Which laptop to get?

[GatorDeb2000]

I'm between these two.

$500 GQ ZX-5572 Intel Celeron M 1.3GHz;15" XGA TFT, Dimensions: 12.83" x 10.17" x .99"/1.26" [front/back]
Weight: ~2.6kg/5.7 lbs

$572 COMPAQ M2105US Presario Notebook PC
AMD Mobile Sempron Processor 2800+ (1.6GHz) with PowerNow! Technology / 15" Brightview LCD
Unit Dimensions - 13.15" (w) x 10.80" (l) x 1.78" (h)
Unit Weight - 6.5 lbs.

Everything else the same. 256MB DDR;40GB HD; DVD/CDRW, wireless Internet, 10/100 jack.

So which one to get?

Thanks!

 

[overst33r]

get the compaq, it has a better processor and a nicer screen for not so big of a price premium.

 

[Tostada]

If you're not going to actually need the better CPU, though, the GQ is 1/2" smaller in all 3 dimensions -- that's a lot thinner.

if you actually wanted a Celeron 1.3 you could get an Inspiron 6000 for $593, and exactly what is GQ?

Where are you getting the Compaq for that price? Even after the rebate, you can't get it that cheap online with the combo DVD/CDRW.

 

[GatorDeb2000]

I got at the normal price everyone is selling it, $550 after rebates, plus Office Depot $30 off $150 = $520, plus $52 in taxes = $572.

 

[jspeicher]

my experience with the last two presarios I've owned were horrible.

 

[Tostada]

Originally posted by: jspeicher
my experience with the last two presarios I've owned were horrible.

Not a very useful thing to say if you're not going to elaborate. Can it be any worse than something called "GQ"?

If you're actually buying the laptop in Office Depot, at least you can return it easily if it's a total lemon (you usually figure that out pretty quick).

I have noticed the keyboards on some Compaqs are really flimsy feeling. If you play with it in the store and like the feel of it, though, I'd get the Compaq.

 

[The Linuxator]

I will elaborate for him I have owned an Armada a long time ago, and a new presario very recently, everything was good in both but after regular usage they all start having the same problems, all electrical / data ports start going bad one after the other, some usb ports stop working, battery slot sometimes doesn't recognize that a battery is in there, even after trying a another functional battery,
So after all that bad experience with cheapo brand laptops (Dell/HP-Compaq/TOSHIBA) I said screw it. sold my laptops.
then bought a sweet IBM Thinkpad R50e Express for $899, I will be receiving it in a week due to high requests on it. it's one hell of a deal, but according to your budget the other R50e for $ 599 shipped is a much better fit, these are the type of laptops that will give you what you pay for if not more.
eventhough I haven't received it all my classmates in my engineering college told me this, once you go thinkpad you never go back, even for a price premium. none of them reported any bad quality issues with their thinkpads .
My friend has a dell inspiron, ( forget the model # but it's a new one) his motherboard was replaced twice failed twice, and the screen replaced once in a 1.5 years span , go figure. Now are thinpads perfect ? No. Are Thinkpads built on a much higher standard than any other laptop, well what do you think?

 

[Tostada]

The Compaq laptops do feel a little cheap in general. I think that's really strange that HP's seem more solid even though they're generally built on the same chassis (at least they look the same to me).

 

[fbrdphreak]

Originally posted by: Tostada
The Compaq laptops do feel a little cheap in general. I think that's really strange that HP's seem more solid even though they're generally built on the same chassis (at least they look the same to me).

Same chassis, but I would expect cheaper parts. Compaq equivalents of HP machines are almost always cheaper and I would expect that is why.

EDIT And those who have owned pre-HP Compaq machines needn't share their opinions: they are totally different machines now. Armada = pre-HP

 

[The Linuxator]

Originally posted by: fbrdphreak

Originally posted by: Tostada
The Compaq laptops do feel a little cheap in general. I think that's really strange that HP's seem more solid even though they're generally built on the same chassis (at least they look the same to me).

Same chassis, but I would expect cheaper parts. Compaq equivalents of HP machines are almost always cheaper and I would expect that is why.

EDIT And those who have owned pre-HP Compaq machines needn't share their opinions: they are totally different machines now. Armada = pre-HP

Well don't you think that I know that "Armada = pre-HP " that's why I have said I have owned an Armada a long time ago and a presario that I have purchased recently , didn't see any difference in quality some flashy stuff here and there, but durability is still well below whats accepted, that's why they go cheap at the same level as those crappy inspirons that I won't purchase without a lifetime warranty, and hence won't purchase ever.

 

[cardiac]

Here is the Compaq M2105US for $549.94 at Staples:Presario M2105US

How can you tell if the laptop came with the Brightview screen? I got one, and even though the screen seems really nice, it doesn't say "Brightview" anywhere on or in the laptop.

Thanks,

Bob