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WideScreen + Pentium M + 4 Hours Battery + 128MB Video RAM

post #1 of 18
11/2/04 at 8:28pm
Thread Starter 
Any recommendations on the following:

17 Inch Laptop Screen
4+ Hours of Battery Life
128MB Video RAM or better
Pentium M 2.0 Ghz Dothan or similar (not a DTR processor though)
1GB RAM
60 or 80 GB HD
Wifi - 108 Mbps
4 - 1 Reader or similar
DVD RW / CDRW
Bright Screen (TruBrite, XBrite, etc...)

I have been searching all of the usual suspects (Acer, Sager, Alienware, Voodoo, Falcon, CyberPower, Dell, ABS, Sony and Toshiba) but with no success. The closest that comes to my requirements is the Toshiba G15 but it has a 1-2 hour battery life. There are plenty of 15.4 inch laptop screens that meet the above requirements, but I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations.

I currently own the Dell 8600 and love the power / battery life of a 128MB graphics card, 15.4 inch screen, and Pentium M chiip. I would just now like to get a new laptop with a really bright and bigger screen - while also picking up some increased speed that has come in the past nine months.

Thanks.
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post #2 of 18
11/2/04 at 8:30pm
Closest would probably be the Sony A 17inch.
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post #3 of 18
11/2/04 at 8:45pm
Perhaps the new Dell Inspirion 9200, although I'm not sure of it's battery life.
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post #4 of 18
11/2/04 at 8:47pm
I was going to recommend that, just wasnt sure if it had a 17 inch screen.
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post #5 of 18
11/2/04 at 10:34pm
look here for DELL 9200 review (very skimpy review)
http://www.notebookreview.com/result...nspiron%209200

it reportedly gets 4:59 on business winstone something or other (probably with optional 80 WHr battery). It has 17" screen (available with WUXGA).
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post #6 of 18
11/3/04 at 5:23pm
Thread Starter 

Thanks

Thanks for the headsup on the Dell. I own a Dell 8600 now. I like the laptop except for all the darn plastic. The closest I can find so far is the

Sony A series (slow arse 64MB video card)
Toshiba G15 (only 1.5 hours on the battery)

Initially this Dell looks great. I will report back in a second.
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post #7 of 18
11/3/04 at 5:32pm
Thread Starter 

My Wishes

Thanks all for your help. This is perfect for my mobile web design business. Since I already own the 8600, I trust that this one will be just as good. Its about a half pound more in weight, but looks a lot sharper. Basically I am getting an upgrade for the screen (17 vs 15.4), processor (2.1 vs. 1.8), battery (5 hours vs. 3.5 hour), and keeping the same graphics cards and harddrive.

DELL 9200
2.1 Ghz Pentium M
128 MB Video
17 Inch Screen
5 Hours of Battery (4:59 on PCMag Review)
WiFi
and more.

Cool. I will probabbly take a look around some more tonight
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post #8 of 18
11/3/04 at 10:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by peteboyd
Thanks all for your help. This is perfect for my mobile web design business. Since I already own the 8600, I trust that this one will be just as good. Its about a half pound more in weight, but looks a lot sharper. Basically I am getting an upgrade for the screen (17 vs 15.4), processor (2.1 vs. 1.8), battery (5 hours vs. 3.5 hour), and keeping the same graphics cards and harddrive.

DELL 9200
2.1 Ghz Pentium M
128 MB Video
17 Inch Screen
5 Hours of Battery (4:59 on PCMag Review)
WiFi
and more.

Cool. I will probabbly take a look around some more tonight

You forgot about the upgrade in price
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post #9 of 18
11/3/04 at 11:08pm
i think the 9200 has a better videocard too..
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post #10 of 18
11/4/04 at 1:08am
The 9200 doesn't have the enhanced screen though, it is just your typical Dell 'ultrasharp' like the 8600 has, but larger.

You'll need to decide if you want a much better screen (Sony A series) or a marginally faster graphics card (Dell).

Steve
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post #11 of 18
11/4/04 at 5:11am
i wonder why dell scapped the 9800 mobility from the 9100 instead of carrying it over.. i have to think it was a power eater and a hot bastid.
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post #12 of 18
11/4/04 at 5:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by h00ligan
i wonder why dell scapped the 9800 mobility from the 9100 instead of carrying it over.. i have to think it was a power eater and a hot bastid.
Of course it is.
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post #13 of 18
11/4/04 at 9:28am
They want you to buy the XPS.
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post #14 of 18
11/4/04 at 3:13pm
Thread Starter 
OK. Thanks all. I guess I am just going to wait until early next year. I was hoping for the following requirements, but it seems every laptop manufacturer falls short in one category:

17 inch Screen (Xbrite or similar technology)
128MB Video RAM
2.0 or better Ghz Pentium M
4+ Hours of Batter Life

So far I have looked at the Toshiba G15 series and it fills the bill except the battery life is only 1.5 hours. Then I looked at the Sony A series and it works except for the fact that the Video Ram is only 64MB - jeez. Finally the Sager 4570 works but it uses the AMD DTR processor so again you only get a 1.5 hour battery. I was hoping the Dell 9200 had the briteview, xbrite, or whatever technology. Oh well...
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post #15 of 18
11/4/04 at 3:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ferrari3200
They want you to buy the XPS.
They dont want him to buy it... that is an ignorant comment. It is only that the Dell is the one that most closely matches what he wanted. No other notebook that had been mentioned before was close to doing this. Now, if there were another notebook that matched the specs better than the Dell, then that one would be recommended too.
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post #16 of 18
11/4/04 at 7:52pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks Enderet. I had a chance to buy the XPS last year, but opted for the 8600. I wanted better battery life and that is what I chose. I only use the laptop for occasional gaming and the 8600 seems to do fine for BF1942, Rome Total War, and other games. Plus it is not as heavy and looks a little better.

Now what I want is the same as the 8600 but basically a 17inch super xbrite screen. I have not found that yet.

sfdoddy makes the best comment:

"You'll need to decide if you want a much better screen (Sony A series) or a marginally faster graphics card (Dell). "

My research basically confirms that as well. I basically need to choose from the Sony A (better screen, but slower), the Toshiba G15 (great, but no battery life), or the Dell 9200 (all round best, but not a great screen).

I may just wait, but this is a business expense that I would like to wrap up before the calendar year is out. Plus once I can get this new laptop I can give my old 8600 to my employee and she can get rid of the really old ass Celeron 2.0 Gateway - yikes and that improves productivity.
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post #17 of 18
11/17/04 at 7:55pm
Thread Starter 
Just purchased the Dell 9200.

Dell Inspiron 8600 | P-M 2.0Ghz | 1GB RAM | 17" WSXGA+ | 60GB 7200RPM
ATI MR9700 128 MB RAM |Intel 2200 b/g WiFi | 8x DVD +- RW
A bunch of other things you wont care about such as 2 Year warranty.
Total Price before shipping was $2193 (with a 25% discount).
With tax and shipping it was $2413 - Shipping on December 9.
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post #18 of 18
12/3/04 at 8:25pm
Thread Starter 
Just got my Dell 9200. Feel free to check out my review in the Dell 9200 forum

http://notebookforums.com/showthread.php?t=52940
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