I've narrowed my laptop choices......what do you think?

[Semidevil]

here is my situation: I'm a college student and am laptop shopping. At first, I wanted something extremely fast, and also extremely light. Since this is no way possible, I've narrowed my laptops to these 3 choices(I had to comprimised between speed and weight

Dell 4150
DEll

Fujisu E Series
Fujitsu

finally
Fujituse S series
Fujitus S

The first 2 laptops are pretty good, they pack a 1.4- 1.6 ghz cpu, about 1.3 inches thin, and way 5.6lbs and 5.3lbs respectively. I say that is a pretty good weight/speed distribution, don't you??
I know dell is pretty popular....it has good support and all those stuff. I've no idea bout Fujitsues, since I didn't even know that they make laptops. But what I like about them is that their laptops look awesome! Just for looks, I would go for the Fujitsu.

so between those 2, which would you pick?

now as for the 3rd one, it is teh weakest of them all, carrying only 1.0ghz cpu, but then again, it looks very very very good. only 1.3 inches high, and weghing at only 3.75lbs, or 4lbs w/ DVD player. I don't know if I should put that into consideration. Like I said, this is for school, so I"m not sure if I really need a 1.4 ghz laptop.................But then again, more power is always handy for things in the future right?

hmmm......I don't know......so you guys pick..........

heck, if you have another reccommendation.......please suggest.

 

[Semidevil]

jeez,the links don't work.......either that, or I don't know how to link stuff.......here:

dell
http://www.dell.com/us/en/dhs/products/model_inspn_1_inspn_4150.htm

Fujitsue E
http://webshop.fujitsupc.com/fpc/Ecommerce/buildseriesbean.do?series=AE

Fujitsue S
http://webshop.fujitsupc.com/fpc/Ecommerce/buildseriesbean.do?series=AF

 

[Booster]

I wonder why you didn't go for a similar model from Compaq. The best computer company ever, IMO. I've had some outstanding experience with Compaq.

 

[Semidevil]

compaq?? hmmm.......should have thought about them.......what model are you talking about??

 

[Cattlegod]

Originally posted by: Booster
I wonder why you didn't go for a similar model from Compaq. The best computer company ever, IMO. I've had some outstanding experience with Compaq.

....

 

[RossMAN]

nm

 

[blueghost75]

Compaq 2800T. Kick-ass computer.

Anand has a review on it: Text


I got mine a week or so ago, and love it to no end. The graphics are awesome.

Presario 2800T Series
Mobile Intel ® Pentium ® 4 Processor 1.60Ghz-M
128MB 266MHz DDR SDRAM (1 DIMM)
20.0 GB UDMA Hard Drive
8X DVD/CD-RW (8X8X24X) Combo Drive MultiBay
15.0" TFT UXGA Display
6 Months of AOL for FREE!
Microsoft Productivity Suite
Integrated 56K v.92 PCI Modem and 10/100 NIC
64MB Dedicated DDR Video Memory
AC Adapter Included
8 cell LiIon Battery 66 WHr
JBL Pro Audio System with Bass Reflex
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition
1yr Parts / 1 yr labor/1yr mail-in
90-day Software Technical Support

I got that for just under $1900, it is a little higher right now.

I also bought another 256MB or RAM from crucial, and a 40 GB hard disk and upgraded both since it was cheaper that having compaq do it. The total was under $2000.

Of course, if you don't want to be spending that much, you could go with something cheaper:

Presario 2800T Series
Mobile Intel ® Pentium ® 4 Processor 1.60Ghz-M
128MB 266MHz DDR SDRAM (1 DIMM)
20.0 GB UDMA Hard Drive
8X DVD-ROM MultiBay
14.1" TFT XGA Display
6 Months of AOL for FREE!
Microsoft Productivity Suite
Integrated 56K v.92 PCI Modem and 10/100 NIC
32MB Dedicated DDR Video Memory
AC Adapter Included
8 cell LiIon Battery 66 WHr

all that for $1488, but don't forget ~$100 tax and $40 shipping.

Even then, it is a really nice machine.

 

[Michael1897]

what about a sony?

 

[blueghost75]

On another note, I have looked at the Fujitsu laptops in Fry's, and the small ones are NICE. They are just incredible looking/sooo thin. Looks aren't everything though.

 

[blueghost75]

what about a sony?

We are using a few sony's here at work, and they all have had some problems. One of them has a funky serial port, which is bad for the guy using it, because he has to try 5-10 times just to get his flash programmer to work.

The one I am using right now has some issues with the sound card, it craps out every other day or so, so I have to restart to get it to work again. That could be a software issue, but nonetheless....it does it.

Another one we have here went up head-to-head with a Compaq laptop on a boat in the ocean for a couple of weeks. The sonys started having problems prety quick. The compaq held up to the abuse just fine.

I will give sony props for having really nice design though. My dad is using one of the really tiny sony's right now, and so far it works fine with no problems.

 

[erikistired]

i would avoid compaq, imho (as a pc repair tech who works on a lot of laptops and has been doing so for a good 8 years now). check out toshiba's offerings, they've been impressing me lately. i like ibm myself, but they come at a premium price.

i haven't seen too many fujitsu's, dunno if that's good or bad, probably because i don't have a parts source.

 

[edblor]

I own a Sony Superslim, and I absolutely love it. Built-in nic, modem, and IEEE-1394 too

Before this, I had a Toshiba superslim. It was great, but I needed more speed

So....Look at Toshiba, I've been very happy with the 3 I have owned, and Sony, I have never been disappointed with. I also would stay away from Compaq, the one I owned was not very good (bulky, slow, poor sound, poor screen).

A good friend of mine just picked up a Fujitsu, and he is crazy about it....maybe they are good...I have not used any myself.

G/L with whatever you choose

 

[iamme]

I have a friend who has had problems w/ Sony's PC tech support.....they suck.

I've had pretty good experiences w/ Compaq's. I've been drooling over the 2800T for a while, too

 

[Semidevil]

so I'm hearing you guys say to stay away from sony.............

ok...good. I hope I don't have to end up getting a dell....everyone at school has those....I want something that looks cool, affordable, and reliable.

Toshiba? OK, I"ll take a look at those and see what I can find....

 

[Tripleshot]

I'm lovin my Dell 8200 1.6 gig P4 w/256 DDR ,combo cd-rw/dvd, and 15" ultra TFT. Small and light to me means fragile. Not a good combination in a laptop that is on the go.(IMHO) I have great battery life in my dell and it screams with the help of WinXP and a good geforce vid card. Built in 10/100 nic and v92 56k modem, usb support and firewire and IRD. Damn, its got everything and I got it on line for less than $1500.

You should consider this one too. Price/performance, this is truly a contender.

 

[Sluggo]

Fixed links


Fujitsu S Series

Fujitsu E series

Dell 4150

 

[ultimatebob]

I'm still fond of IBM T-Series ThinkPad's and Sony VAIO laptops, myself. ThinkPad's are practically indestructible as far as laptops go, but the VAIO's are almost as good while being a few hundred bucks cheaper.

 

[The_Dude8]

i would recommend the ibm t-series. any of the t-series a good choice, but their video card is not the greatest thought.

 

[Oscar1613]

im typing on my Compaq 2800T right now to the guys with bad experinces with Compaqs: i had some bad experiences with compaqs too, but this laptop is leaps and bounds from the normal Compaq stuff... the screen is actually very good... my CRT (samsung syncmaster 753DF) looks slightly blurry compared to my laptop, and its very fast... runs GTA3 with minimal stuttering (only when theres a bunch of cars around).

however, he said he wanted thin and light, which the 2800 isnt... its about an inch thick and about 7 or 8 lbs... fijitsu looks good from the cnet reviews. might also want to look at the A series... gives you a faster Athlon CPU and its only 5.9 lbs

 

[milagro]

But what I like about them is that their laptops look awesome! Just for looks, I would go for the Fujitsu.

If you'd choose based on looks, why not get a mac? I don't own a mac, but if I purely wanted looks, that'd be my direction.