VPR Matrix Laptop for cheap if available in your area

[jamesd1343]

oakfan interested in grabbing them for me?

 

[CubicZirconia]

Originally posted by: jamesd1343
oakfan interested in grabbing them for me?

I'm interested too. Let me know if you can still get one.

 

[socooy]

If any one is interested in selling one I would love one myself as there are none in my area.

 

[swNYC]

A good accessory to go with the VPR matrix laptop is the Imation USB floppy drive, $19.99 AR at CompUSA as mentioned in the VPRMatrix forum. The Floppy is made by Mitsumi, it's silver in color, which matches perfectly with the laptop.

I've flashed the DVD/CDRW RPC1 and Hitachi HDD firmwares with the floppy, absolutely no problems.

 

[TheTechnique]

Originally posted by: swNYC
A good accessory to go with the VPR matrix laptop is the Imation USB floppy drive, $19.99 AR at CompUSA as mentioned in the VPRMatrix forum. The Floppy is made by Mitsumi, it's silver in color, which matches perfectly with the laptop.

I've flashed the DVD/CDRW RPC1 and Hitachi HDD firmwares with the floppy, absolutely no problems.

Flashed DVD/CDRW RPC1? What model DVD/CDRW do you have and what firmware did you flash to? Where did you find the flashing file/utils? Thanks!

 

[drof]

Originally posted by: dpham00

Originally posted by: swNYC
Just received my 180B5 laptop, 3 days late due to snow

I dont think this has been mentioned, but the built-in wireless Mini PCI card is made by Orinoco!

the first post did say it has built in wireless networking.

cool part about it being orinoco is good reception and you can run

netstumbler on it.

btw, can anyone pm/scan me a copy of the upc from the vprmatrix 170b4?

 

[JDLT1]

What is Netstumbler used for or the purpuse of it?

 

[lordbob99]

my laptop just arrived!

too bad i have to wait til after 7 pm when i get back... stupid work and school keeping me from my new toy

 

[dpham00]

Originally posted by: lordbob99
my laptop just arrived!

too bad i have to wait til after 7 pm when i get back... stupid work and school keeping me from my new toy

got a note from UPS..."Signature required on delivery (in person)"

 

[lordbob99]

Originally posted by: dpham00

Originally posted by: lordbob99
my laptop just arrived!

too bad i have to wait til after 7 pm when i get back... stupid work and school keeping me from my new toy

got a note from UPS..."Signature required on delivery (in person)"

same story here... fortunately one of my apartment mates was still here, so i got it... was getting pretty worried since if the ups guy showed up 10 min later, i'd have to wait another day.


lordbob99

 

[dpham00]

w00t...my neighbor signed for mine today

 

[chrisjor]

Just a couple quick 180B5 rebate comments.

I am submitting for the $200 rebate. I noticed that the SKU on the Best Buy web receipt I printed out does not have the same number as the online rebate form. Also, it asks for a photocopy of the UPC code. Since this is so much money.....I'm wondering if I should follow the rebate form exactly and send in a photocopy of the UPC code, or actually send in the original UPC from the box?

Anyone else eligible for the original $200 rebate care to comment or reply as to what you are doing? Thanks!

 

[dpham00]

Originally posted by: chrisjor
Just a couple quick 180B5 rebate comments.

I am submitting for the $200 rebate. I noticed that the SKU on the Best Buy web receipt I printed out does not have the same number as the online rebate form. Also, it asks for a photocopy of the UPC code. Since this is so much money.....I'm wondering if I should follow the rebate form exactly and send in a photocopy of the UPC code, or actually send in the original UPC from the box?

Anyone else eligible for the original $200 rebate care to comment or reply as to what you are doing? Thanks!

i'm gonna follow the rebates exactly, and send in both the $100 and $200 rebates. i printed both out from best buy's website, and both show that they are valid during the date which i purchased them. if it asks for a copy of the upc, give it to them. they can't just arbitrarily change the rebate like that.

 

[swNYC]

I'm one of those who ordered on 2/5 and eligible for the $200 rebate.
For the SKU problem, if you ordered your laptop from bestbuy.com, the packing slip will show the correct SKU #4782505. I enclosed both my packing slip and online receipt in the rebate submission.

 

[DallasNative]

My rebate comments.

I purchased my 180B5 on 2/8 which is a date for which NO REBATES are offered on the BB web site. But I printed out the original rebate claim before I placed the order. I spoke with the BB Rebate Center and my local BB who both assured me that if I submit the April rebate form, I would receive the $200. The Rebate Center rep said that since there were no newer rebates available to me, and since I purchased within the specified dates of the first rebate, I will receive the $200.

Another tidbit...I was told to send a copy of the packing list along with a copy of the invoice and a copy of the UPC label. I was cautioned to keep a copy of all the documents for myself. I plan to send the rebate request by registered mail to validate the mailing date.

To recap my understanding of the rebate situation: If you bought your laptop on a date covered by newer rebates, those rebates will take precedence over the April rebate. If you do not qualify for other rebates (my situation), the original rebate will be honored. I doubt that anyone will get both the original rebate and any other rebate. And, I would certainly read the rebate rules closely before I sent in multiple claims.

Here's hoping we all get the rebates we are entitled to!

 

[chrisjor]

Thanks for info. I ordered on 2/5. I guess I am only eligible to receive the original $200 rebate. I have a copy of the rebate form valid until April, and then the second one, which they changed to say 2/5 - 2/6. I think I will use the second form as I still qualify on that form and it is still currently on the website.

I received an email from BB yesterday stating that they credited $51 back to my card for the difference in price. My original, cancelled order showed $949. I got charged $999. They credited me back the difference. I think they screwed me on taxes for a buck or two.

So after tax and mir I ended up paying $806.99!!! Love this lappy.

My screen looks kinda washed out. The colors are not particularly bright and full, or deep. I have adjusted the brightness....is there any way to deepen and/or enhance the colors I do no know about yet?

 

[swNYC]

Same thing happened to me! BB credited me $55.87 for the price difference

chris: try playing around with the Gamma settings on the ATI control panel, and install the newer Compaq/ATI Mobility 7500 driver

 

[may]

Originally posted by: swNYC
Same thing happened to me! BB credited me $55.87 for the price difference chris: try playing around with the Gamma settings on the ATI control panel, and install the newer Compaq/ATI Mobility 7500 driver

I try to play Tactical OPs (Unreal tournament Mod) on the laptop with the new compaq 7500 driver, but the game does not run in opengl mode. Direct3d is working but too slow. Anyone has same problem?

 

[QurazyQuisp]

If anyone has a best buy around them that has the cheaper one of the two in stock i'd like to buy one. email me at joseph.blossom@hosemeyer.com and see what kind of deal you can get on one of these beasts.

 

[hans007]

i got in on the 180b5, actually my dad ordered it for me.


its a very nice laptop, the screen is odd on the viewing angles it needs to be tilted back and not viewed head on for the right colors. also the speakers blow.


i got mine for 999 + tax - 100 rebate so $980 which was a good deal, considering how loaded it is. i snapped open the hard drive door on front, and popped in a toshiba 40gb mk4019gax (i had previouslly had this not from the other hot deal). and its now my main machine. runs everything very fast.


i also got a 120-170b4 from someone in f/sft who had gotten it, cost me $850 for it new in open box (but had all the stickers and seals), decen tdeal, but not as good as the 120-180b5 for $980 since it has more ram, screen, wifi, etc.

other than the speakers the laptop feels really well made, the battery even has an external battery gauge.




i do have one question, the rebates say just a photo copy of the upc. so thats all we send right. btw, i have both UPCs if anyone cares, i can photocopy when i have time if you like.

keyboard is better than my dads compaq 2100us (he kept that one, and gave me the vpr since he doesnt game, plus he believe the compaq warranty is better and international too, he got 2 of those for $700 after MIR, one for his taiwanese friend so i guess the warranty ismore important tothem)

 

[dpham00]

Originally posted by: hans007
i got in on the 180b5, actually my dad ordered it for me.


its a very nice laptop, the screen is odd on the viewing angles it needs to be tilted back and not viewed head on for the right colors. also the speakers blow.

i do have one question, the rebates say just a photo copy of the upc. so thats all we send right. btw, i have both UPCs if anyone cares, i can photocopy when i have time if you like.

keyboard is better than my dads compaq 2100us (he kept that one, and gave me the vpr since he doesnt game, plus he believe the compaq warranty is better and international too, he got 2 of those for $700 after MIR, one for his taiwanese friend so i guess the warranty ismore important tothem)

i agree that the tilt angle is a little odd.

just send the copy of the UPC like they asked. that way, if you need to return it for whatever reason, you'll have an intact box.

the keyboard is pretty good too. i looked at the widescreen laptop keyboard at BB, and it blows

 

[TheTechnique]

It's probably time to start tracking rebates. Instead of creating a separate thread I figure we can just do it here. There is a thread on the infoarena.com forums but I figure more people will post here... Let's all try and follow the same format:

Date mailed: 2/10/03
BB Offer #: 33532
Instore or Online: Instore
Date received: Approved March 20, 2003
Any other comments: I called the rebate hotline and they said they received and processed and approved my rebate on March 20, 2003 and that it will be sent out within 5 business days and I should have it within 15 business days. I'll post an update when I receive it.

This was the $100 off all notebooks in-store rebate.

 

[TheeeChosenOne]

I'm still waiting. I mailed separate envelopes on different days the $200 and $100 rebates for my 180 laptop around 2/18/03.

They told me last Friday that they haven't processed it and thus have NO acknowledgement that they received it.

They basically told me that WHEN they process the form, the CHECK is cut out. They say that the paperwork may be in their hands but will process/show up in their computer/cut the check at the SAME time.

They also told me they are runnin gbehind b/c of all the paperwork.

 

[TheTechnique]

Got my $100 rebate check today! 3/26/2003 for the $100 off ANY notebook in-store rebate.

 

[socooy]

One of these showed up in Orange, CT as open box with absolutely nothing but the laptop itself, won't even turn on with no ac adapter and the manager will not go lower than $900 as is, no box, no rebate! If any of you are close and want to try and get it be my guest, I tried twice in three days, and he won?t budge