the specs
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NP3880 SERIES
15.4" WUXGA ACTIVE MATRIX LCD
Intel® Pentium® M Processor 760 / 2MB L2 Cache, 2.0 GHz, 533MHz FSB
2048MB PC4200 (2 DIMMs)
60.0GB (7200rpm) Ultra DMA Hard Drive
8X DVD ± R/RW/+DL Combo Drive
12 Cell Smart Li-ION Battery
Integrated 1000Mbps Ethernet LAN & Intel PRO/Wireless 2915ABG LAN 802.11a/b/g Module & Bluetooth Module
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
the display
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WUXGA (1920x1200) matte. First off, glare is minimal, mostly in sunlight from behind or at an angle. Obviously this also effects brightness, however I believe every LCD out there has bright light problems. Sitting at Starbucks by a window I had to turn it just a bit so the sun didn't hit the screen. Other than that it's fine. The resolution is beautiful, pictures at 1:1 are amazingly sharp and lifelike. No dead pixels
conclusion: the 15.4" WUXGA rocks my world
performance
----------------------------------------
Everything I expected. My office applications and development tools (VS 6, VS.NET, etc) load quick. GTA San Andreas runs quick at native 1920x1200/16 bit resolution, but it's choppy at 32-bit. Settings are all the way up except anti-aliasing.
conclusion: very good application performance, above acceptable for gaming
networking/bluetooth
----------------------------------------
I had some trouble connecting to an 802.11b T-Mobile Hotspot (Open). It would connect and hang on the "resolving IP address" part. I could connect to my Shared/WEP network at home with no problems at all. The Intel software is a welcomed replacement for the windows wireless junk.
I initially had some problems connecting my mouse to the internal bluetooth however both my desktop at the office, at home, PDA (IPaq 4155), and Cellular (Motorola V710) had no problems connecting. Later I had an issue where I hit the Wireless/Bluetooth toggle button on the front and couldn't figure out why the Bluetooth device disappeared in the device manager. One thing that would help out would be 2 LEDs showing the status of the WiFi and Bluetooth or a little app that would show you in the taskbar. I wasted a lot of time on this, but now I know it won't be a problem.
WiFi conclusion: everything works OK except TMobile Hotspots (I'll try the TMobile connection app this Saturday and let you know if that works)
BlueTooth conclusion: everything seems to work now, the included software is easy to use
overall conclusion: I hate that toggle button on the front. It seriously needs status LEDs.
sound
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This model is equipped with what looks like 4 speakers and SRS/WOW whatever that means. Apparently it doesn't mean bass because my computer lacks a lot of that. Someone needs to get together with Bose and put that waveform thing in it like their $400 alarm clocks. Anyway they are above every other laptop I've owned so I can't complain too much. It does have a digital output if you have a nice stereo.
conclusion: Above average for a small form factor laptop. Good enough for games but I wouldn't try to watch a DVD on it without good headphones.
misc stuff
----------------------------------------
First off I love how they put all the connectors on the sides instead of the back. Lots of USB ports ensure you can hook up whatever you need to. It also has a 4 in 1 card reader, although I wish it also supported CompactFlash. Ports include (left side) VGA, S-video, 56k modem, network, IR, PCMCIA, 2 USB, (right side) serial, 1 USB, (front) firewire, 4 in 1 reader, digital audio, microphone, and headphones. The touchpad is OK if you like touchpads - I don't, however I do like the page up/down buttons. Did I mention I hate the bluetooth/WiFi button? Yea that sucks.
DVD-R
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I haven't burned a DVD yet but it plays all my CDs and DVDs fine. I wish it was a slot load, but it's the usual tray type.
battery
----------------------------------------
I have the 12-cell version that hangs off the back. I don't think it's that ugly and since I like my laptop propped up it works for me. It also gives you room for the fans on the bottom to suck in air and keep everything cool. On a test I did it ran from 100% to 38% in 3 hours, so I'm guessing it has a 3.5-4 hour+ battery life or more if you turn down the backlight and turn WiFi and bluetooth off.
conclusion: ~4+hours. Longer than any other notebook I've ever owned.
lessons learned
----------------------------------------
1. If your bluetooth or WiFi isn't working and isn't listed in the device manager, it's because you hit that stupid button on the front. <3
2. The palm area has a tendency to get really hot. I solved this by taking out the dummy PCMCIA card to vent more air. I believe this heat originates from the hard drive right under the palm rest on the left, as the enclosure isn't well ventilated. Just take out the dummy card and let it breathe and it won't be nearly as hot. I hope I never need to use a PCMCIA card that gets toasty or else you'd probably overheat the drive. Don't quote me on that.
3. Sager order support will not call you back when you submit an order status request. I sent 3 and got nothing. That really ticked me off.
4. I hear PCTorque has better prices, service, and support. I would have ordered thru them if I had found this forum first.
5. This is a great laptop, well worth the cost.
Feel free to ask me anything else. I'll try to get some good pictures this weekend
-- ---- ----------- ------ ---- ---- ----- ----
NP3880 SERIES
15.4" WUXGA ACTIVE MATRIX LCD
Intel® Pentium® M Processor 760 / 2MB L2 Cache, 2.0 GHz, 533MHz FSB
2048MB PC4200 (2 DIMMs)
60.0GB (7200rpm) Ultra DMA Hard Drive
8X DVD ± R/RW/+DL Combo Drive
12 Cell Smart Li-ION Battery
Integrated 1000Mbps Ethernet LAN & Intel PRO/Wireless 2915ABG LAN 802.11a/b/g Module & Bluetooth Module
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
the display
----------------------------------------
WUXGA (1920x1200) matte. First off, glare is minimal, mostly in sunlight from behind or at an angle. Obviously this also effects brightness, however I believe every LCD out there has bright light problems. Sitting at Starbucks by a window I had to turn it just a bit so the sun didn't hit the screen. Other than that it's fine. The resolution is beautiful, pictures at 1:1 are amazingly sharp and lifelike. No dead pixels
conclusion: the 15.4" WUXGA rocks my world
performance
----------------------------------------
Everything I expected. My office applications and development tools (VS 6, VS.NET, etc) load quick. GTA San Andreas runs quick at native 1920x1200/16 bit resolution, but it's choppy at 32-bit. Settings are all the way up except anti-aliasing.
conclusion: very good application performance, above acceptable for gaming
networking/bluetooth
----------------------------------------
I had some trouble connecting to an 802.11b T-Mobile Hotspot (Open). It would connect and hang on the "resolving IP address" part. I could connect to my Shared/WEP network at home with no problems at all. The Intel software is a welcomed replacement for the windows wireless junk.
I initially had some problems connecting my mouse to the internal bluetooth however both my desktop at the office, at home, PDA (IPaq 4155), and Cellular (Motorola V710) had no problems connecting. Later I had an issue where I hit the Wireless/Bluetooth toggle button on the front and couldn't figure out why the Bluetooth device disappeared in the device manager. One thing that would help out would be 2 LEDs showing the status of the WiFi and Bluetooth or a little app that would show you in the taskbar. I wasted a lot of time on this, but now I know it won't be a problem.
WiFi conclusion: everything works OK except TMobile Hotspots (I'll try the TMobile connection app this Saturday and let you know if that works)
BlueTooth conclusion: everything seems to work now, the included software is easy to use
overall conclusion: I hate that toggle button on the front. It seriously needs status LEDs.
sound
----------------------------------------
This model is equipped with what looks like 4 speakers and SRS/WOW whatever that means. Apparently it doesn't mean bass because my computer lacks a lot of that. Someone needs to get together with Bose and put that waveform thing in it like their $400 alarm clocks. Anyway they are above every other laptop I've owned so I can't complain too much. It does have a digital output if you have a nice stereo.
conclusion: Above average for a small form factor laptop. Good enough for games but I wouldn't try to watch a DVD on it without good headphones.
misc stuff
----------------------------------------
First off I love how they put all the connectors on the sides instead of the back. Lots of USB ports ensure you can hook up whatever you need to. It also has a 4 in 1 card reader, although I wish it also supported CompactFlash. Ports include (left side) VGA, S-video, 56k modem, network, IR, PCMCIA, 2 USB, (right side) serial, 1 USB, (front) firewire, 4 in 1 reader, digital audio, microphone, and headphones. The touchpad is OK if you like touchpads - I don't, however I do like the page up/down buttons. Did I mention I hate the bluetooth/WiFi button? Yea that sucks.
DVD-R
----------------------------------------
I haven't burned a DVD yet but it plays all my CDs and DVDs fine. I wish it was a slot load, but it's the usual tray type.
battery
----------------------------------------
I have the 12-cell version that hangs off the back. I don't think it's that ugly and since I like my laptop propped up it works for me. It also gives you room for the fans on the bottom to suck in air and keep everything cool. On a test I did it ran from 100% to 38% in 3 hours, so I'm guessing it has a 3.5-4 hour+ battery life or more if you turn down the backlight and turn WiFi and bluetooth off.
conclusion: ~4+hours. Longer than any other notebook I've ever owned.
lessons learned
----------------------------------------
1. If your bluetooth or WiFi isn't working and isn't listed in the device manager, it's because you hit that stupid button on the front. <3
2. The palm area has a tendency to get really hot. I solved this by taking out the dummy PCMCIA card to vent more air. I believe this heat originates from the hard drive right under the palm rest on the left, as the enclosure isn't well ventilated. Just take out the dummy card and let it breathe and it won't be nearly as hot. I hope I never need to use a PCMCIA card that gets toasty or else you'd probably overheat the drive. Don't quote me on that.
3. Sager order support will not call you back when you submit an order status request. I sent 3 and got nothing. That really ticked me off.
4. I hear PCTorque has better prices, service, and support. I would have ordered thru them if I had found this forum first.
5. This is a great laptop, well worth the cost.
Feel free to ask me anything else. I'll try to get some good pictures this weekend
