4k for a laptop...can't decide between p4 and p-m system

[JServ]

I've been asked to configure a laptop for my friend's mother, and she has given me a budget of between 3 and 4k. She is less concerned about weigh and battery life and would prefer the highest performance possible. I'm a little confused about the whole p-m and p4 processors. I realize that the p-m is more efficient, therefore runs faster at a particular speed, but is it fast enough to make up for the 1.2 ghz difference in clock speed? Also, is the Athlon 64 mobile worth considering...it seems realitively cheap in the system I configured from comaq.

For a top of the line laptop what processor would you choose if performance was the main objective?

Some of the systems I've been looking at so far are:

Dell Insprion 8600 with the 2.0 Pentium M ($2500)
IBM T42 with 2.0 P-m ($3500)
Compaq R3000Z with Athlon 64 2.2ghz ($2200)
Compaq R3000T with Mobile P4 3.2ghz ($2300)

I've noticed a strong liking for the IBM T42 model around here, and I will likely go with that if I choose a P-m processor.

Thanks for any help or suggestions. Feel free to say what you'd do with 4k for a laptop

 

[alexruiz]

If performance is the ultimate goal, get an Athlon 64 machine. With that budget, you can get the new Sager (clevo) 4750 sporting an Athlon 64 plus mobility radeon 9700 at full speed.

What are her intentions with the machine? Gaming?

 

[xxichibanxx]

there are new A64's coming out that should use less power and save on battery life. but if i had that much money and didn't care about weight or battery life, i'd get an AlienWare laptop.

 

[GnomeCop]

with that budget you can get a decked out Voodoo M:860
Athlon 64
WSXGA+ 1600x1050 15.4" screen
Mobility Radeon 9700 128mb vdeo
no one else offers that kind of combination.

 

[JServ]

Surprisingly, this person will be using the laptop for nothing more than office applications basically. She wants the closest thing she can get to a "future-proof" computer (which I explained didn't exist). I advised her to split the budget in half and get a new 2k laptop in about 3 years and she'd be alot better off...but she prefers not to have to transfer all of her stuff and learn a new setup.

Thanks for suggesting the A64 laptops...I'll check them out. More suggestions welcome!

 

[Frightcrawler]

Athlon 64 would be best for the future. Voodoo would probably be your best bet. Hypersonic is great too. With your budget, you shouldn't buy a dell or compaq. You can afford much better.