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Need help finding a laptop
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sketcha Offline
#1 Posted: Fri, Mar 26 2004, 1:03 PM EST
Joined: 03-26-2003
Posts: 3,238
Hey gang,

I'm lookin' for a new laptop and could use some advice. I don't have a desktop, so I need a decent rig. My old Thinkpad 600, though I love it is really slowing me down.

I plan to go wireless so battery life is a factor. I will use it for internet, online banking, photography, and an occasional DVD. Do I need XP Pro?

I've got the Dell 5150 in mind at the moment.
I'm also considering Toshiba and HP.

I'd like to keep the cost close to a grand. $1500 max.

Thanks,
Kendall
sketcha Offline
#2 Posted: Fri, Mar 26 2004, 1:05 PM EST
Joined: 03-26-2003
Posts: 3,238
P.S. Should I stay away from Celeron?

Also, I know that Pentium M is great for battery life and weight, but it tends to run up the cost a bit. The 5150 just has a big heavy battery that seems to average around 3.5 hrs.
DrMaddVibe Offline
#3 Posted: Fri, Mar 26 2004, 1:29 PM EST
Joined: 10-21-2000
Posts: 55,516
UBid.com

EBay.com
puskarich Offline
#4 Posted: Fri, Mar 26 2004, 1:30 PM EST
Joined: 01-04-2003
Posts: 2,143
TigerDirect.com is worth a look. Havent been to that site in a while, but that is where I bought my desktop.
sketcha Offline
#5 Posted: Fri, Mar 26 2004, 2:25 PM EST
Joined: 03-26-2003
Posts: 3,238
Just tried some touchpads for the 1st time. Damn, those things suck! Got nothin' on my thinkpad trackpoint.
choner Offline
#6 Posted: Fri, Mar 26 2004, 2:40 PM EST
Joined: 02-04-2003
Posts: 876
Sketcha,
try this site for some bargains.

www.techbargains.com

good luck.
xibbumbero Offline
#7 Posted: Fri, Mar 26 2004, 3:39 PM EST
Joined: 01-25-2002
Posts: 12,535
Try Xtremenotebooks.com or sagernotebook.com. X
pabloescabar Offline
#8 Posted: Fri, Mar 26 2004, 4:21 PM EST
Joined: 02-25-2005
Posts: 30,183
Yea, I got your laptop hangin...
limoric Offline
#9 Posted: Fri, Mar 26 2004, 5:08 PM EST
Joined: 03-08-2001
Posts: 623
http://www.shopping.hp.com/cgi-bin/hpdirect/shopping/scripts/generic_store/generic_subcategory_view.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1774266918.1080356440@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccejadcldfmmijkcfngcfkmdfondfgg.0&landing=outlet_store&category=refurb_notebooks&subcat1=hp&catLevel=2

Ya seems like a long address

HP refurb notebooks. They are brand new only had some sort of defect and has been referbished. The do come with a warrenty. I wouldn't think twice about buying a refurbished unit from the manufacturer.

If you have trouble with the web address, just go to hp.com and type refurb into the search. Click any result, it will take you to all the refurbished products.
jstiltner Offline
#10 Posted: Fri, Mar 26 2004, 5:37 PM EST
Joined: 01-09-2004
Posts: 116
I prefer Dell. I have an 8100 which still works great. I also have bought 3 desktops from them for family members. If you catch them at the right time, you can get a pretty good deal on them. Just have to watch the touch pad. Mine have the buttons on top and below the pad. I like using my thumbs to click.

Refurbs are great from them. I work for a monitor / LCD manufacturer. We just bought 2 Inspiron 600M's to use for our computer shows. We run our 32" and 40" LCDs with one and our smaller units with the other. They work great. Cost us about $1200 each. Didnt have to upgrade the video card though because we get them free from nvidia. Great cards by the way. I recommend that you dont buy the memory from dell. Get the least amount and then buy it through crucial.com. Much cheaper.

Also, if you are going to buy memory, dont bother buying a little bit at a time. For example, my original PC came with 64 megs. I then bought a nother 64 mb stick. I then upgraded again and bought a 128 mb stick figuring I would have 256. guess what? I only had two slots so I wasted the 64 mb stick. My point is to buy the largest amount of ram you can afford. This way you dont have any wasted purchases.
usahog Offline
#11 Posted: Fri, Mar 26 2004, 6:19 PM EST
Joined: 12-06-1999
Posts: 22,691
hands down Sketcha, Gateway.com

I bought one last year on sale

I also have there latest email sale...

drop me an email
usahog at hotmail dot com


Hog
castlewa Offline
#12 Posted: Fri, Mar 26 2004, 10:09 PM EST
Joined: 08-28-2002
Posts: 1,047
Costco.
Gene363 Offline
#13 Posted: Sat, Mar 27 2004, 3:21 AM EST
Joined: 01-24-2003
Posts: 30,850
I buy and build a lot of computer equipment, 99.9% mail order. (newegg.com) For some things like monitors and laptops a local store is better, not for tech support, no shipping is involved for a DOA unit and I can try everything out in the store before I take it home. Chances are you will get a better deal as well. Just watch the weekly adds, usually the Monday or Sunday paper, rebates suck but on a laptop, they can save you plenty. Anther advantage is actually holding the laptop to see how big it is and how heavy it feels.

Used or refurbished can be good, but chances are unless it is directly from the manufacture the battery is not warranted to work. Batteries can be expensive and they do have a finite life.

In your price range you will be able to find a 15" screen, CDROM/R/W/ & DVD player, Pent IV 2+ gig, 512 Megs of ram and at least a 40 if not a 60 gig drive. A lot of them also have wireless capability built in too.

XP Pro is only required if you want to do remote management of your computer. MS has a chart of features here:

www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/choosing2.asp
sketcha Offline
#14 Posted: Sat, Mar 27 2004, 10:41 AM EST
Joined: 03-26-2003
Posts: 3,238
Thanks for the help, everyone. Now I'm considering another Thinkpad like a T40/41. They still have a trackpointer and my old 600 is built like a tank.

Are there any others that still have the old eraser mouse?
Gene363 Offline
#15 Posted: Sat, Mar 27 2004, 12:43 PM EST
Joined: 01-24-2003
Posts: 30,850
I think the eraser mouse is an IBM invovation.
woodbutchr Offline
#16 Posted: Sat, Mar 27 2004, 1:19 PM EST
Joined: 11-17-2001
Posts: 115
I too am in the dark ages I quess. I love my Compaq Armada laptop with its track pointer for internet use in the family room so I can be around my teenage boys in the evening. My desktop is for more serious stuff. I cannot get used to the new touchpads.
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