What's the best laptop available for $2100 or less?

[Stoneburner]

By best, I don't mean in terms of power, but reliablility. I'd prefer a pentium - m based system, but I have not found any companies that sell these with custom paintjobs. I already have a laptop that's all substance, no flash, so now I want a laptop that's mostly flash.

I've checked out the laptops sold by www.velocitymicro.com www.hypersonic-pc.com www.abspc.com voodoo, and alienware. I'm completely lost when it comes to the big companies like IBM and dell.

Also, i've been told by some people that if you get a centrino based notebook, you can't disable the intel 802.11b wifi adapter and run your own. Is this true? ANd if it is, are there any companies that sell notebooks with pentium M's w/o the centrino chipset?

Thanks in advance.

 

[kayatai]

With my dell system (600m) I had the choice of the intel wireless or 2 different dell wireless options. They are miniPCI cards in my system, so I can even change them after the fact. I don't know where you heard that you can't disable the intel wireless. Maybe they meant if you want a "TRUE" centrino system you have to have the intel wireless. Otherwise you're not allowed to call it centrino, it is just a P-M processor with wireless.

True centrino is P-M + intel mobo + intel wireless. It is mostly just a marketing ploy, I wouldn't question buying a P-M laptop with non-intel wireless.

 

[thelittleprincess]

i was told that you can disable the IBM thinkpad T40'd 802.11b by selecting the F5 key.........i just ordered this one with a 1.4GHz, 40MB, SXGA+, DVD/CD RW combo for $1656+tax+S&H. i want to be able to use a Card for the 802.11g and was told that it;s possible by someone on this forum - i forgot the title of the new topic....but was posted last week. hope that helps. btw, the deal was with a shareholder discount...and the price keeps fluctuating weekly. ordered it on a thursday morning, and the next day it went up to $1899. the week before it went down to 1656, it was ~$1899 and the week before that was $1649.......so keep looking out weekly if you are interested in the ibm's.

 

[thelittleprincess]

yeah, mine's a pentium-m also. can't wait to get it. i think its on backorder for a month cause it's been so popular - the model# 23796DU.

 

[Mellman]

Have you checked out www.neotechpc.com ? we've got the pentium m based laptop, as well as the alienware laptops. and as Kayatai said....you should have no problem disabling the 802.11b wifi. He's also right in fact that most are mini-pci cards...meaning you can rip open your 802.11g linksys router, and pop the card in from it and then you've got 802.11g!

anyways, if you have any other questions, post!

 

[eriqesque]

Originally posted by: Mellman
He's also right in fact that most are mini-pci cards...meaning you can rip open your 802.11g linksys router, and pop the card in from it and then you've got 802.11g!
anyways, if you have any other questions, post!

What??

 

[Stoneburner]

Mellman, you work for neotech? THose are some impressive machines. HOw fast can you ship your laptops, and can you give me an anandtech member discount ?

 

[Stoneburner]

BTW, how hard is it to build your own laptop?

 

[Mellman]

Originally posted by: eriqesque

Originally posted by: Mellman
He's also right in fact that most are mini-pci cards...meaning you can rip open your 802.11g linksys router, and pop the card in from it and then you've got 802.11g!
anyways, if you have any other questions, post!

What??

Yeap....most laptops use mini-pci cards, so do the linksys routers, so you open both up, and switch em around...and you've got an 802.11g wifi card internal, of course, to use it you have to get another 802.11g router, but thats ok!

and yes, i am Co-owner of NeoTechPC.com we got your email, should have a response to you promptly

 

[sswany]

littleprincess... I've been looking at the T40 also, and I've very interested in the specs of your machine. I'm interested in knowing what model number yours is so I can keep an eye out for when it drops in price.

Thanks.

 

[sival]

Hi
Can u tell me how to get IBM share holder discount. ? Do i have to own IBM shares ? Is it given to IBM employees ?

thanks

 

[thelittleprincess]

shareholder discount - yeah, one of my in-laws owns some shares....and he got this ibm paper with the shareholder discount code on it. so i had him order it for me. dunno if some one else can order it using the discount code though - do they check to make sure the buyer does own shares????

 

[Stoneburner]

Mellman, where can i find reseller ratings for your company? No offense intended, I'm heavily leaning towards buying from your site, but I like making sure.