Maker Pro
Maker Pro

Laptop recommendations

B

Bo

Jan 1, 1970
0
I am interested in hearing some opinions on laptops.

In particular I am interested in finding a system with these specs:

Win XP-- not Vista!
15.4 or 17" WSXGA+/WUGA+
1G RAM min, prefer 2G
=160G HD, the bigger the better
DVD/RW
wireless Bluetooth/Ethernet

optional:
multi-card reader

cost: ~$1300- $1600.

I wanted to go with Dell or HP but my first requirement, XP seems to be a
deal killer for these. Toshiba seems to have systems that are reasonable
that meet my req--except for the WSXGA. Anyone have experience with
Velocity Micro? They seem a bit pricey (about $400-500 more), but appear to
be better than ave. quality.

Any recommendations?

Also, recommendations/experience with extended warranties?

My primary use will be development: matlab, C++, grad school use, but also
want to be able to use for road-trips/entertainment. As to why no Vista--
several colleagues have shared horror stories on Hitler Gate's registration
woes and driver/media compatability issues.

Please I don't want to start a Mircosoft/Apple, Windows/Linus war with the
question. If you are particularly happy or unhappy with a certain laptop
vendor/model and service, I'd like to hear about it.

Many thanks,

Bo
 
R

Roger Hamlett

Jan 1, 1970
0
Rather Play Pinball said:
A good way to buy a Dell - their outlet store. By a returned, new,
never opened unit.
http://www.dell.com/content/default.aspx?c=us&cs=28&l=en&s=dfb
In fact a lot of these are not even 'returns'. When they have an order for
(say) 500 laptops from one company, they assemble about 520, to make
'sure' that they have 500 units ready for the shipment date. The 'extras',
which in some cases will have failed final QD, for something 'simple',
like a drive not plugged properly in, or in other cases will have been a
good 'pass', but 'spare', are also sold via the Factory outlet store.
The units will only be sold once they have passed QD, and represent good
value.

Best Wishes
 
B

Bo

Jan 1, 1970
0
AZ Nomad said:
Try posting to an appropriate newsgroup.

What better newsgroup than one frequented by many engineer peers that likely
use them for same apps that I will?
This is certainly as or even a more appropriate place for such a post than
many of the left/right-wing political wars that are posted here.

At any rate, what newsgroups would you suggest?

Bo
 
R

Rich Webb

Jan 1, 1970
0
I am interested in hearing some opinions on laptops.

In particular I am interested in finding a system with these specs:

Win XP-- not Vista!
15.4 or 17" WSXGA+/WUGA+
1G RAM min, prefer 2G
DVD/RW
wireless Bluetooth/Ethernet

optional:
multi-card reader

cost: ~$1300- $1600.

I wanted to go with Dell or HP but my first requirement, XP seems to be a
deal killer for these.

Newegg still has HP models in the NC6320 series with XP Pro, although
the stock drives are "only" 60 and 80 Gig. I picked one up around the
end of January (the EN373UT flavor) and I've been quite happy with it.
 
J

Joerg

Jan 1, 1970
0
Bo said:
I am interested in hearing some opinions on laptops.

In particular I am interested in finding a system with these specs:

Win XP-- not Vista!
15.4 or 17" WSXGA+/WUGA+
1G RAM min, prefer 2G


DVD/RW
wireless Bluetooth/Ethernet

optional:
multi-card reader

cost: ~$1300- $1600.

I wanted to go with Dell or HP but my first requirement, XP seems to be a
deal killer for these. Toshiba seems to have systems that are reasonable
that meet my req--except for the WSXGA. Anyone have experience with
Velocity Micro? They seem a bit pricey (about $400-500 more), but appear to
be better than ave. quality.

Any recommendations?

Also, recommendations/experience with extended warranties?

My primary use will be development: matlab, C++, grad school use, but also
want to be able to use for road-trips/entertainment. As to why no Vista--
several colleagues have shared horror stories on Hitler Gate's registration
woes and driver/media compatability issues.

Please I don't want to start a Mircosoft/Apple, Windows/Linus war with the
question. If you are particularly happy or unhappy with a certain laptop
vendor/model and service, I'd like to hear about it.

No Vista? Good luck. Try Twinhead. I got their Durabook D14RA just in
time before the Vista release and AFAIK it won't run Vista. Great
machine, rugged enclosure, 2-year std warranty, but the HD isn't that
big. Was under $1000. Maybe they still have some of these.
 
J

John Larkin

Jan 1, 1970
0
I am interested in hearing some opinions on laptops.

In particular I am interested in finding a system with these specs:

Win XP-- not Vista!
15.4 or 17" WSXGA+/WUGA+
1G RAM min, prefer 2G
DVD/RW
wireless Bluetooth/Ethernet

optional:
multi-card reader

cost: ~$1300- $1600.

I wanted to go with Dell or HP but my first requirement, XP seems to be a
deal killer for these. Toshiba seems to have systems that are reasonable
that meet my req--except for the WSXGA. Anyone have experience with
Velocity Micro? They seem a bit pricey (about $400-500 more), but appear to
be better than ave. quality.

Any recommendations?

Also, recommendations/experience with extended warranties?

My primary use will be development: matlab, C++, grad school use, but also
want to be able to use for road-trips/entertainment. As to why no Vista--
several colleagues have shared horror stories on Hitler Gate's registration
woes and driver/media compatability issues.

Please I don't want to start a Mircosoft/Apple, Windows/Linus war with the
question. If you are particularly happy or unhappy with a certain laptop
vendor/model and service, I'd like to hear about it.

Many thanks,

Bo

The mid-range Sony Vaios are very nice. Four pounds and 6 hour battery
life.

John
 
R

Rather Play Pinball

Jan 1, 1970
0
Agreed. Also, if you order a Dell from their small business part of the
web site, you can still configure a machine with XP Pro. They've
mentioned XP will be available for at least a year after release of
Vista. My guess is a lot of commercial accounts are saying no to Vista.

Sure, if you go down to local office mega-store, the only offering is
Vista. (If you thought Microsoft was a monopoly a few years back, it
has only gotten worse.) But XP is still to be found.
 
J

J.A. Legris

Jan 1, 1970
0
The mid-range Sony Vaios are very nice. Four pounds and 6 hour battery
life.

John

Agreed, I nearly bought one a while ago, I got a MacBook instead. It
comes with first-rate software development tools and the presentation
software "Keynote" is great ($50 or so extra). To top it off, you get
a remote control so you can flip through presentations from across the
room.
 
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