New laptops? | FerrariChat

New laptops?

Discussion in 'Other Off Topic Forum' started by vraa, Mar 9, 2005.

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  1. vraa

    vraa F1 Rookie
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    #1 vraa, Mar 9, 2005
    So what have you guys been messing around with laptop wise. My uncle (doctor, needs it for his secretary) has asked me (the family IT guy) to get him a new laptop. I remembered getting the IBM discount from ASG 86TR but the EPP is no longer in effect.

    Should I still go for another Thinkpad or have there been new comers into the market?


    In other news but totally unrelated, I finally got my dualie back up. Man, does that iTunes visualization run super smooth (at 1600*1200) mind you!
     
  2. Schatten

    Schatten F1 World Champ
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    #2 Schatten, Mar 9, 2005
    thinkpads will always rock, but they are overpriced well above the market and the software that has roll back features are a PITA for a tweaker like myself.

    Dell's latitudes are nice, inspirons are as well. What is the dollar amount he is looking at spending, and I'll see what items are out there.

    If it is something simple, I might be able to swing a deal on an older thinkpad, but not directly through me, but through someone else.
     
  3. richard_wallace

    richard_wallace Formula 3

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    #3 richard_wallace, Mar 9, 2005
    You really can't go wrong with Dell - and they have good support if needed.

    The price is pretty good as well - so that is where I always direct the end users that need a good base system.

    As Schatten mentioned IBM is pretty good as well - but you will probably pay a bit of premium - I run a T41 IBM for work - which has been pretty good the last year or so.

    You can always look at overstock.com - they have some nice (New Old Stock - unused by a generation back) of Compaqs, Sony, etc. Since I am thinking that HP is not necessary - that might be a good way to go and save some dough.

    Rich
     
  4. DMC

    DMC Formula 3

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    #4 DMC, Mar 9, 2005
    IBM's are the best, if you can afford them.

    I've had pretty good luck with HP's lately as well.

    IBM, HP, or Dell, in that order.
     
  5. FarmerDave

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    #5 FarmerDave, Mar 9, 2005
    Ain't it a b!tch to be "that guy?" I am in the same spot... I started telling family members, "I used to know alot about them, but these days, they're so complicated... " :D
     
  6. S0ul_R3Venant

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    #6 S0ul_R3Venant, Mar 9, 2005
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    The IBM Thinkpads are very nice, very powerful and light. Sony Viaos are good as well. Both are quite expensive. Dell & HP are a bang for the buck.

    On the other hand, I got an Alienware. I think its an awesome performer. long battery life, 4hours to 5 hours max. depending on what programs are running. Its great for my school work and I can play games on it. haha

    Here are some pix if no one has seen how they look.
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  7. Enzo

    Enzo F1 Rookie

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    #7 Enzo, Mar 10, 2005
    Some of the new Thinkpads we are getting here at work have the fingerprint system in them. So instead of typing a password just roll your finger across the sensor and poof you are in
     
  8. spidr

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    #8 spidr, Mar 10, 2005
    That bio-metric stuff is overrated..I have it on my Ipaq....It's mainly a ohh-ahh selling feature.....

    On the other hand, is anyone using a widescreen laptop??...I am curious as to how they are for regular computing tasks with the 16:9
     
  9. Enzo

    Enzo F1 Rookie

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    #9 Enzo, Mar 10, 2005

    Yeah I guess you are right I would much rather enter in a complex password that I have to change every 15 days or remember and type in a pass phase combination to gain entry.
     
  10. spidr

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    #10 spidr, Mar 10, 2005
    Those things have been available to the public for 10 years...I had one on my system at home YEARS ago.....Maybe it motivates the workforce based on a thinking that they work at the "cool" place.....
     
  11. Kboy007

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    #11 Kboy007, Mar 10, 2005
    I didnt get a wide screen because i travel almost 90 percent and a widescreen would just make it harder. That being said.
    I just got a new HP about 2 weeks ago.
    HP and compaq are the most Bang for the buck. So ill just put some postitives and negatives in this post.

    Positive

    - spent 2k. this is what i got.
    - integrated wireless B/G.
    - a wider screen than the norm. but not a "big widescreen" - this was my preference.
    - 3.2ghz pen 4 with HT tech.
    - 100 gig HD
    - 1 gig memory
    - 128k shared video memory. (which is ok cause i got plenty of memory)
    - cd r/w DVD r/w
    - Ethernet and phone plugs
    - 4 usb 2.0 slots
    - memory slots for SD etc.
    - svideo plug (for the tv)
    - harman/kardon speakers.
    - awesome vivid screen.

    Negative.
    - the freaking thing is pretty heavy at 8+ pounds.
    - The freaking cord and power pack(for the cord) are huge and takeup "backpack" space. (i would guess the cord alone is 3 pounds)
    - kinda big. (even though this isnt their big widescreen model..) its still pretty big for the road warrior.
    - touch pad is too big and sensitive. i tend to set it off alot if im not careful.
     
  12. spidr

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    #12 spidr, Mar 10, 2005
    hook it to a Tv sometime and tell how it looks
     
  13. PeterS

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    #13 PeterS, Mar 10, 2005
    The Fujitsu Lifebook at $1600 is an awesome value.
     
  14. FIAutoSports

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    #14 FIAutoSports, Mar 10, 2005
    Depending on budget and user knowledge, there are a few options.

    The Apple Powerbook G4 ($1500) or the iBook ($1000). I am just a big mac fan. And with Longhorn coming out from Micro$oft in 2007, I do not think I will ever buy a pc again (I have a pc and mac).

    Alienware would be my next choice, but if it is a pc only comparison, Alienware would be my definite choice.

    then IBM, HP, and Dell in the far distance (all items made in house, and are poor quality). Dell's are cheap, but are not quality.
     
  15. robgct

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    #15 robgct, Mar 10, 2005
  16. Malfoy

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    #16 Malfoy, Mar 10, 2005
  17. richard

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    #17 richard, Mar 10, 2005
    guys,

    please check out SAGER before you buy anything above -- SAGER/CLEVO is the OEM company for Dell and Alienware amongst others, so you get Dell/Alienware reliability and performance without the markup! I am writing this from a 3.8Ghz laptop with 2GB of ram, a 256MB ATI x800 video card, a 100GB HD, and a 17" glossy WSXGA monitor which I bought for less than $3500 dollars. Absolute monster!!! They have many models up and down the range depending on what your needs are. The best prices are from

    http://www.pctorque.com

    cheers,
    richard
     
  18. vraa

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    #18 vraa, Mar 10, 2005
    The thing has got to be light, so those 5lb+ monsters are out.

    No Apples, just too hard to tech support something that's new.

    And I'm looking for maximum battery life and not really any gaming power. It's for a doctor, there's no 3d rendering :)

    I'm looking at about 2000$ BUT (!) that price includes a laptop printer. So, 1500$ for the laptop?
     
  19. BriSalig

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    #19 BriSalig, Mar 10, 2005
    i just got a sony vaio fs. I LOVE IT! Great computer
     
  20. vraa

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    #20 vraa, Mar 11, 2005
    Already have 2 Sony GTR-170's. Will not buy another Sony laptop ever again.
     
  21. Jdubbya

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    #21 Jdubbya, Mar 11, 2005
    I have an HP widescreen but it sits on the table next to my desktop mostly. Got a good deal while travelling for work and haven't done any travelling since, go figure. Seems to work well but kind of seems odd at times when a web page comes up really wide :)
     
  22. vraa

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    #22 vraa, Mar 11, 2005
    No widescreen here, no need for it. Plus, like you said, it's a bit weird when a webpage comes up wide.

    I wish I could build my own laptop easily. Where are those whitebooks we were promised years back?
     
  23. rob lay

    rob lay Administrator
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    #23 rob lay, Mar 11, 2005
    Almost 3 years ago I got the best Dell I could not worrying too much about the money. Came out to $4k, but good news is the performance still rocks and I haven't had any problems. Inspiron 8200 I think.

    2 GB Ram
    2 Ghz Intel
    80 GB Hard Drive
    All software
    Pimp snake skin palm pads! :D

    I might buy another one soon and use this for backups.

    Has been a great computer. Only problem was software related. Since I installed Kazaa after I got the computer I get the BSD when calling out on modem. I haven't fixed because I never use a modem and reloading the entire computer is too much work. I spent a good 40 hours researching the problem and trying to fix any way but having to reload.

    That's a good history for a lap top I use as my daily computer.

    I just ran pricing for all the options I want on the Inspiron 9300.

    I'm really amazed that the performance isn't much more or even less (2 GB RAM would cost $1,100 more!) than my 8200 that is almost 3 years old!

    The following is $3,200...

    Inspiron 9300

    Intel® Pentium® M 760 Processor (2GHz/533MHz FSB) SM2HM [221-7311] 1

    Operating System:
    Microsoft® Windows® XP Professional WPXP [412-0689][412-0706][420-4770][420-4830][420-4928][463-2282] 11

    LCD Panel:
    17 inch UltraSharp™ Wide Screen UXGA Display with TrueLife™ 17UXGAS [320-4256] 2

    Memory:
    1GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz 2 Dimm 1GB2D [311-3732] 3

    Hard Drive:
    100GB Hard Drive 100GB [341-1809] 8

    Combo/DVD+RW Drives:
    Free Upgrade!! 24X CD-RW/DVD Combination Drive with Sonic RecordNow 24XCDVP [463-8411][420-5111] 16

    Video Card:
    256MB NVIDA® GeForce™ Go 6800 256NV [320-4185] 6

    Primary Battery:
    9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery (80 WHr) 9BAT [312-0283] 27

    Additional Batteries:
    9-cell Lithium Ion Additional Battery (80 WHr) 9BATAD [312-0284] 80

    Power Adapter:
    Spare AC adapter (Power Cord) - 90w 65WS [320-4094] 9

    Productivity Software:
    Microsoft Office Professional-Includes Outlook,Word,Excel,PowerPoint,Access IXPPROC [412-0470] 22

    Security Software:
    Norton Internet Security 2005- Antivirus, Firewall, AntiSpam, 15-months NIS15M [412-0760] 25

    Adobe Software:
    Adobe® Acrobat® Elements 6.0 - Publish to PDF ADOBEL [430-1049] 15

    Floppy Drive and Additional Storage Devices:
    External USB Floppy Drive USBFD [341-0180] 10

    External Mouse:
    Dell 2-Button Scroll Optical USB Mouse OM [310-4074] 12

    LCD/Color Kits:
    Carbon Fiber QuickSnap™ Cover CARBON [310-6179] 60

    Digital Music:
    Dell Jukebox - easy-to-use music player and CD burning software MMBASE [412-0741] 26
     
  24. vraa

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    #24 vraa, Mar 11, 2005
    Rob :(

    How long did the battery last on that beast?
     
  25. rob lay

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    #25 rob lay, Mar 11, 2005
    I have the original 2 batteries. Each will last 2 hours of hard usage. I don't use power saver mode. Too dim. One still works great, the other one is bugging out now, will go from 60% to 0% and shut off at about an hour.
     
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