Please help me choose a laptop, here's the specs I want..

nimue · 08-23-2005, 10:31 PM

Hard Drive - minimum 40GB
Ram - 512MB
Processor - anything decent
Must have a PCMCIA Slot
DVD RW
Good battery life (I don't know much about laptop batteries..)
Not too heavy (mabye <= 6 lbs.)
I'm open to different screen sizes
preferably a 1 yr. warranty

Just FYI, I intend to install user-friendly version of linux (no, i'm not a programmer) and also keep windows on it. I will definitely be using the pcmcia slot to connect to a wireless broadband service (probably verizon). I may want to store some pictures or video on it if I go on a vacation, but I have an old desktop I can keep things on too.

Can you direct me to a specific laptop or company offering good prices on a laptop like this? Anyone running a good special? Not poor quality but it doesnt need to be top of the line or glitzy either. Please keep suggestions to systems under $1,000, but obviously the less the better as long as it's reliable.

thanks!!

alanuofm · 08-23-2005, 10:38 PM

any video card preferences? do you game?

nimue · 08-23-2005, 10:39 PM

I know nothing about video cards....what's decent? What difference does it make? I don't really play games...not saying I never will, but currently no. I could see wanting to watch a DVD on the computer or watch a video i've downloaded...

Quote:

Originally Posted by alanuofm

any video card preferences? do you game?

alanuofm · 08-23-2005, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nimue

I know nothing about video cards....what's decent? What difference does it make? I don't really play games...not saying I never will, but currently no. Probably not high on my priorities.

well if all you do is go on the internet and word process, there is no need for a very good processor.

nimue · 08-23-2005, 10:47 PM

Ok, so lets say I dont need a very good processor then.

Quote:

Originally Posted by alanuofm

well if all you do is go on the internet and word process, there is no need for a very good processor.

alanuofm · 08-23-2005, 10:50 PM

heres a very portable laptop with extremely long battery life with little/no gaming capability.

Intel® Pentium® M Processor 735 (1.70 GHz/400MHz FSB)12.1-in WXGA
512MB DDR SDRAM 2 Dimms
80 GB Hard Drive
24X CD Burner/DVD Combo Drive
Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200 Internal Wireless (802.11 b/g, 54Mbps)
65 WHr 8-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
1 Year Limited Warranty plus 1 Year Mail-In Service
Free Dell Color Printer 720

total: $901

4.1 pounds less than 1.5'' thick.

http://www1.us.dell.com/content/prod...iewstab#tabtop

not sure if it has pcmcia slot.

nimue · 08-23-2005, 10:58 PM

Would like DVD-RW (or at least DVD-R). Isn't 400MHz as low as the processors come? My few year old dell desktop has 1.69 Ghz.... 80GB is ok...but not necessary. Also, do some systems have better security than others as far as when using a wireless broadband service..And the pcmcia slot is a must.

Quote:

Originally Posted by alanuofm

heres a very portable laptop with extremely long battery life with little/no gaming capability.

Intel® Pentium® M Processor 735 (1.70 GHz/400MHz FSB)12.1-in WXGA
512MB DDR SDRAM 2 Dimms
80 GB Hard Drive
24X CD Burner/DVD Combo Drive
Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200 Internal Wireless (802.11 b/g, 54Mbps)
65 WHr 8-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery
1 Year Limited Warranty plus 1 Year Mail-In Service
Free Dell Color Printer 720

total: $901

4.1 pounds less than 1.5'' thick.

http://www1.us.dell.com/content/prod...iewstab#tabtop

alanuofm · 08-23-2005, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nimue

Would like DVD-RW (or at least DVD-R). Isn't 400MHz as low as the processors come? My few year old dell desktop has 1.69 Ghz.... 80GB is ok...but not necessary. Also, do some systems have better security than others as far as when using a wireless broadband service..

its a 1.7ghz processor with a 400mhz bus.

alanuofm · 08-23-2005, 10:58 PM

slightly bigger but still very portable. i actually own this laptop and love it.
this one has pretty good gaming capability and will most older fps/rpg games.

inspiron 600m
Pentium® M Processor 725(1.60 GHz/400MHz FSB) 14.1-in XGA w/64MB Video
512MB DDR SDRAM 2 Dimms
80GB Hard Drive
24X CD Burner/DVD Combo Drive
6-Cell Lithium Ion Battery (53Whr)
Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200 Internal Wireless (802.11 b/g, 54Mbps)
2Yr Ltd Warranty, 2Yr At-Home Service, and 2Yr Technical Support
Free Dell Color Printer 720

TOTAL:$906.00

has a pcmcia slot.
http://www1.us.dell.com/content/prod...pecstab#tabtop

alanuofm · 08-23-2005, 11:02 PM

is this one better?

inspiron 600m
Pentium® M Processor 725(1.60 GHz/400MHz FSB) 14.1-in XGA w/64MB Video
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home
512MB DDR SDRAM 2 Dimms
40GB Hard Drive
8x CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer DVD+R write capability
Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200 Internal Wireless (802.11 b/g, 54Mbps)
6-Cell Lithium Ion Battery (53Whr)
2Yr Ltd Warranty, 2Yr At-Home Service, and 2Yr Technical Support
1Yr Ltd. Warranty- Advance Exchange

total: $906

08-23-2005, 10:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
nimue New Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 11	Please help me choose a laptop, here's the specs I want.. Hard Drive - minimum 40GB Ram - 512MB Processor - anything decent Must have a PCMCIA Slot DVD RW Good battery life (I don't know much about laptop batteries..) Not too heavy (mabye <= 6 lbs.) I'm open to different screen sizes preferably a 1 yr. warranty Just FYI, I intend to install user-friendly version of linux (no, i'm not a programmer) and also keep windows on it. I will definitely be using the pcmcia slot to connect to a wireless broadband service (probably verizon). I may want to store some pictures or video on it if I go on a vacation, but I have an old desktop I can keep things on too. Can you direct me to a specific laptop or company offering good prices on a laptop like this? Anyone running a good special? Not poor quality but it doesnt need to be top of the line or glitzy either. Please keep suggestions to systems under $1,000, but obviously the less the better as long as it's reliable. thanks!! Last edited by nimue; 08-23-2005 at 10:38 PM.

08-23-2005, 10:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
alanuofm Diamond Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,630	heres a very portable laptop with extremely long battery life with little/no gaming capability. Intel® Pentium® M Processor 735 (1.70 GHz/400MHz FSB)12.1-in WXGA 512MB DDR SDRAM 2 Dimms 80 GB Hard Drive 24X CD Burner/DVD Combo Drive Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200 Internal Wireless (802.11 b/g, 54Mbps) 65 WHr 8-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery 1 Year Limited Warranty plus 1 Year Mail-In Service Free Dell Color Printer 720 total: $901 4.1 pounds less than 1.5'' thick. http://www1.us.dell.com/content/prod...iewstab#tabtop not sure if it has pcmcia slot. Last edited by alanuofm; 08-23-2005 at 10:53 PM.

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08-23-2005, 10:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
alanuofm Diamond Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,630	any video card preferences? do you game?

08-23-2005, 10:58 PM	#9 (permalink)
alanuofm Diamond Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,630	slightly bigger but still very portable. i actually own this laptop and love it. this one has pretty good gaming capability and will most older fps/rpg games. inspiron 600m Pentium® M Processor 725(1.60 GHz/400MHz FSB) 14.1-in XGA w/64MB Video 512MB DDR SDRAM 2 Dimms 80GB Hard Drive 24X CD Burner/DVD Combo Drive 6-Cell Lithium Ion Battery (53Whr) Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200 Internal Wireless (802.11 b/g, 54Mbps) 2Yr Ltd Warranty, 2Yr At-Home Service, and 2Yr Technical Support Free Dell Color Printer 720 TOTAL:$906.00 has a pcmcia slot. http://www1.us.dell.com/content/prod...pecstab#tabtop

08-23-2005, 11:02 PM	#10 (permalink)
alanuofm Diamond Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,630	is this one better? inspiron 600m Pentium® M Processor 725(1.60 GHz/400MHz FSB) 14.1-in XGA w/64MB Video Microsoft® Windows® XP Home 512MB DDR SDRAM 2 Dimms 40GB Hard Drive 8x CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer DVD+R write capability Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200 Internal Wireless (802.11 b/g, 54Mbps) 6-Cell Lithium Ion Battery (53Whr) 2Yr Ltd Warranty, 2Yr At-Home Service, and 2Yr Technical Support 1Yr Ltd. Warranty- Advance Exchange total: $906