Just got our 1st Laptop!

[Gig-O-Ram]

I just thought I'd share this...My wife and I just hit our CC pretty good and got our first LT :)

She looked in CompUSSR and WorstBuy (even Walmart), but none of them had decent selection or price for what she wanted, so she was going to buy online. We weren't going to, but we checked Circuit City, and they actually had a great system for a good price, even better than online prices.

Here's what we got:
Acer Aspire 9411AWSMI with Intel Centrino Core Duo T2050 (1.6Ghz, 533Mhz FSB, 2MB L2), 17" LCD, Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950, 120GB HDD, SuperMulti Double layer DVD (DVD+R Double layer/DVD+-RW), 1GB DDR2, 802.11a/b/g wireless LAN, Bluetooth ready, XP Media Center SP2, Multi-screen ready, web cam...and of course we got a nice Targus carrying case for it as well. It's pretty cool, but we haven't used it a whole lot yet, because we still need to get the wireless router going first and secure the network. We did "steal" a little bit of someone's network time the other night, because the thing just picked it up, so we messed with that a little bit. But we'll be on our own soon enough. She's pretty happy with it, and it means she won't be tied to her desktop as much.

[Lionsault_100]

:-/

[johan851]

Sounds like a solid work machine. How much did you pay for it? And did you check out options at Dell with all the sweet coupon codes they always run?

[Gig-O-Ram]

Sounds like a solid work machine. How much did you pay for it? And did you check out options at Dell with all the sweet coupon codes they always run?

$949 before tax. And no, we didn't look at Dell at all. I guess we didn't think about them.

[TempliNocturnus]

Should look on ibuypower.com or dell outlet, if you plan to get a second one for yourself.

[Lionsault_100]

Its hard to see something like this, but i guess all in all thats the point of forums and posting feedback..

First The bad:

17" LCD and an intel GMA 950 is like mixing water and oil,

Core Duo in itself is amazing architecture however but at only entry level 1.66 @ that price tag core 2 duo should have been in this thing.

But I guess that comes with the territory when buying "fresh into the store" from a big chain.

Luckily at least you got a good machine although kinda pricy - but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do a little more research next time, as johan said dell has machines near XPS level, or a DV series HP for that price with a video card and a bunch of other good stuff.

and at that price range its tough to recommend anything outside of the big brands (Dell, HPaq, Toshiba, IBM/lenevo).. lesser name recognition automaticly means (or at least should mean) lesser price reguardless of the quality

Just based on economics unless there is a huge caveat or its black friday its near impossible to find the best deal at a physical location as they have higher overhead and then of course higher prices..


The Good:

Physical location, so yeah you paid the piper, but you have a physical place to bring the machine back to

Merom - Although i wouldnt recommend pouring even more money into this right now, core 2 duo has been confirmed to run in this.

120gig hard disk - Higher than most stock config, one thing (if the only thing) this machine has over most even on the top tier machines, although on a laptop using up 120gb could be a hard task

Overall: after a few weeks salary has passed you will have a machine that won't be too obsolete any time soon

[Vengance_01]

not a bad notebook, but I would look for something eles. It seems like its a very wierd combination. Any reason why you want such a huge notebook?

[Gig-O-Ram]

Well, first off, we did our research. With the exception of Circuit City, none of the chain stores offered much selection or acceptable price for what we were looking for. Online prices were similar in some cases, or even more. $1100-1200 online was the minimum we could find given the specs we were looking at. We didn't want to pay that much.

Secondly, we didn't buy it for gaming or anything like that, no video editing or some other high end work. She got it so she can do her writing, her graphics work and internet stuff. So that said, the specs are perfect for her needs. And as I stated before, so she doesn't need to be tied to her desktop if she doesn't want to. The computer I'm gonna build for her later will exceed this notebook in hardware for editing and stuff, but that's not why she got the notebook.

The reason we got the 17" monitor? I'm just going to say that she HAS to have that size monitor, and leave it at that. Besides, if the size of the screen weren't so important to her, so would've gotten the 15.4" screen and saved quite a bit of cash. The minute you go to the 17" screen, the price jumps a lot! But she's happy with it, and that's what's important.

[O/C Storm]

Congrats!! Just got my 1st lappy a little while back myself.

[Lionsault_100]

Well, first off, we did our research. With the exception of Circuit City, none of the chain stores offered much selection or acceptable price for what we were looking for. Online prices were similar in some cases, or even more. $1100-1200 online was the minimum we could find given the specs we were looking at. We didn't want to pay that much.

Secondly, we didn't buy it for gaming or anything like that, no video editing or some other high end work. She got it so she can do her writing, her graphics work and internet stuff. So that said, the specs are perfect for her needs. And as I stated before, so she doesn't need to be tied to her desktop if she doesn't want to. The computer I'm gonna build for her later will exceed this notebook in hardware for editing and stuff, but that's not why she got the notebook.

The reason we got the 17" monitor? I'm just going to say that she HAS to have that size monitor, and leave it at that. Besides, if the size of the screen weren't so important to her, so would've gotten the 15.4" screen and saved quite a bit of cash. The minute you go to the 17" screen, the price jumps a lot! But she's happy with it, and that's what's important.

nitpicking aside you found a laptop to do what you want at a price you can live with, congrats for that.

[Gig-O-Ram]

Congrats!! Just got my 1st lappy a little while back myself.

nitpicking aside you found a laptop to do what you want at a price you can live with, congrats for that.

Thanks, guys! We like it, and it is really more of convenience kind of thing. But my wife is the type that doesn't care so much about whether the CPU is the latest and greatest, or what the benchmarks might be, or if it's got DDR or DDR2...she was even looking me funny when I commented that the FSB could be a bit faster than it is. She just figures if it works and gets the job done, that's all she cares about.

[nvidiaOCmaster]

Nice buy.When I guy a latop, ill get either an acer or an asus.


It seems pretty solid for a laptop. Congulations.

[chasingapple]

New Alienware just shipped today, BOOYAH!

Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T5500 1.66GHz 2MB Cache 667MHz FSB
Operating System (Office software not included): Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition with Service Pack 2
Display: Alienware® m5550 15.4" WideXGA 1280 x 768 LCD - Saucer Silver
Motherboard: Alienware® Intel® 945PM + ICH7 Chipset
Memory: 512MB Single Channel DDR2 SO-DIMM at 667MHz - 1 x 512MB
Hard Drive: 60GB Serial ATA 1.5Gb/s 5,400 RPM w/ NCQ & 8MB Cache
Primary CD ROM/DVD ROM: 8X Dual Layer DVD+/-RW / 24X CD-RW Combo w/Software
Video/Graphics Card: 128MB ATI Mobility™ Radeon® X1400
Sound Card: Intel® 7.1 High-Definition Audio
Wireless Network Card: Internal Intel® PRO Wireless 3945 a/b/g Mini-Card
Communications: Integrated 10/1000Mb Gigabit Ethernet & 56K V.92 Modem
Warranty: 1-Year AlienCare Toll-Free 24/7 Phone Support w/ Onsite Service
AlienRespawn: Alienware® Respawn Recovery Kit
Alienware T-Shirt: Alienware® T-Shirt - Black - Price Includes $5 Instant Rebate - XL
Desktop Enhancements: Exclusive AlienGUIse Theme Manager

[1] Instant Free Shipping!; on Select Systems
[1] $100 Instant Rebate; Save and Play on Select Notebooks!
[1] Special Financing Offer; No Interest for 6 Months! - Valid only with the Alienware Credit Card

SubTotal: $1,183.00
Shipping: $79.00
Discount: $179.00
Tax: $0.00
Order Total: $1,083.00

Grats on your wifes new lappy, feels good to get one!

[FeuerFrei]

Hmmm... 512mb ram

My dell have twice the mem for 250-300$ lower... and an x1400

[Vengance_01]

Well, first off, we did our research. With the exception of Circuit City, none of the chain stores offered much selection or acceptable price for what we were looking for. Online prices were similar in some cases, or even more. $1100-1200 online was the minimum we could find given the specs we were looking at. We didn't want to pay that much.

Secondly, we didn't buy it for gaming or anything like that, no video editing or some other high end work. She got it so she can do her writing, her graphics work and internet stuff. So that said, the specs are perfect for her needs. And as I stated before, so she doesn't need to be tied to her desktop if she doesn't want to. The computer I'm gonna build for her later will exceed this notebook in hardware for editing and stuff, but that's not why she got the notebook.

The reason we got the 17" monitor? I'm just going to say that she HAS to have that size monitor, and leave it at that. Besides, if the size of the screen weren't so important to her, so would've gotten the 15.4" screen and saved quite a bit of cash. The minute you go to the 17" screen, the price jumps a lot! But she's happy with it, and that's what's important. Well I guess if the wife is happy then you are happy:)

[nvidiaOCmaster]

New Alienware just shipped today, BOOYAH!

Processor: Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T5500 1.66GHz 2MB Cache 667MHz FSB
Operating System (Office software not included): Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition with Service Pack 2
Display: Alienware® m5550 15.4" WideXGA 1280 x 768 LCD - Saucer Silver
Motherboard: Alienware® Intel® 945PM + ICH7 Chipset
Memory: 512MB Single Channel DDR2 SO-DIMM at 667MHz - 1 x 512MB
Hard Drive: 60GB Serial ATA 1.5Gb/s 5,400 RPM w/ NCQ & 8MB Cache
Primary CD ROM/DVD ROM: 8X Dual Layer DVD+/-RW / 24X CD-RW Combo w/Software
Video/Graphics Card: 128MB ATI Mobility™ Radeon® X1400
Sound Card: Intel® 7.1 High-Definition Audio
Wireless Network Card: Internal Intel® PRO Wireless 3945 a/b/g Mini-Card
Communications: Integrated 10/1000Mb Gigabit Ethernet & 56K V.92 Modem
Warranty: 1-Year AlienCare Toll-Free 24/7 Phone Support w/ Onsite Service
AlienRespawn: Alienware® Respawn Recovery Kit
Alienware T-Shirt: Alienware® T-Shirt - Black - Price Includes $5 Instant Rebate - XL
Desktop Enhancements: Exclusive AlienGUIse Theme Manager

[1] Instant Free Shipping!; on Select Systems
[1] $100 Instant Rebate; Save and Play on Select Notebooks!
[1] Special Financing Offer; No Interest for 6 Months! - Valid only with the Alienware Credit Card

SubTotal: $1,183.00
Shipping: $79.00
Discount: $179.00
Tax: $0.00
Order Total: $1,083.00

Grats on your wifes new lappy, feels good to get one!



Hmmm... 512mb ram

My dell have twice the mem for 250-300$ lower... and an x1400

Snap!!

Owned....


Thats all about economics. Alienware is much more mainstream, so they can have outrageous prices and still sell better than any computer manufacture.

[Gig-O-Ram]

Well I guess if the wife is happy then you are happy:)

Yep! She's still jealous of her friend in Portugal though, who got a slightly faster cpu and 2 gigs of ram...and a 20.1" screen - though she's not jealous of the 15+ pounds, due to the size of the thing...hers only weighs about 8 pounds, so it's manageable.

[chasingapple]

Hmmm... 512mb ram

My dell have twice the mem for 250-300$ lower... and an x1400

Remember to keep a safe distance at all times while operating the battery :)

[elec999]

I hope you enjoy your new laptop
Thanks

[Trap05]

Ha battery comment owns all

[wtrman]

Keep the wife happy, thats my motto. Now maybe she will let you get a new toy for yourself....maybe a nice new 17" gaming laptop. Congrats on the new machine.

[Gig-O-Ram]

Keep the wife happy, thats my motto. Now maybe she will let you get a new toy for yourself....maybe a nice new 17" gaming laptop. Congrats on the new machine.

Well, I suppose that would be nice, but I already got my new toy...and it has four wheels, 210hp and the name "Mustang" on the side. Plus, I'm happy with my PC right now, and maybe when I can afford it, I'll do a cpu upgrade and go dual core.

[Eclypsyr]

Snap!!

Owned....


Thats all about economics. Alienware is much more mainstream, so they can have outrageous prices and still sell better than any computer manufacture.


Dur, you never get a lot of memory on a laptop right out, because it's bound to be hell of cheap to upgrade it yourself with superior parts. That's the way I saw it, at least.