Farewell to Sager - Page 2

i thought the same thing...but re-read it and i believe he "ultimately had to run UT in 1400x1050 mode AND reduse some of the detail settings to get fully smooth operations."

LOL, well it works just fine then!!!

I too did an apples to apples configuration comparison with the Dell 5150 and the Sager 5680, where possible.

Both had same Hyper threading CPUs available, 60 Gig 7200 RPM drives, 802.11g wireless, 2X DVD writers

Dell had...
- free productivity software, and some other software
- XP Home
- 1 gig 333, I think dual channel memory
- 64MB nVidia 5200, (128 apparently not available)
- 1 year limited warranty & 1 extra year mail in warranty, (lowest offering)

Price at Dell site $2,834

Sager had...
- no OS or productivity software
- 1 gig 400 dual channel memory
- 128 ATI 9600 Pro (all I've read shows this the faster card even against the 128 nVidia 5950)
- 1 year mail-in you ship warranty

Price at PC Torque $2,396

Sager has a nice 3D SB compatible sound system. I couldn't find out anything about the sound in the Dell. It's important though cause what would a multi media/gaming system be like without great sound. I also could not find anything about the Dell bus speed and we all know the Sager has an 800.

Now to me the purpose of buying these class units is to get yourself a portable desktop. I mean, all the horsepower you can buy. The more horsepower you have the less battery life you'll have. Dell probably doesn't put the top end hardware in to get longer battery life. Many magazines rate laptops with a heavy emphasis on battery life.

I'm sure this could be broken down further but these are the items that really matter. Serving the portable desktop replacement purpose just based on components alone the Sager gets to the finish line way ahead of the Dell, and for less money! Maybe you got a discount somewhere, dunno.

look u made ur choise, but what i dont understand is how did u ever think u could get hour s of battery time out of a DESKTOP REPLACER??? i mean it has a desktop cpu and tons of other options and such, u can't possibly want that much battery time and why didn't u go for dual battery or extra battery?

Cassidine you *actually* count "free productivity software" as a bonus? Pleeeeeeease.

If you believe that, I have a rock in the middle of Australia I would like to sell you .

I am also confused why you say the Dell has XP home and the the Sager has no OS. I don't get it. Sager offer XP Home and Pro AND the option not to give Bill any more $ for software you might already own or don't wish to own because you run Linux. That to me is a bonus not a drawback. I don't know if you can order a Dell *without* XP but at least Sager gives me the option.

okokok
soooooo.....how much do you want for the rock?

You want the rock? You can't handle the rock!

Too late, we already sold it back to the natives (funny thing was it theirs to start with ).

I know, I have some beads you might be interested in, I believe Manhattan is for sale...

thats not a rock, THIS is a rock mate

Understand your confusion and btw Bill never cared about money, he had other interest when things were still in build up mode.

The reason XP is listed for the Dell is because you apparently can't order the Dell without the OS, which is NC, but we all know the price is built in.

The productivity software is also included and would cost you a few hundred bucks as well if purchased separately, unless joos a pirate.

So it was a best attempt at an equitable comparison of what you would end up with, like it or not.

I ordered my maxed Sager 5680 last night. Was going to order the 8890 but it's just too much of a behemoth.

Also compared the Sager unit with other power laptops such as the Eurocom D500P, Area 51, and Pro Star 5614. Some look eerily the same.

Aussie, even if he DOES consider it, he better consider that Sager owners got software too (at least i did)..

Use the 'Back' button on your browser ... the productivity software is not free. There is a charge for each, including Works and the WordPerfect office thingy.

Now if you want FREE productivity software, go to openoffice.org and download the open source alternative to Gatesville. Does everything Office will do (well nearly) except drain your bank account.

Hmm, still can't see where they charged for the default productivity software, although it technically must be built into the price.

Even if you could remove the software for a price reduction the Sager still would come up the better deal by a lot.

I also forgot to note the Sager lifetime phone support. I saw some Sager resellers giving away software while others don't.

Usually big places throw in the shovelware/garbageware for free or just a small (<$30) fee.

I've actually met one person who thought one of the programs in one of their shovelware packs was somewhat useful.... don't remember his name, but it was a pretty weird experience for me.

-myrkat

Now, if they would only POLISH the damn thing. Problem with 99% of freeware/GNU alternatives is a lack of decent interface. I suppose when it's free, all you have are volunteer programmers and little or no volunteer artists...

-myrkat

PS: oh, and there's no OO equiv. for outlook (yeah, yeah, corporate/business environments need outlook)

I am at least glad you got the best compromise sonicwind. It is hard enough trying to sort thru the myriad of laptops on offer.

I would have to agree on Sager's choice of screens. If the 8890's SXGA is anything like the screens on the 5680's then Sager has a winner there.

Enjoy your Dell - I just hope you never need technical support . Aw shucks, you can always come back here and we will probably give you some advice.

I have a friend who is one of the few remaining US based Dell tech support reps.

she calls he job Dell Hell. and for good reason.

I've owned 3 sagers now in 5 years. (would have been 2 sagers, but some one stole my first machine)

rock solid machines, battery life could be better? but I can live with it. My big complaint there is that the batteries bolt in. no easy / quick change there.

I've only had a minor problem with tech support. Language.
but we worked around it. and resolved the issue.

I wish you luck with your dell? but you like every other dell customer will soon come to experience "Dell Hell"

Psyco

Dell's field service calls are contracted out to a company call Qualix Serve. Which is a spin off from a company headquartered in the Netherlands called Getronics. Which became active in the US with the purchase of Wang computer.