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Help me decide on these 3 Centrino 17" models!

post #1 of 23
12/26/04 at 11:06pm
Thread Starter 
Maybe others here are either 1. Looking at these same models or 2. Have one of them and wouldn't mind commenting on my notes so far!

The Three Notebooks in the running:

1 - Dell Inspiron 9200
2 - Toshiba Qosmio G15-AV501
3 - Sony A290

Pro's and Con's: (as they effect me personally anyway)

Sony A290 Specs:
Pentium-M 1.7Ghz
1Gig RAM
100GB Hard Drive (4200rpm)
ATI Mobility 9700 - 64Meg
8X DVD-Writer
802.11 b/g
-----------------------------------------
Pros:
- Fantastic XBrite WUXGA Screen (1920 X 1200)
- Decent size/weight (8.6 lbs or so)
- Docking station w/DVI connector, Gigabeat MPEG2 encoder, gigabit ethernet, etc.

Cons:
- Too pricey ($2800 retail, $2500 online)
- Only space for 1 HD
- Out-of-box hard drive would have to be upgraded (because of the substandard 4200rpm)
- Harder to upgrade (memory, bluetooth, HD, etc.)
- The retail version does NOT have the darn bluetooth module in it


Toshiba Qosmio G15-AV501
Pentium-M 1.8Ghz
512Meg RAM
(2) HDs - 60Gig 5500rpm and 40Gig 5400rpm
Nvidia 5700go - 128Meg
8X DVD-Writer
802.11 b/g
Bluetooth
-----------------------------------------
Pros:
- Fantastic Dual-Lamp Screen
- Built-in MPEG2 Encoder (system comes with Media Center 2005)
- Space built-in for 2 HDs, battery, Optical drive, and TV-Tuner all at once
- *Component-Video* Out in addition to the usual S-Video

Cons:
- Too Pricey ($2900 retail, $2300 online)
- Heaviest of the three at just over 10 lbs (although sizewise much the same)
- No docking station
- No DVI connector
- Screen looks incredible, but is only WXGA (1440 X 900)


Dell Inspiron 9200
Pentium-M 2.0Ghz
256Meg RAM
40GB Hard Drive (4200rpm?)
ATI Mobility 9700 - 128Meg
8X DVD-Writer
802.11 a/b/g
Bluetooth
-----------------------------------------
Pros:
- Can order completely configurable (hence the 2Ghz CPU)
- WUXGA Screen available (1920 X 1200)
- Much more reasonably priced ($1980 for the configuration here)
- Has DVI connector

Cons:
- WUXGA screen has a special "Glare Coating" that drives some in these forums nuts. (don't know if I would be one of them or not)
- No docking station
- Only space for 1 HD

-----------------------------------------

Right now I'm just not sure which way to go. With the Sony, I would have to upgrade the hard drive for sure. (4200rpm doesn't cut it) With either the Dell or the Toshiba I would have to upgrade the RAM. (although I already have RAM to do that with so there's no additional cost involved) With the Dell I would be upgrading the hard drive as well to a 100GB model, although not from Dell since at the moment they don't sell the Seagate 5400rpm model. (and thats why I configured it with the cheapest HD option)

The final dollar count looks like this:

Dell: $2000 + $200 for 100GB HD = Total: $2200
Toshiba: $2300 (I could live with the two existing HDs that total 100GB) = Total: $2300
Sony: $2500 + $200 for 100GB HD = Total: $2700


Any thoughts or ideas????

Thanks!

Matthew
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post #2 of 23
12/26/04 at 11:20pm
Dell unless you need the very very bright screen and in that case flip a coin on the other two

Daley
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post #3 of 23
12/26/04 at 11:27pm
Thread Starter 

Advice

Do you say that based on specs, service, reputation or some combination of those? I figure the difference between the three's processors (1.7, 1.8 and 2.0 Pentium-M) is really not much and there's only a $100 difference between the Dell and the Toshiba configured the way I want.

Its been years since I've owned a Sony (although I liked it) but I've had a number of Toshiba that I though were quite well made. I've used lots of Dell lattitudes before and found them to be pretty well made, but one big plus for me with the 9200 is that it apparently is NOT being built like the existing Insprion/XPS line. I find the XPS/9100/8600/etc. to feel pretty darn cheap.

Matthew
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post #4 of 23
12/27/04 at 1:46am
Assuming you are buying a 17" notebook because of the size of the screen, it makes sense to get the best screen you can. That would be the Sony WUXGA Xbrite.

In terms of price and specifications, check on the Sony site for their clearance models. I've seen brand new A series with the 1.7 and the ATI 9700 for under $2000.

Cheers

Steve
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post #5 of 23
12/27/04 at 3:09pm
Get the Dell first if you like it keep it if you don't send it back.
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post #6 of 23
12/28/04 at 2:55pm
Go with the Toshiba, that screen is effin beautiful. I know it is only 1440x900 but it looks so awesome. Plus you get 2HDD, though I think I would have prefered 1 partitioned one and a 128MB video card, though I would have prefer Radeon.
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post #7 of 23
12/28/04 at 2:58pm
Dude, go for the Dell
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post #8 of 23
12/28/04 at 3:14pm
Dude, go for the Sony
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post #9 of 23
12/28/04 at 6:08pm
dude, i thought centrino notebooks were suppose to be small
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post #10 of 23
12/28/04 at 6:14pm
Get the Dell if you're a Republican ; get the Fujitsu/Sony if you're a Democrat

All jokes aside, see if there's any way you can check each machine out in person.
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post #11 of 23
12/28/04 at 6:15pm
Get the Sony, it has a wonderful monitor. Dell's WUXGA is horrible
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post #12 of 23
12/28/04 at 10:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ofelas
Get the Dell if you're a Republican ; get the Fujitsu/Sony if you're a Democrat

All jokes aside, see if there's any way you can check each machine out in person.

umm... since when is Dell a republican??? I'ma huge Dellmocrat right here
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post #13 of 23
12/28/04 at 10:57pm
Heheheh...Michael Dell is a major contributor to the GOP...but I'll try to refrain from making political remarks...
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post #14 of 23
12/28/04 at 11:50pm
dell=bad quality and consistency
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post #15 of 23
12/29/04 at 12:40am
I've seen the Sony WUXGA and the Toshiba WXGA side by side. Both are of similar image quaity, but the resolution of the Sony tips the balance. Remember that on a 17" screen WUXGA has about the same pixel density as a WSXGA 15.4". On a screen that big WXGA is just too coarse IMHO.

Steve
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post #16 of 23
12/29/04 at 1:49am
I've owned both a Toshiba (Portege M100) and a Sony Vaio notebook and have dealt with them at my summer jobs (IT department at IB firm).

Sony has HORRIBLE support, it's impossible to get a person on the phone. I had to let it sit at a prompt and not hit any keys for about 15 minutes before the automated prompts forwarded me to a rep. They're also overpriced for what you get.

I have no idea on the Toshiba, usually the non-ultraportables are overpriced (as this one is) and they are usually flimsy.

A friend of mine just got the 9200 and it's a nice laptop. It's very solid (no creaking) and firm keyboard. She got the WXGA+ screen since the WUXGA+ is really too small for normal computing (the graphics card can't handle gaming at that resolution and text is too small). The gloss coating is nice (have it on my Sager 4750). It brings out the contrast and colors, but is also very reflective so if you have a light source behind you you're screwed.

The only minor complaint I have with the 9200 is a minor "sparkle" effect mentioned by others in the forum and the uneven backlighting in the corners and the bottom center of the screen (a little dimmer than the rest) but it's hardly noticeable, I'm just nitpicking.

If I had the choice of buying a 17" widescreen again, I'd probably get the dell for the good bargain and support (they have the lowest RMA percentage of any PC manufacturer according to consumer reports). If only they made it with WSXGA+ which is what I got, it's PERFECT for a 17" widescreen, but oh well.

Hope that helps!
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post #17 of 23
12/29/04 at 5:10am
I've had several Sony laptops, and the XBRITE display (if you don't care about the glossiness), is fantastic. Also, I have had no reason to contact support. I would suggest either the A-series laptop or the Dell 9200. Toshiba laptops have always been "bleh" to me...and in this case, it seems overpriced.
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post #18 of 23
12/29/04 at 5:46pm
If you dont need one RIGHT now, why dont you wait until January. Intel will properly release their new chipset in mid January. This could mean you can save some money if the prices on the laptops you have choosen drop, or you could choose one of the newer models.
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post #19 of 23
12/29/04 at 5:48pm
I'm not an advocate on waiting, especially when radically different technologies are introduced. Look at the PCI-E desktops out...there are only a handful, and the AGP based ones aren't dropping like a rock in price.
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post #20 of 23
12/29/04 at 5:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sseries
I'm not an advocate on waiting, especially when radically different technologies are introduced. Look at the PCI-E desktops out...there are only a handful, and the AGP based ones aren't dropping like a rock in price.
True, but we are only talking about 2-3 weeks. The shops wont be throwing Centrino laptops after you (But wouldnt it be nice ;-)) but you may save a little bit of money for a relative short period of waiting time. And maybe there will be some test of the new models, which you could include in your considerations for a new laptop.
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