Notebook Computers

[tw1112]

I know that these can be rather expensive, but the time has come that I need to venture out into the portable computer world. I just have a few questions. I am looking into the Sony VAIO series...possibly the PCG-XG18 or the Sony F580. These are around the low to mid $2000 range. What do you guys think about these notebooks? I have used a TOshiba once upon a time, only to have the screen die on me. When asking how much it would cost to fix the at the time $3000 notebook, the tech's said..."you would save money by buying a brand new one." So, my question is...what do you think is a nice notebook. I am going to be using it for on the go wordprocessing, ethernet use, and some other small programs. Just basic usage, nothing too severe. Anyways...let me know what you think...or if you have any good links to places to buy online that have good prices. Is it a good idea to buy over the internet for notebooks? Thanks!

Tw1112


Oh yeah...almost forgot...Since Intel just released there new processors for notebooks, would this drop the prices of the notebooks that are out now? Would it be a long time until this takes place or would it be sometime soon. Relatively speaking of course... Thanks again!

[This message has been edited by tw1112 (edited 09-26-2000).]

[brandon184]

I highly reccomend Dell notebooks.

I have had a few of them, and so have other family members. They are light and portable and powerful. Not too expensive, either.

I purchased a Dell Inspiron 5000e last month for roughly $1800 USD.

Its got :

- Intel Pentium III 600Mhz SpeedStep Processor
- 64MB SDRAM (expandable to 512mb)
- 6.4GB Hard Drive
- 16MB Video Card
- 3Com 10/100 Ethernet Card
- 56K Modem
- Floppy Drive
- 24X CD-Rom Drive
- Leather Carrying Case
- 15" TFT Active Matrix Display
- Lithium Ion Battery

Other features include :

- One USB Port
- One Parallel Port
- Video Out as Well as TV/Project Output
- Serial Port
- Infrared Communications

It boots up and shuts down quickly, and there are little or no monitor problems with Dell notebooks, like you'd find with say - Compaq.

It doesn't have a little joystick-type device in the keyboard, but rather has a touchpad below the keyboard.

This isn't my personal preference, so I use the mouse it came with.

It also came with an ethernet category 5 cable for use with networking or to go to the DSL modem.

Its excellent for both word processing and internet browsing. The battery does not lose its life quickly either. One reason it is excellent for word processing is because of the keyboard. It goes much easier on your fingers, and takes very little pressure to push down the keys. This may not seem like a big advantage, but you'll rather enjoy it when you want to quickly type something out, because I find once I get going I'm really speedy on it. I also find myself making less and less errors.

I reccomend Dell laptops to anyone and everyone for ease of use, expandability, reliability and cost.

You can configure the system you want at their website. http://www.dell.com/

Have a nice day!

- Brandon

[This message has been edited by brandon184 (edited 09-26-2000).]

[tw1112]

Yeah, I have looked into Dell Notebooks, the only thing is that they cost just about the same as the Sony's. I know that the Dells and the Sony's both come highly regarded so..

Don't know yet. There's nothing wrong with buying refurbished notebooks right? I have bought refurbished items before because it saves so much money, and had no problems with them. Never had to buy something so expensive refurbished though, there shouldn't be any flaws or marks on the system itself correct? Thanks again!

Tw1112

[eshort]

during the past 3 years-ive purchased 43 refurbished notebooks frm various online auctioin sites...IBM/HP/Compaq/Dell/NEC/Mitsubishi amities/Toshiba....

I like IBM and Dell the best--altho one of the IBMS ran very hot; the other posted low benchmarks....only l ofthe Dells was a problem (dim tft screen and kept giving me the 'drives running in compatability mode" shtick..

Personally-ive had good luk with the compaqs..only l waas a dog (low benchmarks)

One HO had a defective tftf screen (line across bottom of screen).

These computs wer all lower end: ie P100-PII366.

I had a Dell 4860dx4100 which was really terrific--very bright screen and fast!! Ive found you have to be careful that the screens are bright and have no bad pixles---i find individual units vary in these aspects (even of same make-model).

Buy with creditcard-then if unit bad-return and creditcard co will support U if any problems with vendor.

I find best prices via online auctions-local comput shows r ripoffs...private sale good but no warranty..

tryo to get notebook with all drives built in as its a real pain having to connect external cdroms etc--also--if u want to reinstall o/s on blank hdd..real pain if cdrom is external!!..still hvnt figured out how to do this esp with pcmcia external cdrom.

PS--dont need much power if all u do is internet surfing--ive had excellent results with a p100..u dont see much "real world" diff in speed jumping frm-say a P166mmx to a PII 366!!..for casual web surfing..

[This message has been edited by eshort (edited 09-27-2000).]