NotebookForums.com › Forums › General Notebook Discussions › Notebook Forums - General › $64k question: my version (what's a good used lappy?)
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

$64k question: my version (what's a good used lappy?)

post #1 of 12
12/17/05 at 5:00pm
Thread Starter 
My wife needs a basic notebook for wireless Internet access around the house (mostly text-based websites). I figure I'll get a one or two-year old model with Pentium 4 (1.3 to 1.8 Ghz). There are tons of used lappy's like that on eBay for a few hundred bucks.

I started browsing the reviews in this forum but was quickly overwhelmed at the sheer volume of information! So I would be MOST appreciative if some of you would share your recommendations, based on these criteria:

IMPORTANT:
Above all: Reliability, repairability and out-of-warranty service, if necessary. Must be Windows based and have good keyboard and pointer ergonomics. Screen must be readable in bright "sunroom"

LESS IMPORTANT:
Battery life (3 hours would be fine) and low ambient noise level would be nice.

UNACCEPTABLE:
Thumb joystick (or whatever those thingies are called), wide-screen format

NOT IMPORTANT / DON'T CARE:
Weight, thickness, processor performance, memory size, graphics speed, multimedia capabilities, BlueTooth, Firewire, sound quality, gaming, or hard drive capacity (30 Gb way more than enough). None of these mean a flip to her. In fact, she's happy with her 700Mhz desktop running Win98SE. My brother thought I should just get her an older laptop with similar speed/OS. However, I believe even the best brands are prone to problems as they get older. And prices for slower P4 laptops are already so low there's little incentive to go older.

Suggestions?
David
Reply
Reply
post #2 of 12
12/17/05 at 5:41pm
pentium 4 is not a good laptop processor,too hot n power hungry,get a pentium m or amd turion
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 12
12/17/05 at 6:39pm
Man, it would be hard to beat the Dell B130 for $499

I have a Tecra 8000 but it is almost worn out and I just gave it to the kids. I have spent about 400 in the past couple of years keeping it going. Then I found a great deal on a brand new Dell Inspiron 1000 about a year ago, bought it and then a month ago I bought my Toshiba S2 and gave the Dell to the wife. She is extremely happy and so am I. The B130 is cheaper than what I paid for the 1000 and the wireless is built in so you do not have a card sticking out the side.

YMMV

dave
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 12
12/17/05 at 6:50pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by thedave1164
Man, it would be hard to beat the Dell B130 for $499...
dave
Hi Dave,
Thanks for your response, but the last thing I want is to be on the phone for countless hours dealing with know-nothing tech support. Been there, done that. And I'm not just pointing at Dell. I think I'd rather buy one that's already been 'deburred'. Obviously, when buying on eBay, I'd need to choose a seller with very strong feedback rating. I sure don't want to inherit someone else's problems! My biggest concern is long-term reliability. I'm used to fixing my own desktop but I never owned a notebook before.
David
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 12
12/17/05 at 7:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ginahoy
Hi Dave,
Thanks for your response, but the last thing I want is to be on the phone for countless hours dealing with know-nothing tech support. Been there, done that. And I'm not just pointing at Dell. I think I'd rather buy one that's already been 'deburred'. Obviously, when buying on eBay, I'd need to choose a seller with very strong feedback rating. I sure don't want to inherit someone else's problems! My biggest concern is long-term reliability. I'm used to fixing my own desktop but I never owned a notebook before.
David
I understand, we have had 0 problems with our Dell and my MIL just got one and has had 0 problems as well.

Of course there is always the exception. I bought an Acer 19" LCD that lots of people had recommended and it was DOA, I had to send it in for repairs and wait 2 weeks. So recomendations are worth what you pay for them.

That said I would stick to the following used models:

IBM T series or X series
Toshiba Tecra series
Dell Latitude series
Compaq Armada series

These were the commercial models and typically are built better than the consumer models.

good luck!

dave
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 12
12/17/05 at 7:59pm
Honestly after having worked with many older used notebooks, I would never buy one due to reliability issues. They go out in a heartbeat, and you really never know what your gettin when you buy on ebay. Go for the dell, and if it clunks out theyll go to your house and replace the thing for you without a second thought. If you want peace of mind buying a notebook, a dell warranty (perhaps complete care as well) is a nice thing to have.
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 12
12/17/05 at 8:00pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mark123can
pentium 4 is not a good laptop processor,too hot n power hungry,get a pentium m or amd turion
Thanks for the advice, Mark! I'm really not up on the latest technology. I recall one notebook I used actually got so hot it made my legs uncomfortable. I'm there.

After reading your post, I did a quick check and the Pentium M has been out for a couple of years, whereas AMD Turion is new this year. As expected, on eBay there are hundreds of used M's for sale but only a couple of used Turions.

So what about brand/models, folks? Remember, I'm interested in reliability, not horsepower.
David
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 12
12/17/05 at 8:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ginahoy
Thanks for the advice, Mark! I'm really not up on the latest technology. I recall one notebook I used actually got so hot it made my legs uncomfortable. I'm there.

After reading your post, I did a quick check and the Pentium M has been out for a couple of years, whereas AMD Turion is new this year. As expected, on eBay there are hundreds of used M's for sale but only a couple of used Turions.

So what about brand/models, folks? Remember, I'm interested in reliability, not horsepower.
David
Look for an IBM T40 they are pretty reliable and you would probably have at least a year left on factory warranty out of 3.

There were a couple of Tecra S1's on eBay for around $650
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 12
12/17/05 at 8:10pm
ASUS and IBM come to mind when you say you need something reliable? whats your budget? also don't knock eraserhead pointers and widescreens till you've used them for a while (this comming from a guy with an IBM which has a eraser head, and a uniwill thats wide 16:10). that said, both are great utilities and i would WANT my next laptop to have both of these features. i mean really, a touchpad is a PAIN IN THE A-HOLE! take my word on this, i can't use my uniwill unless i have a USB mouse plugged in, my IBM however, hell, i'd find myself using the eraserhead even if there was a mouse @ hand.

that said, P4 is crap, btw, when i read in your original trhead "P4 and 3hours battery life" i almost died of laughter, there is yet to be a P4 laptop which can deliver over 2 hours (most do 1 - 1.5 hours).

so anyway, if you don't need horsepower:
1.7 Dothan or 2700+ Semptron
Intel Xtreme 2 Graphics (or 900) or ATi X300 w/Hypermemory
512mb ram
40gb 5400rpm
15" sxga (give wsxga a chance man!)

anywhoo...like i said above....IBM AND ASUS!

and then there is Sager: http://discountlaptops.com/index.php...egory_theme=c1
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 12
12/18/05 at 1:39am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by thedave1164
Look for an IBM T40 they are pretty reliable and you would probably have at least a year left on factory warranty out of 3.
Are the IBM warranties usually transferrable? I was surprised to find the following disclaimer in an eBay listing that just ended (T42):

"the waarranty (sic) is non-transferable. 2373-L1U is the model number"
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 12
12/19/05 at 1:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ginahoy
Are the IBM warranties usually transferrable? I was surprised to find the following disclaimer in an eBay listing that just ended (T42):

"the waarranty (sic) is non-transferable. 2373-L1U is the model number"
I have not heard of a problem transfering the warranty. But it has been a few years. Last time I checked they didn't care who registered the system, they just fixed it.

You could call IBM to find out.
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 12
12/19/05 at 1:32am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by thedave1164
I have not heard of a problem transfering the warranty. But it has been a few years. Last time I checked they didn't care who registered the system, they just fixed it.

You could call IBM to find out.
I checked on it earlier today and you are correct. Apparently the person who I quoted had a unit that was no longer in warranty and he just didn't explain it properly.

Thanks,
David
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Notebook Forums - General
NotebookForums.com › Forums › General Notebook Discussions › Notebook Forums - General › $64k question: my version (what's a good used lappy?)