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Old 12-09-2006, 07:48 PM   #1
cucamelsmd15
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Default So, Im going to need a laptop...

... and I seek teh OT's advice.

I have a few short requirements:
1. Battery life- I used to get 5 hours on the stock battery in my T41. This is a must.
2. Bright screen, no preference on size
3. Would prefer SXGA
4. A fast processor, and ample helping of RAM and diskspace would be nice. Im not particular on graphics, Im not doing anything THAT major with it.

I havent researched laptops in about 4 years, well, since Ive owned my Thinkpad. Im mainly interested in build quality. I liked the Thinkpad because it was built like a tank, it didnt feel cheap, and the keyboard didnt flex in the middle while I was typing (I tend to be a heavy typer). That ruled out Dell at the time. Im not opposed to any name brand here, as long as its built well. My budget is around $1200, so take that into consideration...
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Old 12-09-2006, 07:55 PM   #2
BigWrecKs
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Best Buy has Toshiba Satellites with those requirements(not sure on the battery power though). Most have Core 2's lots of RAM and a bright screen. Them or Gateway has decent systems *shrug*

The thing I like about the Toshiba is a non-cheap feal--very solid build.

Here is a decent Gateway for 1000 :

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1156606934551

Last edited by BigWrecKs; 12-09-2006 at 08:00 PM.
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Old 12-09-2006, 07:57 PM   #3
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toshibas usually get horrible battery life.

its what kept me away from them 18 months ago.

fwiw, my 18mo. old inspiron 9300's keyboard doesn't flex in the center.
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Old 12-09-2006, 07:59 PM   #4
cucamelsmd15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 97whitesi View Post
toshibas usually get horrible battery life.

its what kept me away from them 18 months ago.

fwiw, my 18mo. old inspiron 9300's keyboard doesn't flex in the center.
Yeah, some did, some didnt. The ones I was looking at (610m maybe, I cant remember) was awful. But, at the time, I was looking for small and light to carry to class in a bookbag. Now, thats not so much a requirement.
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Old 12-09-2006, 08:00 PM   #5
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MacBook FTW!

-JS
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Old 12-09-2006, 08:02 PM   #6
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I think it's funny--i'm surprised at how many (clueless people) are requesting systems that are Vista Ready for their bare bone system...it's like Hah, they're buying a computer when the OS that they've heard such great things about costs half as much as their whole system.
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Old 12-09-2006, 08:02 PM   #7
97whitesi
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cucamelsmd15 View Post
Yeah, some did, some didnt. The ones I was looking at (610m maybe, I cant remember) was awful. But, at the time, I was looking for small and light to carry to class in a bookbag. Now, thats not so much a requirement.
I carry my 17" inspiron 9300 in a backpack...

people look at me funny when I whip it out, but its really not THAT heavy.


I'd go for whichever dell laptop you can get a core duo and a 82whr battery in.
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Old 12-09-2006, 08:04 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 97whitesi View Post
I carry my 17" inspiron 9300 in a backpack...

people look at me funny when I whip it out, but its really not THAT heavy.


I'd go for whichever dell laptop you can get a core duo and a 82whr battery in.
A couple weeks ago, I was eyeing a E1505 with core 2, and a fantastic graphics card with lots of ramp for right around $1,200
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Old 12-09-2006, 08:06 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy S. View Post
MacBook FTW!

-JS
Macbook FTL. Horrible problems with the logic boards, ask Idjiit. If it were a pro, Id consider it, but its way out of budget.

Quote:
Originally Posted by BigWrecKs View Post
I think it's funny--i'm surprised at how many (clueless people) are requesting systems that are Vista Ready for their bare bone system...it's like Hah, they're buying a computer when the OS that they've heard such great things about costs half as much as their whole system.
Honestly, I could care less about Vista, and probably wont touch it.
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Old 12-09-2006, 08:08 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cucamelsmd15 View Post
Macbook FTL. Horrible problems with the logic boards, ask Idjiit. If it were a pro, Id consider it, but its way out of budget.
Not so much. Many of my friends have MacBooks and none of them have had a single problem with them.

-Matt
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Old 12-09-2006, 08:11 PM   #11
cucamelsmd15
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Originally Posted by MattDell View Post
Not so much. Many of my friends have MacBooks and none of them have had a single problem with them.

-Matt
Meh, Im still undecided on the Macbook. Ive heard mixed reviews on them so far. Both the people I work with that have them have the random shutdown syndrome.
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Old 12-09-2006, 08:12 PM   #12
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Quote:
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Honestly, I could care less about Vista, and probably wont touch it.
They've already started to dish out rebates for new systems. I tell people all the time that they have the option to upgrade to Vista...but they don't absolutely have to.

My thing is: How the hell are these $399 systems "Vista Ready"? I thought you needed ungodly amounts of RAM and processing power to run it--not to mention a decent graphics card.
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Old 12-09-2006, 08:14 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cucamelsmd15 View Post
Meh, Im still undecided on the Macbook. Ive heard mixed reviews on them so far. Both the people I work with that have them have the random shutdown syndrome.
That was supposedly fixed on the last firmware update. I've never had that problem so I can't confirm if it's been resolved or not.
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Old 12-09-2006, 08:20 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BigWrecKs View Post
They've already started to dish out rebates for new systems. I tell people all the time that they have the option to upgrade to Vista...but they don't absolutely have to.

My thing is: How the hell are these $399 systems "Vista Ready"? I thought you needed ungodly amounts of RAM and processing power to run it--not to mention a decent graphics card.

It gets run in stripped down mode from what I understand. You gotta pay to play.

MattDell, thanks, Ill check into that, and inform the coworkers so I dont have to listen to them bitch anymore
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Old 12-09-2006, 08:38 PM   #15
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Take a look at this machine. IT is a business class notebook so it comes with a standard 3yr parts and labor warranty. Also your tech assistance, and waranty support is located in Kansas. Panasonic doesn't outsource like a lot of other manufacturers do.

http://www.toughonline.com/features.asp?item=464
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Old 12-09-2006, 08:40 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Weedy View Post
Take a look at this machine. IT is a business class notebook so it comes with a standard 3yr parts and labor warranty. Also your tech assistance, and waranty support is located in Kansas. Panasonic doesn't outsource like a lot of other manufacturers do.

http://www.toughonline.com/features.asp?item=464
ick,the RAM sucks and the HDD sucks too. The only thing tastey about that system is the processor and warranty.
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Old 12-09-2006, 08:41 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cucamelsmd15 View Post
Meh, Im still undecided on the Macbook. Ive heard mixed reviews on them so far. Both the people I work with that have them have the random shutdown syndrome.
I bought a MacBook Pro about 2 months, best unit I've ever owned. It was expensive though, but worth it IMO
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Old 12-09-2006, 08:41 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Weedy View Post
Take a look at this machine. IT is a business class notebook so it comes with a standard 3yr parts and labor warranty. Also your tech assistance, and waranty support is located in Kansas. Panasonic doesn't outsource like a lot of other manufacturers do.

http://www.toughonline.com/features.asp?item=464
^^ Wow.

Overpriced, not enough memory or HDD space. Not a core 2 duo, no 4mb cache. F that.
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Old 12-09-2006, 08:46 PM   #19
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Originally Posted by BigWrecKs View Post
ick,the RAM sucks and the HDD sucks too. The only thing tastey about that system is the processor and warranty.
Agreed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by WOR440 View Post
I bought a MacBook Pro about 2 months, best unit I've ever owned. It was expensive though, but worth it IMO
Its a little out of my price range though.
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Old 12-09-2006, 08:54 PM   #20
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Hahaha, you guys are funny. There are many reasons those machines are specified as business class, and your comments are exactly why. Take a look deeper into what is available, and the features of the notebook. The guy said he wanted a dependable, durable notebook. If you are looking at initial specs, yeah you will shy away. Its what goes into the equipment on the engineering side though that makes it well worth the investment.
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Old 12-09-2006, 08:56 PM   #21
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Even so, $1500 for those specs is too much, unless his company is paying for it and he doesn't care about price.

512 isn't even enough to run XP all that well, IMO.
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Old 12-09-2006, 08:58 PM   #22
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Even so, $1500 for those specs is too much, unless his company is paying for it and he doesn't care about price.

512 isn't even enough to run XP all that well, IMO.
Nope, Im paying for this one. FWIW, my Thinkpad had a better screen, bigger HD, more memory and the same magnesium LCD case, for around the same price. Panasonics are for people who beat the living hell out of them. Im not one of those people
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Old 12-09-2006, 08:58 PM   #23
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toughbooks are milstd tested for shock, dust, humidity and temperature iirc.
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Old 12-09-2006, 09:03 PM   #24
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If you liked your IBM, you don't want a glossy screen.

I'd look into the new Lenovo designed units. They're cheaper than the older Thinkpad models and obviously built by the same people.
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Old 12-09-2006, 09:08 PM   #25
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my BRAND NEW (2 months old) HP laptop gets a whopping 1 hour of battery life. I cant get anything done in 1 hour, let alone listen to music or anything, I want to get rid of it.

FTW
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