View Full Version : In the market for a Laptop
Agent_Mull
08-02-06, 12:25 PM
I am getting a laptop for my senior year in highschool/college. I will be doing cad work on it, so i need a fairly good processor, like a dual core. I am also wanting some sort of video card so that its not the default crappy intel onboard video, and maybe i could do a bit of gaming. I see alot of laptops with good specs with out any video card for $500-$900, but if I want any kind of video card, it goes up to $1200 or so. My budget will be $1300-$1400 and under. But I would like to save as much money as I can.
Any suggestions?
Do you care about screen size?
Agent_Mull
08-02-06, 01:11 PM
Oh, I was looking for a small screen ie 15-15.4, or possibly a larger widescreen one that is narrow, so that it can fit in my backpack.
Agent_Mull
08-02-06, 08:02 PM
I look at cheap laptops $800 and think it would be nice to buy one of those "cheap" ones and have cash left over, but then I think about screen upgrades, and video cards I can get on powernotebooks.com. The only thing thats keeping me from going to microcenter and jsut buying a laptop that I like, is that I don't like making big purchases w/o reviewing the product online.
nvidiaOCmaster
08-02-06, 09:38 PM
idk how much the m700 is, but its nice as hell. I would get that.
Agent_Mull
08-02-06, 10:53 PM
I can't find the m700. I find a 400mhz m700, but not anything new.
Asus W3J for my #1 pick, Dell 1405/1505 depending on what size you prefer, or even an Acer 5672. All are Merom upgradable, the W3J and Acer comes with an x1600 which is very game capable, and the 1405/1505 can be configured with the x1400 which also isn't bad at gaming with low res/settings.
The latter of the 2 are well within your $1300 range and the W3J is just a baddass NB :) If you plan on keeping this thing for 4 years through school definetly spend the extra cash now and get what you want/need. Nothing worse than someone getting a 12" and using it as a desktop replacment or someone getting a 17" thinking they won't mind the weight and taking it everywhere with them. Trust me, i know this from experience...
Agent_Mull
08-03-06, 04:15 PM
I'm thinking of getting a good powerful laptop with a good cpu, and forgetting the video card. Is there a chance i could get a bad laptop if I just went to microcenter/best buy/cc and found one with the specs I want, and just bought it on the spot? I'm a person who has to read reviews about everything. I wonder if microcenter has wifi, i could take the family laptop and find reviews of laptops.
Mission has changed. Forget the video card. Get me good dual core processor, nice sized ram, fairly large hd, and good battery life.
not to sound like a jerk... but you probably should read this...
http://www.overclockers.com/articles1350/
as opinionated as it may or may not be.. he does have a point...
i have a friend who goes to college out of state... and he switched from a laptop to desktop... and he loves it... his school "requires" laptops... despite the fact that NO ONE TAKES IT TO CLASS... and they have no cirriculum involving said laptops... with a $1k budget you can get a pretty nice desktop...
if you absolutely have to have a lappy... i'd prob go with Hp... they are fairly priced... and have upgrades for video cards.... dell only puts the nic vid cards in the higher end lappys... good hunting!
Agent_Mull
08-03-06, 04:47 PM
Well I have both. So thats not the issue. I am probably going to take both my laptop and my desktop to college.
Agent_Mull
08-04-06, 10:24 PM
After some research, I think the one i've decided on is this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16834146155&ATT=34-146-155&CMP=OTC-C173T
Any comments about this laptop?
I can't find the m700. I find a 400mhz m700, but not anything new.
Dell discontinued 700m and 710m and replaced with newer core duo version M1210. You could still get one of the 700 or 710 from dell outlet.
After some research, I think the one i've decided on is this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16834146155&ATT=34-146-155&CMP=OTC-C173T
Any comments about this laptop?
Do you like that size of laptop. Last time I owned 15.4" I thought it was big but back then everything was large. WSXGA+ should be nice.
Agent_Mull
08-05-06, 10:12 PM
Well, after a bit of thinking, I put dibs on the dell inspiron E1705 in the classifieds, and I am wondering if eventually I can upgrade the processor to core 2 duo?
jivetrky
08-05-06, 11:26 PM
Well, after a bit of thinking, I put dibs on the dell inspiron E1705 in the classifieds, and I am wondering if eventually I can upgrade the processor to core 2 duo?
I've read around the net that it's possible with a certain REV of the BIOS...but I don't remember which one...i think i read it on nootbookreview.com
toymaker
08-06-06, 06:51 PM
Well, after a bit of thinking, I put dibs on the dell inspiron E1705 in the classifieds, and I am wondering if eventually I can upgrade the processor to core 2 duo?
I just downloaded and installed the latest A04 bios (provides core 2 duo support) for my Dell E1405 from Dell's website.
I don't know about the E1505/1705 but I would think that there would soon be a bios update coming out for them as well.
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