my dad and sticking to my 8500... I know i am crazy. 🙂 My reasons were:

1) Amzing screen on the Dell...
2) GPU on the dell...

They are much much better than the T41 (I have the performance config btw) ...

For any other queries... PM me...

The screen is SVGA+ in my machine, and the readablity is excellent...

Dont bother running a LCD on any other resolution, that will be a compromise.

also... the display lacks a lot in contrast and brightness.. specially when kept next to a WSXGA+ dell screen.

 

[Deskstar]

First check the travelling weight of both systems, assuming you will be dragging a laptop from place to place frequently.
Second, determine how long you need the machine to last before your personal needs exceed its technology, ie before you will insist that the machine you buy today is no longer as fast or light or nice as a new machine. Personally, I consider laptops to be a "disposable", ie to be used for no more than 3 years and then resold as whatever price the market will bear and then buy a new one. Since they usually cannot be upgraded incrementally (like desktops), when the latest operating system and office software demands greater speeds and video, it is easier just to buy a new one. If that is your expectation also, then the build quality is less important than the price. After all, if it breaks after 2.5 years and you planned on replacing it at 3 years, you have not lost much. If you plan on keeping it in service for more than 3 years, then by all means buy the IBM for its quality. Like a new car, once they are a few years old, the depreciation is so great that they become a commodity. The IBM may have a greater resale value, but may cost more initially, too. Just my opinion.

 

[aamsel]

Well, I am not trying to hijack this thread, but, what manufacturer would you say "splits the difference" between IBM and the Dell's and the no-names that are out there?? I just finished 6 weeks of "Dell hell" with a Latitude. I had a video problem (blurred screen, lighting uneven, poor focus) and had 3 service calls. None of them fixed the problem. Screen replaced twice, "motherboard" (everything but the plastic) once. Same situation. Dell then replaced my system with an "upgrade" to a refurbished D600. Lousy video, uneven lighting, etc. Two more service calls, Dell then replaced the refurbished D600 with a brand NEW D600 (not a refurb). It also had video problems. I sold it on EBAY the next day, and I am done with Dell. Their support was fine, the service fine, the parts used were poor. If I am NOT going to shell out the extra money for an IBM, what is the "happy medium"???
Andrew
Austin, TX

Originally posted by: Deskstar
First check the travelling weight of both systems, assuming you will be dragging a laptop from place to place frequently.
Second, determine how long you need the machine to last before your personal needs exceed its technology, ie before you will insist that the machine you buy today is no longer as fast or light or nice as a new machine. Personally, I consider laptops to be a "disposable", ie to be used for no more than 3 years and then resold as whatever price the market will bear and then buy a new one. Since they usually cannot be upgraded incrementally (like desktops), when the latest operating system and office software demands greater speeds and video, it is easier just to buy a new one. If that is your expectation also, then the build quality is less important than the price. After all, if it breaks after 2.5 years and you planned on replacing it at 3 years, you have not lost much. If you plan on keeping it in service for more than 3 years, then by all means buy the IBM for its quality. Like a new car, once they are a few years old, the depreciation is so great that they become a commodity. The IBM may have a greater resale value, but may cost more initially, too. Just my opinion.

 

[SKC]

I agree with kevinH.. for more information on the x1000, go to www.x1000forums.com. They talk about the 10% coupon, as well.

Generally, with laptops, you can get away with buying the minimum amount of RAM and hard drive space; increases in those from the manufacturer are very costly. Buy the components (another sodimm, bigger and faster hd) separately; they are relatively simple upgrades. Video and screens are not feasible upgrades for most notebooks today, so it would make sense to buy the best options you can in those areas.

edit: sorry for the thread highjack OP.
aamsel-- concerning the problems you had with the D600-- this is a notebook I'm strongly considering.. could you please relate in a little more detail the kinds of problems you had? Please feel free to PM me so we don't clutter up the thread.. thank you.

 

[Gravity]

I just ordered the P25 by Toshiba. 17" screen and 3.0 proc. I'll let you know how it works out. I had the option of xp pro or xp media center. I went with media center.