Need a new laptop
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Hi Guys, My Compaq N800 is dying a slow painful death. Corrupt HDD, faulty RAM, broken WiFi module and chunks missing from the casing due to erosion. I need something that I can work on, meaning 1280 x 1024 resolution, 2.5ish GHz and a Gig of RAM minimum, 60Gb HDD, WiFi, decent battery and most importantly, lightweight. Bluetooth would be nice, DVD burner probably wise, and I don't care about the graphics card, though the next beta of Longhorn will probably change my thinking on that one. Suggestions? cheers, Chris Maunder
I love Dell. Once CPians recommended it to me, and now I can understand why. Reliable, excelent service and fair prices are the words that come to my mind. Chris Maunder wrote: Suggestions? Stop kicking your machine when things don't work :-D I see dead pixels Yes, even I am blogging now!
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I've always been a fan of Dell. They're very well engineered (imho) and offer good bang for the buck. Although the competition may offer fatter drives, I love my Inspiron 8600's 60G 7200rpm drive. Heck, I love my 8600! It has generous screen real-estate and a decent processor. Btw, the 8600 has been replaced by the 9300 which offers an increased screen size of 17". It tops out @ 2GHz, but for $2180, you can get it with XP Pro, 1G RAM, 60G 7200rpm drive, 8x DVD+/-RW dual layer burner, and built-in Intel Pro 802.11a/b/g and Bluetooth. Not bad, methinks. /ravi My new year's resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | Freeware | Music ravib@ravib.com
My boss got a Dell with a PHAT widescreen (might have been 17") and it was just beautiful. ;) *homerdrool* --Mike-- LINKS~! Ericahist | 1ClickPicGrabber | CP SearchBar v2.0.2 | C++ Forum FAQ Strange things are afoot at the U+004B U+20DD
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My boss got a Dell with a PHAT widescreen (might have been 17") and it was just beautiful. ;) *homerdrool* --Mike-- LINKS~! Ericahist | 1ClickPicGrabber | CP SearchBar v2.0.2 | C++ Forum FAQ Strange things are afoot at the U+004B U+20DD
Stop it! You're making me want to hock my 8600 on EBay and spring for a 9300. :) /ravi My new year's resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | Freeware | Music ravib@ravib.com
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Hi Guys, My Compaq N800 is dying a slow painful death. Corrupt HDD, faulty RAM, broken WiFi module and chunks missing from the casing due to erosion. I need something that I can work on, meaning 1280 x 1024 resolution, 2.5ish GHz and a Gig of RAM minimum, 60Gb HDD, WiFi, decent battery and most importantly, lightweight. Bluetooth would be nice, DVD burner probably wise, and I don't care about the graphics card, though the next beta of Longhorn will probably change my thinking on that one. Suggestions? cheers, Chris Maunder
I got an N800 around the same time as you - maybe slightly after. I really liked it at the time but alas, mine also has not stood the test of time particularly well. It's not as bad as yours in that all the important parts are still functioning but, despite being pretty well cared for, the casing doesn't look as nice as it used (can see the uderlying metal on one of the edges, and the plastic where the wifi thing goes has started to stick up for some reason - I should look at that as it's probably easy to put back), and the screen has a couple of spots that don't look so hot (washed out colour). I am also thinking of replacing mine after I leave uni this summer and get a job, but since my current laptop is OKish I intend to keep it for Windows and dev worok, and instead get a 15" Apple Powerbook. They're absolutely gorgeous - lighter than the N800, 100GB hard disk, up to 2GB RAM, top notch gfx card and the displays are second to none. Plus they have nifty features like the light sensor to adjust screen brightness and activate a backlight on the keyboard when it's dark, and can detect when they're being dropped and park the disk heads etc. Also, from what I can tell they're built a lot tougher which is important as I tend to cycle with mine every so often and take it travelling on trains etc. (The "drop-seonsor" is also a feature of IBM laptops - from what I hear IBM laptops are pretty nice actually, though they are ugly as sin.) On the PC side of things, I hear the Alienware machines are pretty nice, they certainly seem well equipped and a few CPians have posted with positive feedback. And there is of course the reliable, if slightly boring, Dell option (a friend of mine has one of the medium-weight Dells and it's very nice actually, fairly light though not as well equipped as what you're after - WiFi built in etc). -- Andrew.
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I've always been a fan of Dell. They're very well engineered (imho) and offer good bang for the buck. Although the competition may offer fatter drives, I love my Inspiron 8600's 60G 7200rpm drive. Heck, I love my 8600! It has generous screen real-estate and a decent processor. Btw, the 8600 has been replaced by the 9300 which offers an increased screen size of 17". It tops out @ 2GHz, but for $2180, you can get it with XP Pro, 1G RAM, 60G 7200rpm drive, 8x DVD+/-RW dual layer burner, and built-in Intel Pro 802.11a/b/g and Bluetooth. Not bad, methinks. /ravi My new year's resolution: 2048 x 1536 Home | Articles | Freeware | Music ravib@ravib.com
I love the 8600.... but, it's not exactly lightweight. Regards, Brian Dela :-) Now Bloging![^]
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Hi Guys, My Compaq N800 is dying a slow painful death. Corrupt HDD, faulty RAM, broken WiFi module and chunks missing from the casing due to erosion. I need something that I can work on, meaning 1280 x 1024 resolution, 2.5ish GHz and a Gig of RAM minimum, 60Gb HDD, WiFi, decent battery and most importantly, lightweight. Bluetooth would be nice, DVD burner probably wise, and I don't care about the graphics card, though the next beta of Longhorn will probably change my thinking on that one. Suggestions? cheers, Chris Maunder
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Hi Guys, My Compaq N800 is dying a slow painful death. Corrupt HDD, faulty RAM, broken WiFi module and chunks missing from the casing due to erosion. I need something that I can work on, meaning 1280 x 1024 resolution, 2.5ish GHz and a Gig of RAM minimum, 60Gb HDD, WiFi, decent battery and most importantly, lightweight. Bluetooth would be nice, DVD burner probably wise, and I don't care about the graphics card, though the next beta of Longhorn will probably change my thinking on that one. Suggestions? cheers, Chris Maunder
I bought a cheap($800 USD after rebate) HP Pavilion last summer, and it's been great, especially at that price. 2.8 GHz Celeron, 512 RAM, Wifi and ethernet,, runs nicely at 1280 X 800 (though I'm not sure I'd get widescreen next time) doesn't burn DVD's though. battery life could be better (about 1.5 - 2 hrs), it's almost 3.5 kg though. Probably not what you're looking for, but for a few hundred dollars I'm sure HP has a system that has what's missing. Quality-wise, I'm happy and the rebate from HP came back within a fair time. BW
I want pancakes! God, do you people understand every language except English?
Yo quiero pancakes. Donnez moi pancakes. Click click, bloody click pancakes!
-- Stewie Griffin -
Hi Guys, My Compaq N800 is dying a slow painful death. Corrupt HDD, faulty RAM, broken WiFi module and chunks missing from the casing due to erosion. I need something that I can work on, meaning 1280 x 1024 resolution, 2.5ish GHz and a Gig of RAM minimum, 60Gb HDD, WiFi, decent battery and most importantly, lightweight. Bluetooth would be nice, DVD burner probably wise, and I don't care about the graphics card, though the next beta of Longhorn will probably change my thinking on that one. Suggestions? cheers, Chris Maunder
Don't buy a Toshiba. Their Better Business Bureau rating is an 'F' - the lowest possible rating. The rating is so low specifically because of their lousy laptop record. Here's a link[^] to the BBB page for Toshiba. Here's part of the BBB text: Complainants allege defective merchandise and failure to honor warranty claims. Many customers who purchased Toshiba Laptop computers claim the units have an overheating problem due to malfunction of the cooling fan. Other complainants allege delays when computers are sent to the service department for repairs. Some report their computer has been returned two or three times for the same problem, or, that repairs performed did not remedy the problem. The company responds to some complaints by offering additional repairs, or explanations of warranty provisions. Some complaints are unresolved, meaning customers are not satisfied with the company's response. Many other complaints remain unanswered.
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Hi Guys, My Compaq N800 is dying a slow painful death. Corrupt HDD, faulty RAM, broken WiFi module and chunks missing from the casing due to erosion. I need something that I can work on, meaning 1280 x 1024 resolution, 2.5ish GHz and a Gig of RAM minimum, 60Gb HDD, WiFi, decent battery and most importantly, lightweight. Bluetooth would be nice, DVD burner probably wise, and I don't care about the graphics card, though the next beta of Longhorn will probably change my thinking on that one. Suggestions? cheers, Chris Maunder
Someone will probably try to kill me, but I love the Sony Vaio S-series. :) It's very fast, small and lightweight, and beautiful to the eye. See them here[^]. -- LuisR
Luis Alonso Ramos Intelectix - Chihuahua, Mexico Not much here: My CP Blog!
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Hi Guys, My Compaq N800 is dying a slow painful death. Corrupt HDD, faulty RAM, broken WiFi module and chunks missing from the casing due to erosion. I need something that I can work on, meaning 1280 x 1024 resolution, 2.5ish GHz and a Gig of RAM minimum, 60Gb HDD, WiFi, decent battery and most importantly, lightweight. Bluetooth would be nice, DVD burner probably wise, and I don't care about the graphics card, though the next beta of Longhorn will probably change my thinking on that one. Suggestions? cheers, Chris Maunder
The Dells are very good. For a thin & light, I would recommend the inspiron 510m (I have one)or the equivalent Lattitude. From the punishment you seem to have given your Compaq, maybe you should took at the IBM thinkpads, they are physically more robust than the dells, are very light & have incredible battery life. The thinkpad T42 is very good ( the only machine I would prefer to my Dell!). Cheers Salil
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Hi Guys, My Compaq N800 is dying a slow painful death. Corrupt HDD, faulty RAM, broken WiFi module and chunks missing from the casing due to erosion. I need something that I can work on, meaning 1280 x 1024 resolution, 2.5ish GHz and a Gig of RAM minimum, 60Gb HDD, WiFi, decent battery and most importantly, lightweight. Bluetooth would be nice, DVD burner probably wise, and I don't care about the graphics card, though the next beta of Longhorn will probably change my thinking on that one. Suggestions? cheers, Chris Maunder
I mostly buy after reading PCAdvisor.co.uk[^] - I've bought about 6 printers, a laptop, a flat screen, 2 graphics cards, and a digital camera on their advise, and they've all been great buys! Joel Holdsworth Wanna give me a job this summer? Check out my online CV and project history[^]
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Hi Guys, My Compaq N800 is dying a slow painful death. Corrupt HDD, faulty RAM, broken WiFi module and chunks missing from the casing due to erosion. I need something that I can work on, meaning 1280 x 1024 resolution, 2.5ish GHz and a Gig of RAM minimum, 60Gb HDD, WiFi, decent battery and most importantly, lightweight. Bluetooth would be nice, DVD burner probably wise, and I don't care about the graphics card, though the next beta of Longhorn will probably change my thinking on that one. Suggestions? cheers, Chris Maunder
This is mine. And I'm very very very happy with it. :) Although...the "lightweight" thing isn't really applicable here. I doubt you'll find a desktop replacement machine that you're thinking of that doesn't weigh a whole lot.
[Cheshire] I can't afford those plastic things to cover the electric sockets so I just draw bunny faces on the electric outlets to scare the kids away from them... [RLtim] Newsflash! Kids aren't afraid of bunnies. [Cheshire] Oh they will be... -Bash.org
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Hi Guys, My Compaq N800 is dying a slow painful death. Corrupt HDD, faulty RAM, broken WiFi module and chunks missing from the casing due to erosion. I need something that I can work on, meaning 1280 x 1024 resolution, 2.5ish GHz and a Gig of RAM minimum, 60Gb HDD, WiFi, decent battery and most importantly, lightweight. Bluetooth would be nice, DVD burner probably wise, and I don't care about the graphics card, though the next beta of Longhorn will probably change my thinking on that one. Suggestions? cheers, Chris Maunder
Chris Maunder wrote: chunks missing from the casing due to erosion I don't think that erosion is a natural process that acts on laptops...:suss: Just what DO Australians do with their computers??? I'm starting to think laptop owners should be pre-screened... A lot of previous posts seem to be recommending Dell, but I have had some negative experience with them. About a year ago (and while the laptop was still under warranty) the tab key ceased to function (I ruled out erosion). AFAIK it was nothing that I did...I tried to contact Dell Canada through their website but received no response. In fact, I tried to contact them on several occasions - and using both customer care and tech support emails - but received no response. Ultimately I became quite disappointed at their lack of response. Eventually I ended up contacting a U.K. based Dell support (don't ask...) that was of little help. Needless to say that in all the frustration I eventually gave up and here I sit approximately a year later and the key is still nonfunctional. You better believe I'm disappointed and P.O.'d. :mad: The moral of the story is that although they claim to have efficient support, they do not (in my experience). Also, I find that their CPU cooling design readily blocks up thereby preventing passage of the air over the heat sink. I had to disassemble (after warranty expired) the case in order to clean the heat sinks because there was no longer air moving through and I kept getting over-temperature warnings. I don't think I'll be purchasing a Dell again... John Theal Physicist at Large Got CAD? http://www.presenter3d.com[^]
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My boss just bought me the 12" G4 Powerbook and it is a sweet little thing. Steve T