RE: [H] Laptop suggestions needed asap!

[Bobby Heid]

Title: Message

I helped a friend's daughter buy a Dell.  She went with the 8600 with the Pentium M because it was about 2 pounds lighter than the 9100.   A friend at work just got Dell laptop that has the WSXGA+ that has a native resolution of 1680x1050.  That makes the text a little too small for my tastes.   I really do not know enough to help you decide, but if I was buying one, I'd probably go for the speedier model.  LOL.   Bobby   -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Kenneth W. Humrich Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2004 9:03 AM To: The Hardware List Subject: Re: [H] Laptop suggestions needed asap!   First, thank you everyone!   Some very good suggestions and it helped my friend and I narrow things down quite a bit.  We think either an IBM or Dell now.  I am pushing more towards the IBM's, but if Dells are a stronger choice for her, that is fine.          IBM Thinkpad R51:  Price with memory $1549 [+$100 to base unit price for memory upgrade to 512MB] Pentium M 1.5gb  15.4inch XGA DVD/CDRW Combo Radeon 7500 32mb 40gb hd 4200rpm 6.2lbs PC Card Support:  1 type I/II or 1 type III 2 internal speakers 56k v.92 modem w/fax Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG  speed  11b: 11Mbps, 11g:54Mbps Integrated Intel 10/100 Ethernet 1 Parallel, 2 USB, microphone, headphone, line-out, RJ-11, RJ-45, S-Video out http://www-132.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=-840&productId=8730776&storeId=1&langId=-1&dualCurrId=73&categoryId=2302836     IBM Thinkpad T42:  Price with memory $1599 [+$100 to base unit price for memory upgrade to 512MB] [only DvD option, no CD possible in 'Thin' notebook] Pentium M 1.5gb  14.1inch XGA 8x DVD no Cdrom included DVD/CDRW Combo may be added as 2nd drive for +$159 30gb hd 4200rpm 4.5lbs PC Card Support:  2 type I/II or 1 type III 2 internal speakers 56k v.92 modem w/fax Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG  speed  11b: 11Mbps, 11g:54Mbps Integrated Intel PRO/1000 Gigabit Ethernet 1 Parallel, 2 USB, microphone, headphone, line-out, RJ-11, RJ-45, S-Video out http://www-132.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=-840&productId=8717189&storeId=1&langId=-1&dualCurrId=73&categoryId=2072541       Dell Inspiron 8600: Base $1399, discount being given $150, new Base  $1249 Pentium M 1.5gb base  15.4inch  WXGA +$250 for 1.8gb, +$500 for 2.0gb  add $50 for WSXGA and +$50 more for WUXGA online orders get free memory upgrade to 384MB, or +$25 for 512MB GeForce FX  Go5200 32mb included, or 64mb for +$39, or  Radeon 9600 Pro 128mb for +$99 30gb hd 4200rpm, +$25 for 40gb 4200rpm, or +$75 for 60gb 4200rpm, or +$175 for 60gb 7200rpm NO floppy-drive included +$49 to buy one 6 months dial-up with AOL or Earthlink included free http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/inspn_8600?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&~ck=mn     Dell Inspiron 9100:  Base $1549, discount being given $150, new Base  $1399 Pentium4 2.8gb base  15.4 inch WXGA +$75 for 3.0gb,  +$100 for 3.2gb  add $50 for WSXGA and +$50 more for WUXGA online orders get free memory upgrade to 512MB Radeon 9700 64mb included, or 128mb for +$99 40gb hd 4200rpm, +$39 for 60gb 4200rpm or +$149 for 80gb 7200rpm NO floppy-drive included +$49 to buy one 6 months dial-up with AOL or Earthlink included free http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/inspn_9100?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&~ck=mn         Questions:   Pentium M  1.5Gig  or Pentium4 2.8gig? I know Pentium M's use less power and run cooler, but what about SPEED?   Which screen?  or WSXGA for +$50?  W is WIDE screen also is a WUXGA [ultra fine] which is +$50 over WSXGA     I suspect she will want to buy it Today or Tomorrow, so if anyone has anything to say that will help, please speak up and give LOTS of good info ;)     Thank you again everyone, it's really nice to know I can come here when I need opinions.  I've included as much info as I can, plus url's of the four Laptop ideas, but those aren't the only ones if someone has something they feel is a better idea.. she doesn't do any gaming but plans to do graphs and such with Excel or something, I think she said.. I can get a DETAILED listing of what she plans to do with the Laptop if that is needed, but in the meantime please give ideas again, thanks!     Ken                 -------Original Message-------   From: The Hardware List Date: 08/24/04 22:16:45 To: The Hardware List Subject: [H] Laptop suggestions needed asap!   A friend of mine needs to get a laptop within the week and asked me if I had any suggestions.  I told her a few misc things but said I hadn't looked around in detail in quite awhile and would ask you guys and let her know. She is looking to spend $1500 or less, and plans to use it for web surfing, excel, and misc things such as that.  Oh, and she doesn't want TOO small of a screen :)   I want super reliability here, as she is a NOVICE and I don't want her to have to worry about anything.   Thank you everyone, appreciate this,     Ken