laptop suggestions / ideas

Transcend · Sep 24, 2005

17" laptop are pretty annoying sizewise. Look for a widescreen 15" maybe?

Polandspring88 · Sep 24, 2005

Last June I picked up a Dell 5150 laptop. It was expensive at the time costing about 2500 and it had some pretty powerful components in it. Overall I have not been very happy with it. First off they come with a ton of crap on them. Reformat with a fresh copy of Windows first thing if you decide to go that way. Second it had issues with overheating. They had not designed the case properly and it turns out that it would suck in dust and it would cake on and bake to the heat sink, so I had massive slowdowns. I called Dell and of course talked to some Indian customer service lady who had no f'in idea what she was talking about. Huge pain in the ass. I ended up building a desktop for sub 1000 dollars this past december and its worked flawlessly.

binary visions · Sep 24, 2005

Pretty big and bulky laptop. Take it from me, big, bulky laptops suck. Pick up something smaller and lighter, especially since you already have a desktop.

laura · Sep 24, 2005

i just got a 15 inch i book, and i love it. in all it was 1750, that includes the apple care plan warranty, and 180 bucks for an ipod mini that will be free when we receive our rebate check in three years. i think before taxes and without all that, it is 1200 bucks.

syadasti · Sep 24, 2005

I would check out a HP nc8230 series, here is one or an Acer Travelmate 8100 series. I used the 8104 for 6 months before handing it over to my sister and it worked great. HPs have a better reputation non-model specific but the Acer is a faster machine.

Also, you can't go wrong with a Thinkpad (all my corporate laptops I've bought in the past few years) but I haven't used one since Lenovo bought them - I don't know if the quality is any different. The T-series would be the ideal choice if you are considering one...

WarEagle2K · Sep 24, 2005

It depends on what you are looking for. I ordered the 9300 because they had a lot of rebates last year. When it got to me, it was like lugging around a cinder block. Very heavy and the battery didn't last. I need a laptop that was very mobile. Dell has a great program where you can just send back the unit you want and they will refund your money or give you another computer. You just have to pay shipping. I sent the 9300 back and got a Dell 600m. I love it. It is wireless and with the extended battery, it is outstanding.

syadasti · Sep 24, 2005

Dells aren't made as well as the Thinkpads if you are hard on laptops (if you are hard on them I would buy a 3 years warranty on them from either company). We had too many issues with them and the admin before me did not understand the benefits of standardization. I standardized on the Thinkpad R-series unless the user had special needs (T-series for powerusers and X-series for frequent travelers).

Keep in mind laptops are not really worthwhile unless you travel/relocate often.

I think Dell just switched OEMs from Quanta to Compal, so I am sure on the current quality level...

BigMike · Sep 24, 2005

Like others have said, big laptops suck, especially if you have a desktop. I had a 15" Dell Inspiron and I thought, Weight and size doesnt matter, I'll just get this one.

Well, Taking it around was a BIG pain in the ass!

I just got a 15" Powerbook, and I have to say, I'm really happy with it. I can throw it into a sleeve and put it into my Timbuk2 bag, and go wherever I need. Before I got this computer, I was big on PCs, but let me tell you, its definantly worth looking into Macs :thumb:

They are not for everyone, but I really love this computer!

Transcend · Sep 24, 2005

partsbara said:
if i recall correctly you just ordered / got a new apple yeah ?? mind if i ask what it cost ya ??

happy with it ??

yup sure did. Just got a 15" widescreen powerbook. I am loving it. Cost me about $2500 cnd, and they threw in a free ipod mini. This was educational pricing however, I saved about $500.

So far I am loving it. I haven't used a mac since system 7, but i couldnt pass up the price, convenience, portability and all round snaziness of the powerbook. That and the fact that the screen is pure sex. For photo and design work the screen is worth it's weight in gold - my old dell inspiron 8200 was a brick, and the screen was WAY too dark and unsaturated.

edit: what bigmike said. I toted an 11lb inspiron 8200 around europe for a month. never again.

I have gotten used to os x tiger pretty darn quickly, and am LOVING it. I looked at the 17", but it was way too large to be practical. The 15" is a decent size, 1.1" thick and weighs 5.6 pounds. I love it.

narlus · Sep 24, 2005

laptops are cool for a home-based wireless network...i've had decent luck w/ my toshiba, but i think the hard drive's due for replacement soon. i guess it all depends on what you want to use the laptop for.

pixelninja · Sep 24, 2005

syadasti said:
I would check out a HP nc8230 series, here is one or an Acer Travelmate 8100 series. I used the 8104 for 6 months before handing it over to my sister and it worked great. HPs have a better reputation non-model specific but the Acer is a faster machine.

Based on my personal experience, I would not recommend an HP laptop. I have a ZD7000 (17" screen) and I've had to send it back twice in the first 6 months. Onboard video crapped out both times.

syadasti · Sep 24, 2005

pixelninja said:
Based on my personal experience, I would not recommend an HP laptop. I have a ZD7000 (17" screen) and I've had to send it back twice in the first 6 months. Onboard video crapped out both times.

Well thats from their consumer line, they suck...

bjanga · Sep 25, 2005

That graphics card is overkill if you are not doing serious gaming. My Friend has that laptop with similar specs, and it is BIG. The speakers sound decent, and it actually feels lighter than my dell 5150. If your gonna move it around a lot, get a big bag. If it is gonna stay put or just get moved around the house, go for it.

Oh, and if you are running any intense applications, the thing seems to stay cool real well.

beestiboy · Sep 25, 2005

I have the HP ZD8000 in fact im using it right now, Yeah its heavy but I needed desktop power because for the most part thats what it is i do travel with it everyday to work and clients homes. It is what it is suck it up its not like you took it home and then realized ooohh sh!t this thing weighs 12 pounds.

my only complaint is battery life I opted for the P4 3.2mhz and in retrospect should have gotten a the P mobile. Im hearing that battery life is almost quadruple and performance isnt that far off. Again since it is usually at home battery life isnt that much of an issue. If I start traveling more I will opt for a spare battery.

pixelninja · Sep 25, 2005

partsbara said:
our dell desktop is getting on... it s about 4 years old... my understanding is that the dell laptop (specced in my original post) is designed as a desktop replacement... i m sure we ll tote it around a little after she returns home from korea (in 1 year), so weight while important it isn t the deciding factor... we re hoping that this will allow us to postpone getting a new desktop for a few more years...

If weight is not that much of a concern and this is a replacement for your desktop, I say go with the 17".

valve bouncer · Sep 25, 2005

pixelninja said:
If weight is not that much of a concern and this is a replacement for your desktop, I say go with the 17".

I agree Partsy. Priest porn looks so much better on a 17 incher.

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