PURCHASE MADE: New Laptop for work

Bakhtosh · Post by **Bakhtosh** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 11:15 am

Okay, I've got a boatload of $$ to spend at work for a new laptop. I'll be hitting up Dell, Gateway, IBM, Toshiba, HP/Compaq...all the name brands. Alienware and Falcon are out because I don't think having one of those lying around on the company's dime will look right. What other places can I get a good deal on a top of the line laptop that will be reliable?

Also, can someone give me a quick rundown or link on the difference between XGA, SXGA, and all the other GA's out there these days on laptops?

egrudzin · Post by **egrudzin** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 2:35 pm

I would go with a Dell from the Latitude line of notebooks. Very reliable, good warranty and service. If you're interested in long battery life go with one of the Intel Centrino models.

Stay away from HP, and Gateways. I have heard lots of bad stuff about thier portables.

As far as the *GA's go it is a way of indicating the maximum resolution for the lcd display. Usually setting the panel to something lower than this will make the screen look blurry (due to the fact that pixels are combined to get a lower resolution). Make sure you pick a screen with a resolution that you are likely to use. I found a breakdown of the resolutions on some webpage:

Normal 4:3 aspect ratios:
VGA - 640 X 480
SVGA - 800 X 600
XGA - 1024 X 768 <- This is most common and usually standard
QVGA - 1280 X 960
SXGA+ - 1400 X 1050 <- My Dell has this and it's pretty good
UXGA - 1600 X 1200 <- This is the highest you can probably get but text will be pretty small
QXGA - 2048 X 1536
QSXGA+ - 2800 X 2100
QUXGA - 3200 X 2400

Widescreen 16:9 and other ratios:
WXGA - 1280 X 800
SXGA - 1280 X 1024
WSXGA+ - 1680 X 1050
WUXGA - 1920 X 1200
QSXGA - 2560 X 2048

Bakhtosh · Post by **Bakhtosh** » Mon Jan 31, 2005 4:38 pm

You da man (I hope)

EvilHomer3k · Post by **EvilHomer3k** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 1:56 am

Gateway, HP, and Dell are all of roughly equal quality. I, personally, would put Gateway a tad higher in quality than dell. IBM's are of much better quality than any other company around. Sony makes good laptops as well but not on par with IBM. If quality is a concern, I'd rank them IBM, Sony, Gateway and then Dell and HP/Compaq.

If battery life is a concern, you should look at the Pentium M laptops. Centrino is a marketing ploy that includes the Pentium M, the centrino chipset, and intel's wireless card. My 8600, for instance, isn't a centrino because it has a Dell wifi card. If you are more concerned with power, then take a look at any of the Athlon 64 notebooks. The eMachines I used to have was every bit as good quality wise as my current dell (if not better). Dell's quality has really fallen off as of late. They aren't bad, just not as good as they used to be.

I'd also look at your video card needs. If you are looking for something with some video power, you will want to stay away from integrated video (and anything intel). They just don't have the power needed. If you 're going to be doing a little gaming, anything higher than the 9600 will be good.

If you are willing to look at a powerbook, they are great little machines. Fairly small and light, great screens, and most now come with a Radeon 9700.

Kasey Chang · Post by **Kasey Chang** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 2:30 am

And don't forget the off-brands... Like those you find in Walmart (Averatec?) those are often actual manufacturers of the HP's and Dells and whatnot.

ChaoZ · Post by **ChaoZ** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 3:21 am

With laptops nowadays, I found that a lot of them feel "plasticy" and cheap. Dells especially.

I've always liked Toshiba laptops, both in appearance and performance.

EvilHomer3k · Post by **EvilHomer3k** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 10:42 am

Can't believe I forgot about Toshibas. They make excellent quality laptops. Up there with Sony and just below IBM.

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 10:52 am

We are a big Dell shop but I've become very leery of them as of late. The last two Inspirons have had recurring QC issues and getting the service work done was a PITA.

And in two cases I was sent bad parts to replace bad parts including two screens that arrived DOA to replace a screen that has been slowly going bad.

Bakhtosh · Post by **Bakhtosh** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 11:30 am

Ahh, I had forgotten about Sony. Thanks.

Jeff V · Post by **Jeff V** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 2:32 pm

ChaoZ wrote:With laptops nowadays, I found that a lot of them feel "plasticy" and cheap. Dells especially.

That's my take on them as well. Dell tried to send me an Inspiron 8500 to appease me when they couldn't figure out how to fix my 8200. The thing felt and perfomed like some cheesy toy in comparison, so I sent it back, preferring instead to deal with the flaky but solidly-built 8200.

The UXGA screen, BTW, is quite readable, especially if you set the display to "large fonts."

I'm happy that I'm not presently in a situation that requires heavy laptop use anymore. I'll still use it when I travel (now all recreationally), and it can run most strategy and wargames just fine, but I won't need to continually upgrade to run everything I can throw at it (it has a 64MB GeForce4 and a 2.2GHz processor). I might upgrade the hard drive to a 7200RPM and double the RAM, but even though the 3 year warranty expires at the end of this year, it should serve its purpose for some time to come. At the moment, it is most used for ripping CDs while doing other things on my desktop, or acting as a media center, grabbing MP3's off the server and sending them to the stereo.

martindemon · Post by **martindemon** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 7:40 pm

I would avoid Compaq (and HP because of the fusion) like the plague. I had two Compaq laptops and they had problems in their conception. They crashed from time to time, no matter how I configured it. I tried all I could and ended up fighting with Futureshop to force them to take it back. It was a bogus product.

Goldchamp · Post by **Goldchamp** » Sun Feb 06, 2005 5:13 pm

I have a HP Paviion ze5300 and it is rock solid. No problems or complaints. Very good laptop

Bakhtosh · Post by **Bakhtosh** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 2:28 pm

One more question:
The Alienware Area 51-m is looking like a really good price point compared to other laptops. Anyone have a recommendation on them?

Pyperkub · Post by **Pyperkub** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 2:38 pm

first thing you need to establish is how much you will lug it around. If you will be carrying it everyday or thereabouts, then I highly recommend only looking at sub 5lb laptops. Don't even look at the 'Desktop' replacements if it won't simply be sitting on your desk all week.

Also look at battery life.

Additionally, laptops are difficult to upgrade. If you need wireless/bluetooth/firewire/GB Ethernet then make sure it is built in. You'll want to save the expansion slots. Get USB 2.0 and any other connectors you need.

Get enough RAM and HD space. 1GB RAM minimum for a new laptop I would say, and see if you can keep a RAM slot free if you need it. HD space will depend on what you are using it for. - Video, etc. will necessitate a larger HD

Also, get a decent warranty - 3yrs + accidental damage if you can.

IBM Thinkpads are the best, but you will pay a premium - there is also the question of what will happen with support as Lenovo takes over. Dell's Latitude's are more solid than the Inspirons, and the HP's look like they have made a quantum leap.

Bakhtosh · Post by **Bakhtosh** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 11:38 am

Here's my requirements:
Pentium M 2.0 or P4 3.4, AMD will be considered
ATI Mobility 9600 or better 64M minimum 128M+ preferred
1G Ram 2x512
15" screen minimum 17" screen prefered.
Internal Wireless b/g with Bluetooth
3yrs on-site service with accident protection
XP Pro
No Office required
7200 rpm HDD prefered, 60-80G
DVD+-RW / CD-RW, Other configurations considered
56k Internal modem

Spare Battery, Carrying case, wireless mouse, 256M Jump, Cable Lock

$3900 total including tax, shipping, and accessories above.

I've configured a Dell Inspiron and Precision.
Gateway M675XLb
Sony VGN-A600
Toshiba P30
Alienware Area51-m 7700
IBM Thinkpad T42p 2373HVU (I'll have to redo this one to bring the price down)
Sager NP4750V

Voodoo is too pricey
MWave doesn't offer the service package
FalconNW is too expensive
HP/Compaq had some reliability questions...have they gotten better?

Bakhtosh · Post by **Bakhtosh** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 2:57 pm

Okay new question: Is a 17" laptop too big? I don't have one around to compare it to, but this thing will be taken on business trips and used mostly in classrooms, hotels, and occasionally on a lap. Is a 17" screen just too much to lug around, or is it worth the trouble?

Gwen · Post by **Gwen** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 4:36 pm

I have a Mac PowerBook G4 with a 17" screen I use for work. I travel extensively with it and use it in the courtroom, hotels, etc. I've never used it on an airplane so can't compare. Doesn't seem to be enough time or space on an airplane for much of anything.

Works for me.

EvilHomer3k · Post by **EvilHomer3k** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 5:47 pm

Most windows laptops with 17" screens are 8-10 pounds. Pretty heavy overall. I suppose it depends on what you're willing to carry. You will probably be limited on the laptop bags you buy, too.

I have a friend with an 8600 17" Dell and his is 10 pounds. He and his wife manage it fine around the house but they don't take it on business trips. They're pretty small, though. I'd say if you're a decent sized guy, going from a sub 7 pound 8600 15.4" to an 8-9 pound 9200 17" isn't a big deal.

Bakhtosh · Post by **Bakhtosh** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 3:07 pm

Okay, last question:

You have a choice between the following:

IBM Thinkpad, 15.4" SXGA+ (1400x1050), 1.8GHz Pentium M 745, 1G RAM, 64Mb ATI Mobility Radeon 9600, with all the wireless bells & whistles.

Sony VAIO, 17" WUXGA (1920x1200), 2GHz Pentium M 755, 1G RAM, 64M ATI Mobility Radeon 9700, with the same bells & whistles.

Toshiba Satellite, 17" Wide XGA (1440x900), 3.40GHz Mobile Pentium 4 550J, 1G RAM, 128M ATI Mobility Radeon X600, and the same wireless stuff.

This is what I'm down to.

Pyperkub · Post by **Pyperkub** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 3:58 pm

I'll say it again - weight and battery life should be your determining factors now... I'd go with the IBM if you can - the Thinkpads are rock solid.

Bakhtosh · Post by **Bakhtosh** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 4:22 pm

90% of the time, this thing will be sitting on a table plugged into the wall.

I don't mind lugging around a bigger laptop. We're talking about 4lbs difference between the smallest I'm looking at and the largest. By the time you add in the extra battery, cables and other stuff I'll need in a bag, I doubt I'd feel much of a difference.

I'm going to recommend the Thinkpad. I like the features and the price. I wish it had a better graphics card, but I think I can deal with it (I will be running games while in the hotel...keeps me from getting in trouble with the remote).

Thanks for all the help guys!

EvilHomer3k · Post by **EvilHomer3k** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 5:33 pm

There isn't a whole lot of difference between the 9600 and 9700. You get a higher quality product with the IBM. The best video with the Toshiba. It's really a tradeoff for what you want it to do. If gaming is a concern then the Toshiba is clearly the best. If battery life is a concern, the ibm is going to be the best (most likely).

Bakhtosh · Post by **Bakhtosh** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 6:02 pm

Yeah, the IBM has a battery life of 7 hours with the high capacity one (standard). Toshiba claims a life of 3 hours.

I'm debating now...Dell has an inspiron 9200, 2.1 Pentium M, 17", 128M 9700, with decent battery life...but I'm leery of the comments some have made about Dell's new laptops.

EvilHomer3k · Post by **EvilHomer3k** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 10:14 pm

I recently sold my eMachines after getting a super deal on an 8600. There is some noticable flex in the keyboard and the shell now. The shift key have come off 5 times in the last week. I have a little bit of light leakage on the monitor. It has no card readers built in.

I do get good battery life and it was cheap. The performance of the laptop is good and the battery life is good. Overall, the eMachines was a higher build quality and had better performance. The dell has better battery life and is slightly lighter (about 1/2 pound). I would say that none of my issues effect the day to day usage of the laptop thus far (except the shift key). It just feels cheap. We have several Dell laptops come through our doors daily (we work on student computers). They are all the same. The toshibas and sony's that come through feel much more solidly built. So far, we haven't gotten a single new IBM. I attribute that to IBM's being more expensive. We also get a lot of HP/compaqs but not as many as Dell's. They are similar to Dell's. We've only gotten a couple of Gateways and some eMachines. The gateways are pretty solid. Not a lot of flex in the shell and things seem to be pretty solid.

Anyway, I'm not sure it is a matter of poor components or poor quality but more sloppy design. Things just don't seem to fit as tightly on the dells as on a gateway, sony, toshiba, or ibm. As an aside, the powerbooks we get in are quite nice.

Bakhtosh · Post by **Bakhtosh** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 10:34 am

Thanks Mike...that seals the deal. I'm really wanting that 17" screen, but I just can't pass up this ThinkPad at that price.

ericb · Post by **ericb** » Mon Feb 14, 2005 2:02 pm

It's probably too late but if I had to choose I would go IBM over any of the others. I've had HP/Compaq and a Toshiba, currently own a Dell 8600 and have worked on Dells, IBMs and Toshibas. I didn't like the older Toshibas...they were solid but had a lot of problems. I like the Dell but it's nothing quality wise compared to the IBM. The only problem with IBM is price and if you can get it at a good price or don't care how much it costs then it shouldn't even be a choice.

Bakhtosh · Post by **Bakhtosh** » Wed Feb 23, 2005 10:51 am

Okay, for the record, here's what I went with:

IBM ThinkPad 2379DYU

I got an extra 512 RAM, spare battery, AC/DC power supply, and I'll be picking up all the accessories this week.

Thanks for all of the input and help...especially the screen resolution glossary.

EvilHomer3k · Post by **EvilHomer3k** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 12:54 am

Looks like a very nice laptop. Should server you well and be easily transportable.

Pyperkub · Post by **Pyperkub** » Thu Feb 24, 2005 10:14 pm

Great Choice.... I want one now (though I'm starting to lean towards a tablet PC....)