Which laptop to buy?

[LuckyTaxi]

Currently hunting for a laptop that I can use as my primary system. I travel from
place to place, so it's gotta be powerful. Not really fussy about the weight or anything.

Buy.com is advertising a KDS Valiant P3-800 with 128 meg of RAM (8 shared for video)
for $1327+shipping. 20 gig HD (10 is enough for me). no NIC. 14.1 inch TFT

Outpost has an Acer P3-500 15 inch screen TFT for $1399 ship free via two day. Internal
NIC, and seperate video card from what the KDS offers. 128 megs of RAM. 12 gig HD
Screen size i can live with either a 14.1 or 15 inch

To most folks it's obvious the p3-800 looks great, but KDS? Why are they selling their system for $1300 and DELL and compaq has theirs in the $1800-$2000 range.

Totally confused. Speed wise I currently have a p3-500 desktop. its fine for what I do, but if im going to pay $1400, i mind as well get the faster one. no? add on a nic and some mem for the KDS...it will be more than the ACer.

thanks folks!

sam

 

[John]

I am not sure which Dell notebook you were looking at, but the Inspiron 4000 is just right for you ($1449.00 w/ free shipping).

[*]P3 700
[*]128MB
[*]14.1 XGA TFT
[*]10GB
[*]8MB Rage Mobility 128

 

[LuckyTaxi]

Don't forget tax. I'm doing this the cheapest way possible. Gotta pay for those textbooks for school! Grrr...thanks for the info. I did look at Dell's system. They got some very nice systems.

 

[w74656]

My Dad just got a Dell Inspiron 8000. They now ship with GF2 Go, if you're into gaming on a notebook. It has firewire, and 2 USB, and up to 15" TFT @ 1600x1200.

 

[Jaraxal]

If I can offer any advice on laptops ... it is definitely don't take the "cheapest" route. Laptops are something that you are kind of "stuck" with. You can't upgrade them as easily as you can a desktop.

I personally own a Toshiba. Fabulous laptop. P3 700 with 128MB of ram, DVD, built in 56K modem and 10/100 Intel ethernet adapter. I picked it up at Best Buy for around $1500. A friend has the exact same one and he loves his as well.

If you want the best ...

1 - Toshiba
2 - Dell
3 - IBM

Not necessarily in that order. I wouldn't never buy a KDS or an Acer.

 

[PCAddict]

Two words: Dell refurbs.

Seek and ye shall find.

 

[chansen]

Yes, you could get a Dell refurb. I know they are a good deal, but I like a new machine. In the Dell Inspiron line, the 4000 is the most portable, and the 8000 is the "desktop replacement". I think you want the 8000, that's what I have.

First, these come with 14" 1400x1050, 15" 1400x1050 or 15" 1600x1200 displays. I have the 14" and really like it, though I've nothing to compare it with. Some find text too small, but because you sit closer to a laptor screen than your typical desktop monitor, I think it works great. Also looks slightly better if you have to display a non-native resolution.

Also, the new Dells come with both pointing devices, which can be used concurrently.

The only problem I've encountered is a mild inability of the internal Actiontec modem/NIC to connect over poor phone lines. I'm also having TCP/IP issues, but I think the problem is with my desktop machine. Further, avoid WinME in favour of Win2000. I got ME to save money, and it definitely had issues. It's been great with Win2K and 192MB - I ordered 64MB installed and another 128MB from Crucial.com.

Anyway, I think these are good for the money, though I understand IBM and Toshiba, to name two, make better-built computers. I just found those more expensive in Canada.

Regards,
Craig