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Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Hippo on May 16, 2004, 03:56:18 pm

Title: Future laptop... any good?
Post by: Hippo on May 16, 2004, 03:56:18 pm
I'm looking at laptops to pick up after this school year ends since my parents promised me one and a broadband internet (since i havent gotten anything for my birthday or christmas for the last 3 years)...

(http://content.gateway.com/www.gateway.com/img/prod/196x130/m675x_pd.jpg)



$2799.99[/list]

Though, if I change XP to home instead of pro (which won't matter once i get my hands on a linux build) and knock the ram down by half and change the 3.4Ghz to 2.8Ghz, I can cut it to $1799.99...

One reason i'm liking it, is that it has the numeric numberpad, plus the mobo/proscessor and the HD it can hold...

Opinions? (Other then don't get a gateway, since i'll end up with one either way, since its my parents only [voiced] limtation)

http://www.gateway.com/home/products/hm_ptb_m675.shtml
Title: Future laptop... any good?
Post by: Hippo on May 16, 2004, 04:05:01 pm
Ah HA! I found better spec details for the same system:
Title: Future laptop... any good?
Post by: Liberator on May 16, 2004, 04:12:53 pm
Looks good to me.  You might want to see about switching to a Pentium M, better battery life, little or no performance hit.
Title: Future laptop... any good?
Post by: Hippo on May 16, 2004, 04:16:46 pm
There was another laptop with Pentium M, but it's worse then the desktop i have now... I don't know if i can customize everything down to that level... I should be able to when adding it to the cart, but i havent seen anything with point to point modification...
Title: Future laptop... any good?
Post by: Tiara on May 16, 2004, 07:24:57 pm
I'm still wondering why anyone would want a laptop that outperforms most desktops :p My way has always been that my desktop is top of the line and a simple cheap laptop for on the road.

My desktop is currently loaded with massively expensive stuff but I still have a laptop with simple Radeon Mobile 64 MB card and only 256 DDR RAM :p
Title: Future laptop... any good?
Post by: Thorn on May 16, 2004, 08:04:22 pm
http://www.trilliumpc.com
http://www.trilliumpc.com/notebooks.html
The second one. Similar to what you're looking at.
I used to work at that place, and I've seen that machine. Its great, if a bit heavy. It has everything you could imagine, and its in Canadian funds, so if you're American you may be able to get a better deal.
No pricing. You have to click on the contact link at the top and fill in the form asking for a quote on that machine.
Title: Future laptop... any good?
Post by: CP5670 on May 16, 2004, 10:31:21 pm
I got a laptop recently that has a strange mix of components, maybe because it is supposed to be a corporate/business model: pentium M 1700 (the good)
512mb ram
radeon 9000 mobility 32mb (the bad)
40gb 7200rpm drive
8/24/24/24 DVD/CDR drive
really screwed up video drivers that seem show everything in 256 colors despite windows and programs being set to 32-bit

It was free for a competition so I can't really complain about anything except that crazy video driver problem.

I've never been too keen on laptops for games though. It seems that laptops still lag behind desktops in several categories while being at least as expensive; the laptop video cards, sound cards, hard drives and CD drives are a couple generations behind their desktop counterparts. The full size keyboard and upgradable video cards are big steps in the right direction though. (unfortunately, mine doesn't have either)

Actually I will be buying a new desktop soon but am waiting for some socket 939 motherboards and the X800 XT to come out.
Quote
numeric numberpad


This is something I've previously only seen on the Alienware and Hypersonic models and already puts it well ahead of most models out there. :yes:

Quote
I'm still wondering why anyone would want a laptop that outperforms most desktops  My way has always been that my desktop is top of the line and a simple cheap laptop for on the road.


I guess those are for people who are only getting one computer.
Title: Future laptop... any good?
Post by: Hippo on May 17, 2004, 01:49:16 pm
I figured out where to tweak it point by point, and i've settled with the following ($2524.97)

Operating System:  Microsoft® Windows® XP Home Edition  
 Application Software:  Microsoft® Works 7.0  
 AntiVirus Software:  Norton AntiVirus 90 day Introductory Offer  
 Processor:  Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor 2.8GHz with Hyper-Threading Technology  
 Memory:  1024MB DDR SDRAM (2-512MB modules)
 Extended Service Plan Including Limited Warranty:  Portable Value Service Plan -- 1 year parts/labor/no on-site/1 year technical support  
 Hard Drive:  60GB 4200rpm Ultra ATA hard drive  
 Optical Drive:  Modular 4x DVD±R/±RW/CD-RW recorder
 Floppy Drive:  Modular 60GB hard drive (fits in floppy drive bay)
 Carrying Case:  Targus BlackTop Deluxe Carrying Case  
 USB Media Drives:  128MB USB flash drive
 Battery:  High-capacity lithium ion battery with AC pack and 1 yr. limited battery warranty  
 Integrated Wireless Networking Adapter:  Integrated 802.11g wireless networking card  
 Expansion Slots:  One Type II PC Card Slot  
 External Ports:  (4) USB 2.0, IEEE 1394 (FireWire), VGA, Parallel, TV Out, S-Video  
 Screen:  17.1" WXGA+ TFT Active Matrix  
 Video:  ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 8x AGP w/ 64MB DDR video memory  
 Keyboard and Mouse:  Full-sized keyboard w/ integrated 10-key pad and EZ Pad® Pointing Device  
 Multimedia Package:  Integrated sound and stereo speakers, headphone/speaker jack, line-in and mic jacks  
 Speakers:  External speakers not selected  
 Modem:  Integrated V.92 56K modem  
 Network Adapter:  Integrated 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet  
 Internet Service Provider:  Six months America Online® Internet access  
 Part Number:  1008134
Title: Future laptop... any good?
Post by: Grey Wolf on May 17, 2004, 03:54:29 pm
That a normal Pentium 4 or a Pentium 4-M? If it's a normal Pentium 4, say goodbye to any hopes of running it without it being plugged in.

The Pentium M is one of the two best mobile cores out there at the moment. Get that or the Athlon 64-M.