Any good Laptop/Notebook deals out there?

[slothy@cutey]

Hi... I'm looking for a Laptop/Notebook computer for around $900-$1100. What's the best deal out there? (ie. looking for Vista OS with at least 80-100 GB hard drive and a DVD-ROM (writeable)?

In the past, been happy with Dell... but open to HP, Compaq, Toshiba, Sony, etc.

[dasaylay]

779 posts and you still don't know what forum to post under?

[riskit]

Hi... I'm looking for a Laptop/Notebook computer for around $900-$1100. What's the best deal out there? (ie. looking for Vista OS with at least 80-100 GB hard drive and a DVD-ROM (writeable)?

In the past, been happy with Dell... but open to HP, Compaq, Toshiba, Sony, etc.

wrong forum

[Gemakk]

I've simply been looking for a light laptop with a good battery life on clearance, but I cannot find any =(

[Vegeta88]

maybe try the request a deal forum...

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=10

[Cyber6]

Hi... I'm looking for a Laptop/Notebook computer for around $900-$1100. What's the best deal out there? (ie. looking for Vista OS with at least 80-100 GB hard drive and a DVD-ROM (writeable)?

In the past, been happy with Dell... but open to HP, Compaq, Toshiba, Sony, etc.

Dude, this is HOt Deals. If you need to ask question you go to another Forum. In this case the computer forum.


C.

[earthman]

use SEARCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[LonesomeDove]

There are tons of Laptops with the specs and price range you want out there since the launch of Vista. Even some with a 17" screen. Just get the latest BB and FS flyers or go on-line. Not too hard at all to find what you are looking for.

[lithiumli]

not only 779 post but a member since July 20th 2004, that's almost 3 years!!!!



779 posts and you still don't know what forum to post under?

[Firestorm]

There are tons of Laptops with the specs and price range you want out there since the launch of Vista. Even some with a 17" screen. Just get the latest BB and FS flyers or go on-line. Not too hard at all to find what you are looking for.

Why do so many people talk about a 17" screen as if it's a selling point? That's way too big for a laptop IMO. I got a 15.4" and would have preferred a 14.1" but it's too hard getting a laptop at 14.1 with a good graphics card.

[slothy@cutey]

Whoa... okay okay! I'm sooooooo sorry for posting in the wrong forum. You don't have to crucify me already! geeez...

I was like flying off the computer when I posted.... my bad... And thanks to those who scruntinized my stats to further admonish me...

ANYWAYS, I did do a search, but I was hoping for some consensus on what the best deal is out there now (perhaps from others who've picked something up recently). I wasn't getting any clear opinion or choice...

Maybe someone can post a helpful reply... or continue to berrate me! :)

[Oscar11]

I just grabbed a HP AMD X2 TL-50 (dual core), 1Gig Ram, 120 GB HD, 15.4" screen, with a video card (forget which one atm) and vista premium from bestbuy yesterday for $999

Its not super hot or anything, but its a good laptop for the price... very happy with it so far.

Its a special edition as well, so it looks cooler than most (in my opinion of course :) )

Its one of the white HP Pavillions.

[slothy@cutey]

I just grabbed a HP AMD X2 TL-50 (dual core), 1Gig Ram, 120 GB HD, 15.4" screen, with a video card (forget which one atm) and vista premium from bestbuy yesterday for $999

Its not super hot or anything, but its a good laptop for the price... very happy with it so far.

Its a special edition as well, so it looks cooler than most (in my opinion of course :) )

Its one of the white HP Pavillions.

Thanks.. that's a great tip.. Is there a difference between AMD and Intel (I've always bought Intel.. maybe a victim of the Intel Inside marketing engine). Also, what's the weight and battery life of the unit. I've been considering Dell because I can upgrade the battery life...

[Oscar11]

Thanks.. that's a great tip.. Is there a difference between AMD and Intel (I've always bought Intel.. maybe a victim of the Intel Inside marketing engine). Also, what's the weight and battery life of the unit. I've been considering Dell because I can upgrade the battery life...

Each cpu is different, but I think the general consensus is that Intel is slightly better..

But the bottom line is you wont notice a difference unless you are a hardcore gamer, or like to overclock etc.. If you use your computer for general stuff (documents, web, photoshop, regular gaming, music, movies..etc..), then you wont notice a difference.

Just make sure you get a dual core.

I also have a dell, with an upgraded battery and thats nice too. You can find a review of my dell here: http://www.techtalkboards.com/Dell-Inspiron-E1505--6400--%28pics%29-t-57.html

My dell looks ugly now that I have the new HP to compare it to though :)

also, heres the link to the one at bestbuy:
http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?sku_id=0926INGFS10084269&catid=20354&logon=&langid=EN

[abu_sme]

I'd stay away from Compaq and especially Sony. I owned a Sony SZ series for a whopping 2 weeks and it was a lemon, I got a replacement from the store, and it had some other problems. I go on line and low and behold there are other people with similar problems.

Dell offers pretty good bang for buck, but like others have said, smaller monitors really are better. I have a 19" monitor that I though I would connect my laptop to when I was at home, but the 14.1" screen was clearer and better looking than the monitor, if my laptop had DVI output and I could go to a higher resolution it would look better, but that is hard to say.

my 14.1" actually goes as high in resolution as my 19" which is 1400x1050.

I did have a 15.4 but I asked my boss for a smaller one and he caved.


BTW: I have a Lenovo t60p..... but it is not in your price range, not even close, it cost my boss $3600.

[gilboman]

I'd stay away from Compaq and especially Sony. I owned a Sony SZ series for a whopping 2 weeks and it was a lemon, I got a replacement from the store, and it had some other problems. I go on line and low and behold there are other people with similar problems.

Dell offers pretty good bang for buck, but like others have said, smaller monitors really are better. I have a 19" monitor that I though I would connect my laptop to when I was at home, but the 14.1" screen was clearer and better looking than the monitor, if my laptop had DVI output and I could go to a higher resolution it would look better, but that is hard to say.

my 14.1" actually goes as high in resolution as my 19" which is 1400x1050.

I did have a 15.4 but I asked my boss for a smaller one and he caved.


BTW: I have a Lenovo t60p..... but it is not in your price range, not even close, it cost my boss $3600.

i'll take a compaq NX series anyday... on par or even better than the lenovo's now.

[slothy@cutey]

Thank for the preceding comments. Funny, I thought the same thing with my current (older) laptop. With a smaller screen, I thought I'd use my 19" monitor, but lo-and-behold... the screen quality and resolution is better on the laptop...

My wife and I share our current computer laptop, but it's becoming a pain, so I'm ready to plunge into buying another. Thanks for the tips regarding Sony and Compaq... Lenovo is out of range for me.. yes... I heard that lenovo is really IBM's laptop division that they carved out and sold to a Chinese company that's rebranded the thinkpads as Lenovo.. is that correct?

I'm steering more to Dell or HP... I'm a bit reluctant to buy from retail stores as I've always had the impression that they carry older units and of course the lack of customization is a factor (ie. after suffering from a non-recall Dell Sanyo battery on the current laptop with like a 40 minute lifespan between charges... increased battery power has become more of a priority for my new portable).

Thanks again for the comments. Does anyone know if Dell is having any big blowouts or sales anytime soon? Is there a better time to buy a laptop (ie. in terms of saving $$$)? Are there specific promotions (say from Dell) currently that make any laptop model within my price range a steal? THanks again.

[dasaylay]

Just keep checking around on the site. Sometimes you'll find hot deals for the Dell Inspiron 6400. They're pretty powerful for their price, but keep in mind Dell is for mass sales, so their Inspiron line's build quality won't match other laptops in the same price range, but will outperform.

If you're not too stingy about build quality, go for the 6400, or even 640m, but if you're going to bring it around sometimes, I'd go with a Toshiba or HP from Best Buy or Future Shop.

[Antiloop]

Look into the HP line.

The new generation of HP's are reallly nice looking. Much improved over previous generation.

I am looking into buying a HP laptop soon just waiting for a sale.

[HappyGoLucky]

Anyone consider buying any laptop from Costco (ie. the ones they sell in-store) as opposed to online? They have several HPs and Toshibas there. Would BestBuy and FS tend to have even cheaper prices than Costco?

[Lone_Prodigy]

Things to consider:

1. Battery life. You should expect a minimum of 3 hours while doing surfing/word-processing. Consider getting a better battery, and/or a spare one. If you don't mind lugging around the AC adaptor (note: Dell's adaptors are bigger than the rest) and looking for an outlet, then you can even dispense with the battery. I sometimes take the battery out of my laptop because it's kind of hefty.

2. Screen size/weight. 17" screens are probably too big to be portable, and can weigh 7-8 lbs. 15.4" weigh about 6-7 lbs, 14.1" less than that, and 12.1" are the smallest. However, the 12.1" are more expensive and probably out of your price range.

3. Upgrading. Laptops are nearly IMPOSSIBLE to upgrade. If you buy a Dell, don't bother upgrading: the mobo is glued to the case, and opening it voids your warranty. You're a little more flexible with the other brands, but it's likely to be difficult. If that's the case, you'll want one with good specs that will last you awhile.

4. Usage. Laptops and gaming don't really mix. For $1000, you won't get dedicated graphics. The gaming laptops are bigger (15.4" and up), take more heat, kill your battery life, and are generally weaker than their desktop counterparts. If you're just using it for basic activities, you can live with 1GB RAM and a smaller hard drive.

HP/Acer laptops come with built-in webcams and microphones. Not terribly important, but it does improve functionality.

5. Warranty. Depending on how you intend on using your laptop (are you carrying it around outside?) you may want to spring for a warranty. Laptops ARE pretty well-made and durable these days. Beware, though: PSPs will differ in cost (eg. BB/FS have more expensive PSPs than Dell). Doubling the manufacturer's warranty with your CC is recommended.

6. XP. If you can find an XP-based laptop, you can get a good deal on them. The specs are comparable to the new Vista laptops, plus they have years of updates and patches (ie. mostly bug-free).

As for Costco, I find that their Dell laptops are priced more than Dell.ca. I don't know if that's the case with HP/Toshiba, but I don't think Costco has comp sales very often.

Hope this helps.

[slothy@cutey]

Things to consider:

1. Battery life. You should expect a minimum of 3 hours while doing surfing/word-processing. Consider getting a better battery, and/or a spare one. If you don't mind lugging around the AC adaptor (note: Dell's adaptors are bigger than the rest) and looking for an outlet, then you can even dispense with the battery. I sometimes take the battery out of my laptop because it's kind of hefty.

2. Screen size/weight. 17" screens are probably too big to be portable, and can weigh 7-8 lbs. 15.4" weigh about 6-7 lbs, 14.1" less than that, and 12.1" are the smallest. However, the 12.1" are more expensive and probably out of your price range.

3. Upgrading. Laptops are nearly IMPOSSIBLE to upgrade. If you buy a Dell, don't bother upgrading: the mobo is glued to the case, and opening it voids your warranty. You're a little more flexible with the other brands, but it's likely to be difficult. If that's the case, you'll want one with good specs that will last you awhile.

4. Usage. Laptops and gaming don't really mix. For $1000, you won't get dedicated graphics. The gaming laptops are bigger (15.4" and up), take more heat, kill your battery life, and are generally weaker than their desktop counterparts. If you're just using it for basic activities, you can live with 1GB RAM and a smaller hard drive.

HP/Acer laptops come with built-in webcams and microphones. Not terribly important, but it does improve functionality.

5. Warranty. Depending on how you intend on using your laptop (are you carrying it around outside?) you may want to spring for a warranty. Laptops ARE pretty well-made and durable these days. Beware, though: PSPs will differ in cost (eg. BB/FS have more expensive PSPs than Dell). Doubling the manufacturer's warranty with your CC is recommended.

6. XP. If you can find an XP-based laptop, you can get a good deal on them. The specs are comparable to the new Vista laptops, plus they have years of updates and patches (ie. mostly bug-free).

As for Costco, I find that their Dell laptops are priced more than Dell.ca. I don't know if that's the case with HP/Toshiba, but I don't think Costco has comp sales very often.

Hope this helps.


Wow, Thanks very much for your post. Quite informative. I'm leaning towards Dell after reading about some difficulty with HP's wireless reconnection after standby mode. My wireless goes in and out irritatingly often. My current Dell laptop jumps right back in... it would kill me to have to wait a super long time as others have experienced.

Battery time is very important to me. I'm definitely upgrading the battery to 9 cell from 6 cell. It kills me that the battery life on my current Dell laptop (standard non-recall Sanyo battery) is like 1.5 hrs. max!

Didn't know about the difficulty in upgrading.

Quick question. My main usage for a laptop is MS Office, Adobe Photoshop, and watching movies. Given the options, with Vista loaded laptop, would you opt for a a better Graphics accelerator (ie. upgrade from the Intel 950 standard) or an increase in RAM memory from 1GB to 2GB. I can't really afford both, so what would you recommend and why? thanks ... any comments from anyone are welcome.

[Firestorm]

RAM is upgradeable, graphics card is not. 1 GB is plenty IMO so go with a graphics card upgrade. If it's the Dell 6400, that means up to the X1400. That upgrade will put you at $1099 I think. At the Dell site, check their flyer section and follow the link through that to see if it gets cheaper.

[CJ28]

HP 14.1", AMD 64x2 TL-50, 1G RAM, 120G SATA, NVIDIA GeForce Go 6150 128M. Vista Premium Ready. Imprint finish. Built-in WebCam and Mic. Remote control. Runs very quite and fast. Grabbed it from BB while it was on sale 2 weeks ago. Bought it at $1016.99 ($899 before tax). Now sell it for $966. Not Registered so wait for its new owner. If you are interested, email me at vanblueface@gmail.com. We can work on the details.

[slothy@cutey]

RAM is upgradeable, graphics card is not. 1 GB is plenty IMO so go with a graphics card upgrade. If it's the Dell 6400, that means up to the X1400. That upgrade will put you at $1099 I think. At the Dell site, check their flyer section and follow the link through that to see if it gets cheaper.

Thanks for the info. That makes it easier to decide what are essential upgrades. I was indeed looking at the 6400. Nothing in the flyer... current promo is a free upgrade of the hard drive memory. With added battery power, got the package up to about $1200 or so. Not sure if I should hold out for a better Dell deal or a price drop...

What's the main difference between a Core Duo & Dore Duo 2 Intel chip?

cheers.

[CJ28]

Been there, done that :) I had my eyes on those 3 brands for about 2 months until I finally bought this nice HP laptop. I bought it onsale 2 weeks ago. The price was unresistable. I am really happy with it. The only reason I want to sell it now is that a testing program I need to run on it eats lots of memeory. I will have to buy one with 2G of RAM or more. Overall, HP overweights the other two brands with its sleek and stylish looking, nice configuration, convenient entertainment features (built-in WebCam and remote control) and relatively low price. Dell costs you more for the same configuration and they all look bigger and thicker. Acer does offer low price as well and good functionality, but the look is not as nice as HP plus its support seems to be an issue. From my experience in dealing with HP suport,they are pretty good and respond fast. Their online technical chatting program is also very convenient.