A better Deal?
check out www.alienware.com
Looks fairly good - If you are after office with your system, then it is cheaper if you get it bundled, rather than buying it later.
Generally, I'm very impressed with the Dell pricing. They are competitive, because they do not have all the expensive 'store-fronts' to maintain. Their service I've found to be fairly good. My only irritation is that the printers that they bundle with the 'deals' are Dell printers, and tie you into buying Dell ink...so after your cartridges are empty, consider going and buying a decent printer;)
HTH:)
Generally, I'm very impressed with the Dell pricing. They are competitive, because they do not have all the expensive 'store-fronts' to maintain. Their service I've found to be fairly good. My only irritation is that the printers that they bundle with the 'deals' are Dell printers, and tie you into buying Dell ink...so after your cartridges are empty, consider going and buying a decent printer;)
HTH:)
What country are you in.
I am in Australia and that looks fairly decent, although I don't really like media centre personally.
I am in Australia and that looks fairly decent, although I don't really like media centre personally.
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warranty part doesnt apply to you as its a laptop. i just got lost in my ranting :) )
I would look for a more reliable brand. Toshiba has great laptops, sony is expensive but pays back, acer is coming up with very good ones lately ( very affordable too )
I would look for a more reliable brand. Toshiba has great laptops, sony is expensive but pays back, acer is coming up with very good ones lately ( very affordable too )
M400-S4032 Toshiba $2,199
http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/cmod.to?seg=HHO&coid=-30603
Also you can customize M400-ST9113. May be very profitable also.
On the other hand do not worry about the softwares as there are always free alternatives which would work a lot better then what they give you. They give you " myway spyware " too keep in mind.
http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/cmod.to?seg=HHO&coid=-30603
Also you can customize M400-ST9113. May be very profitable also.
On the other hand do not worry about the softwares as there are always free alternatives which would work a lot better then what they give you. They give you " myway spyware " too keep in mind.
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Ok, I think you're crazy for wanting a 17 inch screen, because they whole point of a laptop is to CARRY it, balance it on your LAP etc, but just to show you comparison, I did a little customization on a 17 inch sager that starts at 1,379, and bumped it up to 2 GB of memory and 100 GB Hard drive and it's still only 1,734. Now that doesn't include extra warranty or extra other stuff, but it's still a lot cheaper. And, get a 15 inch monitor. Much better.
I'd give you the page with my customizations, but its not an exact link so here's this:
http://www.sagernotebook.com/pages/centrino_specials.html
I customized the NP5750C, though I'd recommend customizing the NP3880C.
You can also just go to http://www.sagernotebook.com and look at all their stuff. They organize laptops by chips, by the by.
I spent a great deal of time looking at other companies, and I not only found they were more expensive, I found it wasn't worth it. They put money into things I didn't need/didn't want before they put it into important stuff, like the chip. I'd walk around the stores or browse online, and half of the companies wouldn't even put a good chip in their computers, and the ones that did, as soon as they did, the price skyrocketed, and that was before decent memory etc was put in.
The only company that I saw putting real money into the actual product was lenovo (the company that bought out IBM) and quite frankly, I couldn't afford their products.
My decision came down to Lenovo or Sager, and Sager was affordable.
I also don't get why people include the whole software as part of the computer thing. If a company builds you a computer and throws shit on there for free, good for you. Not exactly legal, but whatever. But, you're buying a computer, not programs, I don't get how people are swayed by that stuff.
Yeah, I have major issues with dell too, but for some reason my dad disagrees.
I also have issues with AMD chips running majorly hot. It's one thing in a desktop where you can add fans. You can't do that to a laptop. Supposedly they don't run as hot anymore but I'm wary. Also, you don't want to get a P4 chip for a laptop, just in case you didn't know. Some makers put them in anyway cuz they're idiots. Centrino basically is P4 for the laptop, slightly more complicated but there you have it. So P4s will run uber uber hot in laptops. Which is one reason why marketers are saying that oh, actually the AMD is the better chip, it runs cooler, the P4 is too hot right now. Duh, of course it is, it ain't supposed to be there. But centrino is the best chip for the laptop and really what you want to get. But AMD is supposedly running close to it, though it's not optimized as well, so *shrugs*
Also, if it's a good, reliable company, it's worth it to get the extended warranty, but read it first. Meaning, I'd do it at sager, not dell (probably).
But basically what it comes down to, is I can get a good used car for $2,000. So if you're going to spend that much on a laptop, it better be a damn good one.
Cheers,
lovewithnoface
I'd give you the page with my customizations, but its not an exact link so here's this:
http://www.sagernotebook.com/pages/centrino_specials.html
I customized the NP5750C, though I'd recommend customizing the NP3880C.
You can also just go to http://www.sagernotebook.com and look at all their stuff. They organize laptops by chips, by the by.
I spent a great deal of time looking at other companies, and I not only found they were more expensive, I found it wasn't worth it. They put money into things I didn't need/didn't want before they put it into important stuff, like the chip. I'd walk around the stores or browse online, and half of the companies wouldn't even put a good chip in their computers, and the ones that did, as soon as they did, the price skyrocketed, and that was before decent memory etc was put in.
The only company that I saw putting real money into the actual product was lenovo (the company that bought out IBM) and quite frankly, I couldn't afford their products.
My decision came down to Lenovo or Sager, and Sager was affordable.
I also don't get why people include the whole software as part of the computer thing. If a company builds you a computer and throws shit on there for free, good for you. Not exactly legal, but whatever. But, you're buying a computer, not programs, I don't get how people are swayed by that stuff.
Yeah, I have major issues with dell too, but for some reason my dad disagrees.
I also have issues with AMD chips running majorly hot. It's one thing in a desktop where you can add fans. You can't do that to a laptop. Supposedly they don't run as hot anymore but I'm wary. Also, you don't want to get a P4 chip for a laptop, just in case you didn't know. Some makers put them in anyway cuz they're idiots. Centrino basically is P4 for the laptop, slightly more complicated but there you have it. So P4s will run uber uber hot in laptops. Which is one reason why marketers are saying that oh, actually the AMD is the better chip, it runs cooler, the P4 is too hot right now. Duh, of course it is, it ain't supposed to be there. But centrino is the best chip for the laptop and really what you want to get. But AMD is supposedly running close to it, though it's not optimized as well, so *shrugs*
Also, if it's a good, reliable company, it's worth it to get the extended warranty, but read it first. Meaning, I'd do it at sager, not dell (probably).
But basically what it comes down to, is I can get a good used car for $2,000. So if you're going to spend that much on a laptop, it better be a damn good one.
Cheers,
lovewithnoface
ASKER
ebjers,
if I were to go to alienware i'd just get a desktop as desktops will out match laptops in gaming in my opinion as lovewithnoface is right about overheating issues with laptops.
RAWIT,
I'm in the US, not much of a gamer, but I like to game of course.
Purple_Sky,
I agree with you on Toshiba, my only concern is the screen and its adjustability. I don't like that feature. I think maybe after these stellar suggestions I don't need this beefy of a laptop. Especially at that price. I am really discouraged to make a purchase like this and then in a couple years possibly be stuck with a purchase that is not upgradeable in games to software and hardware. I concur that Dell has its misfortunes in that detail. They offer incredibly awesome stuff, but myself I'm not going to bite until I get some further input as I have received excellent input here. Thank you very much...big smily face haha :).
Merete,
thank you for the links, very useful in my search now as I plan to drop this Dell :)
Lovewithnoface,
I couldn't have been happier with that suggestion as well. You bring up some excellent points concerning this laptop and what might be in better interest.
Here's down low on me:
I am going to college and I plan to move into an apt or room for rent. I'm still debating whether I should get a great desktop or laptop. I love both, but don't/can't need/afford both lol! I DO want to get a kick around laptop like a cheap latitude or something small and reliable JUST to take notes in class. Something in the vacinity of $200-350. Maybe cheaper...who knows, but then I want to have a system for my own enterntainment as I don't plan on getting a 52" flat screen tv with tivo/hdtv blah blah blah. I guess this leads me to ask...should I go with those suggestions provided by toshiba or acer or sager or should I go desktop hunting as well?
-thephalanx
if I were to go to alienware i'd just get a desktop as desktops will out match laptops in gaming in my opinion as lovewithnoface is right about overheating issues with laptops.
RAWIT,
I'm in the US, not much of a gamer, but I like to game of course.
Purple_Sky,
I agree with you on Toshiba, my only concern is the screen and its adjustability. I don't like that feature. I think maybe after these stellar suggestions I don't need this beefy of a laptop. Especially at that price. I am really discouraged to make a purchase like this and then in a couple years possibly be stuck with a purchase that is not upgradeable in games to software and hardware. I concur that Dell has its misfortunes in that detail. They offer incredibly awesome stuff, but myself I'm not going to bite until I get some further input as I have received excellent input here. Thank you very much...big smily face haha :).
Merete,
thank you for the links, very useful in my search now as I plan to drop this Dell :)
Lovewithnoface,
I couldn't have been happier with that suggestion as well. You bring up some excellent points concerning this laptop and what might be in better interest.
Here's down low on me:
I am going to college and I plan to move into an apt or room for rent. I'm still debating whether I should get a great desktop or laptop. I love both, but don't/can't need/afford both lol! I DO want to get a kick around laptop like a cheap latitude or something small and reliable JUST to take notes in class. Something in the vacinity of $200-350. Maybe cheaper...who knows, but then I want to have a system for my own enterntainment as I don't plan on getting a 52" flat screen tv with tivo/hdtv blah blah blah. I guess this leads me to ask...should I go with those suggestions provided by toshiba or acer or sager or should I go desktop hunting as well?
-thephalanx
ASKER
what do you all think of these laptops?
http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/cfam.to?coid=-26377
i am not familiar with them. I want 512-1gb ram, 80gb hard drive, xp pro cd, light weight, wireless/ethernet, nvidia graphics, duo core pross.
what should I be looking at folks? :)
-thephalanx
http://www.toshibadirect.com/td/b2c/cfam.to?coid=-26377
i am not familiar with them. I want 512-1gb ram, 80gb hard drive, xp pro cd, light weight, wireless/ethernet, nvidia graphics, duo core pross.
what should I be looking at folks? :)
-thephalanx
you should look at acer's. they are really good too. toshiba isnt bad but i prefer acer's. less 'garble' when you first get one
ASKER
acer.com i assume?
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how do I know what model I want from your link netmonk? :) i like the travel mate or aspire.
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its really whatever you see that floats your boat. there are a lot of different setups to choose from. i would go for the amd turions though. but the intel core duo is good too. what is it that you are gonna be doing with this laptop? if you dont mind me asking
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aaaaahhhhh i c
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and while i was writing there were three comments. thats never good
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Interesting stuff lovewithnoface :)
Thanks all, but guess what? I think I'll downgrade the laptop idea and just beef up a nice desktop :) Thanks for the input!
Thanks all, but guess what? I think I'll downgrade the laptop idea and just beef up a nice desktop :) Thanks for the input!
I like that idea thephalanx you'll be glad you chose this way, couple of tips, if you decide to build one or buy the bits and get someone to pull it all together choose a brand and match the hardware right thru the end result is a very reliable/stable computer.
for example I chose the gigabyte brand/and xpathlon processor and matched that thru with a gigabyte nvidia 6600GT video card , also buy two hdd straight up and from day one save all your music/ movies/games files/ to the slave. And just keep the master for windows.
Best wishes to you and good Luck
If you would like some links to good value for parts and live in Australia. :)
Merete
for example I chose the gigabyte brand/and xpathlon processor and matched that thru with a gigabyte nvidia 6600GT video card , also buy two hdd straight up and from day one save all your music/ movies/games files/ to the slave. And just keep the master for windows.
Best wishes to you and good Luck
If you would like some links to good value for parts and live in Australia. :)
Merete
Always a good idea to have a good desktop.
Plus, good desktops last a long time and are easily upgradable--whereas the laptop field is changing much more quickly and is laptops are much harder to upgrade.
Good luck and thanks for the points :)
Plus, good desktops last a long time and are easily upgradable--whereas the laptop field is changing much more quickly and is laptops are much harder to upgrade.
Good luck and thanks for the points :)
ASKER
My thoughts exactly Merete and lovewithnoface. I love building desktops, its just my knowledge around laptop upgrades isn't as easy as modding up a nice desktop would be :)
thanks again!
i usually get my parts from newegg.com, i live in California so I get them next day after ordering hehe, pretty sweet :)
thanks again!
i usually get my parts from newegg.com, i live in California so I get them next day after ordering hehe, pretty sweet :)
sweet :)
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