Help with laptop choices

[Oblivious]

So I'm going to Europe next summer to study abroad and I want to take a laptop so I can get email, write my papers, play *some* games, DVD movies, etc. I will probably sell/trade my desktop and add money to get this. Problem is, I have a Dell and no one wants a second hand Dell.

Here's my system
P4 1.9 GHz
512 MB DDR 2100 RAM
40x (burns at 32 for some reason) CDRW
16x DVD
floppy drive
2 front USB ports and a headphone jack
ATI Radeon 9700 PRO AIW
Linksys WMP Wireless PCI Card
Samsung SyncMaster 172T 17" LCD Monitor
Windows XP Home

I know that I could part out the LCD and the video card for $500 and $250 respectively.

I want good, solid laptop. Lightweight. New or slightly used. Wondering if I should get it now or in the spring. Help!!!!!

edit: i'll be back on to check late tonight. Help me out guys.

 

[Oblivious]

bump

 

[Oblivious]

Come on guys. Help me out here. :|

 

[sathyan]

give a total budget of what you're willing to spend include proceeds from sales

 

[Oblivious]

I figure that I could sell the system above (and include my Monsoon speakers) for $1000-$1200 roughly, that's including the AIW and the LCD. Tell me if I'm wrong on that assumption. I would be willing to add up to $300 of my own money so that would be $1300-$1500. I'm looking for something along the lines of a Dell 600M. I would also consider a Sony Vaio. This is something that is replacing my desktop, but also fits my budget and my backpack.

 

[nanyangview]

choose from the T40P lines that use the Radeon 9000 Vid card..they are light weight, fast and reliable

 

[Oblivious]

Originally posted by: nanyangview
choose from the T40P lines that use the Radeon 9000 Vid card..they are light weight, fast and reliable

Too expensive. Look at my budget.

 

[jimmyl930]

Take a look at the Compaq X1000. It's kind-of big though.

www.hpshopping.com

 

[Oblivious]

How big is "kinda big." This will be my first notebook computer. I want something light enough to carry in a backpack around Spain.

 

[eriqesque]

Her is something to think about to put the IBM T40 in your budget
Click Me

 

[Oblivious]

:\ we all know how ebay auctions go. the price skyrockets in the last 30 seconds. no thanks. plus, i don't trust spending over about $100 on ebay. the risk is too high.

 

[eriqesque]

Nice defeatest attitude
good luck then

 

[dmoney]

I would check out the HP line. Compaq is crappy so stay away from that section of the site, but Im happy with my HP pavillion and I only spent 1200:
AMD 2400+ M
512 MB
floppy
15" SXGA

Also with the updated driver it'll play any game i've tried.
Im going to spain next year too? where will you be?

 

[Oblivious]

Originally posted by: dmoney
I would check out the HP line. Compaq is crappy so stay away from that section of the site, but Im happy with my HP pavillion and I only spent 1200:
AMD 2400+ M
512 MB
floppy
15" SXGA

Also with the updated driver it'll play any game i've tried.
Im going to spain next year too? where will you be?

I'll be in Madrid mostly for four weeks. Then I'll be traveling to Mexico City for another four.

eriqesque: I'm sorry you feel that way. Thanks for the link and the thought though.

also: does anyone know of a place where I can buy a European power adapter/converter? I guess I'll need this if I'd like to use my laptop more than 4 hours in 8 weeks.

 

[chin311]

Originally posted by: dmoney
I would check out the HP line. Compaq is crappy so stay away from that section of the site, but Im happy with my HP pavillion and I only spent 1200:
AMD 2400+ M
512 MB
floppy
15" SXGA

Also with the updated driver it'll play any game i've tried.
Im going to spain next year too? where will you be?

sounds like i have the exact same laptop, but in compaq form....

what video does your use? if its the Radeon IGP (7000), what driver update is there?

thx (sorry for the thread hijack)

 

[Oblivious]

No problem, chin311.

 

[Baldy18]

This is a little off topic but for those that might be wondering more about buying laptops off ebay I know how it goes because I bought 4 IBM T40's off ebay. Problem is that I only received one of those 4. I didn't lose any money on the other deals because I was cautious and in the end I got the T40 listed below for $1667.

P-M 1.5GHz
40GB HDD
CDRW/DVD combo
256MB RAM
802.11b

To get back on topic I believe that any laptop will be small enough for your needs. I would check the thickness and screen size to get an idea of how big the laptop is. For me a 14.1" LCD is big enough. My brother has a Compaq and it works very well and since they are now HP I trust them more than before. The Dell 600M is a good choice for your budget and also very small if equiped with a 1.3 P-M processor. It won't likely be great for gaming but still a powerful machine that could handle many of todays games. Just a couple thoughts but everyone has their own oppinions.

 

[Bloodstein]

I would suggest the T40 too....but it's off ur budget...

The next best alternatives that i'd be looking into are the Toshiba machines...Tecra S1 (for a centrino), etc...

Dell is great but I've heard some horrific stories 'bout them...

 

[Oblivious]

Thanks for your help guys. Any other comments by other members?

 

[mrfoofy]

well, you should wait for as long as you possibly can to buy anything
second, most (eg every one that I've seen) AC adapters are ready to take any input voltages (they will say on the brick, it'll be "input 110VAC -~ 240VAC") etc. so all you neeed is a plug adaptor, $2 at radioshack.
as for the laptop itself, I'm sorta no help. I was looking at the dell 600m, but the past few minutes of forum scouring has got me all worried... I've useed notebooks before and can't stand touchpads.
anyone tried asus notebooks?

 

[kayatai]

Originally posted by: mrfoofy
well, you should wait for as long as you possibly can to buy anything
second, most (eg every one that I've seen) AC adapters are ready to take any input voltages (they will say on the brick, it'll be "input 110VAC -~ 240VAC") etc. so all you neeed is a plug adaptor, $2 at radioshack.
as for the laptop itself, I'm sorta no help. I was looking at the dell 600m, but the past few minutes of forum scouring has got me all worried... I've useed notebooks before and can't stand touchpads.
anyone tried asus notebooks?

I can confirm that all of the IBM and new Dell laptops that I have seen come with power bricks that are rated from 110v to 240v, you may want to doublecheck the specs with a salesperson before purchase. I had to call IBM about a work laptop (2-3 year old) to make sure it wouldn't blow up in India, they confirmed that all you needed was the $2 adapter, the brick could convert, they are designed for international travel they said.

The 600m is a nice machine if you are on a budget, no pointing stick but the touchpad is alright. Only 2 usb, but they did include a parrallel and serial port, a little odd but useful for people with legacy devices. Build quality is better than rumored, but definately plastic.

 

[Oblivious]

Well remember, I'm a college student looking for a travel machine but something that will function when I get back too. That's good about the power question. That saves me a lot of trouble. But yes, I plan on waiting until the last minute to buy something. Thanks for all your help guys.