Home › Forums › Archives › Computer Support › Computer Support Discussion › Which laptop to purchase?
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October 3, 2004 at 5:08 pm #2150ShadowSlayer469Member
I have decided that I want to save up for a nice laptop. I already have a 400 mhz toshiba 2595xdvd to take notes on at school, but it cant really handle macromedia dream weaver and my c++ compiler that I use on my home machine, and I would like to be able to use those during lunch. I would also like to have the ablility to play some games, I’m not really sure what kind of games, but I dont think anything llike doom 3 because im not sure that any laptops in my price range could handle it.
I was thinking that I might get the Toshiba Sattellite A75-S226 for around $1400
http://www.bizrate.com/marketplace/product_info/details__cat_id–462,prod_id–74282211.html
It has a 3.06 ghz processor, 512 mb of ram, and an ATI Mobility Radeon 9000.Although I am unsure this is the one I want, preferable I would like a laptop with around 3 ghz of power, and 512 mb or more RAM for around $1400 or under, with one of those touchpad mouses not the little nub in the middle of the keyboard(know what I mean?)
If have a suggestion as to which laptop I should purchase, please post. Thanks for anyones help!!!
October 3, 2004 at 5:27 pm #37278DavidParticipantI have a Dell Inspiron 5150, if you want power, this is the one to get. Mine is a lower end version, with a 40Gb HD, 1GB of RAM, and the 32MB nVidia GeForce 5200Go with a 2.8Ghz CPU, but all of that is upgradeable. I have two 96Whr batteries, and with general use (word processing, programming, surfing), I can go 10hrs. I also have Wireless 802.11b/g, and a 34X CDRW/DVD. It gets the job done and I can play games on it, but it was $1700. Dell has just released the 5160, it’s basically the same thing.
October 3, 2004 at 5:28 pm #37282ShadowSlayer469MemberI can only afford things slightly above $1400 or lower. Thanks for your help anyway David 🙂
October 3, 2004 at 5:30 pm #37279DavidParticipantNo… It starts at just over $1,000: http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/inspn_5160?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs
I customized mine quite a bit.
October 3, 2004 at 5:45 pm #37283ShadowSlayer469Member🙁 when I customize it to my specifications it comes out at around $1500
October 3, 2004 at 6:04 pm #37280DavidParticipantWhat are your specifications then? I just customized it to 3Ghz, XP Pro, 512MB, 64MB video, 40Gb HD, Internal b/wireless and hit $1,400 on the mark.
October 3, 2004 at 6:13 pm #37289amy_d_gParticipantEver though abput checking on ebay? We have bought 2 laptops through ebay, and as long as you’re careful, check feedback, and ask the seller any questions on anything you’re not clear on, it’s a good way to get a good deal. A lot of them are new sealed in the factory boxes, with manufacturer warranty etc. Here’s one I found real quick… http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=80207&item=5126880091&rd=1
Brand: Dell Hard Drive Capacity: 30 GB
Chip Type: Intel Pentium 4 Screen Size: 14 inches
Operating System Included: Yes
Processor Speed: 2.8 GHz Primary Drive: CD-RW/DVD Combo
Memory (RAM): 512 MB Condition: New, Sealed in Box$978.00 Buy it now price
October 3, 2004 at 6:18 pm #37281DavidParticipantMemory 512MB Shared DDR,266Mhz,2 Dimms,PC2100 SDRAM
Forget games.
October 3, 2004 at 6:18 pm #37284ShadowSlayer469MemberI have thought about ebay, but I still need to actually save the money to buy the laptop, so ebay never really came to mind for this situation. I guess I could get something off ebay, but I just wanted to know exactly what kind of laptop would be best before I decided for sure if I wanted to save up for one.
October 3, 2004 at 8:22 pm #37285ShadowSlayer469MemberI belive that I have found the perfect laptop for my needs!
It is the Emachines M6805 Athlon 64 Mobile 3000+
http://www.bizrate.com/marketplace/product_info/details__cat_id–462,prod_id–11454150.htmlI have found extremely good reviews on this laptop, such as this one.
It says it can play Unreal tournament 2003 with maxed out detail at 1024×768 resolution without falling below 45 fps, which is much better than my geforce2 that I have in my desktop computer right now. And the performance benchmarks are just as remarkable.
Thanks for everyones help, if you have any reason why I shouldnt, or even why I definitly should buy this laptop, please post.
October 4, 2004 at 2:41 am #37276CharlesMemberMy advice: Stay away from HP laptops and laptops with AMD processors.
As an AMD fan, it is impossible for me to be satisfied with their mobile processors. They get really hot, really fast. I can’t watch a flash movie without the fan just goin nuts, same with certain high quality videos and games.
IMO, for laptops, the Pentium M processor is worth the extra cash. Battery life and speed on par of that of a P4…can’t beat it. That said, I suggest an IBM laptop. They last damn long and are some of the highest quality machines I’ve ever encountered. But, be prepared to spend anywhere from $1,400 – $3000 for a decent machine. (I configured a nice one for $1,400 a month ago: Pentium M, 1.5 GHz, Radeon Mobility 7200, 512 MB (already have some RAM for a laptop), 80 GB HDD, 15″ Screen…nice machine) I would try IBM first.
That Athlon 64 laptop you were looking at probably wouldn’t be able to play UT2k3 for much longer than a half an hour, being generous of course, without liquid cooling. The point: go Intel Pentium M for a laptop.
October 4, 2004 at 6:36 am #37275DJHyperbyteMemberQuote:quote:Originally posted by CharlesMy advice: Stay away from HP laptops and laptops with AMD processors.
As an AMD fan, it is impossible for me to be satisfied with their mobile processors. They get really hot, really fast. I can’t watch a flash movie without the fan just goin nuts, same with certain high quality videos and games.
What exactly do you base your experience on, a laptop you once had? Did you maybe consider that there was something wrong with the machine or the processor, if it gets so hot?
I just bought a brand new Acer Aspire 1357LMi, with a Mobile AMD Athlon XP-M 3000+ and it does not get hot at all. Ok, I admit… if I play GTA Vice City for hours it gets a little warm, but far from hot.
October 4, 2004 at 7:08 am #37290amy_d_gParticipantI have an HP pavilion N5470, AMD Athlon 4, and I have read a lot about HPs having overheating problems… mainly that it will overheat and just power off with no warning whatsoever. It’s happened to me a few times, but I found as long as I prop it up a bit so there’s air flow under it (not just sitting on the desk) it’s fine. I think it’s just a problem with older ones like mine.
October 4, 2004 at 12:08 pm #37286ShadowSlayer469MemberQuote:quote:Originally posted by Charles
That Athlon 64 laptop you were looking at probably wouldn’t be able to play UT2k3 for much longer than a half an hour, being generous of course, without liquid cooling. The point: go Intel Pentium M for a laptop.If you read through the review, you would know that the battery lasted all the way through black hawk down when he was testing the battery life under load. I also read another review that a guy played medal of honor for two hours until the battery died, which is only thirty minutes away from the estimated time it takes to drain the battery when running under medium load (ie ms word… surfing web). And that will fit my needs because if I do play games on it, it will be either at lunch, or at home where I will have acess to an outlett.
And personally, I h ave never had an AMD-M that overheated. Right now I have an amd xp-m in my desktop and its running at 2.6 ghz and 1.85 volts and its only at 48 degrees. And my dad’s laptop from work is very similar to DJ’s and it doesnt even get hot when running software like mathCAD and complex programming applications.
But I cant say the same for my current PII 400 mhz toshiba 2595, it overheats when playing mario :eek::eek:
October 4, 2004 at 12:20 pm #37277CharlesMemberQuote:quote:Originally posted by DJHyperbyteQuote:quote:Originally posted by CharlesMy advice: Stay away from HP laptops and laptops with AMD processors.
As an AMD fan, it is impossible for me to be satisfied with their mobile processors. They get really hot, really fast. I can’t watch a flash movie without the fan just goin nuts, same with certain high quality videos and games.
What exactly do you base your experience on, a laptop you once had? Did you maybe consider that there was something wrong with the machine or the processor, if it gets so hot?
I just bought a brand new Acer Aspire 1357LMi, with a Mobile AMD Athlon XP-M 3000+ and it does not get hot at all. Ok, I admit… if I play GTA Vice City for hours it gets a little warm, but far from hot.
Yes I have considered there being a problem. I currently have this laptop, no more than a year old. The fans spin up when they are not necessary (some small flash animations) and it ends up heating from the fans instead of them serving a use. IMO it is likely bad design and poor ventilation, it doesn’t even fair as well as I’d like on hard surfaces. HP said it was normal, however I do not find a flash animation, at least not many, worth revving up the fans and burning the machine out.
Quote:quote:If you read through the review, you would know that the battery lasted all the way through black hawk down when he was testing the battery life under load. I also read another review that a guy played medal of honor for two hours until the battery died, which is only thirty minutes away from the estimated time it takes to drain the battery when running under medium load (ie ms word… surfing web). And that will fit my needs because if I do play games on it, it will be either at lunch, or at home where I will have acess to an outlett.My reference to it not playing long would be because of heat generated, not necessarily battery life.
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