OT: Question on new laptop purchase

[Hurst2112]

Sorry Flasch186, I am going new.

I am in the process of buying a new notebook. I have been looking around and am not sure on which way to go.

I am spending around 1400-1600. Of course, the cheaper the better.

My question lies in the choice of a dedicated video card versus shared memory. I have found a Toshiba M60 that offers a 128MB video card for the price that I am looking for. I have looked at others that offer shared memory. There is a Dell and an HP that offer that. I have my list narrowed down to about 3-4 computers.

If you boost the RAM on a machine that uses shared memory, will that justify not paying for a graphics card? I don't play graphic intensive games and don't do photoshop work. My first desire is a small, lightweight computer. Screen size isn't important to me (toshiba is 14" widescreen I think...same with the HP I was looking at. Dell was the 12 inch version). The only ones that I have found that offer the graphics card are the toshiba and...gateway.

There is also the issue of spending an extra 150-200 on a boost in processor (1.7 pentium M or a 2.0).

So many things to think of. I know that some of you have bought new machines. Any suggestions would help a lot.

Thanks.

[PackerFanatic]

If you are going to spend 1400 - 1600, you should be able to get at LEAST a 14'' screen.

Then again, I hardly look into laptops so I am not sure what the price range is at right now.

If you don't care so much about the graphics card, pump up other areas (processor, RAM) and don't look so much at the video card. At the price range you are specifying, you will get a decent card no matter what (especially since you aren't going to be using it for anything intensive)

[Hurst2112]

thanks...

the issue with laptops and cards, from what i have found, is that there are actual graphics cards and graphics accelerator cards. I am under the impression that the accelerator cards use the on board ram for graphics. Some companies describe them as being 8MB-128MB of shared Ram, depending on the request of the program.

i may just bump the processor and RAM and be happy with whatever they throw at me for graphics acceleration.

[WrongWay]

I caught an article on CNBC that Gateway will be introducing a $400.00 laptop in the first QTR of 2006. They also expect Dell to counter with a slash in prices on their Laptops too.


Don't know how soon you need a new laptop, but if you can wait a couple of months you should be able to save few hundred next year. Or, maybe you could find one of those stores that offers a 90 day price guarantee. I know I would be upset if I bought something in December and then walked into a store in Feburary and saw the same laptop for $300.00 less.

[tucker342]

I caught an article on CNBC that Gateway will be introducing a $400.00 laptop in the first QTR of 2006. They also expect Dell to counter with a slash in prices on their Laptops too.


Don't know how soon you need a new laptop, but if you can wait a couple of months you should be able to save few hundred next year. Or, maybe you could find one of those stores that offers a 90 day price guarantee. I know I would be upset if I bought something in December and then walked into a store in Feburary and saw the same laptop for $300.00 less.
Thank u for that! I was going to get a labtop, but u know what I think I can wait a couple of months for the likely dell price drop:)

[Hurst2112]

I know I would be upset if I bought something in December and then walked into a store in Feburary and saw the same laptop for $300.00 less.


So goes the life of a computer purchaser. hah

[Hurst2112]

update:

Ok, just lettin you know what I ended up getting.

I fought the urge to purchase more than what I needed. I started checking on ebay for newer used or new notebooks. I actually found some really good deals. I limited myself to a cap of 1300. That was to include costs of shipping and any possible tax. I knew going into that decision that I would have to sacrafice some things.

I found a new Toshiba Satellite M65 for around 1249. I was bouncing between that and a dell 9300. The difference between the 2 items was that the dell weighed a bit more and had a 64MB video card. The toshiba had the accelerator video. I justified my purchase by telling myself that a better video card would taunt me into buying video games that i can't afford. hehe

The toshiba has a centrino 1.73/100gb HD (5400RPM)/512 RAM (2X256)/wireless/tru brite 17" widescreen/DVDR...and a cool copper color. The RAM sucks but I plan on upgrading when I need it. As of now, the computer is a EHM/FOF/MOVIE/INTERNET machine. That's pretty much all it will be. The wife has my old gateway for her Sims 2 fixes.

One thing I noticed going from a P4 to a Centrino is the lack of fan noise. Gateway would crank up while playing sims 2 or EHM. It was kinda loud and annoying when watching DVDs. The toshiba is very quiet and seems to handle 4-6 hour blocks of EHM just fine.

I could have found a better used machine for a similar price, but I didn't want to wait. I like new computers. I like being compulsive sometimes.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

Congrats on the purchase. I also bough recently. I got the Dell Inspiron 9300 with media center/tv tuner (it's a 17-inch widescreen with a bunch of other goodies). You wouldn't have went wrong with it either. With an awesome e-coupon, the Dell came in at $1,400 before tax, and free printer. I almost felt like they were giving it away (although I am sure the price will go lower soon towards year end).

Anyways, hope your enjoying. The Toshiba is good. Gotta love the 17-inch screen!

[oliegirl]

Congrats on the purchase. I also bough recently. I got the Dell Inspiron 9300 with media center/tv tuner (it's a 17-inch widescreen with a bunch of other goodies). You wouldn't have went wrong with it either. With an awesome e-coupon, the Dell came in at $1,400 before tax, and free printer. I almost felt like they were giving it away (although I am sure the price will go lower soon towards year end).

Anyways, hope your enjoying. The Toshiba is good. Gotta love the 17-inch screen!


I have the same laptop (minus the tv tuner) and have loved it since I got it in September/early October...but Sunday it started making a "clicking" noise and running VERY slow. I called Dell support yesterday, they had me take out the battery and some drive looking thingy over by the card slot and then replace it, said that would fix it...of course it didn't. Still clicking and going slow (though not as slow as before I called). I asked if this continued how long I had to swap it for a new machine and he told me there had to be 3 calls in a month before I am "eligible" for an exchange. I had a Dell previously and loved it, but am pretty disappointed in this machine right now and am going to be really upset with Dell if they start giving me the runaround on something this important on a machine that is less than 2 months old.