Need some advice

[anandwww]

Hi all,
I am new to this forum and canada. Do you think a laptop with this configuration and price will be available anytime during the year??

100GB HDD
1GB HDD
2.0GHz, centrino
32MB video card

Will it by any chance come below 1000$ before taxes during any deal (thanksgiving, offseason etc??) or do you think its good to shell out some 1600$

thanks

[itsmypostoffice]

i can't say it won't be available because we were all caught off guard by Dell's $549 promo. on the other hand, you have to remember there are fixed price points and segments in laptops. aside from averatec you'll be hard pressed to find a reliable & feature packed "12 ultra-light under $1500. don't forget to factor in reliability and after-market service & warranty. consumer models do not stand up to business models -- dell hasn't discounted top latitudes on RFD. getting the most for your money shouldn't be based on a set of specs. because it you raise it too high you'll take a hit in other areas.

for example, 5400/7200RPM hds are all the rage but installing a 100GB model will shorten your battery life. what tasks are you accomplishing with your laptop? some models are uncomfortable to use because it heats up too fast. lastly, and perhaps most important, purchase a model with a large user base. yes, it's nice to be ahead of the crowd but knowing you have a group of hobbyists behind you to check driver/BIOS updates is much better than running blind or relying on CSRs.

EDIT: $1000 for your specs is possible -- Inspiron 6000 comes close. $1400-$1600 is the new sweet spot: many manufacturers including IBM are offering better lines at this price point.

[anandwww]

All I need a laptop with good RAM and centrino technology, that can be used for doing my school work. Btw I see some cheap dell "NEW" laptops on ebay. Are they worth giving a try?? Has anyone got New dell laptops from ebay

thanks for the suggesstions as well.

[anandwww]

EDIT: $1000 for your specs is possible -- Inspiron 6000 comes close. $1400-$1600 is the new sweet spot: many manufacturers including IBM are offering better lines at this price point.

IBM looks too costly. The starting price is 1400. Can you provide a link about the IBM machine you were taking about. Thanks

[itsmypostoffice]

IBM looks too costly. The starting price is 1400. Can you provide a link about the IBM machine you were taking about. Thanks
perform a search on RFD. ibm & dell offered aggressive discounts in november/december/

entry-level units are usually heavier/shorter battery life/no s-video out/difficult to access ram...

always pre-plan your requirements to suit your daily routine/usage patterns, then set a reasonable budget and stick to it.

[anandwww]

what do you think of this deal from staples
http://www.staples.ca/ENG/Catalog/cat_sku.asp?CatIds=89%2C90%2C91,430&webid=621413&affixedcode=WW

its a toshiba M70-SR3 for 1099.85$ before tax

Features:
1.73GHz Intel® Pentium® M Processor 740 (533MHz FSB, L1 Cache 32KB/32KB, L2 Cache 2MB)
512MB PC2-4200 DDR2 RAM, expandable to 2GB
100GB 5400RPM Serial ATA hard drive
Built-in DVD Super-Multi Double Layer Drive
15.4” Wide XGA TFT Active Matrix LCD with TruBrite™ Screen Technology
Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 900 with 128MB DDR shared video memory
V.92 56K Data/Fax Modem
10/100 integrated Ethernet LAN
Intel Wireless LAN (802.11ag)
Ports: 5-in-1 Multimedia port (SD, Memory Stick®, Memory Stick® Pro, MMC, xD-Picture Card™), 3 USB 2.0, RJ11 (modem), RJ45 (LAN), IEEE1394 (FireWire), external microphone port, headphone port, RGB, S-Video Out
Microsoft Windows XP Home
Software Included: WinDVD™; Sonic™ Record Now!; InterVideo® WinDVD Creator 2 Platinum; Microsoft® Office OneNote™ 2003; Norton Antivirus™ 2005 (90 Day Subscription) Toshiba Express Media Player
Removable, Rechargeable 6-cell Lithium Ion (Li-ion) 10.8V x 4000mAh capacity
Battery Life: up to 3 hours
Recharge Time: Up to 4 hours off / 12 hours on
Dimensions: 360mmW x 263mmD x 38.5mmH
Weight: 2.72kg (6.0lbs)

thanks

[anandwww]

hi,
One more quick question. Do these companies IBM/toshiba and shops provide any special deal for the new year

and what is the next big thing after boxing day?? Is it thanksgiving day or do we have anything before that.