Laptops...

Brk · Post by **Brk** » Wed Oct 16, 2002 12:42 am

For certain reasons, I may have to go to a laptop instead of a desktop system, but I get depressed seeing the selection out there.

I guess I can go with a Dell or Gateway to be on the safe side, but are there some other solid manufacturers out there?

zooner · Post by **zooner** » Wed Oct 16, 2002 12:45 am

would this be an option?

zooner · Post by **zooner** » Wed Oct 16, 2002 12:47 am

seriously though. Laptops have come a long way. I highly doubt there's much a decent dell couldnt handle.

Heck, I recently found a old gateway laptop for free. It's a 486, but it works fine. The sad part is that it's MUCH faster then my friends HP he bought from walmart.

A_old · Post by **A_old** » Wed Oct 16, 2002 12:48 am

netlux.com

dell.com

gateway.com

i prefer dell laptops personally.. my friend has purchased 2 netlux and he's had nothing but great luck w/ em

Amro

TEH WIN · Post by **TEH WIN** » Wed Oct 16, 2002 1:11 am

http://www.alienware.com

cy · Post by cy » Wed Oct 16, 2002 3:13 am

Originally posted by TEH WIN
http://www.alienware.com

muhahahaha i was about to mention that! hehehe

twwabw · Post by **twwabw** » Wed Oct 16, 2002 5:13 am

I've had a bunch of Dell's over the years, starting out with a Latitute LM- screamin' P-166... 1 GB drive, and 32 MB ram! Yeah!

Seriously though, it was a good machine. Had a 3200, 3500, LXi (still have it), and now an Inspiron 8000 I've had for almost couple years. All have been good dependable machines.

I work on lots of others though. The home user Compaqs have not proven durable in my experience- lots of problems, lousy driver support. Their corporate Armadas though are decent.

Toshiba's I've worked with over the years had poor battery life, and big problems with their docking stations. They may have improved. I've heard they're better. Support stinks though.

I've always wanted an IBM, because as far as I'm concerned, they are highest quality laptop built.... but I HATE the friggin' eraser-head pointing stick... and that's all you could get with them. I even wrote IBM about it, since many of my clients hated the eraser too, so how could I recommend one of their laptops??

Believe it or not, about 4 people from IBM responded to me, the last being something like their VP of mobile computing development, or something like that. He told me that while he "couldn't specifically tell me of their intentions", this was something they were well aware of, and "were looking into it", and told me to "keep checking back".

Well- he was right! You now can buy their new T series with a touchpad! A client just bought one 2 months ago, and it is sweet! Guess what my next one will be ???

rickabilities · Post by **rickabilities** » Wed Oct 16, 2002 5:29 am

Originally posted by twwabw
I've had a bunch of Dell's over the years, starting out with a Latitute LM- screamin' P-166... 1 GB drive, and 32 MB ram! Yeah!

Seriously though, it was a good machine. Had a 3200, 3500, LXi (still have it), and now an Inspiron 8000 I've had for almost couple years. All have been good dependable machines.

I work on lots of others though. The home user Compaqs have not proven durable in my experience- lots of problems, lousy driver support. Their corporate Armadas though are decent.

Toshiba's I've worked with over the years had poor battery life, and big problems with their docking stations. They may have improved. I've heard they're better. Support stinks though.

I've always wanted an IBM, because as far as I'm concerned, they are highest quality laptop built.... but I HATE the friggin' eraser-head pointing stick... and that's all you could get with them. I even wrote IBM about it, since many of my clients hated the eraser too, so how could I recommend one of their laptops??

Believe it or not, about 4 people from IBM responded to me, the last being something like their VP of mobile computing development, or something like that. He told me that while he "couldn't specifically tell me of their intentions", this was something they were well aware of, and "were looking into it", and told me to "keep checking back".

Well- he was right! You now can buy their new T series with a touchpad! A client just bought one 2 months ago, and it is sweet! Guess what my next one will be ???

I love the "eraser head pointing sticks"

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Wed Oct 16, 2002 6:36 am

Look into the different classes of laptops.....figure out what your intentions will be. If you know what you expect out of a laptop...and pick a model in that category...you'll be much happier with it.

You have ultra-portables, mid-range, and desktop replacements. Ultra-portables are the wee tiny ones, very thin, light, smaller screens, smaller and less components and media bays (media bays are where you have your HD, floppy, and cd-rom) Some only can have a cd or a floppy at a time, or have an external floppy, etc.

Midrange and desktop replacements, start stuffing in more options and features....bigger faster CPU's, bigger screens, with the fullsized ones having all media bays for everything at the same time. 15" - 16" screens, etc. But they are heavier, short battery life, etc.

Like TWW noted...Dells are nice. We sell a few of them. Compaq is our biggest seller though, but as he noted, not the home Presario series, but their corporate models. Used to be called Armada's, now they're called Evo's. Very nice rigs. IBM makes some nice ones...but their service is tough, Toshiba makes some enticing ones...but when one needs repair....you ship it out to them, long long time before you get it back.

Here's some advice....like I noted early on....think hard about how you will use it...what features you need...and pick one that fits the bill. Brandwise....think about service....which means where you buy it, do they service it? Or if you're ordering online....what's involved with service when something goes wrong.

And my last bit of advice...stuff the sucker with RAM, 512 megs minimum. It actually increases your battery run time if you are concerned about that. The more RAM you have, the less your computer uses it's swapfile..which is on the hard drive. Less swapfile use = less hard drive use = longer battery run time...because RAM uses less juice than a HD.

twwabw · Post by **twwabw** » Wed Oct 16, 2002 7:12 am

Originally posted by rickabilities
I love the "eraser head pointing sticks"

You're actually the only person I've ever heard say that! But- that's what makes the dual pointing device options on the Dells and new IBM the best- everyone gets what they want. Want to use the stick? Go ahead. Hate 'em? There's a touchpad there too. Best of both worlds. I honestly don't know why all the mfg's. don't offer the dual pointing device option- it makes everybody happy.

kieofwoo · Post by **kieofwoo** » Wed Oct 16, 2002 8:52 am

Originally posted by YeOldeStonecat
Look into the different classes of laptops.....figure out what your intentions will be. If you know what you expect out of a laptop...and pick a model in that category...you'll be much happier with it.

You have ultra-portables, mid-range, and desktop replacements. Ultra-portables are the wee tiny ones, very thin, light, smaller screens, smaller and less components and media bays (media bays are where you have your HD, floppy, and cd-rom) Some only can have a cd or a floppy at a time, or have an external floppy, etc.

Midrange and desktop replacements, start stuffing in more options and features....bigger faster CPU's, bigger screens, with the fullsized ones having all media bays for everything at the same time. 15" - 16" screens, etc. But they are heavier, short battery life, etc.

Like TWW noted...Dells are nice. We sell a few of them. Compaq is our biggest seller though, but as he noted, not the home Presario series, but their corporate models. Used to be called Armada's, now they're called Evo's. Very nice rigs. IBM makes some nice ones...but their service is tough, Toshiba makes some enticing ones...but when one needs repair....you ship it out to them, long long time before you get it back.

Here's some advice....like I noted early on....think hard about how you will use it...what features you need...and pick one that fits the bill. Brandwise....think about service....which means where you buy it, do they service it? Or if you're ordering online....what's involved with service when something goes wrong.

And my last bit of advice...stuff the sucker with RAM, 512 megs minimum. It actually increases your battery run time if you are concerned about that. The more RAM you have, the less your computer uses it's swapfile..which is on the hard drive. Less swapfile use = less hard drive use = longer battery run time...because RAM uses less juice than a HD.

This is good advice.
My old laptop (Acer) was well endowed memory-wise and it made a huge difference. Many laptops use graphics cards that share system memory - more reasons to get muchos RAM.

By the way, the Acer ran like a dream no probs at all performance wise. I thought the casing was a bit flimsy - I never got to drop it and test that properly

i would still be using it if it hadn't died on me after 5 hard years of use.

I am getting 2 laptops for friends at the mo and settling for a small company that specialises in building laptops for educational/government needs. They are cheaper than big name brands, which is the main reason why I chose them, coupled with the fact that they have been around for a long time.

brembo · Post by **brembo** » Wed Oct 16, 2002 6:04 pm

Had a mobo go out on a Dell 8000 at the office two weeks ago. First a stick of ram started acting funny, then just went out. So I called up Dell and they overnighted a stick. Popped it in, worked for a few days, then went bad. So I swapped a few sticks around, came to conclusion that the mobo was flakey. TWO DAYS later, I had a new mobo in and all is good. Now thats service IMO. We bought the extended 3 year warranty, and I think it paid for itself right there. Tech showed up on time, and was very professional, Dell will certainly get my business again.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Wed Oct 16, 2002 6:37 pm

Originally posted by brembo
We bought the extended 3 year warranty, and I think it paid for itself right there.

That's always key...for a business....always always always ALWAYS get either the business class models with the 3 year warranty, or make sure you get an extended 2 on the 1 year of you get a lesser model. Totally stay away from entry models that only have 1 year ones.

cy · Post by cy » Wed Oct 16, 2002 7:57 pm

Originally posted by rickabilities
I love the "eraser head pointing sticks"

Even though a pad is better, but i like the eraser too

Brk · Post by **Brk** » Wed Oct 16, 2002 10:18 pm

Thanks for all the replies everyone.

I guess 5400 RPM drives are the highest available for laptops? I assume it's because of a heat issue.

Is there some kind of a roadmap for the near future in mobile processors, etc? I can wait if there's going to be a Granite Bay-type of next-gen in store for laptops...

Brk · Post by **Brk** » Wed Oct 16, 2002 10:21 pm

Never mind, I shouldn't be so lazy.

The "Banias" is the next iteration, in H1 2003

cyberskye · Post by **cyberskye** » Thu Oct 17, 2002 11:17 am

Laptops will fail. When they fall they fall a lot harder than a desktop. Everything except the ram and hdd are connected. Industry-wide they advertise a 25% failure rate (that includes any component - even the latch that keeps them closed for travel). Get a three year - onsite support! - you can get external usb drives for speed/storage.

Brk · Post by **Brk** » Thu Oct 17, 2002 12:45 pm

Originally posted by cyberskye
Laptops will fail. When they fall they fall a lot harder than a desktop. Everything except the ram and hdd are connected. Industry-wide they advertise a 25% failure rate (that includes any component - even the latch that keeps them closed for travel). Get a three year - onsite support! - you can get external usb drives for speed/storage.

I was planning to get a FireWire or USB 2.0 external hard disk for critical storage anyway...so yeah!

Brk · Post by **Brk** » Thu Oct 17, 2002 12:48 pm

Thanks again for all the help everyone!

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Thu Oct 17, 2002 1:19 pm

Originally posted by Burke
Thanks for all the replies everyone.

I guess 5400 RPM drives are the highest available for laptops? I assume it's because of a heat issue.

Is there some kind of a roadmap for the near future in mobile processors, etc? I can wait if there's going to be a Granite Bay-type of next-gen in store for laptops...

Yeah, you get 4,200 or 5,400....again, battery conservation...and heat.

CPU's....laptops are usually 12 - 18 months behind desktop CPU's because they have to redesign them for laptops...where you get the "M" class...mobile. Redesigned for less juice consumption, and less heat.

Brent · Post by **Brent** » Thu Oct 17, 2002 3:41 pm

i like the new dells, with 2.2Ghz P4's and Radeon 9000 Mobility...

Inspiron 8200 series

http://www.dell.com/us/en/dhs/products/ ... n_8200.htm

cyberskye · Post by **cyberskye** » Thu Oct 17, 2002 4:15 pm

Brent - You'd be lucky to an hour on batteries...nice box though.
Those are for people who move their machines around a lot rather than someone who uses it on the go (away from AC)

Brent · Post by **Brent** » Thu Oct 17, 2002 4:22 pm

Originally posted by cyberskye
Brent - You'd be lucky to an hour on batteries...nice box though.
Those are for people who move their machines around a lot rather than someone who uses it on the go (away from AC)

You get more then an hour...

We use those Laptops at work, so I know how good they are

plus what are Burke's needs

the way his post sounded like he was replacing his desktop, or using the laptop in a place such that it won't really be moved around far from an AC plugin most of the time....

and even still, if he is going to be traveling with it its still fine... the p4 is a mobil chip as well as the graphics chip... they designed to conserve energy