**Official eMachines M68xx Thread**

[MDE]

One problem with your logic LosT, desktops\workstations != servers. Both OSes have the same engine, but 2003 has a beefier framework that lends itself better to heavy duty server work.
What exactly (other than your memory example and boot time which I don't believe) does 2003 handle differently than XP? XP64 will be out before an AMD64 version of 2003. Why do I know that? Where's the beta of Server 2003 for AMD64? The XP beta is right here. After XP SP2 is done, Microsoft will shift over to finishing XP64. The structure of these OSes is almost exactly the same, with minor changes (XP has more cosmetic enhancements, 2003 has server enhancements). IMO, it's cosmetic and 2003 is just XP with sound and video acceleration disabled and server apps added. Quit warezing a $1000 OS and use Windows 2000, XP Pro, or what came with your laptop.

 

[imported_LosT]

Originally posted by: MDE
One problem with your logic LosT, desktops\workstations != servers. Both OSes have the same engine, but 2003 has a beefier framework that lends itself better to heavy duty server work.
What exactly (other than your memory example and boot time which I don't believe) does 2003 handle differently than XP? XP64 will be out before an AMD64 version of 2003. Why do I know that? Where's the beta of Server 2003 for AMD64? The XP beta is right here. After XP SP2 is done, Microsoft will shift over to finishing XP64. The structure of these OSes is almost exactly the same, with minor changes (XP has more cosmetic enhancements, 2003 has server enhancements). IMO, it's cosmetic and 2003 is just XP with sound and video acceleration disabled and server apps added. Quit warezing a $1000 OS and use Windows 2000, XP Pro, or what came with your laptop.

First of all I didn't warez it, thanks for the hostility though. I posted a message here to help give out more information, and have been attacked for it TWICE. What a great community you have here.

You can get eval copies of W2K3.

As far as reviews, read this:
review of w2k3 as workstation

Please pay special attention to the boot times that you "don't believe". Try testing things before you insult.

"You read correctly, if Microsoft did one thing correct in this version is to optimize the OS for maximum performance and we are not talking just server performance, but all-around responsiveness of the OS. "

But I digress. I can't believe that I get attacked for simply trying to help grow the knowledge base in this thread wrt these laptops. Hell of a way to run a forum.

Don't worry, I won't be back.

 

[MDE]

1) Evaluation copies of Windows Server 2003 are only good for 365 days. After that you have to fork over the dough. I'm NOT paying almost as much as I paid for the laptop for a marginal, if any speed increase for an OS.
2) In that review they test clean installs. Enable themes, video and sound acceleration, etc and then retest the boot times and responsiveness, not enough of a difference to offset the driver issues IMO. Does Server 2003 support battery level checking, etc?
3) Your choice. If you don't like it send a PM to Anandtech Moderator or post it in Forum Issues. If I'm so out of line I'll hear from them.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Hello all
Just thought I would pass on that I happen to work at Best Buy and I can tell you that I sell almost all M6805 (and some 6809's) notebooks and haven't had one person come back and tell me anything negative (And I've asked them too!). From everything I've seen, this is a quality notebook for the money. FYI, Best Buy will not be carrying the M6805 for too much longer as we are getting in the M6810. Same as 6805, but 3200+ processor and I think that's the only difference. Dunno if we'll keep the 6809 still. So, head over to your local BBY and check out the rebates on it in your area. I know last sales week here in Eastern NC, we had $300 MIR on it. Best I've ever seen it.
Oh, and about the LCD burn-in issue raised somewhere along the way, I've never seen a single LCD burned in between the five or six Best Buy stores I've been in. I wouldn't worry about it.
Lastly, make sure you pick up the Service Plan with this laptop. Manufacturer's warranties suck for laptops and Best Buy gives you a free battery every year (And NO, we don't make any kind of commission so I'm not just blowing smoke up your ass)
I'll probly be picking up a 6810 before I go back to school in August, so I'll drop a line with any experiences I have with it.

 

[MDE]

Free battery every year eh? Where in the service plan do they say that, because if that's the case I'm picking me up a new battery next January . Thanks for letting me know about the M6805 being discontinued because I still haven't returned mine because of the LCD backlight flickering. M6810 here I come!

 

[mudboy]

Lost, wow, you're amazing. I mean ALL THAT INFORMATION in your posts without really saying anything of value. "If you Google for it..." blah blah blah.

First, I know Win2K3. I know it well. I work on Win2K3 servers EVERY DAY, and I use WinXP Pro EVERY DAY. The differences between Win2K3 and XPPro are no more significant than the differences between Win2K and Win2K Server; the primary change is that security is FAR tighter on Win2K3 through turning off all of the stuff that was turned on in Win2K Server.

Pete

 

[wifi4lyfe]

I'm VERY seriously considering getting either an m6805 or m6809 but have a few questions first:

Is it possible to use 2 batteries at a time, or do they sell an extended life battery?

I've read a few posts in this thread of people buying them at circuit city, but when i go on the CC website they dont sell any emachines laptops. Should i checkout my local store anyways??

I was at Best Buy yesterday checking the M6805 out (nice!!) and the price tag said that the $1199.99 AMIR price ended on 7/3/04 (yesterday). Will they still offer the rebates or am I SOL? I cant get the rest of the money to make the purchase until later this week if not next week. Oh and is there any way to get an Education discount like IBM and apple do?

Lastly, I'm looking to buy this laptop (or a different laptop) to replace my desktop and current crappy laptop. It will be used at college.
Current specs:
P4 2.26@2.7ghz
512mb pc2700
80gb 7200rpm 8mb cache WD SE
Abit IT7 max
Radeon 9700 non-pro

Will the m6809 be anywhere near the speed of my desktop, maybe even closely match it?? I dont game often but i'm worried that since my only computer for the next 4yrs is going to be a laptop, i wont be able to play any games/work with vid/cpu intense programs...

THanks very much

 

[mudboy]

There's no capability to use 2 batteries at once.

I've not seen them at my local CC.

No .edu discount that I've found, that's usually something that only the top tier vendors get involved in.

I think after the two upgrades that most people have been doing (faster hard drive, more RAM), this laptop would be more than enough to meet your needs. My wife's Shuttle SN42G2 has been OOC for a little bit with a bad PS, so she has been using the 6805. She swears it's faster in all respects to her shuttle, which as a slightly slower CPU (2400+), but a gig of good RAM (vs the eMachines' 512MB) and a 7200RPM/8MB cache hard drive (vs the eMachines 4200RPM drive).

Pete

 

[wifi4lyfe]

thanks mudboy. I only game occasionally so thats not too big of a concern, and to tell you the truth I dont even use my PCs full potention that often, maybe few times a week. And I'm sure it will be even less once I start college... now to track down an m6809....

thanks!

 

[wifi4lyfe]

one more thing - I read somewhere about someone bringing in a copy of the Emachines service plan that is like $189.99 IIRC, and Best Buy price matched this, saving the guy roughly $100 for the best buy service plan. Has anyone successfully done this. I'm leaning towards purchasing the BB service plan because they exchange the laptop if ANYTHING goes wrong with it within 3yrs of purchase, but then I think of how I am a consumer whore and usually get a new laptop every 8-12 months, sometimes even more often! what do you guys think? worth it?

THANKS!

 

[gweilo8888]

Ignore this post folks, replying to resubscribe to email notification after an ISP problem caused me to be unsubscribed for bounced emails. Don't know a way to subscribe without replying...

 

[formulav8]

I tried to update the bios of my M6805 lappy with the newer bios that someone posted in the HardOC forums. Whenever I try to update the bios, it gives a message "Cannot flash if Memory Managers <e.g. EMM386> present"

Does anyone know what I need to do to get it to work. I have seen a few posts where people have successfully flashed the new bios. And the bios helped a few things. Even increasing IDE speed, ect.. Hopefully someone will know what I need to do. I even did a format and complete reinstall of XP Pro.


Jason

 

[Brazen]

Originally posted by: formulav8
I tried to update the bios of my M6805 lappy with the newer bios that someone posted in the HardOC forums. Whenever I try to update the bios, it gives a message "Cannot flash if Memory Managers <e.g. EMM386> present"

Does anyone know what I need to do to get it to work. I have seen a few posts where people have successfully flashed the new bios. And the bios helped a few things. Even increasing IDE speed, ect.. Hopefully someone will know what I need to do. I even did a format and complete reinstall of XP Pro.


Jason

are you flashing from a boot floppy?

 

[formulav8]

Hi, I fixed it. If you want to flash the bios and want to know how to do it very easy. Look in the notebook forum post that I made.


Jason

 

[beyoku]

Originally posted by: wifi4lyfe
one more thing - I read somewhere about someone bringing in a copy of the Emachines service plan that is like $189.99 IIRC, and Best Buy price matched this, saving the guy roughly $100 for the best buy service plan. Has anyone successfully done this. I'm leaning towards purchasing the BB service plan because they exchange the laptop if ANYTHING goes wrong with it within 3yrs of purchase, but then I think of how I am a consumer whore and usually get a new laptop every 8-12 months, sometimes even more often! what do you guys think? worth it?

THANKS!

YES PLEASE do this, it worked for me. On another note - ahs anybody gotten read/write errors when trying to install programs under WINXP Por? I think it may have something to do with that broadcom driver - i had the thing running for a good 3 days after a fresh install of PRo and WHAM - popup after popup of a /write error - after i tried to install Norton 2004 - Olnly after uninstalling the broadcom wireless driver did they go away? This has happend to the 2nd laptop i have purchased so its not specific to one machine.?

 

[ChuaChua]

hello,

My new eMachines m6809 has been crashing and a blue screen saying,"MACHINE_CHECK_EXCEPTION has caused the computer to shut down, etc..."
This happens when I install games/files or when the Norton Antivirus, which came with the notebook, is scanning a big file (Far Cry Demo zip file, etc.). I looked at the Microsoft support site and did not come up with a solution. Restoring the old factory settings from the DVD helped a bit.

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=329284 - Microsoft's support page.
The support page mentions a Pentium processor and that confused me because the m6809 came with an AMD processor.

Any help is appreciated.

Also, Installing Battlefield 1942/Half-Life and other files from CDs/CD-RWs cause this error AND Windows complains that there is something wrong with the *.cab, other important files, or the CDs and refuses to install them.
Any tips on the problem?

Oooh, have any of the m6809 users got nVidia's Dawn demo to run on their machines? How? I heard M10 is supported by the patch but i dont know if the m6809's 64MB of vid ram is enough.

Hardware:
eMachine m6809
no hardware changes
only updated vid drivers to the latest Catalyst drivers

Thanks

 

[ChuaChua]

hello,

My new eMachines m6809 has been crashing and a blue screen saying,"MACHINE_CHECK_EXCEPTION has caused the computer to shut down, etc..."
This happens when I install games/files or when the Norton Antivirus, which came with the notebook, is scanning a big file (Far Cry Demo zip file, etc.). I looked at the Microsoft support site and did not come up with a solution. Restoring the old factory settings from the DVD helped a bit.

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=329284 - Microsoft's support page.
The support page mentions a Pentium processor and that confused me because the m6809 came with an AMD processor.

Any help is appreciated.

Also, Installing Battlefield 1942/Half-Life and other files from CDs/CD-RWs cause this error AND Windows complains that there is something wrong with the *.cab, other important files, or the CDs and refuses to install them.
Any tips on the problem?

Oooh, have any of the m6809 users got nVidia's Dawn demo to run on their machines? How?

Hardware:
eMachine m6809
no hardware changes
only updated vid drivers to the latest Catalyst drivers

Thanks

 

[ChuaChua]

sorry for the double post. I am new.

 

[gnomepunk]

memory question........any brands that you guys know of that is not compatiable with a 6809? Im looking to replace both (yes, im aware of the pending headache and voided warranty) sticks.

 

[brokejumper]

I have been considering purchasing a 6809/11 but have recently heard of serious problems with the monitor hinges cracking and Emachines not covering this in their warrenty. I know the issue has been brought up before here, and thrashed about over at notebookreview.com, but I thought I would ask folks again to see if more problems have come up over time.

For comparison, from a poll at notebookreview.com, it looks like almost 20-30% of people have had problems with this on a relatively new laptop. Anyone here want to comment?

 

[ChuaChua]

read my post, brokejumper.
Also, the usb ports on the side of the notebook does not seem to work properly with a gamepad (thrustmaster) but the ports on the back works properly.

 

[brokejumper]

I read your post and it seems to only deal with software issues.... am I missing something?

 

[imported_haris]

I've only had my 6805 for about a month now and I only just noticed the hairline crack after reading these posts. Does anyone know if Best Buy's extended warranty will cover replacement for the crack?

 

[ChuaChua]

Anyone know where i can get new drivers for the m6809?
Im not too sure about the VIA chipset model number and the DVD drive.

 

[MDE]

Originally posted by: haris
I've only had my 6805 for about a month now and I only just noticed the hairline crack after reading these posts. Does anyone know if Best Buy's extended warranty will cover replacement for the crack?

They exchanged mine. Took a while, but I got the last M6805 in the store (with a 4200RPM drive ). Otherwise I'd be getting an M6809 .

ChuaChua, the chipset is the K8T800.