Yet another fresh Notebook shopper

[frank84]

Yes, I am starting a new thread.
Yes, I am a newbie at laptop market.
Yes, I definatley need your help.
so, help me out.

I was squeezing my brain out for last 10 days, looking for the 'perfect' laptop for myself.

I will be using my laptop mostly outside of home (school, work).

Mobility isn't big problem (as long as it's not 'too big').

Budget is around.. $1300 MAX.

Wireless internet is must.

I can upgrade memory myself.

Good video card is a plus (something i can play at least WoW in a pretty good quality).

I preffer widescreen.

DVD drive is must. DVD burner isn't required.

CD burner is must.

USB2.0 is a must.

Battery life, longer the better.

Good warranty is a must.

LCD must be bigger than 14".

Processor must be faster than 1.60 GHz.

HDD must be bigger than 40G

... those are my guideline..

EDIT
THIS IS WHAT I GOT SO FAR

after going to Direct Store, I could do more customized options.

Inspiron 6000D Intel® Pentium® M Processor 760 (2 GHz/2MB Cache/533MHz FSB)

Microsoft® Windows® XP Home

15.4 inch UltraSharp WSXGA+ LCD Panel

256MB DDR2 SDRAM 1 Dimm

128MB DDR ATI's MOBILITY? RADEON X300 PCI Express x16 Graphics

60GB Hard Drive

Network Card Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem

Combo/DVD+RW Drives 24X CD Burner/DVD Combo Drive

Wireless Networking Card Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200 Internal Wireless (802.11 b/g, 54Mbps)

Battery 6-cell Lithium Ion Battery (53 WHr)

Limited Warranty, Services and Support Options SAVE $160 instantly with the 4yr Premium Solution Package

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dell 720 Color Printer Qty 1
Free Dell Color Printer 720 Unit Price $0.00
Catalog Number: 29
Module Description Show Details
Dell Color Printer 720 Free Dell Color Printer 720
Hardware Support Services 1Yr Ltd. Warranty- Advance Exchange

TOTAL:$1,308.00

plus shipping and all..

Total : $1,421.63

Is there anything that can match this laptop/deal?

 

[frank84]

..

 

[bearxor]

I suppose with a 4 year warranty that is about right. Does that 4 year warranty include complete care?

I did one up through the Dell Direct Store site, and just using the 35% off coupon, I got one for $1272 with the 4 year warranty + complete care.

Inspiron 6000D
Intel® Pentium® M Processor 740 (1.73 GHz/2MB Cache/533MHz FSB)
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home
15.4 inch UltraSharp WSXGA+ LCD Panel
256MB DDR2 SDRAM 1 Dimm
128MB DDR ATI's MOBILITY? RADEON X300 PCI Express x16 Graphics
60GB Hard Drive
Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem
Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 6.0
24X CD Burner/DVD Combo Drive
Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200 Internal Wireless (802.11 b/g, 54Mbps)
No productivity suite - Corel WordPerfect word processor only
No Security Subscription
Musicmatch® Jukebox Basic
6-cell Lithium Ion Battery (53 WHr)
SAVE $160 instantly with the 4yr Premium Solution Package
6 Months America Online Internet Access Included
Photo Album? SE Basic
No QuickBooks package selected- Includes limited use trial
TOTAL:$1,272.70

Seems like a good deal to me. Find the coupon from your favorite site, go to Dell Home, and then click on 'Dell Direct Store' in the text link on the right underneath all of the spiffy images for stuff. Then, click on Notebooks and the 6000. It will get you a fully customizable 6000D. I took off 512MB of RAM, and gave you the upgrade to the 1.73ghz processor instead, as you are willing to buy your own memory, the memory will be cheaper to buy seperately than a processor upgrade. You can save another 32 bucks by going to the 1.6 (400) processor. Also, to go to 512MB of RAM will only cost you 32 bucks.

Good luck, I have the 6000D, as you can see in my sig, and I absolutely love it. It is the high-end of what I would consider portable though.

 

[frank84]

wow,
that's awesome..

i wasn't able to fully customize it before.. but i guess by going to 'direct store' i can now.

but i still can't find the 6000D

i only see regular 6000.

can yougive me the link?

 

[hwan]

You may wanna try waiting for another 40% deal from Dell and get the 9300. I got mine with a 1.86Ghz processor, 256M of RAM, 60G HD, Geforce Go 6800 vid card, and the better display for around $1300.

Edit: It's got a 17" widescreen btw.

 

[frank84]

Originally posted by: hwan
You may wanna try waiting for another 40% deal from Dell and get the 9300. I got mine with a 1.86Ghz processor, 256M of RAM, 60G HD, Geforce Go 6800 vid card, and the better display for around $1300.

Edit: It's got a 17" widescreen btw.

well, yes i was looking at the 9300 models too..

but.. i think it's TOO big.. 17" is good and all.. but.. 15" widescreen is already big i think.

 

[frank84]

This is what I got so far...
after going to Direct Store, I could do more customized options.

Inspiron 6000D Intel® Pentium® M Processor 760 (2 GHz/2MB Cache/533MHz FSB)

Microsoft® Windows® XP Home

15.4 inch UltraSharp WSXGA+ LCD Panel

256MB DDR2 SDRAM 1 Dimm

128MB DDR ATI's MOBILITY? RADEON X300 PCI Express x16 Graphics

60GB Hard Drive

Network Card Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem

Combo/DVD+RW Drives 24X CD Burner/DVD Combo Drive

Wireless Networking Card Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200 Internal Wireless (802.11 b/g, 54Mbps)

Battery 6-cell Lithium Ion Battery (53 WHr)

Limited Warranty, Services and Support Options SAVE $160 instantly with the 4yr Premium Solution Package

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dell 720 Color Printer Qty 1
Free Dell Color Printer 720 Unit Price $0.00
Catalog Number: 29
Module Description Show Details
Dell Color Printer 720 Free Dell Color Printer 720
Hardware Support Services 1Yr Ltd. Warranty- Advance Exchange

TOTAL:$1,308.00

plus shipping and all..

Total : $1,421.63

 

[travlen]

I have a nice Inspiron 6000D setup in my cart right now:

Inspiron 6000D Intel® Pentium® M Processor 725 (1.60 GHz/2MB Cache/400MHz FSB)
Operating System Microsoft® Windows® XP Home
Display 15.4 inch UltraSharp WSXGA+ LCD Panel
Memory 512MB DDR2 SDRAM 2 Dimms
Video Card 128MB DDR ATI's MOBILITY? RADEON X300 PCI Express x16 Graphics
Hard Drive 60GB Hard Drive
Combo/DVD+RW Drives 24X CD Burner/DVD Combo Drive
Wireless Networking Card Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200 Internal Wireless (802.11 b/g, 54Mbps)
Security Software No Security Subscription
Battery 6-cell Lithium Ion Battery (53 WHr)
Limited Warranty, Services and Support Options 1Yr Ltd Warranty, 1Yr Mail-In Service, and 1Yr Technical Support

The total before any discounts is $1481.00.
If I could get the 35% off coupon to work it would be $962.65
There is probably a "handling charge" but shipping is free and no tax for me.

That is a pretty damn good deal.

Any ideas on the coupon? Has the 35% off expired or is it just not good on the 6000D? I tried a little earlier and it applied to a 6000 (not the D)

 

[frank84]

Originally posted by: travlen
I have a nice Inspiron 6000D setup in my cart right now:

Inspiron 6000D Intel® Pentium® M Processor 725 (1.60 GHz/2MB Cache/400MHz FSB)
Operating System Microsoft® Windows® XP Home
Display 15.4 inch UltraSharp WSXGA+ LCD Panel
Memory 512MB DDR2 SDRAM 2 Dimms
Video Card 128MB DDR ATI's MOBILITY? RADEON X300 PCI Express x16 Graphics
Hard Drive 60GB Hard Drive
Combo/DVD+RW Drives 24X CD Burner/DVD Combo Drive
Wireless Networking Card Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200 Internal Wireless (802.11 b/g, 54Mbps)
Security Software No Security Subscription
Battery 6-cell Lithium Ion Battery (53 WHr)
Limited Warranty, Services and Support Options 1Yr Ltd Warranty, 1Yr Mail-In Service, and 1Yr Technical Support

The total before any discounts is $1481.00.
If I could get the 35% off coupon to work it would be $962.65
There is probably a "handling charge" but shipping is free and no tax for me.

That is a pretty damn good deal.

Any ideas on the coupon? Has the 35% off expired or is it just not good on the 6000D? I tried a little earlier and it applied to a 6000 (not the D)

that's cheap... but i would like to go with 4yr premium warranty.. just because i drop things alot..

anyhow... check out www.gottadeal.com for the coupon.. they also have $750 off coupon..
of course, you can't use both at the same time.. but give it a try.

 

[frank84]

Now, new question..

I was browsing thorugh the "hot deal" forum.. and saw a HP Pavilion zv6000 laptop deal..

I went to local OfficeDepot and checked it out myself.
here's what i got...

AMD Athlon 64 3200+
15.4 WXGA BrightView Widescreen
512MB DDR
60G HDD
LightScribe 8x DVD +/-RW
128MB ATI radeon Xpress 200M
for... 707.49 after MIB..
and 3 yr warranty from OD will cost be $350
so total around.. $1050.

this is cheaper than my Dell configuration.. way cheap..

i am wondering.. is it safe to go with this HP laptop?

 

[erwos]

Concur, zv6000 is the hot deal atm, assuming you can get to an OD in like the next 3 hours.

-Erwos

 

[bearxor]

Processor is good. Screen is bad. WXGA+ is 1280x800, WSXGA+ is 1680x1050, a big difference in useable space. Video card is bad. Although the 200M is based off of the X300, that is 128MB of shared memory, the 128MB version in the 6000D is dedicated.

If none of that bothers you, go for it.

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: bearxor
Video card is bad. Although the 200M is based off of the X300, that is 128MB of shared memory, the 128MB version in the 6000D is dedicated.

False, that's a for-real dedicated 128mb in the zv6000.

-Erwos

 

[frank84]

hmm

doesn't AMD64 takes more battery out??

and plus.. I don't feel safe about getting the Warranty from Office Depot.. not HP..
when I add the 3yr warranty from OD to the HP deal,
there's about $300 diff. in the price.

 

[The Linuxator]

Go get yourself this.
If not at least get yourself a decent Turion 64 setup from Hp-compaq since your considering going the HP route anyways.

EDIT : You might wana check this nice one too.