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Notebooks im looking at

post #1 of 5
11/2/03 at 11:20am
Thread Starter 
I've been some research online and well im not no Computer wiz or nothing. But i do hope to learn more then i already know now(Which is not that much as of right now) about Computers But from what research i've done online. Im came up with four Choices. But first i just wanted to let you Guys see my choices to see if there Good notebooks or Bad. Im an active Techtv/ The Screen Savers Fan though i do enjoy watching that show

First Choice

The Acer TravelMate 803 LCI

from most of the reviews on Read on this online most every body liked this Notebook it got high % the one thing i dont like this notebook is that it has XP Pro i've only had Windows 98 i've never used XP Home or Pro before so that would be all new to me
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Extremely powerful; good battery life; lightweight

1.6GHz Pentium-M
Windows XP Pro
256MB DDR RAM
40GB hard drive
64MB Ati Mobility Radeon 9000
15in TFT max res 1,400x1,050
24x/8x/8x combo DVD/CD-RW drive
FireWire
SmartMedia
2.6kg
330x272x29.5mm
2-year collect-and-return warranty (1-year international travellers)

Dell Inspiron 8600
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Processor type Intel Pentium M
Processor speed 1700 MHz
RAM installed 512 MB
Dimensions (WxDxH) 35.9 x 27.4 x 3.8 cm
System weight 3.32 kg
Travel weight (with AC adapter and external peripherals) 3.69 kg
Display size 15.4 in.
Graphics chipset Nvidia GeForce FX Go5650
Internal spinning media drives HDD; DVD+R/+RW
Hard disk capacity 80 GB
Hard disk rotation speed 4200 rpm
LAN connection Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller; Intel PRO/Wireless 2100 3B Mini-PCI Adapter
Battery rating 6486 mAh

AlienWare Area-51m sentia
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Processor
Processor manufacturer - Processor type - Clock speed Intel Pentium 4 2.8 GHz
Memory
RAM installed 256 MB DDR RAM


Max supported RAM 1 GB


Cache size - Cache type 512 KB L2 cache Integrated


Max supported cache 512 KB
Storage
Hard drive size - controller type - hard drive type IDE / EIDE Standard Internal


CD / DVD type CD-RW / DVD-ROM


CD / DVD read speed 24x (CD) / 8x (DVD)


CD / DVD write speed 24x


CD / DVD rewrite speed 10x


2nd CD / DVD drive None


Floppy drive 3.5" HD


Removable storage capacity None
Input Devices
Input device type - form factor Keyboard


Keyboard included Yes
Physical Characteristics
Weight 9.6 lbs


Dimensions (W x D x H) 13.0 in x 11.4 in x 1.7 in


Enclosure color Silver
Display
Display size - technology - form factor 15.4 in TFT active matrix


Color support 24-bit (16.7M colors)
Video
Video RAM installed 64 MB


Max video RAM supported 64 MB


Video output Graphics card


Graphics processor ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9000
Audio
Audio input Microphone


Audio output Integrated PCI


Sound output mode Stereo
Networking / Telecom
Networking device 10/100 Ethernet


Data link protocol Ethernet


Transport protocol TCP/IP


Modem 56 Kbps Fax / modem Integrated PCI


Max fax transfer rate 14.4 Kbps


Analog Modulation Protocol ITU V.92
Expansion / Connectivity
Expansion slot(s) total (free) 1 CardBus Type II


Port(s) total (free) / Connector type 4 (4 free) Hi-Speed USB,1 (1 free)
Operating System / Software
OS provided Microsoft Windows XP Professional (CD-ROM)


Software included Drivers & Utilities
Warranty
Service / Support 1 year warranty

Apple iBook 14-Inch
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933MHz PowerPC G4
256K L2 cache @ 933MHz
14-inch TFT Display
1024x768 resolution
256MB DDR266 SDRAM
40GB Ultra ATA drive
Combo Drive
ATI Mobility Radeon 9200
32MB DDR video memory


Do you Think theses four Choices that i choice would be Good for what i wanna get out of my notebook which is Basic's like Internet email etc...?

and one more question Which out of theses four notebooks would YOU choice and Why or Why not?

Thanks everyone im needing all the help i can Get here
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post #2 of 5
11/2/03 at 12:29pm
Theres no need to be wary of Windows XP. It rreally isnt something too different from Windows 98. And you do have the option of navigating using the "classic" way i.e like Windows 98. Im sure you would like Windows XP.

Im suprised you do not have a Sager notebook in your line up. They seem to be the nicest. Out of the notebooks you picked i would choose Dell Inspiron 8600. Its WAY better than the Acer and rest. It has a good hard drive 80Gb and more Ram for a start.

You say you want basics i.e. Internet/email, most laptops and desktops nowadays have ability to access internet. If you wish to use your notebook for 3d graphics packages, video/image editing, or simply to play Games! Then you have to look hard at the various top end specs... These tend to be rather bulky and heavy laptops with very short batter life. (But they are getting better!!)


With an Apple notebook you will not be using the same software you are used to... they have their own OS and software. And if you dont want to move to WinXP from 98, this is going to be a real shock for you!! Even i cant move to Apple, even though i'd like too...


If you just want word processing, surf internet/email, basic common office stuff etc then going for a nice Dell should be sufficient.... You can buy a nice lightweight sleek looking laptop from any of the major brands or even sager to do email, web and word processing. That is what i would go for. Just make sure they have wireless networking card or LAN to connect to high speed internet.

Dont go for Alienware they are too over priced and hyped up.


I dont see why its necessaru to splash out too much money on a laptop which performs the tasks you require, these are not good for gaming, but great for web surfing, watch DVDs etc :

SAGER
http://www.sagernotebook.com/pages/n...oductType=3750

DELL Inspiron 1100
http://www1.us.dell.com/content/prod...=19&l=en&s=dhs
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post #3 of 5
11/2/03 at 12:43pm
Someone on these boards ordered a Sentia but hated it and sent it back for a Dell I think? Maybe Sager, I forget. The screen on the Sentia is quite small, I don't know if you'd like it.

It looks like you're interested in a thin/light notebook. I guess it comes down to processing power and the graphics chip.

I just ordered a Dell M60 with 1.6 GHz M cpu and QuadroFX700 graphics which is meant to replace my desktop, so I guess it's not all that thin/light.

If weight doesn't matter, the 8600 is also a good choice, and it's a bit cheaper in general (the Quadro is expensive )

If you don't want a widescreen, look at the 8500 or 5150. 5150 is smaller and weighs less.

I don't know that much about all the Sagers. I'd say stay away from the Area51m2 unless battery life is of no concern to you and you want to do a lot of gaming, but it doesn't sound like that's the case.

The Pentium 4-M at 3.2 GHz HT is out as well, I think it's available in Dell's Latitude series. It won't have as high a battery life as the M, but nice performance.
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post #4 of 5
11/2/03 at 5:25pm
I am a 8600 owner and will offer my opinion of the machine.



I like it. A lot.

Thus far it has ran great and handled any software or game i have thrown at it without any issues. It isnt a small machine that much is certain, but my movies look great on it and battery life seems good.

I am a bit nervous about the upcoming Dx9 titles like Half-life 2 and Doom 3 due to the driver fiasco from a month and a half ago. I imagine Dell will soon have the option of a 128 mb ATI card for the 8600. that or nVidia will fix their drivers for the Dx9 games.

I have taken it to a friends house for a night of LAN games and it kept right up with the desktop computers there.

It is a good looking computer and seems well built and sturdy.

The problems arise with Dell Tech support.

I bought a Netgear wireless router, MR814v2. Which apparently had an issue with the Intel internal wireless card. I spent far too long on hold to the Indian call center and when i did talk to the tech support it was obvious that they didnt really know too much beyond what their own computer database told them. After 2 mysterious dropped calls, one hang up in frustration i finally reached someone over there who knew what she was doing and we had the issue fixed in no time flat.

I know it isnt the fault of the oversea call center folks, but when the time comes again to buy another computer, laptop or desktop it wont be a Dell for the sole reason of the lousy cheap tech support center i had to deal with.

It is a shame too. It is a nice computer and wouldnt mind having another like it.

If you really like the Dell 8600, like i do, give it a shot. Maybe your luck with their tech support would be better than mine.

Good luck.
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post #5 of 5
11/2/03 at 6:13pm
Out of the machines you listed, get the dell, by far. Acer is crap, plain and simple. Past that, the Dell is a much more powerful machine. Out of all of them, the sentia is a joke... it couldnt hold a candle to any of them.
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