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Computer rookie in need of help!

post #1 of 25
7/8/04 at 3:42pm
Thread Starter 
Hey,

I stumbled upon this site while searching for reviews of Alienware Sentia notebooks. I was wondering if you could give me some advice. I start classes this fall at Michigan State University. The laptop will be primarily used for music, photos, MS Word, some gaming, and Internet. I had a Gateway 450E Plus (with 512mb mem, DVD+RW, 60GB HD) filled out and ready to order, however, I stumbled upon Alienware's website and I was intriguied. My question to you is whether or not the Alienware Sentia is worth the extra couple hundred dollars... The specs listed below are the options I selected when I customized my own Sentia at Alienware.com. This is what I would be getting if I went with Alienware (any additional specs you think I should add, feel free to say). Also, if there are any other brands other than Alienware you think are worth looking into, please advise.

Price of Gateway with upgrades: $1993.00 (with MSU discount)

Price of Alienware Sentia with upgrades: $2597





Sentia™

Warranty: 1-Year AlienCare Toll-Free 24/7 Phone Support with Onsite Service

Case: Alienware Exclusive Sentia Case - Saucer Silver

Processor: Intel® Pentium® M 1.7GHz 1MB L2 Cache 400MHz FSB

Motherboard: Intel® 855GME+ICH4M Chipset PC-2700 @ 333MHz

Wireless network: Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200 Network Connection

Memory: 512MB DDR PC-2700 at 333MHz - 1x512 SO-DIMM

Hard Drive: Hitachi 60GB 7200 RPM ATA100 with 8MB Cache

Monitors: 12.1" Wide-XGA 1280x800 LCD Display

Video Card: Intel® Extreme Graphics 2 Technology

Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster® Audigy® 2 NX USB External

Smart Bay One: 24x10x24 CD-RW / 8X DVD Combo w/Software MPEG2 Decoder

Ethernet NIC: Integrated 10/100Mb Ethernet NIC

Modem: 56K Modem with V.90 Technology

Speakers: Klipsch ProMedia™ 2.1 200-Watt THX® Speakers

USB Lighted Cables: 15' USB 2.0 Cable with Blue LEDs

Optional Mouse: Belkin® Mini-Wireless Optical Mouse

Gamespot Complete: Gamespot Complete - Free 90-day Trial

Productivity Software: Microsoft® Office 2003 Small Business Edition

Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition

Security Software: Norton™ AntiVirus™ 2004 Professional Edition
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post #2 of 25
7/8/04 at 3:51pm
Ok you are going to college you are going to be using this laptop in public. Just think to your self would you rather be seen takeing note on your alienware or your dell. Odds are there will be others with dells in the room but you will probably be the only one with an alienware. If you don't want attention don't get the alienware but if you want to stand out a bit and this feeling of eliteness is worth the extra 500$ then go for it. Both laptops will do what you need. But alienware seems to have that certain special something the others just don't. Plus chicks dig alienware!! its a proven fact these things are chick magnets and its usualy the cute, smart girls too. I should know I married one!
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post #3 of 25
7/8/04 at 3:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Braingoo
Ok you are going to college you are going to be using this laptop in public. Just think to your self would you rather be seen takeing note on your alienware or your dell. Odds are there will be others with dells in the room but you will probably be the only one with an alienware. If you don't want attention don't get the alienware but if you want to stand out a bit and this feeling of eliteness is worth the extra 500$ then go for it. Both laptops will do what you need. But alienware seems to have that certain special something the others just don't. Plus chicks dig alienware!! its a proven fact these things are chick magnets and its usualy the cute, smart girls too. I should know I married one!
i cant argue with that one... its not a cute puppy, but it definetly gets attention
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post #4 of 25
7/8/04 at 4:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jamaster14
i cant argue with that one... its not a cute puppy, but it definetly gets attention
If you put cute puppies and kitties on you desktop this will be perfect!! just dont let your buddies se that or you might get a beat down!
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post #5 of 25
7/8/04 at 4:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Braingoo
If you put cute puppies and kitties on you desktop this will be perfect!! just dont let your buddies se that or you might get a beat down!
just gte a cute puppies and kittens screensaver...soy u canjust hit hte mouse and pretend your not a wuss
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post #6 of 25
7/8/04 at 5:01pm
aww, what's wrong with kittens??

look, they store easily
LL
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post #7 of 25
7/8/04 at 5:03pm
I doubt you need to buy the Norton program. Most colleges license antivirus software and let you download it for free; I know mine does and my brother's did. Also, if you want a 1.7 GHz, pay the extra $3 for the other 1.7 GHz CPU with double the cache (2 MB instead of 1). If I were you, I'd also buy the mouse, and possibly speakers, elsewhere because you'll be able to find them cheaper, and try out the mouse in a store. Lastly, make sure you need Microsoft Office, perhaps you can find a way to save the 250 bucks on that one.
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post #8 of 25
7/8/04 at 5:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by chamith7
I doubt you need to buy the Norton program. Most colleges license antivirus software and let you download it for free; I know mine does and my brother's did. Also, if you want a 1.7 GHz, pay the extra $3 for the other 1.7 GHz CPU with double the cache (2 MB instead of 1). If I were you, I'd also buy the mouse, and possibly speakers, elsewhere because you'll be able to find them cheaper, and try out the mouse in a store. Lastly, make sure you need Microsoft Office, perhaps you can find a way to save the 250 bucks on that one.
Even if you can't you can always get AVG for free and its as good if not better than norton!
http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php

As for microsoft office you may want to see if you can get by with open office it does most everything office does only its free!

www.openoffice.org
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post #9 of 25
7/8/04 at 5:28pm
Your new Sentia may look cool, but just how cool is it going to be when you want to do some gaming with your buddies and you are stuck playing Freecell deathmatch with your l33t intel integrated GPU.
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post #10 of 25
7/8/04 at 5:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Roarak
Your new Sentia may look cool, but just how cool is it going to be when you want to do some gaming with your buddies and you are stuck playing Freecell deathmatch with your l33t intel integrated GPU.
This is true however I have heard these little guys play Counter strike and call of duty quite well. I have not ever sat down with one but if you are only using it for casual gamming you should be fine. This is however the trade off of a thin and light notebook.
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post #11 of 25
7/8/04 at 5:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Braingoo
This is true however I have heard these little guys play Counter strike and call of duty quite well. I have not ever sat down with one but if you are only using it for casual gamming you should be fine. This is however the trade off of a thin and light notebook.
add in all the emulators and someof the older pc games and you have a nice collection.

and you'll be able ot play them on battery for more than 15 minutes!
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post #12 of 25
7/8/04 at 7:11pm
Most colleges have Office for super duper cheap. I know a freind of mine can get it for $30 in her book store and I got a copy of 2003 for free at school.
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post #13 of 25
7/14/04 at 4:39pm

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Quote:
Originally Posted by Braingoo
This is true however I have heard these little guys play Counter strike and call of duty quite well. I have not ever sat down with one but if you are only using it for casual gamming you should be fine. This is however the trade off of a thin and light notebook.

People still play Counter Strike? WHY IS EVERYONE STILL STUCK IN 1999!! ARGHHHHhhhhh

(unless it is condition zero(i still don't play it but that is at least resonable))
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post #14 of 25
7/14/04 at 4:43pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dukefrukem
You still play Counter Strike? WHY IS EVERYONE STILL STUCK IN 1999!! ARGHHHHhhhhh

(unless it is condition zero(i still don't play it but that is at least resonable))
Hey all halflife mods exspecially counter strike are timeless! I play everything even the original doom on ocasion. Using the jdoom engine ofcourse.
jdoom
http://www.doomsdayhq.com/

But as long as there are players that need to be owned I will be there doing my best to give them that!
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post #15 of 25
7/14/04 at 4:47pm

ok then

Quote:
Originally Posted by Braingoo
But as long as there are players that need to be owned I will be there doing my best to give them that!
I like your style...you play UT2k4?
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post #16 of 25
7/14/04 at 4:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dukefrukem
I like your style...you play UT2k4?
Yup!

download xfire www.xife.com add me as braingoo!
and then you can see when im on and we can play sometime!
My favortie is instagib, lowgrav, speed boost %120 = FUNAGE!
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post #17 of 25
7/14/04 at 4:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by pico
aww, what's wrong with kittens??

look, they store easily


OOOOH!!!! It's so cute....cant tear eyes away...but yet...do you think thats comfortable...aaaaawwww
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post #18 of 25
7/14/04 at 6:37pm
Have you seen the NEW CS coming out with HL2? Good looooord! Its amazing!
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post #19 of 25
7/14/04 at 6:45pm
I don't care if it's Alienware, I wouldn't pay $2600 for a 1.7 BANIAS (not even Dothan), with a 12" screen and Intel Extreme Graphics. For $1700 I plan to get a 1.7Dothan w/ ATI Mobility 9700 128MB, plus more memory and a 15" screen. Then again I'm one of those people that probably will never own an Alienware unless I have just so much money that I can't find anything else to spend it on.
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post #20 of 25
7/14/04 at 10:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Craig
Have you seen the NEW CS coming out with HL2? Good looooord! Its amazing!
I think you mean... IF it ever comes out with HL2...
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