NEED help buying Laptop

[devintohara]

I've decided I would like to buy a laptop. However, most of my computer knowledge is of desktops. Therefore I need a vast amount of help please.

I've read a bit about Thinkpads, Powerbooks, Vaio's, Toshiba etc. But I am still uncertain about which is best for me. I don't understand the different cpu's and names out there right now, and all I see is mobility this, and wireless that. Also, I don't understand the battery life either... only 2.5hrs?

I would like to browse the internet, watch movies, play videogames, word process, email, etc.

Here's what I think I'd like...

CPU: AMD preferrably, but intel is fine

RAM: will 1GB do?

Video: 128MB or 256MB card that isn't shared (average-to-good graphics for DOOM3, call of duty, quake4, etc)

HD: 80GB?

Screen: 15inch (don't need 17inch)

Optical: CD burner, dvd player (dvd burner not needed)

Any suggestions to these specs would be greatly appreciated. Currently, I'm looking to spend approx. $2200Cdn incld tax (15% or 1.15xAmount). I don't mind buying from www.Dell.ca (http://www.dell.ca), www.FutureShop.ca (http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/class.asp?logon=&langid=EN&catid=1002), www.BestBuy.ca (http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/dept.asp?logon=&langid=EN&catid=20352), www.Staples.ca (http://www.staples.ca/ENG/Catalog/cat_class.asp?CatIds=89%2C90,91&name=CA%5FCL%5FNotebook+Laptops+English), or www.NCIX.ca (http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?minorcatid=1006)

Can you guys please suggest some good options. I NEED your help! :confused:

[glc]

If you want battery life, here's the best one out there. The video card isn't THAT great, but it doesn't share memory.

[devintohara]

Thanks glc for the quick reply. Batterly life is not one of my main issues, I was just shocked to see a low battery life on so many notebooks.

The laptop you suggested would be nice, however the video card is not sufficient for what I'd like. I would like something inbetween the X300 and X800 radeon models if possible.

Is Dell a good brand to buy from? What about Toshiba?

If it's cheaper, I can buy from an American site and just have the laptop shipped to a family member in Michigan.

[glc]

Give me a USD figure to work with. Any Dell on the CA site above that one exceeds your budget.

I'm not impressed with Toshiba's quality control these days.

[devintohara]

In USD currency, maybe try looking for one around $1800 and another around $2000 (I say this b/c I may be able to find a bit more money for a good laptop).

I really appreciate the help glc, I get quite confused when browsing myself. I can put together a good desktop, but I don't understand the lower Ghz for laptops, or the mobility issues, or duo core, etc.

[thefultonhow]

Okay, if you want a Dell with a good graphics card, you're going to have to go to a 17" screen. The Inspiron E1705/9400 has an available GeForce Go 7800, and a Core Duo (Pentium-M dual-core) processor. If you're willing to look elsewhere, I really like the Sager NP5320 -- it's not dual-core, but it has a Mobility Radeon X700 and a 15.4" widescreen.

EDIT: Apparently I'm wrong about the Dell. You'd have to jump up to an XPS M170 to get a good graphics card. The E1705/9400 is now shipping with a Mobility Radeon X1400 HyperMemory -- the X1400 is not a bad card, but with HyperMemory it's not worth it.

[thefultonhow]

Attached is a nice NP5320 configuration.

[devintohara]

thanks for the info thefultonhow. I don't necessarily want to get a Dell, it's just one of the companies that was suggested.

I like the Sager NP5320, it has pretty much everything I asked for (does not dual-core matter). However, I've never heard of this company before. Do they make their own laptops then sell them? Are they reliable?

[thefultonhow]

Basically nobody makes their own laptops -- the only people who really do are Asus. ODMs (original design manufacturers) make laptops for all of the OEMs. Dells are made by Compal and Quanta, IBMs are made by Quanta, etc. Sagers are made by Clevo, which is a very well-regarded ODM that mostly makes boutique laptops.

[devintohara]

thanks for the tips thefultonhow, it's greatly appreciated!

could someone please explain though, the difference between the centrino and p4, and why the Ghz seem to be very different between the two? And what's the dual-core all about?

Should I buy a duel core laptop? Is it better the long run? So many questions!!!

[thefultonhow]

Centrino/Pentium-M is an evolution of the P6 architecture used in the Pentium Pro, Pentium II, and Pentium III. The P4 is based on the newer NetBurst architecture, characterized by a long pipeline and very high bandwidth. Because of these traits it needs to be clocked much higher than the P6 architecture, as well as AMD's K7 architecture that forms the basis for the Athlon lineup. The Pentium-M thus performs similarly to Athlon 64s, so the same kinds of clock speed comparisons apply.

The P4 (NetBurst) architecture is actually being phased out later this year; Intel's new line of processors, codenamed Conroe, is based on the Pentium-M architecture. For more information, you can read this article that I wrote:

http://www.pcmech.com/show/kudos/869/

Dual-Core is similar to dual-processor systems; for more information on it, you can read my sticky in the Processors, RAM, Motherboards and Overclocking section:

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=153070

[devintohara]

Ahhh it makes A LOT more sense to me now, thank you thefultonhow!

You mentioned that the X1400 is not a bad card, but with HyperMemory is not worth it. Why is this?

I read some reviews about the Radeon Mobility X700 (http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1752268,00.asp) and it shows as a decent videocard but not still not too good. Is it possible for me to get a better video card without having to the whole gaming package (ie. Dell XPS) laptop?

[thefultonhow]

HyperMemory goes out to the system memory, slowing down performance considerably. It's basically the same way that integrated graphics works.

You won't find anything better than a GeForce Go 6600 or Mobility Radeon X700 in a laptop in your price range. The Acer TravelMate 8200 has an ATI X1600, but the laptop is $3000.

[devintohara]

You've helped quite a bit with all your information. It should make purchasing a laptop a lot easier, and so far that Sager NP5320 is looking pretty good :cool:

glc, did you have a suggestion at all, or do you agree with thefultonhow?

[glc]

The XPS M170 is $1999 right now - with a GeForce Go 6800 Ultra and a gig of ram.

[devintohara]

Thanks for all the help!!!

[devintohara]

The Acer TravelMate 8200 has an ATI X1600, but the laptop is $3000.

After further thought, I realized I will gather a bit more $$$ and splurge for a better laptop. I've looked around on almost every site I could think of or was told about, and decided on Acer 8200 from NCIX.com (http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=17745&vpn=LX.TAX06.034&manufacture=Acer). After (Canadian) taxes and shipping it comes to approx. $2600CAD ($2200USD).

I'm very happy with it's Duo Core 2ghz, 2gigs of Ram, Radeon x1600, & 120gb HD.

Lastly, is this a good deal? Should I keep looking around, or wait until the end of summer for something else/new to come out?

I just found a not so good REVIEW (http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2783&review=Acer+TravelMate+8204WLMi+%2D+Core+Duo+T2500+2+GHz+%2D+15%2E4) of this laptop, and it mentions getting the sager instead..... grrrrrrrr i'm getting so frustrated! :mad:

[thefultonhow]

I would personally get the Acer. I think the review is unjustifiably negative -- the reviewer seized on a few minor niggles and blew them up so they seemed larger than they really were.

If you wait around until the next big thing is out, you'll be waiting forever. There's always something cooler just around the corner.

[devintohara]

I've read a few reviews about the screen on the 8200, and its lack of a glossy finish.

- "Mediocre dim screen with major light leakage (http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2783&review=Acer+TravelMate+8204WLMi+%2D+Core+Duo+T2500+2+GHz+%2D+15%2E4)"

- "The matte screen is better for office apps... ...just don't let this be your prime media machine (http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1907155,00.asp)"

I know it's matte and therefore anti-glare, but will it still be okay for gaming and media (movies, pics, etc).

[devintohara]

Also, can someone explain the reason for having the 120gb HD automatically partitioned? (http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?mode=productreviewread&product_id=17745)

The hard drive has 3 partitions.
One (~4Gb): contains a copy of the preinstalled Windows environment
Two (~50Gb): contains the Windows filesystem (Fat32)
Three (~50Gb): is free space (Fat32).

Can I change this so it's just one drive like normal?

[glc]

They are shipping it FAT32? Yikes. Well, unless there's any reason it CAN'T be done, I think I would convert partition 2 to NTFS, then delete partition 3, then use Partition Magic to stretch partition 2 out to the end of the drive.

I'm assuming here that partition 1 is the recovery partition.

[thefultonhow]

I know it's matte and therefore anti-glare, but will it still be okay for gaming and media (movies, pics, etc).

Glossy screens are nice, but not necessary by any means. Neither of the screens I'm using right now are glossy, and they still work fine.

[devintohara]

Thanks glc, when I get the laptop I may need your help fixing the partitoned drives.:o

AND

Thanks again thefultonhow, after ALL your help, and many answers to my on-going questions... I've officially decided to buy the Acer 8200. I'm ordering it right now!:)