Targa Visonary 811A 3000+

I was really set to buy this unit but the never ending cracked hinge problem has forced me to think twice!
By the way, Did you get the English version (keyboard & OS)??

I wonder if someone here can tell me if the Laptop (Targa Traveller 811 3000+) is a good buy for £999. The one thing I have noticed about this deal is the name "Traveller" as opposed to "Visionary" on the actual title of the setup. This could possibly mean a cut-down version of the Visionary system you guys were talking about..

* Targa 15.4" WXGA Wide Screen TFT-Display
* Cutting-Edge Technology 3000+
* With Hyper Transport-Technology, 3D-Now-Professional-technology, 128kB First Level Cache, 1024kB Second Level Cache. 100% performance while extending battery life by up to 30%. AMD's unique AMD PowerNow! Technolgy. Technology with dynamic power variation!
* Graphics Card
* One of the fastest, mobile graphics chips in the world!
* ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 with 128MB DDR-RAM
* Graphics without limits with DirectX 9.0 Support
* Detailed picture reproduction in optimum 3D-quality
* DVD and video in cinematic quality
* Connection compatibility to all current displays
* Pioneer DVD-Multinorm-
* DVD/CD-Burner with dual layer technology for up to 8.54 GB = 240 minutes of video on 1 DVD
* Supports DVD+/-R/RW and DVD+R DL standard!
* Write: 8 x DVD-/+R, 4 x DVD-/+RW, 2.4 x DVD+R DL, 24 x CD-R, 24 x CD-RW
* Read: 8 x DVD, 24 x CD
* Inc. burning software
* Memory Card Reader
* Built-in 7 in 2 Reader
* Reads and writes onto the following media: SecureDigitalCard, MultiMediaCard, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro
* Compact Flash Type 1, Compact Flash Type 2, IBM Microdrive
* Samsung Hard Drive, 80GB. 2.5"/9.5mm/5400RPM
* Siemens Memory 512MB, DDR-RAM 333MHz clock speed (PC2700)
* Accessories included: Cordless Optical Mouse with scroll wheel! 64MB USB-Memory Stick 2.0, Multi-Function Remote Control, Notebook Case, Scart Cable and Huge Software Package(1) inclusive of Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition(2)
* Music and Audio with DJ-Audio-Function: Easy playback of audio and MP3-CDs, with the CD-player style controls on the keyboard. 2 built in speakers.
* Modem and Network Connection with built-in 56K V.90 analogue modem integrated 10/100Mbit controller. (RJ45-connection), network and DSL ready! (requires external DSL-modem)
* Wireless Network and Internet Connection with Mini PCI-Wireless-LAN-card. IEEE 802.11g (54MBIT/sec)
* 3 Year manufacturer’s warranty
* With pick-up service and Hotline

Any idea if this is worth the £999 or not.. or would I be better getting something else for the money, possibly not an AMD 64 chip (someone said these are only for the very cheap end of the market) ? ..

All help will be welcome..

i am considereing buying the targa traveller too ( from lidl uk) it does seem to be a good buy, cant find a similar spec for only £999 anywhere else (especially when considering the 3 year warranty)

Only annoying thing is, across europe lidl are offering the exact same laptop for 1299euros, which is under £900. i'm assuming this price includes vat which is roughly 16%, so how can they justify the price difference?

I'm in two minds about this - it seems like a good deal on one hand, but then again you can more than get similar laptops in the high-street at the moment (discounts galore.. 10% .. 20% off, etc.. ) .. This unit does not have the "BrilliantView" display either of the newer Targa setups; so your getting a fairly run of the mill system for your £999. Your also stuck once you buy any computer equipment from Lidl (unlike Aldi) as your not able to take it back within a period of time either, so you have to be totally sure you know what your buying into before you part with your cash.

From what I understand Aldi are going to be doing a new range of laptops *just* after Xmas (before the end of Decemeber) .. and it might be worth holding out for one of those. I've always found Aldi to have better machines and as long as they don't use Gericom as their next supplier it'll more than likely be a good deal.

Back to this one.. I've heard a lot of differing reports; in some of the French forums they find it very noisy, .. complaints galore [everywhere] about the hinges, paint, etc.. poor sized screen resolution, sheer bulk of the thing..

Possibly the only good thing is the 3yr warranty -)

I keep contemplating blowing £1500 on the low-end 15" Apple G4 (1.3Ghz).. purely because it looks the part; but then the £500 saving is half a replacement laptop this time next year.. £999 is more than enough to pay for what is (for me) a second PC to use outside of the main room ..

And your right about the Euro; .. it translates to around £896 which for me is a big pisser, there is simply no way that you are getting 'value for money' in the Uk with this deal. I would certainly avoid this deal on this basis alone and wait for something else to appear. The whole point of 'specials' from Lidl / Aldi is that they are supposed to be just that, "bargains" .. this unit might well be that for everyone outside of the UK, but not for us! Fook'em .. !

I have ordered a Targa Traveller 811 3000+ and it'll be in the shop as of 18/12.

Now, I'm worried if I should buy it after reading 'bout the 'cracked hinges' problem.

Does this only affect older models ? 811a ?

Thank you.

Chibbi

ps: excuse my poor English (I live in Belgium)

If you guys are still looking for a laptop, i would highly recommend the Fujitsu Siemens Amilo A1630. It has the same specs as the Targa, but with a 3200+ processor, all for £1000 inc delivery. The plus side is that it is from a more well known name for laptops. I have one of these myself and it is beautiful, runs like a dream. http://www.nice-pc.co.uk More info at that link

I tried to get my hands on one of those, but supply seems difficult at best here in Belgium. I'll be buying the Targa Traveller coming Saturday.

Cheers