Laptop Challenge

[Joel Kleppinger]

Ok, here it is. This next week, I'm probably going to buy a laptop (finally... after 21 years of life. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif).

I'm trying to find the cheapest/best one - something I would enjoy using for at least a year and something I would be happy enough using that I would be able to recommend it to just about anyone considering a mid-range laptop.

Here are the rules:

1) No more than $1500, preferably (loose rule). $1000 MUCH better.
2) MUST have at least 64MB RAM.
3) MUSTr have a TFT active matrix LCD panel, and preferably one that is capable of displaying 1024x768 res.
4) NO old CPUs (Pentium MMX or Pentium II era)
5) Preferably built by a "name-brand" manufacturer.
6) The Celeron is my favorite mobile CPU (great compromise between price, battery usage, and power), but I'm not terribly picky. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif Do give the system at least 400 MHz.

All other features are just niceties and addons. Any recommendations should come with a link for purchase.

I know it sounds impossible (and perhaps it is). Just to get things started off on the right foot, I've found a couple of interesting ones:

A K6-2 475 Toshiba 12" TFT ($1200): http://www.insight.com/cgi-bin/bp/1414885618/web/products/ta2180cdt.html

K6-III 500 M-Tech 13" TFT ($1550) (from pricewatch): http://www.discountpcsales.com/specifications/mtech2000.htm

I'm leery about the M-Tech, but it makes me wonder anyway... Regardless, see if you can top those two.

[Joel Kleppinger]

Yet another one (though this is getting out of the price range...):

IBM 64MB Celeron 466 14" TFT ($1665 shipped from MP Superstore (never heard of them, either): http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php?masterid=146936

I'm pretty impressed by that - offering a lot of features that are only one $2k+ laptops. However, I don't know much about it nor have I ever used it... but I would love to know more about it (if anyone out there has any experience with this model, do share http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif).

As you have figured out, I'm not overly keen in the laptop arena - with only my desktop buying experiences to guide me.

[This message has been edited by Joel Kleppinger (edited 05-06-2000).]

[plucky duck]

A question that automatically comes to mind is the intent/purpose for which the notebook is to be used for.

Gaming? (yeah right...at least on Q3 or UT anyways...tetris might do http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif)
Web surfing? (no need for mobile P3's)
Business apps/presentation?
E-commerce?
Basic word processing?

I'm sure you've touched upon those questions yourself.

Here's my 2 cents as far as pointing device goes....IMHO, the pointing stick just plain sucks. Hard to navigate, much prefer a trackpad. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

Win98 is a real RAM sucker, even on my lowly Toshiba Tecra P-150 system I'm armed with 144mb of EDO RAM. Only 75mb free right now, go figure where 64mb of RAM is gonna leave you...in the dust. Virtual memory will come into play and you'll hear your HD choking like a dead horse loading up your favourite apps.

A notebook is not like a desktop, (well duh!)...wait let me finish...the cpu is not necessarily the single most important factor to overall system performance as it is for a desktop as its functions may be different.
For people like me who only use it to surf the net and do a little word, excel, powerpoint, and gaming, I don't really need a PII, Celeron, nevermind a Pentium III. A Pentium is suffice for me. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

A notebook ain't cheap and you gotta know where to put your money, its all about balancing your power as well as your checkbook http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif

I think I'll stop rambling now....

Just my 4 cents....

...used to be only 2 cents, but you know what inflation does to numbers, hehehe.... http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

BTW, check out onvia.com, they offer free shipping and free GST for Canadians if you've got a registered GST #, and $25 off if you're a first time shopper, one helluva deal to beat! Hip Hip Hurray for me!!! $210US shipped for a P3-600e!! Woohoo!!!

OK, I think I'll shup-ut now http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

Plucky

[Joel Kleppinger]

I've used different OSes and applications on many different configurations. 64MB RAM will be enough... for now. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif A 400+ MHz CPU (K6-2, K6-III, Celeron, P3) will also be enough for now.

It's a laptop - I have a main system:
Athlon 600, 312MB RAM, and 65 GB HD space for when I do my power stuff. This is not my main system, and I don't need that kind of power.

As for the interface, I'm not fond of much of anything that notebooks have to offer. I'll probably buy a USB mouse and use that much of the time that I can get it on a flat surface.

[Nathan]

Hi Joel!

I think that Toshiba is best one of the lot for many reasons. As I work with laptops all day, Toshiba stands out as being the best for laptops. Heck of a good price too.

Is a 2 MB card good enough for you? I didn't see if it included a restore CD. Did I miss that?

[Joel Kleppinger]

Hmmm.. hadn't really thought about that. I don't expect to hook up the laptop to a monitor much, if at all (which is why the onboard screen quality is so important to me) so I'm not sure how I feel about that.

I could get this system directly from Toshiba (www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/tais/product/product_model.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0640499928.0957 721083@@@@&BV_EngineID=kalhjgjlmhjbfdkchmcfgkcgl.0&productline=Portables&family=Sate llite&modelname=1625CDT) for very little more.

The only difference I see is that this one has an AGP ATI Rage Pro LT w/ 4MB SGRAM vs. the other's PCI S3 Virge MX w/ 2MB. That and there is a noticeable difference in the outside appearance - I don't know which way I might go in that direction. The 2180CDT is about 1/2 lb. lighter as well.

Still, I'd rather have a slightly bigger (and consequently - 1024x768 res) LCD than these two for as little more as possible. What a quandry. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

Restore CD doesn't matter much - if it doesn't include one, I'll just put an image of the HD on my server then ghost it back if I ever have problems.

[This message has been edited by Joel Kleppinger (edited 05-07-2000).]

[CMonster]

mmmmm, nice desktop system Joel!

Re: the laptop, I think the IBM sounds like a good bet. Yeah it is $165 more...but you know what they say.

[wyvrn]

I really like the IBM Thinkpads, they are great machines except for the fact they use the stick instead of touch pad. Solid performers all the way around.

[Nathan]

Ghosting...spoken like true network tech...hehe.

I would think the 4 MB card would be better. After all, you can connect a monitor to the back of it. And down the line, that might be a consideration for the refresh rate and eye strain, if you know what I mean. We have docking station, port reps. and the whole bit right now where I'm working at now. So personally, I would strongly consider the Toshiba. How can you really beat it for the price?

Having a external monitor to attach to it down the road is a real plus. Especially when you can get to the 85HZ refresh.

Also consider the heat issue with those things. They can generate alot of heat. They seem to have that under control too.

I don't know of anyone who has had a Toshiba laptop that wasn't happy with their service.

[Joel Kleppinger]

Well, I think I'm leaning toward that IBM laptop. I've been looking around some more and it's going to be very tough to beat that price/featureset.

I went to Staples and Circuit City today to get a chance to mess with some different models. I typed on the Compaq Presario (larger one), the Toshiba 1625CDT, and an IBM 1400i series laptop. I found the Compaq easiest to type on until I went to make a mistake (missed that BackSpace key more times than I care to say). The Toshiba was best all-around for typing and general aesthetics.

The IBM was somewhere in the middle in typing, but it's trackpoint joystick could also click (and double-click and drag) so that would be one thing I wouldn't miss from a touchpad. I could probably get used to it over time since I'd only need the buttons for right-clicking (which is the same with a touchpad).

If I were sure 800x600 would be enough, I would get the Toshiba 1625CDT. However, 1024x768 has 64% more screen area... and that's directly correlative to my productivity. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

So as soon as I figure out which vendor to buy from and how warranties will be handled, I'll probably buy that IBM 1560 machine. The fact that it can crack RC5 over twice as fast as the Toshiba is no small thing either. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif

[Carl Uman]

Are WinBooks worth anything?
http://www.winbook.com/

[Wilan Wong]

I recently bought a new laptop! Got it for $AU10000, it's pretty good... Pentium III 650, 256mb RAM, 6x DVD with LS-120 Modular Combo, Imoega 100mb Disk Drive, 8mb Rage Mobility with heaps of new stuff!

[Joel Kleppinger]

Just bought the IBM C466 laptop for a total of $1,725 shipped overnight from MicroWarehouse. Thanks everyone for your help and insight (I think http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif.. guess time will tell).

Specs were just too good at the price to pass up. I'll just have to click a few banners to pay for the difference. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif

[Joel Kleppinger]

I don't know... but their configurations don't match up well with my price range. So they aren't an option.

I also like to mess around a little with a big ticket item before buying one. (and this will be the most expensive thing I've ever bought with cash)

[1159creampuff]

Joel, I am an escalation technician at the Toshiba repair depot. Do not buy a 1625CDT. Those machines are in here all the time. Have only seen one or two 2140's. In fact I just took a look around, there's at least 10 1625's here but no 2140. Also, as should be expected with today's business's, IBM's are repaired here also (IBM's depot). My personal 2 cents is the Toshiba's are better. I like the TrackPoint, it's right there on the keyboard (why don't they make a full size keyboard with one of those so I don't have to switch to the mouse?). Toshiba is also likely to cave in if you have any real trouble with the unit. and It does look a lot better. I'd say more if we had one here. I've incriminated myself enough.

[1159creampuff]

Sorry, meant 2180CDT. http://www.geocities.com/damionhart/Sa2180cdt.gif

[This message has been edited by 1159creampuff (edited 05-08-2000).]

[C5John]

Joel
I have been responsible for choosing laptops to outfit a professional staff for several years now. We have done several in-house reviews of several brands. Toshiba, Dell, IBM, Gateway, Compaq, Zenith. We have purchased Zenith (4-5 years ago), then Toshiba, then IBM, then DELL.
The pointer method is personal choice. I love the stick, other staff like the touchpad. Dell puts both stick and pad on their high end machines. The keys are ease of use with cd/rom, diskette, batteries. Get 128mb if possible. Make sure the warrenty repair policy and procedures will work for you, because you will likely have to return it for some repair in the first two years. That record is normal with laptops. They are physically fragile, and will have trouble with software that is rock solid on your desktop. I personally like the IBM, keyboard is better, very sturdy. The new magnesium case systems are great looking, but high $$.

Good Luck

C5John

[SoopaStar]

I know its too late, but I found this:
IBM ThinkPad i Series 1560
Mfg Part No: 2621560

Celeron, 466MHz, 64MB RAM, 6.4GB HD, CD-ROM Drive, Modem, 14.1 Active Matrix Display

for $1629 plus shipping.
When I am looking for specific items, I skip over pricewatch.com and goto pricescan.com

Paul

[Joel Kleppinger]

WAY TO GO.. NOW you post. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

Well, I must say that I'm still very pleased with the purchase and the laptop. I do wish I had been able to grab it for $100 less, but that's life.

However, I did get it in this morning and it's definitely a nice laptop. I'm going to look forward to working on this (yeah Scott, _working_ - UT won't run well enough on it http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/wink.gif).

I've already gone through the initial setup and everything... now to buy a PCMCIA NIC to hook it to the LAN (idiot me didn't drop it in the order).