*DEAD*DROOL: Best Buy SOTEC Notebook with Mobile Intel® Celeron® Processor 1.2GHz $600 AR // *NEW*PM Possible?

[gwlam12]

*EDIT EDIT*
Price has dropped to $899. For those of you who purchased it, maybe you can try a pricematch. Unfortunately, I did not purchase it so I cannot try this myself.



LINKY TO SPECS

If you buy online, save $350

$949 - $100 MIR - $100 - $50 MIR -$100 Bestbuy GC (by mail) = $599


If you buy in-store, save $250

$949 - $100 MIR - $100 - MIR - $50 MIR = $700


Quick Specs:

1.2 GHZ Mobile Celeron
256MB PC133 Ram
20GB Hard Drive
DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive
4.4 lbs

 

[haner]

I've also setup a forum to discuss this particular line of notebooks:

link

 

[858diver]

DEFINATELY a budget, entry-level lappy - warm at best. Have seen some MUCH better machines for only about $100 more

other than the PC133 RAM, there are at least 2 other less than desirable features:
12.1" XGA TFT display
SiS630ST AGP 2X graphics controller, 32MB video memory


One example: Compaq Presario Notebook Model: 2135US - also at BB
$999 - 3x $100 MIR (online) = $699.
CC is advertising this machine for $50 more (PM?), but also includes a free (after MIR) extra battery.

 

[dethman]

Originally posted by: 858diver
DEFINATELY a budget, entry-level lappy - warm at best. Have seen some MUCH better machines for only about $100 more

other than the PC133 RAM, there are at least 2 other less than desirable features:
12.1" XGA TFT display
SiS630ST AGP 2X graphics controller, 32MB video memory


One example: Compaq Presario Notebook Model: 2135US - also at BB
$999 - 3x $100 MIR (online) = $699.
CC is advertising this machine for $50 more (PM?), but also includes a free (after MIR) extra battery.

hey foolio don't you know there's a price/market difference between a 4.4lb portable and a 7.25lb clunker like that presario? i doubt there's anything larger than a 12" screen on a 4 pounder. this is a good price for a decent portable laptop.

at least you were right about one thing though, that this notebook definitely is not for gamers with that crappy video subsystem.

 

[dexvx]

Originally posted by: 858diver
DEFINATELY a budget, entry-level lappy - warm at best. Have seen some MUCH better machines for only about $100 more

other than the PC133 RAM, there are at least 2 other less than desirable features:
12.1" XGA TFT display
SiS630ST AGP 2X graphics controller, 32MB video memory


One example: Compaq Presario Notebook Model: 2135US - also at BB
$999 - 3x $100 MIR (online) = $699.
CC is advertising this machine for $50 more (PM?), but also includes a free (after MIR) extra battery.

It uses the tualatin based celeron, which wouldnt be much slower than that 1.8G P4 based celeron.

 

[Uclagamer_99]

ehhh...doesnt sound too hot

 

[puppyfriend]

Ah.. you can get a bunch of other laptops for about $80 more that are much better. 1.7/1.8 Celeries or AMD XPs.

David

 

[GoodToGo]

All you Compaq and HP fanboys are missing the point. This is 4.4 pounds notebook which looks real good and is one of the most resonable ultraportable laptops (if not the most reasonable) with very good features like CDRW, DVDROM and decent graphics. Any other laptop with the same weight and features will cost much much more. Also the reviews on CNET have been pretty positive. Any budget-concious student looking to do some light to medium heavy work on a laptop without carrying a brick around should seriously consider this.

 

[weepul]

i always wanted a projector, but they are so expensive.

//krunk (^_^x)

 

[ItTheCow]

Hmm, this would be good for school indeed. I sold my 11 lb monster a week ago, and am in the market for the replacement...

 

[dlaw]

Pretty good deal indeed.

 

[AnyMal]

Originally posted by: GoodToGo
All you Compaq and HP fanboys are missing the point. This is 4.4 pounds notebook which looks real good and is one of the most resonable ultraportable laptops (if not the most reasonable) with very good features like CDRW, DVDROM and decent graphics. Any other laptop with the same weight and features will cost much much more. Also the reviews on CNET have been pretty positive. Any budget-concious student looking to do some light to medium heavy work on a laptop without carrying a brick around should seriously consider this.

Completely agree. Many people will happily forgo some features to gain extra mobility. This laptop has something for everyone at a great feature to price ratio.

 

[858diver]

Different strokes for different folks - just letting people know there is an option.

Personally, a couple of pounds is a small price to pay for a 15" display (versus 12") and a decent video adapter for the budget conscious.

 

[jrichrds]

It's not that hard to figure out that this laptop was meant to suit a different purpose than those all-in-one 7lb+ laptops. It's not just the weight, but the dimensions as well. I use an all-in-one at home and an ultralight portable when I travel.

 

[Noobody]

when i bought my 1st notebook several years ago, i thought couple extra pound is no big deal, it does, it make you dont want carry it around. Notebook mean to be MOBILE and light weight as long as it get job done, long battery life if it doesnt cost too much extra, not a 8lb brick with 15"screen, most feature, best video card, and fastest CPU and sit on your desk 99% of the time. i want to have look at this notebook, went several BB store, cant find the demo, oh well

 

[DoctaMason]

um.. not a bad deal, but, why not spend 59 bucks more and get this :

For the Surfing Impaired

this is not protable, but i just thought that it would also be a good deal

(btw this weight 7.25lbs)

XP processor 1800+ with QuantiSpeed? architecture* and AMD PowerNow!?
256MB 266MHz DDR SDRAM for multitasking power, expandable to 1.0GB
15" XGA TFT display
30.0GB enhanced-IDE hard drive
DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drive
ATI Mobility RADEON 4X AGP 3D graphics; 64MB shared DDR SDRAM video memory; S-video TV-out
Integrated 10/100Base-T Ethernet card with RJ-45 connector
V.90/V.92 high-speed modem
Weighs 7.25 lbs./about 1.6" thin for easy portability; high-capacity LiIon battery and AC adapter
Windows XP Home Edition operating system preinstalled

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: DoctaMason
um.. not a bad deal, but, why not spend 59 bucks more and get this :

blah blah blah I can't read...

Because it's not AS PORTABLE! Sheesh...why don't people realize that some people don't want to lug around an 8 pound BRICK of a laptop.

 

[DoctaMason]

duh! Good work out! Hellooooooooo

Seriously though, personally i would think that with the more options, wouldnt that out-weigh the weight difference?

 

[PandaBear]

Actually from reading the reviews it seems like there is a manufacturing issue with this laptop. The CPU cooling fan will grind against the poorly made heatsink in some units and you have to open up the laptop to "shave" off the extra "post" on the heatsink. But doing so will void any warranty on this laptop.

I am not sure if this is really a good deal if there are known defect on it.

 

[GoodToGo]

Originally posted by: dnuggett

light to medium heavy work

What does that mean?

Using Powerpoint, Word, surfing the web, watching DVD's etc. Dont expect this laptop to do video editing, play games like UT2k3 etc.

 

[SgtZulu]

way too many rebates

 

[jrichrds]

Why is it every thread concerning an ultralight portable has to be littered with comparisons to all-in-one bricks?

Some people don't want to carry around an 8lb. all-in-one brick. It's as simple as that. Why do people carry around handheld organizers when they can do a whole lot more with an ultralight laptop? The same reason some people want an ultralight portable rather than an all-in-one brick: portability.

I have both kinds of laptops, each suiting its own purpose.

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: DoctaMason
duh! Good work out! Hellooooooooo

Seriously though, personally i would think that with the more options, wouldnt that out-weigh the weight difference?

My point is, your post is about as welcome as going into the SFF forum and saying, "Why would you build a SFF system? You can build a tower system for cheaper and blah blah blah..."
It's a totally different variety of machine, and a great deal on a lightweight laptop (although it IS alot of rebates).

 

[fargus]

Actually from reading the reviews it seems like there is a manufacturing issue with this laptop. The CPU cooling fan will grind against the poorly made heatsink in some units and you have to open up the laptop to "shave" off the extra "post" on the heatsink. But doing so will void any warranty on this laptop.

This was an issue with the original production units... however, according to information posted in the previous thread on this laptop, the manufacturer has corrected this issue in current production units.

 

[madalien]

My local Walmart had these at reduced price of ~$700. But BestBuy online never pricematches, there is no instore pickup availble and the local BBs do not carry this in stock! What a perfect Price Matching opportunity wasted!