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New here... need advice on a laptop.

post #1 of 11
7/28/05 at 11:46pm
Thread Starter 
I already have a fully loaded desktop and I will be using my laptop for school. I'll be doing word processing and using the net and maybe some music. I'll also need an internal wireless card. I will be carrying it around , so it has to be portable.

I don't need a top of the line system, but I don't want to go really cheap. I figure on $1500. I think I'd like at least a mid to high end processor, maybe 512 mb of RAM and as for video, it doesn't matter because I'm not a gamer.

I was looking at a Dell Inspiron 6000 and added a 2.0 Ghz processor, 512 mb of RAM, a 60 gig HD, the 9 cell battery and the PRO/Wireless 2915 card for $1,855. With the $750 off, that's a good deal.

I was unsure as to which screen I should go with and if I should get 1mb of RAM. I only need a basic video card and a basic cd/dvd drive. What warranty is recoomed with Dell? Is there anything els I would need?

Also, what are some similar systems from other manufacturers? That $750 off will be hard to pass up, though. That's a lot of bang for the buck.

Is the I6000 really portable? I'm a bigger guy and I have big hands, so I don't see myself going much smaller.

Thanks!

Edit: Is the Gateway M520X a comparable computer? Is it any good?
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post #2 of 11
7/29/05 at 12:17am
Thread Starter 
I just desigend a Gateway M520X and this is what I came up with. The price is $1,374.98. Any comments?

Pentium® 4 Processor 538 with HT Technology (3.20 GHz, 533MHz FSB, 1MB L2 Cache)

1024MB 333MHz DDR SDRAM (2-512MB modules)

60GB 4200rpm Ultra ATA hard drive

Notebook Value Service Plan -- 3 year parts/labor/no on-site/3 year toll technical support
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post #3 of 11
7/29/05 at 12:22am
A laptop with a pentium 4?

You're out of your mind.

Get a Pentium M.
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post #4 of 11
7/29/05 at 12:24am
I am getting the HP L2000.
Its not a great gaming system but it is a very nice light mobile system with alot of CPU power and its pretty cheap.

IT looks cool, it comes with a AMD64 ML cpu's, the GPU is the ATI 200m which isnt great for games but is more then good enough for a mobile programing platform as well as the basics of e-mail/browsing and the likes.

I have a nice desktop system for gaming so the L2000 gives me the power and mobility I need for all of my programing and circuit simulations.
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post #5 of 11
7/29/05 at 12:25am
the 15.4inch notebooks are what i consider light and thin DTR where you can move it around.. it is the most popular all in 1 solutions b/c u can get a pretty powerful GPU in there.. if you are looking for portability.. don't go for anything bigger than a 14inch screen and less than 5 pounds.. i carry a z71v ( 15.4inch widescreen) shud be lighter and smaller the i6000 but it is still kinda heavy.. (nearly 7 pounds)

if you like dell's deals.. look at the a smaller 1.. like the 700m ..
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post #6 of 11
7/29/05 at 12:57am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1CenT
the 15.4inch notebooks are what i consider light and thin DTR where you can move it around.. it is the most popular all in 1 solutions b/c u can get a pretty powerful GPU in there.. if you are looking for portability.. don't go for anything bigger than a 14inch screen and less than 5 pounds.. i carry a z71v ( 15.4inch widescreen) shud be lighter and smaller the i6000 but it is still kinda heavy.. (nearly 7 pounds)

if you like dell's deals.. look at the a smaller 1.. like the 700m ..
I would, but I'm afraid the keyboard would be too small.
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post #7 of 11
7/29/05 at 10:52am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by CryHavoc
A laptop with a pentium 4?

You're out of your mind.

Get a Pentium M.
I'm not up the technical aspect of things... tell me why.
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post #8 of 11
7/29/05 at 11:19am
Asus Z6 series perhaps?

The Pentium M is a much better processor for notebooks then the Pentium 4. It requires much less power (more battery life, less heat) and is highly efficient. That efficiency makes it a much more powerful processor then what it's clock speed indicates. Simply put, unless you're going with a behemoth DTR notebook that you need for video editing, there is absolutely no reason to get a Pentium 4 in a lappy, stick with either the Pentium M or the Turion.
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post #9 of 11
7/29/05 at 11:20am
PM is designed for mobile computing. It's better for battery life and there isn't a huge chasm in processing power when compared to a P4. PM's also stay cooler. Definitely get a PM and you can get a better Dell system for the same price as that Gateway. Just get RAM from a third-party source and you'll be set.
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post #10 of 11
7/29/05 at 11:24am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by plageclochard
Asus Z6 series perhaps?

The Pentium M is a much better processor for notebooks then the Pentium 4. It requires much less power (more battery life, less heat) and is highly efficient. That efficiency makes it a much more powerful processor then what it's clock speed indicates. Simply put, unless you're going with a behemoth DTR notebook that you need for video editing, there is absolutely no reason to get a Pentium 4 in a lappy, stick with either the Pentium M or the Turion.

Thanks, I understand now.
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post #11 of 11
7/29/05 at 11:26am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by abs636
PM is designed for mobile computing. It's better for battery life and there isn't a huge chasm in processing power when compared to a P4. PM's also stay cooler. Definitely get a PM and you can get a better Dell system for the same price as that Gateway. Just get RAM from a third-party source and you'll be set.
So Dell doesn't have proprietary RAM? So I can concievably get the lowest amount of RAM they offer and then upgrade it as soon as I get it much cheaper than getting it from Dell? Is it hard to switch out the RAM in a laptop?

If that's the case, I'll get like 256mb and use the extra money for something else and then upgrade to 1 gig as soon as I get it. Which screen is best? Remember, I'm not gaming.
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