Looking At Laptops

[Iroquois]

We'll, I'm being forced to find a laptop for my Dad. I know next to nothing about them. I have some idea of what he wants so here it is.

1ghz or above CPU, AMD or Intel
256mb RAM or above
Windows XP Pro
CD-RW dirve
Floppy drive (if they still come with them)
USB 2.0
LAN port
CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP!

It's for business not for gaming so it doesn't need a super power GPU. I was hoping you guys could give me some suggestions.

[GeForce]

Dell use a good system. Try this link, find the notebook that looks best and then click Customise It. You can add and take away bits and pieces until it's just right.

Jon

[Fozzer]

I look at lap-tops... ...!
Often the girl opposite slaps my face, and I get thrown off the 'bus... ...!
...again... ...!

LOL...LOL...LOL...!

Cheers all... ...!

Paul.

[Politically Incorrect]

I just knew when scrolling through the topics and saw the title of this one and Fozzer as the most recent post what his reply would be LOL!!
Fozzer your getting predictiable! LOL!!  ;D

[Pinchaser...]

LOL. Fozzer, thats two zinger's on the day!

[congo]

One thing you don't see in the specs of the Dell offerings is the mainboard specs.... ie. Chipset type.

Careful scrutiny of their website reveals that Dell now offer a secret backdoor and some fineprint to identify which chipsets they use on some of their recent products.

Seeking out the info eventually led me to the chipset manufacturers website, Intel as it turns out, where you can see the specs on Dell's current laptop, the Inspiron "1150"

http://www.intel.co.jp/design/chipsets/ ... 852gmv.htm

This is where I get my goat up and reveal what is so common a trend with current specials offered by the mass marketers.

The chipset is running a 400mhz FSB for starters which is three major technologies behind current offerings.

I have a freind with a 400mhz FSB who wished to upgrade his CPU recently from the celeron supplied originally in that system to a P4 2.6 -> 2.8ghz CPU by my recommendation as a cheap upgrade path.

We could not buy a New P4 CPU for that system in this country....period. Nobody stocked the old stuff anymore.

I made the usual rounds to local suppliers to see if anyone had old stock....... nope. Nothing.

So, before you buy into a "New" Dell or any Laptop, check

[Iroquois]

I don't think outdated technology really means much to my dad. He had used a 1994 200mhz PowerMac for before he caved in an bought a new computer in 2002. (Ah the days when Apple was ahead of IBM) His current laptop was bought in 1997. It's a 200mhz PowerBook. Slow as toot and not compatable with his new system.

I looked at a few yesterday. A Dell, a Compaq, some noname brand, an Apple Powebook G4, and an Apple iBook. Last too slow for their price. I suggested it was best to go to BestBuy or Futureshop and look at them but he wanted some info first.

I'll stress again that this new laptop is stictly business. There will be no games at all on it. (My dad hates video games for some reason

[Rivers]

Try to go with a centrino powerd  laptop they are a combo of processor made for laptops and WiFi technology.


http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/cmod.to?seg=HHO&coid=-26380&sel=0&rcid=-26367&ccid=1291021

[Iroquois]

Well, he finally got one. A Compaq with an Athlon XP 3000 CPU. It's got a lot of nice features. A bit over kill but it was on clearence. It's got the Wi-Fi, Geforce FX graphics card, DVD. Quite a nice setup and a good pirce to boot.