Best laptop for these needs?

[Trevelyan]

Well, apparently I'm required to buy a laptop for school, but at least now I get to justify buying a laptop

Anyways, here's the features I really want/need for this laptop:

1. Wireless-G built in
2. 3 year warranty
3. At least 512MB of ram
4. Gaming video card
5. USB 2.0, firewire
6. CF reader (not 100% neccessary)
7. Pretty fast hard drive (probably won't need more than 40GB, since I have a desktop)

I guess I'm really interested in a powerful notebook that will last me a while... I don't want to have to upgrade for a few years, just to get me through school.

I heard Rossman is good at making these kinda recommendations... anyone have anything for me? I've kinda fallen behind on laptop technology... what's with the new Centrino stuff, and the Pentium-M and stuff... I can't tell the speed of all this stuff since Ghz doesn't seem to mean anything anymore.

Thanks for any help...

 

[Scarpozzi]

I don't have any particular config in mind, but I think the best laptop on the market is a Dell Lattitude. Mine's been rock solid for the last 2 years. I got a deal for free 3 year Complete Care and it's pretty awesome support. Their support center is based out of Panama....manned by Americans mostly... They've replaced my screen twice because I have a tendency to step on my laptop in the morning when I'm hungover for some reason.

 

[vi edit]

Do you have any weight requirements?

 

[DaWhim]

sound like a T40/41/42 that you want to me. but sorry, your budget is not able to afford that.

why the hell do you need a powerful laptop if you got a desktop to take care of that? go with a basic model of x40, it is around your budget or x31.

 

[vi edit]

Inspiron 9100 (System Identifier FCMECD9G)
Dell Inspiron 9100 Notebook: Intel® Pentium® 4 w/ HT Technology 2.8GHz, 15.4-in. WXGA Display, Internal NIC/Modem/Sound
Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional

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

System Price $1,814.00
Promotion Discount ($375.00)
Discounted Price $1,439.00
Dell recommends Microsoft® Windows® XP


Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional
Memory: 512MB DDR SDRAM, 400MHz (2 DIMMs)
Hard Disk Drive: 40 GB EIDE Hard Drive (5400 RPM)
Video: 64MB ATI Mobility Radeon 9700
NoteBook Screen: 15.4 WXGA Notebook Screen
CD Read-Write Drive: 24X CDRW/DVD Combo Drive
Software: Software
NORTON Internet Security 2004 90-day trial
Software
Software
Resource CD
Decoding Software, DVD, Cyberlin
DELL MEDIA EXPERIENCE
Dell Apps Tools CD
Dell Support 2.0
Dell Support 2.0 Software
AOL 8.0 ISP Software
Microsoft Office 2003 Software Guide
Microsoft® Office 2003 Small Business
Misc: Shipping Material
Software
Miscellaneous
12 Cell Battery
8 Cell Battery
Shipping Material
Keyboard on Notebook
VENICE BLUE QUICKSNAP COVER
No wireless card option
150W AC Adapter

You can probably find a coupon on tubbywallet for another $50-$100 off it.
http://outlet.us.dell.com/Dispatcher?target=InventoryPage&action=page&pageNo=5&lob=INSP&sessionID=A0tzLsbD!-497374247!-770444743!1089776947310&tgtSeg=I

 

[Scarpozzi]

I don't have good things to say about the Inspiron. They're made to be lighter and what not, but all of the Inspirons we ordered but 3 had many heat issues, video issues, etc... I think the Latitude line is better from the 600 laptops we have in my office.

 

[vi edit]

Slap a 3 year warranty on it for another $130. And pick up your own wireless card. Built in wireless sucks and the drivers usually suck even harder.

nspiron 9100 (System Identifier ZB1L0THG)
Dell Inspiron 9100 Notebook: Intel® Pentium® 4 2.8GHz, 15.4-in. WSXGA+ Display, Internal NIC/Modem/Sound
Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional

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

System Price $1,633.00
Promotion Discount ($275.00)
Discounted Price $1,358.00
Dell recommends Microsoft® Windows® XP


Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional
Memory: 512MB DDR SDRAM, 400MHz (2 DIMMs)
Floppy Drive: External 1.44MB USB Floppy Disk Drive
Hard Disk Drive: 40 GB EIDE Hard Drive (5400 RPM)
Video: 64MB ATI Mobility Radeon 9700
NoteBook Screen: 15.4 WSXGA+ Notebook Screen
CD Read-Write Drive: 24X CDRW/DVD Combo Drive
Software: Microsoft WorksSuite 2004
Microsoft Money 2004
Software
Software
Dell Apps Tools CD
Resource CD
AOL 9.0 ISP Software
Decoding Software, DVD, Cyberlin
DELL MEDIA EXPERIENCE
Dell Support 2.0
Dell Support 2.0 Software
Software
AOL 8.0 ISP Software
Software
AOL 8.0 ISP Software
DELL JUKEBOX BASIC
PAINT SHOP PRO 4.0 STANDARD
DPS Paint Shop Pro Try and Buy Software
NORTON Internet Security 2004 90-day trial
RecordNow!Deluxe Software
Misc: Shipping Material
Software
Shipping Material
Keyboard on Notebook
No wireless card option
Miscellaneous
12 Cell Battery
150W AC Adapter

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
I don't have good things to say about the Inspiron. They're made to be lighter and what not, but all of the Inspirons we ordered but 3 had many heat issues, video issues, etc... I think the Latitude line is better from the 600 laptops we have in my office.

Latitude....

SYSTEM SPECIFICATION
Latitude D800 (System Identifier DD9792GM)
Dell Latitude D800 Notebook: Pentium® M Processor 1.3GHz with 15.4in WXGA Display, Integrated NIC/Modem
Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional

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

System Price $1,659.00
Promotion Discount ($125.00)
Discounted Price $1,534.00
Dell recommends Microsoft® Windows® XP


Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional
Memory: 512 MB DDR SDRAM (2 DIMMs)
Floppy Drive: 64MB USB Flash Memory Key
Hard Disk Drive: 60 GB EIDE Hard Drive (4200 RPM)
Video: 64MB nVidia GeForce4, 4200Go Video Card
NoteBook Screen: 15.4 inch WXGA Notebook Screen
Modem: Internal Modem
Network Interface Card: TrueMobile 1300 802.11B/G MPCI
CD Read-Write Drive: 24X CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive
Software: Software
DVD Software
Software
Software
Misc: Shipping Material
Shipping Material
Keyboard on Notebook
90W Adapter
9 Cell Battery

 

[RossMAN]

Best - IBM ThinkPad T series but this costs $$$ probably around $2300 for your specs.

Good Value - Dell Inspiron 8600 from Dell Home

Here's a system I just spec'd out for you

Inspiron 8600:
Intel® Pentium® M Processor 705(1.5GHz), 15.4 WSXGA+ TL15NHN [221-5106] 1


Operating System:
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition WHXP [420-3235][412-0408][313-2174][313-2208] 11


Limited Warranty, Services and Support:
3 Year Limited Warranty plus 3 Year At-Home Service plus Nights and Weekend SQ3OS [950-4452][950-3339][412-0359][902-5710] 29


Memory:
SAVE $50!(Savings included in price) 512MB,333MHz 2 DIMM 512MB2P [462-5971] 3


Video Card:
64MB DDR NVIDIA® GeForce? FX Go5200 AGP 4X Graphics NV64MB [320-2901] 6


CD ROM/DVD ROM:
24X CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive with Sonic RecordNow 24COMBO [313-2182][430-1050] 16


Hard Drive:
30GB Hard Drive 30GB [340-9635] 8


Primary Battery:
72 WHr Primary Battery ADDBATT [312-0066] 27


Network Card:
Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem INTNIC [430-0493] 13


Internet Access Options:
6 Months America Online Internet Access Included AOLDHS [412-0585][412-0625][420-3224] 37


Wireless Networking Cards:
Dell® Wireless 1350 Internal Wireless (802.11b/g, 54Mbps) TM1350I [430-0919] 19


Productivity Software:
Productivity Pack including WordPerfect® ICORELM [412-0556][412-0714] 22


Personal Finance Software:
Microsoft® Money 2004 Standard MNY [412-0552] 83


Security Software:
Norton Internet Security?, 90 day trial NIS2004 [412-0628] 25


Dell Media Experience:
Dell Media Experience? DMX [412-0706] 115


Digital Music:
Dell Jukebox powered by MUSICMATCH MMBASE [412-0691] 26


Digital Imaging Software:
Paint Shop? Pro® Trial plus Photo Album? Starter Edition DPS [412-0521] 38


Power Adapter:
AC adapter - 65w, 19.5v 65W [312-0176] 9

$1,692 base price as configured above
-$30 off $800 coupon
-15% off $1499 or more coupon
-NO SALES TAX (in most states)
====================================
$1,412.70

This doesn't have a fast hard drive like you requested. It's considerably cheaper if you upgrade this yourself and sell the stock 30GB HD for around $80 on eBay.

This does include
WSXGA (better than WXGA) display
512MB RAM
3 years AT HOME (evenings and weekends are included) warranty
Internal 802.11b/g WiFi card
and plenty more

The 15% off coupon expires in 2 days.

 

[Trevelyan]

Thanks for the replies!

Hm... I've had some friends that have had heat issues with the Inspiron 8500s. The laptops would overheat and crash. Have they fixed those issues? Plus, I think I don't really like the appearance of the Dell laptops, but I do like the configuration you've picked out.

How does that processor, Rossman compare to the 2800+ I have in my desktop? I get a little thrown off by the different types of processors, especially since its hard to compare based on Ghz it seems. How does the Go5200 graphics card perform?

Also, what do you think of the Sager laptops at www.pctorque.com? I've heard they are pretty good gaming laptops...

 

[Trevelyan]

Anyone?

 

[Trevelyan]

bump because today is my birthday!

 

[alexruiz]

Have you considered the emachines M68xx laptops? Mobile Athlon 64, mobility radeon 9600 and 3 hrs battery life for a machine that will spank anything except a modern high end desktop is not bad..... and the price makes it even better! Check the massive thread about these babies.

 

[Trevelyan]

Originally posted by: alexruiz
Have you considered the emachines M68xx laptops? Mobile Athlon 64, mobility radeon 9600 and 3 hrs battery life for a machine that will spank anything except a modern high end desktop is not bad..... and the price makes it even better! Check the massive thread about these babies.

Hmm... OK I will take a look at them. Haven't heard good things about emachines in the past. Have they improved in quality? I really want something that will last, and the quality construction of Dells haven't really impressed me in the past, but perhaps that is because of the way my friends treat the laptops, rather than the laptop itself.

Do you have a specific model with a review perhaps?

 

[EvanAdams]

double post

 

[EvanAdams]

no sales tax? In what states? I dont believe it.
oregon people be quiet

 

[alexruiz]

Originally posted by: Trevelyan

Originally posted by: alexruiz
Have you considered the emachines M68xx laptops? Mobile Athlon 64, mobility radeon 9600 and 3 hrs battery life for a machine that will spank anything except a modern high end desktop is not bad..... and the price makes it even better! Check the massive thread about these babies.

Hmm... OK I will take a look at them. Haven't heard good things about emachines in the past. Have they improved in quality? I really want something that will last, and the quality construction of Dells haven't really impressed me in the past, but perhaps that is because of the way my friends treat the laptops, rather than the laptop itself.

Do you have a specific model with a review perhaps?

In this same forum there is a massive thread named "Official emachines thread". Read it, and you will see that overall people are happy.

I am very pleased with mine (M6805), and the new models should be better (faster CPU, dual format recordable DVD 4x). I suggest to stop by your local best buy and see one of them in person (M6809, M6810, M6811 or any member of the M68xx family)

By the way, the machine recommended by Rossman doesn't have a gaming video card, unless 800x600 doesn't bother you. But in that case, you can check the Compaq Presario R3000z series, as good if not better than the emachines M68xx series (Athlon 64 also, customazible, WUXGA available, etc) with the exception of the video card (GeForce 4 Go 440, major mistake). The GeForce 4 Go 440 is quite close to the FX5200.....

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: EvanAdams
no sales tax? In what states? I dont believe it.
oregon people be quiet

Oregon has 0% sales tax for Dell Home AND Dell SB

 

[BuckWild024]

Another vote for the eMachines m68XX. I am extremely pleased with mine.

 

[Trevelyan]

Originally posted by: BuckWild024
Another vote for the eMachines m68XX. I am extremely pleased with mine.

Hmm... Ok, I'll bite. I'm interested, but is Best Buy the only place I can buy one?

Anyone have a good deal on one?

 

[Trevelyan]

What are your guy's thoughts on these laptops...

HP Pavilion ZX5000
- Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 3.00 GHz w/HT Technology
- Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP Home
- 512MB DDR SDRAM (2x256MB)
- 60GB 4200 RPM Hard Drive
- DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive
- 54g(TM) Integ. Broadcom 802.11b/g WLAN & Bluetooth
- 15.4" WVA WSXGA+ (1680x1050)
- 128MB ATI Mobility Radeon(TM) 9600
- 12 Cell Lithium Ion Battery

PRICE: $1527 - $100 MIR - $100 Coupon - 3% Fatwallet Cash Back = $1284

OR

Dell Inspiron 9100
- Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 2.80 GHz w/HT Technology
- Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP Home
- 512MB DDR SDRAM (2x256MB)
- 40GB 4200 RPM Hard Drive
- DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive
- 54g(TM) Integ. Broadcom 802.11b/g WLAN
- 15.4" WVA WSXGA+ (1680x1050)
- 64MB ATI Mobility Radeon(TM) 9700
- 12 Cell Lithium Ion Battery

PRICE: $1599 - 20% off Dell Coupon - 3% Fatwallet Cash Back = $1241

I only have TODAY to decide if I want the Dell one, since the coupon expires today (7/15). Is the difference in Ghz going to make a difference? And, how much faster will the 9700 be than the 9600?

 

[Trevelyan]

Today is the last day for that Dell deal.. should I do it or go for something else?

 

[alexruiz]

Originally posted by: Trevelyan
Today is the last day for that Dell deal.. should I do it or go for something else?

Have you checked the eMachines in person? Go to best buy or circuit city before you buy something else.

 

[Chello02]

I'd stick with Toshiba or IBM...

just my 2 cents....

 

[EvanAdams]

do not be lured in by dell deals. I've been keeping an eye on their laptops all year long. If they remove a free upgrade, the price drops. If they add a rebate, the base price goes up.