Want a laptop, but confused on what to decide on.

Black_ViperBlack_Viper Join Date: 2003-12-08 Member: 24157Members
in Off-Topic
Im noticing more and more that Dell has the best deals on laptops, i can get a Core 2 Duo T7600 with a bunch of other things for like $1300, but i HATE Dell. I've tryed HP, Toshiba, iBuypower, CyberpowerPC, Alienware, ect, and cant find something that'll be good to replace my current PC.


This'll be my first laptop, i had one before but hated it, so i have it to my mother (Who loves the damn thing lol).

Currently im running my old dell since i broke my gaming rig (AMD64 3200+ OC-2.8Ghz, 6800GT, 1GB RAM, 2 74gb 10K HHD Raid0, Xfi plat)

Current setup:
P4 2.4Ghz
512MB PC1066 RDRAM (Really bad)
6800 AGP 4X (GT didnt like this mobo so i downgraded)
Antec 550w (Free gift from a friend)
Xfi plat (Salvaged from old gaming rig)


I want to be able to play games on a laptop dock, so it'll be like a desktop, and im not to worried about battery life. Built in wireless is a must, since i'll need a addin sound card PCMCIABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ?


I guess im asking for the best price on a laptop that can compare the the dell that i had pre-built.


Intel based included:
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T7200
2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM
120GB 5400rpm SATA
8X CD/DVD Burner
256MB ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON® X1400
85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion
Dell Draft N Wireless

Total: $1,292



AMD based included:
MD Turion™ 64 X2 Dual-Core Mobile Technology TL-56
1.5GB DDR2 SDRAM
8X CD/DVD Burner
ATI RADEON® Xpress1150 (Wish it was higher, but there's no better option)
80GB Hard Drive
85 WHr 9-cell Lithium Ion
Notebook Expansion Dock w/ Stand


Total: $1,266
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Comments

  • BlackMageBlackMage [citation needed] Join Date: 2003-06-18 Member: 17474Members, Constellation
    <-- toshiba notebook fanboy
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  • Black_ViperBlack_Viper Join Date: 2003-12-08 Member: 24157Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1576303:date=Nov 12 2006, 04:06 PM:name=Black_Mage)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Black_Mage @ Nov 12 2006, 04:06 PM) [snapback]1576303[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    <-- toshiba notebook fanboy
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Way to expensive though, the Toshiba version of what i made at dell.com was like 1700+
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  • BlackMageBlackMage [citation needed] Join Date: 2003-06-18 Member: 17474Members, Constellation
    yeah, but the toshiba won't break. ever.
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  • SycophantSycophant Join Date: 2002-11-05 Member: 7092Members
    <!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->yeah, but the toshiba won't break. ever.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I can definitely back this statement. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />

    I work as a business technician with <a href="http://www.aliant.net" target="_blank">Aliant</a>, the major telco carrier for most of the eastern half of Canada. All our techs have Toshiba laptops, and trust me, many of those things take a pretty significant amount of day-to-day punishment. Not just normal bumps and bruises, I'm talking about rain, snow, hot, cold, etc.

    I'm starting to think they're indestructible. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
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  • BlackMageBlackMage [citation needed] Join Date: 2003-06-18 Member: 17474Members, Constellation
    i still run a toshiba satellite 300cds (~1997)
    it has survived many things that have destroyed its dell and hewlett brethren
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  • Black_ViperBlack_Viper Join Date: 2003-12-08 Member: 24157Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1576330:date=Nov 12 2006, 05:06 PM:name=Sycophant)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sycophant @ Nov 12 2006, 05:06 PM) [snapback]1576330[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    I can definitely back this statement. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />

    I work as a business technician with <a href="http://www.aliant.net" target="_blank">Aliant</a>, the major telco carrier for most of the eastern half of Canada. All our techs have Toshiba laptops, and trust me, many of those things take a pretty significant amount of day-to-day punishment. Not just normal bumps and bruises, I'm talking about rain, snow, hot, cold, etc.

    I'm starting to think they're indestructible. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    With words like that a Toshiba Satellite sounds like a great deal... Hmm, what to do what to do...
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  • CabooseCaboose title = name(self, handle) Join Date: 2003-02-15 Member: 13597Members, Constellation
    I was actually going to start a similar thread, then I saw this... I hope this doesn't count as threadjacking.

    I too am looking for a notebook, I have about $1300 USD to spend, but the main question I have is this. Is dual core worth it?

    I mainly will use the notebook for school, note taking, word processing, internet. But I will be doing graphics work with it later on, like Photoshop, Painter and Premiere.

    However, I would also like to be able to do some gaming on it and would like a decent video card as well. That Dell is actually looking nice... But I too hate Dell.
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  • SycophantSycophant Join Date: 2002-11-05 Member: 7092Members
    We've got the Toughbook versions at work, which, as the name suggests, are built pretty darn tough. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />

    As for my opinion on the Satellites, my father has had one for the past 4-5 years, and even though it's starting to show its age, it still performs <i>very</i> well. No crashes, no overheating, still fairly quiet, and still reasonably quick.

    Honestly, if I were buying a laptop for myself tomorrow, I'd definitely have a good look at the Toshiba line. From what I've seen and heard, they're easily among the best mid-price range laptops you can buy.
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  • SloppyKissesSloppyKisses omgawd a furreh&#33; Virginia Join Date: 2003-07-05 Member: 17942Members, Constellation
    Personally I think laptops are a waste of money unless they have a desktop processor in them. And if you do decide to buy one, get one with a core2duo with atleast 2+ gigs of ram if you plan on upgrading to the new windowsOS in the future you will need it >_>
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  • CabooseCaboose title = name(self, handle) Join Date: 2003-02-15 Member: 13597Members, Constellation
    BTW Viper Dell offers a SB Audigy integrated in that first notebook. the E1505, right? Why would you need an add in sound card?
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  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    MacBook pro + bootcamp.
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  • CrazyFoolCrazyFool Join Date: 2004-03-06 Member: 27171Members
    <a href="http://www.voodoopc.com/system/quotekitchen.aspx?productID=1091" target="_blank">http://www.voodoopc.com/system/quotekitche...?productID=1091</a>

    there you go.
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  • BlackMageBlackMage [citation needed] Join Date: 2003-06-18 Member: 17474Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1576431:date=Nov 12 2006, 07:11 PM:name=Phur_Instinkt)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Phur_Instinkt @ Nov 12 2006, 07:11 PM) [snapback]1576431[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Personally I think laptops are a waste of money unless they have a desktop processor in them. And if you do decide to buy one, get one with a core2duo with atleast 2+ gigs of ram if you plan on upgrading to the new windowsOS in the future you will need it >_>
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    there's a difference between a "i want a mobile word processor that can cruise the internets" and "i want a gaming rig atop my pants"
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  • UltimaGeckoUltimaGecko hates endnotes Join Date: 2003-05-14 Member: 16320Members
    I bought my HP notebook for about $1000 (came with free printer, and a discount on a camera...and the camera rocks). It was more powerful than my desktop at the time, but well worth it. As nice as my HP laptop is (64 bit Athlon 3200+ processor > the computer I'm using right now). It has the integrated 128mb Radeon xpress 200 graphics, which was far better than the Radeon 9200 I had in here. The thing took a dive off a 3 or 4 foot high table when my dog decided he wanted to break things...it still runs smoothly, but the fan makes an obscenely loud noise.


    ...which brings me to my point: HP support is horrible. 24 hour support sounds nice, but in practice they do nothing. Still under my year warranty they expected me to pay $300 to fix a problem...when they didn't even know what it was. When you can throw out repair prices without knowing what's broken you've lost me as a customer...(which is unfortunate for them, since my family has bought about 4 computers from them in the last 3 years - 3 desktops and my laptop).

    Aside from crappy HP support (if that doesn't bug you), the laptops themselves are pretty nice. Mine's a bit beefy, and the instruction manual didn't tell me how to up the brightness (and I didn't discover how until I had been in Germany for a month), but it's still an awesome computing machine.


    All my experiences with Dells have ended worse than those with HP. I don't even know where I can go for computers anymore...I'll probably have to build my next one <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad-fix.gif" /> . If you've got the money, it looks like the Toshiba could be a good choice. If you're just after basic word-processing and even photoshopping, then you really don't need too beefy of a grahpics card. My afforementioned laptop did photoshop no problem (and I usually make my stuff excessively huge).
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  • SmoodCrooznSmoodCroozn Join Date: 2003-11-04 Member: 22310Members
    You don't need much to play NS of course. But why would you play any other game? <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/nerd-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::nerdy::" border="0" alt="nerd-fix.gif" />
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  • Black_ViperBlack_Viper Join Date: 2003-12-08 Member: 24157Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1576550:date=Nov 13 2006, 04:36 AM:name=SmoodCroozn)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SmoodCroozn @ Nov 13 2006, 04:36 AM) [snapback]1576550[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    You don't need much to play NS of course. But why would you play any other game? <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/nerd-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::nerdy::" border="0" alt="nerd-fix.gif" />
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Well its to Play NS2 duh!


    As for service and support it doesn't matter, I'll never call them. I can fix any problem, and if i cant then its because of a faulty built PC, and should be replaced. I've noticed that the Core2Duo has the best bang for the buck.
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  • CabooseCaboose title = name(self, handle) Join Date: 2003-02-15 Member: 13597Members, Constellation
    I just bought from HP.
    Avter Tax, and before the $50 mail in rebate. $1,379.44 for:
    HP Pavilion dv6000t customizable Notebook PC

    * Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T5500 (1.66 GHz)
    * 15.4" WXGA Widescreen (1280x800)
    * 256MB NVIDIA® GeForce® Go 7400
    * 2048MB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm)
    * 100GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
    * LightScribe Super Multi 8X DVD+/-RW w/Double Layer (Prints on CD's and DVD's, no more sharpies!)
    * 12 Cell Lithium Ion Battery (Long lasting)
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  • LanfearLanfear Join Date: 2006-11-15 Member: 58615Members
    edited November 2006
    I back the statements Toshiba makes an awesome laptop, even with the price being higher. They don't tend to skimp on the internals like Dell does. (I like Sony, but they are UBER expensive.)

    *Edit*
    Btw, I'll take that old mobo/processor & ram, just name the price via PM
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  • digzdigz be still, maggot Join Date: 2002-05-07 Member: 588Members, NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation
    I use a Dell 700m, works wonders. I would suggest not (if you were thinking of it..) buying a laptop to game on. I use it specifically for travel(communication and DVDs)/word proc/programming/etc. I would get something with a dual processor, 1 gig of ram, 40+ gig hard drive, and 4 or 5 hours of battery life. Screen size is moot, the damn thing is compact for a reason.
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