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the one i got has 1.2 pentium m, with 512 ram and 40gb hard drive. It is between 2.6 and 3.2 pounds depending on what items are installed in the computer. It doesnt have a dvd/cd drive installed because of its size, but i cant remember the last time i really needed one. I will probably just buy the port replicator and a usb drive just in case i need it.
I've had quite a few Centrino laptops, they don't cut it for me. But the laptop I described above was about 10 lbs, so portability and batt life were not issues this time around
I actually like the Centrino laptops, for a laptop. Everything I have read about Centrino's Pentium M processor is that it is almost as fast as the Pentium 4 processors. Where it loses is the memory. I generally avoid laptops when possible, but for work, it is impossible. The one you bought isn't exactly a screamer, but certainly won't be very difficult to travel with.
Biggest issue I have with laptops in general is you either have to buy a cement brick for performance or you have to sacrifice performance for weight and pay a lot for the lost performance.
Laptop =
slower, more expensive memory
slower, more expensive hard drives
slower, more expensive CPU
less flexible for upgrading
i was planning on buying the vaio v505 about 6 weeks ago because that is what we use at work, but sony discontinued them. IBM computers are good and their customer service is good. sony's is not. we have had a lot of problems with the customer service with sony. I have owned a dell laptop and it was the biggest piece of garbage i have ever seen. I have a gateway tower now and i have never had a problem with it, but when i had a problem with my gateway lcd they wouldnt give me a new one within reasonable amount of time, which made me mad especially since the thing was only 2 or 3 months old when it went bad.
I dont really play games anymore, and when i do use my ps2. i mostly use it for then internet and minor processing things now, so it is not a huge deal this is not super powerful. i got it because my desk is too big for my apartment and i am trying to move to boston, so i know it will be way to big for a apartment there. plus i would like to play on the computer when i watch tv sometimes, and i cant do that with my tower
I got to agree with youpey I used to work in the computer industry, the IBM's are the best laptops on the market. Kind've surprised by the Sony comment though as they were always pretty good, quality wise, and people like their style (never heard much about their technical support though). The Dells were garbage, People would literally through them out. I had a few customers that tried giving Dell to their executives and literally got thrown out of the office. The next day they called me to bring in the Thinkpads.
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I've owned 3 sonys (c1x, n505 and one other I can't remember). None of them lasted more than a year or two. Granted, they are outdated by that time, but it would be nice if they still worked. Meanwhile I have had thinkpads that work forever.. I recently had a HP zd7000 model that went a year and a half, but had screen flicker problems. They fixed it for me and it continues to function.
My Gateway is about to chit the bed!! I have a compaq also. It's also on its last legs!! Is IBM the way to go these days? I'm also loving the Ibook's!! The company I work for is a Mac dealer, so there are deals to be had.
- Irish
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last I read, ibm was selling off the thinkpad line so they could focus on other things. A shame since the thinkpad really is the best notebook line out there.
if you want domestically sold inexpensive small...get a Sharp...yes sharp makes laptops that are at two pounds, ie the MM10 or MM20...but with the Transmeta Processor and the bigger battery I've gotten 8 hours out of it...yes 8 hours sharpsystems.com
it is good for everything but highspeed games and rendering/Photoshop work (works fine with PSP7 work though)...besides who wants to travel with a big laptop unless you need to do high resources demand work anyway?
I have had pretty good luck with my Dell laptops, I'm on my fourth inspiron (700m).
The Sony Laptops I've owned ran hot and burned out in 12-18 months.
I did have a Sony U3 for a while that was pretty cool
My current laptop is a vaio and its been great for the past two years although the batteries suck on them I've already replaced 2 batteries that end up dying for some unknown reason so its pretty much non mobile now. I think I might get another sony or toshiba since I need something to run adobe photoshop since I'm a camera and picture addict. That or I'll keep the old laptop and get a canon 20d and just use paint shop pro or an older photo shop.
I also have had good luck with Dell laptops. I just had my first problem with my Dell Inspiron 600m The battery is hosed. Unfortunately it is 30 days after the warranty was up. Funny thing - Dell lists the battery as a Sony. I had a Panasonic CF-W2 ultra portable, which I loved as far as a ultra portable. Light as a frisbee. I would never pay what my company paide for it though.
the last sony issue we had was on the presidents laptop. it was 2 weeks old and the nic card would just stop working for no reason. sony's answer was format the drive and try again. I said to him, i dont think you understand, this is presidents laptop and i recommended sony. they said they would not help until it was formatted. i ended up calling my rep at cdw, where i bought it and returned it to them for a new one...sony help desk was garbage
I've done IT work for colleges and the joke is 'DUDE! you bought an overpriced POS!'
Most of the computers I fixed were DELL...what is worse is how big they are...and how heavy
Problem is usually their Dell laden version of windows which is more of a mess then windows itself (if you can believe that!)...overall just crap
too top it off Dell's service mantra is 'reinstall windows'
I wouldn't get Dell if my life depended on it that is for sure
Hey truemagellen,
First, I must tell you that I've enjoyed most of your posts...
it is not my intent to flame your comment(s)....
I must disagree with you on a few points....
Most laptop companies have a heavy and a light weight model.
Making a blanket statement that Dell is a POS is somewhat like saying
"all RX8's get terrible gas milage...." it just ain't so
Considering most university's and public schools use either Dell or Apple laptops,
it's understandable that the computers you've fixed are Dell.
My 700m is about 4 lbs and very portable.
Yes, the Dell version of XP sucks and I'll admit that I formatted and installed a virgin copy of XP Pro.
Disclaimer... I have no financial interest in Dell
Yes, the Dell version of XP sucks and I'll admit that I formatted and installed a virgin copy of XP Pro.
Ditto - I hate any software installed by computer manufacturers (laptop or desktop).
Here is a good Dell help desk story
When I called about my battery, the first thing they did was ask me to update my BIOS. So I downloaded it and tried updating it. Well, it wouldn't let me. It said I needed to have my battery to update the BIOS. WTF does a bad battery stop you from updating a BIOS. Who was the brilliant engineer that thought that. I thought only the reverse was true (don't update BIOS w/out being connected to AC power). I could only giggle.
that is a fair statement...sorry for running my mouth
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rx8_MD
Hey truemagellen,
First, I must tell you that I've enjoyed most of your posts...
it is not my intent to flame your comment(s)....
I must disagree with you on a few points....
Most laptop companies have a heavy and a light weight model.
Making a blanket statement that Dell is a POS is somewhat like saying
"all RX8's get terrible gas milage...." it just ain't so
Considering most university's and public schools use either Dell or Apple laptops,
it's understandable that the computers you've fixed are Dell.
My 700m is about 4 lbs and very portable.
Yes, the Dell version of XP sucks and I'll admit that I formatted and installed a virgin copy of XP Pro.
Disclaimer... I have no financial interest in Dell
In working in the industry for almost 5 years, and selling Thinkpads I did have a good perspective on the market as a whole. For the people that think that a laptop is just a commodity that is completely false. On desktops it is different as the casing around a desktop won't be transported around haphazardly, or the unit won't be dropped time & again. The reason why IBM laptops were always so much better than Dell's was because they actaully had better components. The processor & motherboards were the same, but the outer casing, screens & keyboards have always been higher quality. Dell used to source their laptops from 3rd parties in Taiwan, Compal (not Compaq), Quantum, & Twinhead computers, many of the times the casings of these laptops were made with cost containment not durability in mind. If you look at the top of your laptop many times the ABS plastic cover that protects the screen on a Dell is very thin & flimsy. On the IBM I actually stood & sat on my personal laptop several times during presentations because of the carbon plastic & titanium construction (I had a Thinkpad T Series) people just laughed and marvelled. Let's just say if I lost in an account to Dell it was always price motivated, never design or quality. I've had customers that have told me how Dell used to fly them into Round Rock, wine & dine them, have Michael Dell meet with them, Bill Gates present to them, and they would still stay with IBM. I would ask them why and they told me because after the knock out presentations, they introduced the product to them & people thought it was like a toy, and actually started laughing out loud during the product presentation.
I would tell you that I now have a Compaq as it is my personal unit and I never really travel with it. It just sits on my desk in my house, but if I ever travelled with my laptop I would get an IBM no doubt. I would never get an off brand. The major companies laptops are just so inexpensive there really is no reason to get a clone/whitebox unit. My next unit will probably be one of those HP units with the 17" widescreen.
I don't really think I am biased either way, it's just that I know the behind the scenes working of the computer industry.
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RB Fr/Rr Sway Bars, RB Fr Sway Bar Endlinks, RB Springs, RB Spark Plug Wires, RB Oil Cooler Screens, RB REVi Air Intake with Ram Air Duct, Centerforce Clutch, MS Fr. Tower Shock Bar, MS Rr Strut Bar, Goodridge SS Brakelines. Hawk HPS Brake Pads, SR Motor. Flywheel, Agency Power Pullies, RP Super Cat, Stern 19" ST 2 Touring Wheels, Falken FK452 Tires, Axial Flow Short Shifter, JIC Titanium Exhaust, Kyokugen Alum. Lugs, PWR Alum. Radiator, Greddy Oil Pan, & more
I recently bought a laptop for my wife as well. My choices were limited as I wanted to have the machine pre-installed with traditional chinese XP and also a lightweight. The first one that caught my attention is the Dell 700m. However, I had to order it from the Singapore/HK website. I gave up. I was able to pick up an alternative soon after during my business trip to Asia. It may not be the best, but it is definitely better than most other Taiwan brands.
Asus M52C with White case
1.6 Ghz Pentium M
768MB RAM
60GB HDD
DVD + CD-RW
802.11g built-in wireless
Built-in card reader for MMC, SD, MS & so on
Around 4.5lbs
The only disappointment is the lack of built-in bluetooth. However, I bought it during its promotional launch and got some toys back including a flash memory stick with fingerprint recognition, a webcam, and a useless "B" wireless router (which I gave away).
Not bad for around $1.6K US.
The laptop was shipped monday night from NYC. I live about 1.5 hours from NYC. Surprisingly the laptop is still not here. I called DHL and they said it is still in NY. I could have walked to NY and back in this amount of time...bah
good call on the thinkpad. ive got a dell inspiron 8100, its a 1ghz p3 and slow as hell. thats even on a fresh format and install with minimal programs. my brother and sister both got used thinkpads and they feel MUCH sturdier and more solidly built. ive always hated how my dell feels flimsy and cheap, yet still weighs 9 pounds.
i have a custom desktop so my next laptop will be a well built lightweight unit. i'll sacrifice a lot of features such as dvdrw &17" lcd in order to keep it lightweight. afterall if it weighs 9 pounds, im not going to lug it around, negating the benefits of the laptop. afterall id only use it for browsing and word processing. games are on the desktop and xbox.
I have a compaq also. It's also on its last legs!! Is IBM the way to go these days? I'm also loving the Ibook's!! The company I work for is a Mac dealer, so there are deals to be had.
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