I just saw these became available again, and I can recommend it, as I purchased one in September.
http://www.compusa.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4090488&CatId=17 These are the 17" Gateway P-FX series, as long as you can handle a 17"-sized notebook, it is a pretty good deal. Comes with a T5550 1.86gHz cpu, 4Gb RAM, 320GB hard disk, bluetooth, eSata, SD/MMC/MS/xD slot, 802.11g WiFi, HDMI output, 1440x900 LCD, and to top it all off, has an Nvidia GeForce 8800M GTS 512MB video card, which is OUTSTANDING speed and power in a lappie. CPU can (and has been) upgraded by other up the the Extreme X7800/X7900/X9000 which are about the most powerful Core2Duo-class CPU's around. When Best Buy sold these new, they were $1599 or so in the store, and these are nearly half-price as refurbs. Mine has been going strong for almost 5 months, no issues. you can get an extended warranty at squaretrade.com if refurbs make you nervous, for around $100-150 for 1 additional year, or Tiger/CompUSA might even offer one. It also has the capability to hold a SECOND hard disk internally, which I added to mine. Just a suggestion, as I have no connection with Tiger Direct, CompUSA, nor Gateway, other than having bought one of these, and loving the heck out of it. If you have a Microsoft live.com cashback account, navigate through search.live.com/cashback to the laptop at tigerdriect.com and that gets you another 5% off - I purchased mine with 10% cashback back in September. There's more info available at notebookreviews.com forums, which is how I originally foudn out. Search there for "P-6860FX" and you'll find out info on the lappie, and what upgrades folks have done, even up to swapping out the LCD panel for 1920x1200 panels. If anyone is interested and wants more info, or detailed pictures of mine, feel free to let me know. The neat thing, is that most of the components (RAM, WiFi, CPU, HDD's) are EASILY swappable via compartments on the bottom - laptop disassembly is NOT required - simple screw-in trap doors, including the CPU! Tony -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
