New laptop

[hazza]

Umm....


I want a cheap laptop that will be kick ass, all it needs is allright size hdds, allright cpu speed, lan, dvd/cd-rw and an ok graphics card. the only ones ive been able to find are pushing 3 grand which is far to much for not offering anything really "wow".


So anyone know any good, fairly priced laptops?

[tikdoph]

I would have thought this would be seen by more people if it went into the "Wanted" forum. Oh well.

Anyways, what's the most you're prepared to spend? New or second-hand? I'd probably suggest asking around of anyone who works for a reasonably large company. They upgrade and sometimes let staff buy the older laptops. You might be able to pick one up that way. Just because someone working there doesn't want one doesn't mean that they can't get one for you.

[jambo]

Acer

[minorproblem]

its funny all the features that you listed that you want are what come with the higher range laptops. If your really serious about buying one you might as well fork out the dosh and get one of the new ones using the m-type processor from intel, they have superiour battery etc and most come with good components.. for a laptop that is, no matter how hard u try its never going to compare to your home system.

[frednurk]

Just bought a runout Toshiba A-20 for the business for $2k neat. P4- 2.4, 256k ram, Standard aspect 15" lcd, CD/CDRW/DVD combo, 40 Gig Hdd. Lan/ firewire/ USB and wireless all standard. Extended 3 yr parts and labour warrantee. Got it from Hardly Normals on a special. Does the job nicely. It helps when you know the manager personally :) Beware the Aussie dollar exchange rate- nice timing of your purchase is the trick.

[Drakin]

You could get an iBook and spray it pink! :eek:

[Al]

I agree with Jambo, after having a brief look into laptops.

Acer have some reasonable quality lappy's with a reasonable price tag.

You may have to sacrifice some cpu speed, hdd space or ram to get the price down. Such is life.

If you decide what you actually need a lappy for then it helps. Personally I want it mostly for work, playing games on laptops has always annoyed me for some reason.

[hazza]

Hey, yeah thanks for the input.

I basically am needing this baby for when im at uni, since i have a pretty good computer atm (amd xp 1800, 512mb, 60gig e.t.c).


Im willing to spend ~$2500 give or take a couple of hundred. Ive looked at some of the dell specials and i can get a pretty good laptop for around $2000 and then i can like customise it, so i might go with that. I havent looked at acer yet but they have like a factory distro place in ryde/lanecove/artarmon on epping road.



im such a noob LOL OMGFG>

[Nalixor]

http://www.computeralliance.com.au/parts.aspx?qryPart=3598 <-- Try that site. Thats where I purchased my really nice ASUS laptop. Its really, really sexy. Im on it atm using my wireless card at uni. It rocks, trust me. Excellent video card, excellent processor, excellent space (60gig), decent memory (512), and its all very sexy. Comes with a subwoofer in the laptop, makes it a bit heavier and thicker than most, but is a incredibly sexy machine.

[Al]

Be wary of Dell, given the quality of their desktop machines I'd be uninterested in purchasing a laptop from them.

Having said that, a guy at work has one and he seems to be doing alright with it.

[sputnik]

I just bought a toshiba A30 LR4 from harvey norman for $2800.
60 gig
3GHz
DVD burner
512meg RAM

Awesome machine for the price.

[Nalixor]

Originally posted by sputnik
I just bought a toshiba A30 LR4 from harvey norman for $2800.
60 gig
3GHz
DVD burner
512meg RAM

Awesome machine for the price.

I got basically the same machine (different cpu) probably better video card (ATI 9600, 64mb) with a dvd burner and same ram, etc. for $2300. Also, it has the Asus power saving technology, so it'll actually slow down your computer depending on how you're using it. So if you're just doing word processing/email/stuff like that, you have like 4.5 hours of battery time. And there are a lot of other things like that. Settings for DVD watching, etc. Its a fabulous machine. :D

[EDIT]: They also ship for cheap. Got my lappy shipped to me for an extra $20. It rox.

[hazza]

http://www.computeralliance.com.au/parts.aspx?qryPart=3598



thats one kick ass laptop for that price

[Nalixor]

Originally posted by hazza
http://www.computeralliance.com.au/parts.aspx?qryPart=3598



thats one kick ass laptop for that price

Duh. Thats why I suggested it. Buy it. Buy it NOW! Before they run out. :P

[hazza]

Originally posted by Nalixor
Duh. Thats why I suggested it. Buy it. Buy it NOW! Before they run out. :P




WHAT? RUN OUT?


*panics and runs into a wall*

[mrsatantoyou]

Originally posted by big al
Be wary of Dell, given the quality of their desktop machines I'd be uninterested in purchasing a laptop from them.

Thats the second time I've heard that today...

I vote for the pink iBook!

[Septhazor]

the only thing i dont like about dell is. when you turn on your PC for the first time, they make you agree to some crappy agreement, that IF you modify anything *software wise* your warranty is void. Even formatting the PC i assume. You cant throw on *nix or anything rather.


I prefer ASUS... but the set of the HDD partition is rather.. shonky at times.
But its fast nevertheless. I got myself an ASUS, Toshiba is pretty good. Got one of those. Just sold a Dell laptop. I couldnt do anything to it otherwise i "voided" my warranty.

[scathing]

Second hand is no good, right?

I have a colleague selling 2 old Compaq EVOs (1.7GHz P4Ms, can't remember the rest of the specs) for around $1700 each (maybe less since its been a while since he told me about them).

If you're OK with a used laptop, I'll go grab the specs for you.

[tikdoph]

If you are going to be lugging it around everyday, you'll want something light (or you're gonna get sick of carrying it everywhere), that can take a beating.

I was told by a friend a few days ago that Dell laptops are extremely heavy duty. She said that the trainers of the company she worked for had Dell laptops, as they travelled around the country a fair bit, and she was impressed with their sturdiness and ability to keep on functioning despite being dropped on several occasions and being stored with all the regular luggage on the plane, i.e. not part of the carry-on luggage.

Couldn't speak for Acer, but the last Asus laptop I played with weighed a tonne.

[Nalixor]

Originally posted by tikdoph
If you are going to be lugging it around everyday, you'll want something light (or you're gonna get sick of carrying it everywhere), that can take a beating.

I was told by a friend a few days ago that Dell laptops are extremely heavy duty. She said that the trainers of the company she worked for had Dell laptops, as they travelled around the country a fair bit, and she was impressed with their sturdiness and ability to keep on functioning despite being dropped on several occasions and being stored with all the regular luggage on the plane, i.e. not part of the carry-on luggage.

Couldn't speak for Acer, but the last Asus laptop I played with weighed a tonne.

That is true, the ASUS does weigh more than other laptops I have looked at, but it is superior. A targus laptop backpack costs $80 at Harris Tech. and they're excellent. Those bags distrubute the weight so that it feels like its 1/4 of what it actually weighs. They're great. Also, I carry all my heavy textbooks in it as well, and it still feels like nothing new. Also, since Hazza just finished high school, the heavyish weight on his back would be nothing compared to the textbooks and things he probably had to carry for his subjects at HS. :P Anyway, I would really recommend getting a laptop backpack, as the single strap thingies are *extremely* bad for your back. The Targus laptop bags are the way to go. You dont want to give up performace of a laptop just because its a bit on the heavy side.

[Septhazor]

auch.

heavy laptop arent ideal :/

i got a light weight ASUS laptop.

L4000H i think. *its roughly around that*

Besides, dropping laptop arent a good idea :P No matter if heavy duty even the first drop could prove fatal to your pretty laptop :P just dont even try testing it by dropping :/

[Nalixor]

Originally posted by hazza
WHAT? RUN OUT?


*panics and runs into a wall*

I wouldnt worry *that* much. I got my lappy from them about a month ago, maybe a bit less, and they had something like 17 in stock. So give em a call, preferably a call rather than an email, because they might not have them in stock for much longer, and a call is instantaneous while an email isnt. :P

[hazza]

carrying it around?


i live on campus, so its just gonna be in my room.

[Al]

Went and had a look at a few laptops today. I'd definately recommend going and physically comparing them, as opposed to just ordering online.

Some of them looked ok, but when you fiddle with buttons or pick them up they don't seem as good.

[Sbutter]

Originally posted by big al
Be wary of Dell, given the quality of their desktop machines I'd be uninterested in purchasing a laptop from them.

Having said that, a guy at work has one and he seems to be doing alright with it.


I also enjoy my dell laptop. Very few problems especially when you do not use their software. They are even upgradeable if you know what your doing or very careful and good at following directions.

[Nalixor]

Originally posted by big al
Went and had a look at a few laptops today. I'd definately recommend going and physically comparing them, as opposed to just ordering online.

Some of them looked ok, but when you fiddle with buttons or pick them up they don't seem as good.

I am currently sitting on the laptop that I posted in that link. And I can tell you from personal experience that its the best bit of hardware I have ever purchased. It even comes with XP Pro. Its a very, very sexy machine. And its cheap.

[kyuss]

I scored an IBM Thinkpad r32 for free a few weeks ago now, p4m 1.6ghz, 256MB ram, 40gb HDD, and i purchased a wireless PCMCIA card (wireless not built in ewww) and UNI has never been funner!

Throughout my working career i've mainly been involved with Toshiba Satellites and IBM Thinkpads.

I have found the Toshiba's to be a really reliable laptop and perform well aswell.

As for the IBM Thinkpads, besides looking a little crappy (having the overall same design since they're creation) they arn't as reliable and don't perform as well as the Toshiba Satellite's.

...my 2 cents

[mjolnir]

those heavy laptops arent called "desktop replacements" for nuthing...

pentium centrinos are definitely worth a look - they minimise the amount of power used by the laptop by integrating stuff like wireless LAN and the processor into 1 lil package. quite comparable to a pentium 2.8 or so, apparently.

altho if u'r looking for a gaming lappie...
http://www.alienware.com/system_pages/area-51m.aspx

[Drakin]

Originally posted by Nalixor
I am currently sitting on the laptop that I posted in that link. And I can tell you from personal experience that its the best bit of hardware I have ever purchased. It even comes with XP Pro. Its a very, very sexy machine. And its cheap.

Dude, get a chair, s'fucking heaps cheaper and much more comfortable to sit on.

:swear: Oopsie, looks like I didn't read The Posting Guidelines (http://forums.zgeek.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16703) :swear:

Fuck i forgot and used humor in the tech forums, sorry.

[Nalixor]

Originally posted by Drakin
Dude, get a chair, s'fucking heaps cheaper and much more comfortable to sit on.

:swear: Oopsie, looks like I didn't read The Posting Guidelines (http://forums.zgeek.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16703) :swear:

Fuck i forgot and used humor in the tech forums, sorry.

rofl. :p

:swear: Oopsie, looks like I didn't read The Posting Guidelines (http://forums.zgeek.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=16703) :swear:

:: that applies to you too buster. :mad: Remarks like that don't contribute anything to this forum. ::

[urban_gorilla]

ibm apparently sell refurbished laptops. ex-lease or some such, they service them, replace battery and give it a (small) new warranty.
we have a couple of (new) ones at work, and they are rather good. heavy though... but i can live with that seeing as its titanium reinforced case :)
check it out (http://www-605.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?categoryId=8708907&storeId=36&catalogId=-36&langId=036&dualCurrId=97)

[hazza]

Originally posted by hazza
http://www.computeralliance.com.au/parts.aspx?qryPart=3598



thats one kick ass laptop for that price



w00t ordered it today.

[tikdoph]

This one is nice if you're really on a budget.

http://www.computeralliance.com.au/parts.aspx?qryPart=3277

[kyuss]

Originally posted by tikdoph
This one is nice if you're really on a budget.

http://www.computeralliance.com.au/parts.aspx?qryPart=3277

Ewww, how dare you associate the word 'nice' with a Celeron.

[Nalixor]

Originally posted by hazza
w00t ordered it today.

Excellent. You will really enjoy that laptop. Its really a wonderful machine. :D I suggest buying a Netgear Wireless PCMCIA card to go with that laptop for the same price. They did me a deal with the laptop + card, I think. Got the card for $100 regardless, and its a dual band jobbie. It rox. Its one of those really expensive Netgear Wireless PCMCIA cards, but I forget the model and stuff. But nevertheless, they did it for me cheap. :D

[hazza]

meh eh cbf

[hazza]

After some problems with computer alliance, i still need a new laptop.

Caution to anyone using a credit card with computer alliance, its nearly impossible to buy shit from them.


So anyone know places i can get a laptop in sydney ?



like quickly.

edit:

w00t found the same laptop for cheaper in sydney, i think.

http://www.techchoice.com.au/products.asp?catID=1&subID=8
and i get a carry case and a mouse, l33t.


can someone double check this? i cant really be sure since my net is gay atm.