Laptop Purchase Help Needed

[lilFajita]

Hey guys- I'm hopeless at making big decisions, so I turn to the intelligent and market savvy of the ATOT world...

I am going to grad school next year, and I need a good, portable laptop. I am willing to pay a little extra for higher quality, but I don't want to be suckered. My school is offering a pretty good discount on the new IBM T43. Basically, if I set up a Dell Inspirion with relatively the same specs, I can get it for $1605 with all taxes (that includes a 750 off 1899 coupon) and the IBM is $2006. I tend to get the impression that IBMs are better constructed and last longer.

So is the IBM worth the extra $400, in terms of quality, etc? I just don't want any hassles next year. Any thoughts? I appreciate your help!

 

[vi edit]

Buy a Dell Latitude 610 and call it a day. About $1200 will get you a very nice laptop and 3 year onsite warranty.

 

[rh71]

if you can afford to, always buy IBM Thinkpads over the others. They do last ...

 

[lilFajita]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Buy a Dell Latitude 610 and call it a day. About $1200 will get you a very nice laptop and 3 year onsite warranty.

thanks vi_edit...

are Latitudes better than the Inspirion? A quick check adding all the components brought it up to at least 1700 on the Latitude.

 

[mzkhadir]

Latitudes are for business use laptops while inspiron are more geared toward home use.

 

[radioouman]

Latitudes are generally faster too.

Hi Lilfajita! Haven't seen you around lately.

 

[Phoenix86]

The IBM T-Series machines are built like a tank. I have not been impressed with ANY of the dell laptops I have seen (not that I have seen them all), too much plastic.

Not sure if it's worth $400, but they are very nice machines. I'm typing this one a T-22 (PIII-650) and it's still rock solid, as are all of our T-series machines. We just don't have to repair them, ever. They are always replaced before they die.

 

[Trevelyan]

Originally posted by: rh71
if you can afford to, always buy IBM Thinkpads over the others. They do last ...

IBM laptops have awesome build quality. My dad's 5 year old IBM laptop is still rock solid, while my friend's 1 year old Dell Inspiron laptop has cracks in the casing and is coming apart in a few places.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: lilFajita

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Buy a Dell Latitude 610 and call it a day. About $1200 will get you a very nice laptop and 3 year onsite warranty.

thanks vi_edit...

are Latitudes better than the Inspirion? A quick check adding all the components brought it up to at least 1700 on the Latitude.

The Latitude 610 is pretty much the same "bottom" as the 600m. Biggest changes are that the lid is made of magnesium which makes it lighter and stronger than plastic and it includes the pointer stick along with the touchpad. From my experience with the two, the Latitude is just put together a little bit better with better fit and finish over the Inspirons.

How are you spec'ing it out? And what are your intended uses for it? I personally don't see any need for more than than the base CPU and 512 megs of ram. I'd spend the money and upgrade up to the 40 gig 5400 RPM hard drive for the added speed and a little more space. Also upgrade to a CD burner for a couple bucks.

That's a nice setup for a student. You really don't need to spend more on it. Dollar for dollar, the 610 is a better machine than the 600m.

I've bought and used the T series laptops, but you just get hosed on add on accessories if you chose to add them. Docking stations, power adapters, ect. They all are just hideously expensive with IBM.

 

[getbush]

Please stay away from Dell Inspirons. I would say Dell completely, but maybe the Latitudes are ok. Others can chime in there. I know way too many people who have had problems with their Inspirons. Mostly hard drive failures, and the service is terrible. I personally have had two Compaqs and have been vompletely satisifed. The first one basically got hit by lightning while plugged into the phone line, and HP/Compaq warranty service was great. Had a prepaid box on my doorstep the next morning, and my computer back the same week. Dell jerked my gf and her mom around for literally MONTHS on a failing hard drive until I sent them lenghty persuasive emails. Just my personal experience.

I just want to add that my current lappy is a second (basic needs) system so it cost me $585 brand new straight from compaq. They have an academic purchase program that can save you money. It's got a 1.3 Celeron D and I immediately bumped it to 512MB of RAM. For just over $600 with the RAM it can tackle the internet and whatnot with absolute ease.

edit: yes it's a celeron, but it's a newer Dothan core model with the 1MB cache. So cheap and more than enough power, I love it.

 

[dartworth]

don't bother with the 600m. Dell will be replacing it soon. It is outdated compared to the new laptops Dell has.

 

[lilFajita]

Originally posted by: radioouman
Latitudes are generally faster too.

Hi Lilfajita! Haven't seen you around lately.

hi acutally, I have been MIA. Last few months have been all about applications, applications, interviews, waiting. Now I have some time to relax

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: getbush
Please stay away from Dell Inspirons. I would say Dell completely, but maybe the Latitudes are ok. Others can chime in there. I know way too many people who have had problems with their Inspirons. Mostly hard drive failures, and the service is terrible. I personally have had two Compaqs and have been vompletely satisifed. The first one basically got hit by lightning while plugged into the phone line, and HP/Compaq warranty service was great. Had a prepaid box on my doorstep the next morning, and my computer back the same week. Dell jerked my gf and her mom around for literally MONTHS on a failing hard drive until I sent them lenghty persuasive emails. Just my personal experience.

I just want to add that my current lappy is a second (basic needs) system so it cost me $585 brand new straight from compaq. They have an academic purchase program that can save you money. It's got a 1.3 Celeron D and I immediately bumped it to 512MB of RAM. For just over $600 with the RAM it can tackle the internet and whatnot with absolute ease.

That's funny. A Compaq owner knocking a Dell.

I've got over 25 inspirons and latitudes out and about. Not a single HD failure. *KNOCKS ON WOOD*.

Only issues I've had are a bad batch of motherboards in some Inspiron 4000's and the well publicized power adapter recall.

The service has been excellent. If I choose to do the mail in service, it's never taken more than 4 days to get it fixed and back to. If I choose to have onsite the worst I've had is 5 business days and that was no fault of Dells, just that the company they outsourced to in the area was totally booked up on other calls.

 

[mitaiwan82]

I would go for the T43 if you plan to keep this laptop for a while...most thinkpads are built like a tank. I would also suggest upping the ram to at least 1gig and get a 7200rpm hard drive for near desktop performance

 

[lilFajita]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
How are you spec'ing it out? And what are your intended uses for it? I personally don't see any need for more than than the base CPU and 512 megs of ram. I'd spend the money and upgrade up to the 40 gig 5400 RPM hard drive for the added speed and a little more space. Also upgrade to a CD burner for a couple bucks.

The specs are 512 RAM (1 stick), 60 GB, Pentium M 750 with the SXGA screen and CD/DVD burner. Its going to be my only computer over the next 4 years, so its not like I need anything extravagant, but just something that will work quickly with lots of spreadsheets, models, etc. and be good to me. I'm really bad about going for the latest and greatest, though

 

[vi edit]

Also - FWIW - IBM is in the process of spinning off it's laptop line to a Chinese company and will no longer be managing that division.

The quality control and support impact of the sell is yet to be seen.

 

[DaWhim]

thinkpad all the ways

thinkpad > all

best keyboard you can get out there

 

[getbush]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

That's funny. A Compaq owner knocking a Dell.

I've got over 25 inspirons and latitudes out and about. Not a single HD failure. *KNOCKS ON WOOD*.

Only issues I've had are a bad batch of motherboards in some Inspiron 4000's and the well publicized power adapter recall.

The service has been excellent. If I choose to do the mail in service, it's never taken more than 4 days to get it fixed and back to. If I choose to have onsite the worst I've had is 5 business days and that was no fault of Dells, just that the company they outsourced to in the area was totally booked up on other calls.

We all go by personal experiences. Mine are a stark contrast to yours, that is all.

 

[lilFajita]

Originally posted by: mitaiwan82
I would go for the T43 if you plan to keep this laptop for a while...most thinkpads are built like a tank. I would also suggest upping the ram to at least 1gig and get a 7200rpm hard drive for near desktop performance

The IBM comes with 1 Dimm 512 RAM, so I assume I can cheaply upgrade if I find it neccessary, right?

 

[rhino56]

i heard the ibms have a common mainboard problem, ive even seen threads here where they refused to warranty it over a usb port that was damaged.

i have an asus z71 with brand name ram (corsair) and it is an awesome lappy.
hit 14306 in 3dmark01
paid like 1800.00 for it
i would also recommend proportable.com as a place to buy one.
ext warranty, awesome online service.

here is what i got

Product Name: PROPortable Z71V Centrino Notebook (New Sonoma Platform) - (In Stock)
Attributes (if any): 1. Intel® Pentium® M w/ 2MB Cache; 533MHz FSB - 750 - 1.86GHz; 533MHz FSB; w/ 2MB Cache -Standard 2. DDR2 533 so-Dimm - 1024 ddr2 533 (512mb x 2) - Corsair 3. Hard Drives 2.5" ATA100 - Hitachi Travelstar 40GB 7200 RPM w/ 8MB Buffer 4. Optical Drive - 24x Combo Drive (DVD/CD-RW) -Standard 5. Internal Wireless Card (Required for Centrino) - Intel PRO/2200 Wireless 802.11b/g MiniPCI 6. Operating Systems - Microsoft Windows XP Professional w/ SP2 -Standard 7. Warranties - 2 years parts & labor w/ 1 way paid shipping
Price: $1,841.69

i know i could have gotten the same thing cheaper elsewhere by like 100 to 150 but that would mean noname ram, 1 years instead of 2 year warranty. and i liked proportable service.
i did try out the service of several places.

 

[CRXican]

check out the thread on IBMs warranty service

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=38&threadid=1575459&enterthread=y

 

[dartworth]

A very good resource

 

[getbush]

If you want numbers on my Dell experience: my GF's, my roommate's, and a friend of my GF with the same 600m, ALL 3 failed. That's 3 for 3 on the people closest to me with Dell laptops.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Also - FWIW - IBM is in the process of spinning off it's laptop line to a Chinese company and will no longer be managing that division.

The quality control and support impact of the sell is yet to be seen.

it's desktops and laptops, but they will continue to use the IBM/Thinkpad name for the next 5 years. Beyond that is certainly anyone's guess.

 

[Rock Hydra]

Originally posted by: CRXican
check out the thread on IBMs warranty service

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=38&threadid=1575459&enterthread=y

Yeah i just got done readin' that. I was going to mention it.