Sub-$1300 laptop recommendations

[SithNight]

Hey, I was wondering if anyone could recommend a laptop for me for under $1300. It will be used my college work which will be electrical engineering. I don't play many games other then WCIII, though pretty graphics would definently be nice. I'd like at least a 30 GB HD, 15 in screen, something roughly equivalent in speed to a Athlon XP-M 2400+ processor. I'm not worried about RAM since I can buy some separetely for cheap. One laptop I saw was the MicroNote Professional 530, my problem is it's not a name brand so can anyone comment on it? Thanks.

 

[andyman7]

15" SXGA+ TFT Active Matrix w/ATI Mobility Radeon 9000 w/64MB DDR
2.4GHz Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor (Northwood) w/512k L2 Cache - 533MHz System Bus Speed
20.0GB Ultra ATA/100
256MB (1 SODIMM) PC2100 DDR Memory
Combo 8X DVD/16x10x24 CD-RW w/Softwares
Built-in 56k V.90 Data/Fax Modem
Built-in 10/100BaseT Ethernet w/RJ-45 Jack
Smart Li-ion Battery
No Operating System
Free Ultimate 3-CD Bundle - $389 Value
Full Range Auto Switching AC Adapter
Standard Carrying Case
1-Year Parts, 3-Year Labor, Lifetime 24/7 Telephone Technical Support

you can get that at www.powernotebooks.com for $1300

and poking around dell some, u can get some pretty powerful notebooks for less than $1300 that do have DECENT video cards (radeon 7500)

 

[fizmeister]

For about $1388, if you're a student, you can get a Compaq Presario X1000 (can get it as low as $1000 depending on your options):

Intel Centrino 1.3 ghZ (eqiuvelant of about a 2 ghz P4)
WinXP Home
15.4" 1680x1050 WSXGA+ (sharp, widescreen) display
ATI Radeon 9200 32mb
128 mb RAM (spend $100 and get 512 from crucial)
40 gb Hard Drive
802.11b WiFi card and LAN stuff
Combo 8x DVD/24x CDRW
Huge battery life
$50 rebate on a $50 USB floppy drive
3 year FULL ACCIDENTAL warranty (even if your dog eats it)
etc. etc.

It costs 1708 when you configure it, but thers' a $100 mail in rebate, a coupon code (www.xpbargains.com) for 10% off, free shipping, and if you're a student, you can get another $90 off (I did).

I say that's a killer deal.

 

[alexruiz]

Originally posted by: SithNight
Hey, I was wondering if anyone could recommend a laptop for me for under $1300. It will be used my college work which will be electrical engineering. I don't play many games other then WCIII, though pretty graphics would definently be nice. I'd like at least a 30 GB HD, 15 in screen, something roughly equivalent in speed to a Athlon XP-M 2400+ processor. I'm not worried about RAM since I can buy some separetely for cheap. One laptop I saw was the MicroNote Professional 530, my problem is it's not a name brand so can anyone comment on it? Thanks.

MicroPro is among the best second tiers..... I say get it!!! $1200 for a n Athlon XP-M, mobility radeon 9000 and KT333 chipset???? Bloody mobile combo if you ask me..... I am planning on getting that baby!!

 

[chin311]

Originally posted by: fizmeister
For about $1388, if you're a student, you can get a Compaq Presario X1000 (can get it as low as $1000 depending on your options):

Intel Centrino 1.3 ghZ (eqiuvelant of about a 2 ghz P4)
WinXP Home
15.4" 1680x1050 WSXGA+ (sharp, widescreen) display
ATI Radeon 9200 32mb
128 mb RAM (spend $100 and get 512 from crucial)
40 gb Hard Drive
802.11b WiFi card and LAN stuff
Combo 8x DVD/24x CDRW
Huge battery life
$50 rebate on a $50 USB floppy drive
3 year FULL ACCIDENTAL warranty (even if your dog eats it)
etc. etc.

It costs 1708 when you configure it, but thers' a $100 mail in rebate, a coupon code (www.xpbargains.com) for 10% off, free shipping, and if you're a student, you can get another $90 off (I did).

I say that's a killer deal.

yes, id say thats killer too , i hate how all the good deals come around after you buy!!1 :evil:

 

[focusyn]

usually you can get a good amount of discounts if you go buy the laptop through your university/college's computer store. I got my laptop for under $1000 through student discounts. unfortunately i don't think the specs on my laptop will be what you need, since i use apples which is great for my major, but i don't think it would work as well for engineering.

specs:
12.1" screen
G3 800mhz (i'm not sure what that equivalent is to a intel or amd though =P)
640mb RAM
internal wi-fi card (airport is absolutely amazing when it comes to compatiability, ease of use, and range)
combo drive (dvd player + cd-rw)

oh, and a 30gb hd

 

[Rufio]

I can get you this one for $1300.

 

[Novaric]

I agree with Rufio....IBM all the way. I got a nice T23 for only 1000 bucks. Does everything you'd want to. Although graphics are probably a bit lacking for WC3. Dunno. Haven't installed it yet.

 

[Pennstate]

STAY away from the T30 or ANY P4-M laptops. HEAT HEAT HEAT. My brother has one. It's heavier than the T2X series. It's thicker and it gets very hot. It's not much faster than P3-M laptops either. The battery life also sucks

 

[Rufio]

Originally posted by: Pennstate
STAY away from the T30 or ANY P4-M laptops. HEAT HEAT HEAT. My brother has one. It's heavier than the T2X series. It's thicker and it gets very hot. It's not much faster than P3-M laptops either. The battery life also sucks

do you actually know what you are talking about?
hahahahaa

 

[Pennstate]

My dad has a T21, My brother has a T30, I have a T40. Yes, I know what I am talking about. It is because of excessive heat produced by P4-M cpus that IBM stuck with the P3-M in their X30. You are the one who seems to be try to do some selling around here. WHy should people believe you?

 

[Rufio]

Originally posted by: Pennstate
My dad has a T21, My brother has a T30, I have a T40. Yes, I know what I am talking about. It is because of excessive heat produced by P4-M cpus that IBM stuck with the P3-M in their X30. You are the one who seems to be try to do some selling around here. WHy should people believe you?

I test and play with laptops ranging from $600 to $3500 every day.

Yes, P4-M does produce more heat, but you're making it seem like the IBM T30 and any P4-M laptops suck. So if a P4 produces more heat, does that mean it sucks?

So your family has 3 laptops. Big whoop.

I've tested and played with more laptops than you have ever imagined.

The IBM t-series are the some of the best laptops out there.

So what if people don't believe me? I am not saying that I am right. I am just stating my opinion - if you don't like it, no sweat off my back.

About trying to sell something -- I didn't cram anything down SithNight's throat. I just gave him an option that he can choose to utilize. I've hooked up tons of AT and FW members with some killer deals. So I guess passing on some decent deals is bad, eh?

If the T series was so bad, why did your family get 3 of them? What do you recommend to SithNight?

 

[Pennstate]

Rufio, I am proud of you that you use many laptops.

My brother has the T30 because he gets it for free from work (IBM).

I would recommend a T40 w/ CDRW/DVD for ~$1600 ($300 extra, but it's worth it because you will actually use it for a while.

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=40&threadid=1074062

all you need is 1 share of IBM stock or know someone who owns IBM stocks. The deal expires 8/12. Currently there's promotion for free 256MB memory to make it 512MB total.

Or one of those new T23 that is being cleared out.

I think with cost of ownership (warranty, upgrades, etc) factored in, IBM T and X series laptops are the best deals.

 

[SithNight]

I really like the looks of that X1000. Does anyone know if I can upgrade the RAM without losing the warranty? And how good is Compaq about honoring their warranties? I haven't been around Compaqs, in a couple years, but their quality wasn't real top notch back then. Thanks.

 

[alexruiz]

Originally posted by: Rufio

I test and play with laptops ranging from $600 to $3500 every day.

Hey, maybe you can post some opinions of his initial choice (I also want to know). MicroPro's micronote professional 530 (Athlon XP-M 2500+, KT333, mobility Radeon 9000...... ) Have you tested this one???

Let me know your findings, I want this toy!!!

Alex

 

[v0id]

Originally posted by: alexruiz

Originally posted by: Rufio

I test and play with laptops ranging from $600 to $3500 every day.

Hey, maybe you can post some opinions of his initial choice (I also want to know). MicroPro's micronote professional 530 (Athlon XP-M 2500+, KT333, mobility Radeon 9000...... ) Have you tested this one???

Let me know your findings, I want this toy!!!

Alex

i'm also interested in this notebook. nice price, looks like nice specs, though i know nothing of mobile AMD processors. anybody know about it?

(im going abroad next year, need a cheap notebook...i need a radeon 9000 though! bleh)

 

[alexruiz]

Originally posted by: v0id

Originally posted by: alexruiz

Originally posted by: Rufio

I test and play with laptops ranging from $600 to $3500 every day.

Hey, maybe you can post some opinions of his initial choice (I also want to know). MicroPro's micronote professional 530 (Athlon XP-M 2500+, KT333, mobility Radeon 9000...... ) Have you tested this one???

Let me know your findings, I want this toy!!!

Alex

i'm also interested in this notebook. nice price, looks like nice specs, though i know nothing of mobile AMD processors. anybody know about it?

(im going abroad next year, need a cheap notebook...i need a radeon 9000 though! bleh)

According to the specs, this should embarrass any similar P4-M machine (KT333 was the king of the hill for a while.....) Yeah, the P4 with a good chipset should beat this machine, but ALL the P4 notebooks (as far as I know) use a variation of the i845 chipset..... Given a match between the KT333 and the i845, the Athlon will look mighty (even if the P4 has a 533 MHz bus)

Come on Rufio, we want to see numbers.... Anyone disagree in my asseveration of the KT333 vs i845 match???

Alex

 

[alexruiz]

Has anybody had the chance to learn more about the Micronote pro 530???

I don't want to order it without hearing at least one comment about it..... good or bad, it doesn't matter!

Alex