Looking for a Laptop

[TrojanMan]

I'm heading off to college in a couple of months and thus I'm looking for a laptop. I can't give up my desktop, it's just to dear to me, so I'm not looking for a powerhouse gaming laptop, but probably something that is a good deal and has some gaming functionality (Quake, Halflife and the lan goodies). I've looked at Sony, Dell, Gateway, Alienware, and even Apple, but can't seem to pick a real winner. I think I've narrowed it down to two machines... any info or opinions on either would be appreciated. Also while I am familiar with Dell (I had a Dell Desktop a couple of years back), I don't know a thing about Gateway. Any experiences with Gateway that anybody would like to share would also be greatly appreciated.

The Gateway 450X

Gateway's Specs - http://www.gateway.com/home/prod/hm_450x_ProdDetail.shtml
Cnet's Take on the 450X - http://computers.cnet.com/hardware/0-1027-404-9751276.html?tag=txt

Dell Inspiron 8200

Dell's Specs - http://www.dell.com/us/en/dhs/products/model_inspn_2_inspn_8200.htm#tabtop
Cnet's Take on the 8200 - http://computers.cnet.com/hardware/0-1027-404-8951699.html?tag=pdtl-list

 

[Tripleshot]

I bought a 8200 Dell today. I have never had trouble with service or the quality of the hardware. I have purchased 8 Inspirons for the office in the past, and this one is for me. Under $1500 and I get a 1.6 gig P4 wth 256DDR and CD/rw/DVD combo with XP home. Thats alot of bang for the buck. With a 15 in screen and no dongle/pcmcia card to worry about, I can pick up and go with ease. Some people like em, some people don't. I like em.

 

[sciencewhiz]

look at the weight difference, and then realize that every extra pound is killer when you try to carry it for any distance (even through an airport)

 

[StattlichPassat]

I'm partial to Dells- other great ones are IBM Thinkpads and Toshibas.

 

[bigshooter]

You guys need to buff up and stop whining. I recently had surgery for a herniated disc in my back, plus my back is horrible, and I've never had any problems carrying a 7-8 lb. laptop through the airport. Once you add in the ac adapter and all your stuff you carry, the 1lb. difference in the laptop is not going to bring you to your knees. In fact my books at school weigh much more than that, adn if i'm in an airport, my carry on bag is whats giving me problems, not my laptop. The only time I want a lighter one is when I'm sitting with it on my lap. If you leave it on a table or desk, you're fine.

 

[quirky]

get either the ibm t something or the compaq 2800. this is from a guy who has done months and months of research

 

[Shalmanese]

I dont know if they have discontinued the Inspiron 4100 line, but I would consider that a better choice that the 8200. It has a P3 processor which performs far better, far cheaper and far cooler that a P4 300Mhz higher. the difference b/w a 14.1" and 15" screen is minimal after you have used it for a while and a GF2Go/Mobility Radeon is perfectly adequate for HL/Q3 while leaving your desktop free to do grunty gaming.

As for the whole weight thing, it ALMOST dissappears if you get a specially built laptop backpack but it is VERY noticable if you get a conventional carry case. My monstor of an IBM feels like a father weight compared to my tiny toshiba I used to have in a carry case. Since all the wieght is distributed on one shoulder and you dont get any support from your lower back, I would estimate that it would feel maybe 3-4x heavier in "apparent weight"

 

[MWink]

I've had my Inspiron 8200 for about 1.5 months and I love it. I would highly recommend it. IMO, they did a really good job designing it compared to some other laptops. I read a review which said the Gateway's have some design flaws which would drive me crazy (flimsy screen, poor keyboard, etc.). Having had the chance to really work with a newer Toshiba, I can no longer recommend them. I worked with a Satellite 5000 series laptop and it was full of bugs and design flaws (horrible battery life, huge, terrible keyboard, no modular bay, flimsy design, etc.).

BTW, I forgot to mention support is a big deal with laptops. They are less reliable than desktops and are not as easy to fix. Be sure to get at least a 3 year warranty. Also think about the company you are buying it from. Dell has EXCELLENT support (I've had to deal with them quite a bit lately). Gateway is close to bankruptcy and may not be around to support their laptops.

 

[Soulkeeper]

i just purchased a nice Sager notebokk from powernotebooks.com took two weeks to ship to me but other than that it is a great notebook
cheaper than anything Dell can offer with the most up to date stuff