Compaq Presario 2800T Notebooks discounted at Costco.com

[vec]

Costco is having a promotion on their 2800T line of presario notebooks - $300 instant rebate!

These are good gaming notebooks - P4 1.4-1.7Ghz, Mobile Radeon 7500 32M & 64M flavors. Free shipping, but you have to pay tax. You can also return them at any Costco if you have an initial problem with it.

I like these notebooks because they are lighter than the Dell 8200s (5-6lbs vs 8-9lbs).

Here's a good review comparing the Presario 2800 and the Dell 8200. Pretty even for the most part.

 

[bonk102]

now if i could only sell the rest of my ps2 package i could almost afford one

 

[emonkey]

The cheapest version (1.4ghz, 30GB, 256MB, DVD, 14", 32MB ATI 7500 card) is $1469 in the end. And its a really nice notebook since its so small. My problem wiht it is that since it is USB2.0 then they decided to dump firewire....

EDIT:
Kiyi has pointed out that I cant read well. It is $300 in instant rebates so the price out the door would be 1469. SWEET! I was going to pick one up but noticed it is DVD only and I want the DVD/RW combo drive. Too bad...

 

[Kiyi]

This rebate offer is valid on qualified Costco.com purchases dated May 6th to May 12th, 2002.
Compaq has upgraded the advertised
$200 Mail-In rebate to a $200 Instant Rebate

 

[DDDay]

The low end 2800 is a great price, it is a couple hundred cheaper the I can configure a Dell. Can we pick these up at the B&M?

 

[iamme]

<< The cheapest version (1.4ghz, 30GB, 256MB, DVD, 14", 32MB ATI 7500 card) is $1469 in the end. And its a really nice notebook since its so small. My problem wiht it is that since it is USB2.0 then they decided to dump firewire....

EDIT:
Kiyi has pointed out that I cant read well. It is $300 in instant rebates so the price out the door would be 1469. SWEET! I was going to pick one up but noticed it is DVD only and I want the DVD/RW combo drive. Too bad... >>



Just a note, that the lowest priced one comes w/ a 15" screen. Pretty good price compared to getting it direct from Compaq.

 

[ngracias]

Does it not have a firewire port??

 

[iamme]

<< Does it not have a firewire port?? >>



Compaq opted for USB 2.0

 

[TEEZLE]

Damn, this thing is light at only 5.9lbs.!!! Anyone want to give feedback on this laptop?

 

[valkyrie]

Well, I have the 2715US, the P3-M version of this laptop and I quite honestly...love it! I almost never use my desktop anymore, this thing has been great. I had one pixel burn out after about 3 weeks, but that's it...otherwise, it's a flawless machine. The dual batteries are great. 5.5+ hours of run-time.

 

[manko]

Here's AT's own review of the 1.7Ghz model.

Must resist...



<< All in all, the Presario 2800T is a good notebook with little room for improvement. The system's size and weight were easy on the back considering how much power the system offers, although an internal floppy drive is missing. Even the system's battery life proved to be respectable: perfect for those long flights where work needs to get done.

Although all the components in the Compaq Presario 2800T are powerful, the 1.7GHz Mobile Pentium 4-M processor, the 845MP chipset, the PC2100 memory, it is the Mobility Radeon 7500 that gives the Presario 2800T the oomph it needs to be the powerful gaming system that it is. We have seen other notebook systems with similar specs and older graphics processors fail where the Compaq Presario 2800T was able to succeed: in 3D gaming. >>

 

[kidthor]

daaang it so many laptop deals!!! What do you guys think, is this a better deal than the Dell 8100?

 

[manko]

If you're going for the Compaq, I think this config is the best features/bang for buck:

Compaq 2800T Intel P4 1.5 GHz 256MB RAM DVD/CDRW 30GB HD, 64MB radeon $1649.99

Unfortunately it comes with 256MB DDR SDRAM (128MB + 128MB - no open expansion slots), so you'd have to dump a stick to upgrade. Maybe you can customize it for a better deal.

I've been reading a lot on laptops lately. It seems this Compaq is about a pound lighter and more solid than the 8100 or 8200, because it's magnesium. And this Radeon will kick the old GF2Go in the 8100, but the 8100 is significantly cheaper.

I like the USB 2 for the future, but no Firewire is a serious bummer for me, since I have a DV camera.

I hope I don't regret it, but I'll probably hold off for another month or two. Right now, I'm torn between something like this Compaq and an ultra-portable like Dell's C400 and I'm hoping a few new models will come out by June.

 

[manko]

I guess you can't get any 2800s in their built-to-order section. You have to choose from the pre-configured models.

I keep drooling over this one - and it's Instant Rebate not mail-in (like the Dell) - that's a big plus for this deal.

 

[Farbio]

these are pretty good deals, although compaq has some decent deals in the build to order versions.

i just speced one:
p4 1.4
256 in one slot
32mb geforce
20gb hd
16x cdrw
floppy
3yr service
1780 b/f compaq ir of 50
but the best part is that compaq is tossing in a free extra battery and notebook case which is worth the extra money here to me

 

[iwearnosox]

*State law may require sales tax to be charged on the pre-discounted price if the product is subject to sales tax.

California residents please kiss 25 bucks goodbye.

 

[emonkey]

Im choosing between this and the Gateway 450L which looks much better and has Firewire. I really dont need USB 2.0 and would much rather have FireWire onboard.

I did play with the 2800 at microcenter and its not as nice as i thought it would be. The latch is really odd and it got pretty warm but still, its a good system and the costco prices are GREAT for this.

 

[Dat]

gateway 450 only supports 512mb of ram while the compaq goes to 1 gig

ah if only it had cdrw i would be all over it.

 

[emonkey]

<< gateway 450 only supports 512mb of ram while the compaq goes to 1 gig

ah if only it had cdrw i would be all over it. >>


Yeah. the lack of cdrw is what kept me from buying it on the first day they put up the sale. But I do wonder whats up with the rebates. They say they give you the compaq "instant rebate" but whats to stop you from doing the regular mail in rebate as well? You'll have a reciept, you'll have the UPC so...

 

[Dat]

well according to compaqs site there is a $100 mail in rebate on the 2805 and bestbuy has its own $100 mail in rebates on notes so long story short:

compaq presario 2805
cdrw
14.1 xga
256mb
1.4 gig
20 gig
radeon 7500

for 1549

hmm..

 

[manko]

Dat, does the BestBuy Presario 2805 have a 32MB or 64MB Radeon?



<< gateway 450 only supports 512mb of ram while the compaq goes to 1 gig

ah if only it had cdrw i would be all over it. >>


Are you talking about the Gateway? The Compaq I spec'ed out has CDRW:

Compaq 2800T Intel P4 1.5 GHz 256MB RAM DVD/CDRW 30GB HD, 64MB radeon $1649.99

 

[DDDay]

The only thing that scares me about the P4 1.5 model, is the write up states XGA. Has anyone checked on this? Otherwise this is a very nice lappy.

 

[dshodson]

i heard the p4m doesnt produce any more performance than the p3m?????

if so, the dell deals can be had for a little less although u have to wait to get your money

i guess i have one more day to decide what to do

im looking to spend less than 1500 and i want all the bang i can get

are the costco amd deals any good or are those nonmobile chips in those things??

D

 

[manko]

Try reading the linked reviews.

The 2800 is cutting edge, except for the the missing firewire. IT's a p4M chip, in up to 1.8Ghz speed. It competes with the 8200, not the 8100. The CPU is probably not that much faster, depending on what speed you get, but the subsystem Bus and DDR ram is faster and the Radeon spanks the Geforce2go. It's also significantly lighter than either of the Dell models (at least 1 pound).

The screen for most of the configurations is 15" XGA. The more expensive Costco models (1.6Ghz+) have SXGA+ screens. On Compaq's site, they offer UXGA in the custom choices. I'm still not sure if you can order a custom model through Costco and still get the discount, but I doubt it.

Another thing I did notice is that the Costco page says it only has a One Year warranty, so you'll have to pay extra for a longer warranty, and I'm not sure if you can buy that at Costco or if you have to contact HP-Compaq separately.

The 8100 advantage is only that it's cheaper.

Usenet review

 

[TEEZLE]

It's also significantly lighter than either of the Dell models (at least 1 pound).

More like 2.5lbs lighter!!! I had a 8100 and returned it because of the weight. I think the Compaq 2800T will fit my bill nicely. All I need now is the money - LOL