Novice: Which is Best Buy?

Topgunbar0 · 12-19-2005, 02:31 AM

I'm looking for a new laptop under $1300 or so on eBay. I'm looking at a few, one, the Dell XPS M140 (2.0 ghz, 1 GB RAM, 60 GB Hard Drive), Dell Inspiron 6000 (9300 is too much), 2.0 ghz, 1 GB RAM, 100 GB Hard Drive, ATI Mobility Radeon X300 64MB HyperMemory Video Card, an IBM Thinkpad possibly? I want good resolution, although what is very important to me is VGA output or whatever video output I need for a new LCD Sharp Aquos 32" TV. Is a Radeon X300 a decent graphics card or will I need an upgrade? I obviously want a Pentium M, Centrino. Would a Sony VAIO be any good? I don't want a Toshiba, I have only had one laptop a Toshiba Satellite 2.4 ghz Intel Pentium 4, two years ago, model 2435-S255 and while it was decent, the structure was piss poor. The metal piece in the charging port broke off twice, and to get the thing to charge again, I would have to buy a new MOTHERBOARD for that little thing, SINCE I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT SOLDERING. The first time I had to beg them to pay to replace the motherboard, and now I just sold it on eBay telling that it's broken and if you can solder on a new piece, it can be fixed. (I know a guy who did it.)

The main things I want is something durable (tough, won't break easily), fast, and good battery power. Graphics Card is important and so is resolution (probably 1028x16__) But the resolution on the computer won't have any effect on the view on the TV, will it, I mean, since the LCD has it's own resolution? Now with the Intel Pentium M, isn't a 2.0 ghz just as fast as like a 2.8 ghz Pentium 4 since it works on low power or something? I don't quite understand that, and also, I don't know much about graphics cards or anything.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm leaning towards an Inspiron 6000, even though I would really like an Acer Travelmate 8100 (Out of my range). THANKS AGAIN!!

suprasteve · 12-19-2005, 04:15 AM

ok well I can guide you a little I guess. Thinkpads are built all but bulletproof, so if you want something strong, you can't do much better. If you don't solder power plugs, you're certainly not going to solder on a different graphics card, which is probably the only way you'll be able to upgrade one. I have a Toshiba and can understand what you mean about the buld quality, I just take it easy on mine. A friend of mine has a Thinkpad (forget which one, thinking T43 but could be wrong) with the 14" screen and with the optional 12 cell battery, he gets like 5 hours of battery life when he's conservative about his power usage. I'm not so sure about that whole Pentium M being better than a 4, not really my area either, I know the M's are more efficient and stuff, but I think raw power will usually win most processing battles. Hope this helps a little...

MatrixEVO · 12-19-2005, 04:37 AM

Get a Dell Inspiron 9300, configure it so the price is at least $2k for the UNIT PRICE, then enter this coupon code: CC2$$MRTCWJ5FD

The total will be $1250 w/ a unit price of $2k.

Get:

-Go 6800
-1gb RAM
-Pentium M 740
-80gb 7200rpm HDD

Configure to your needs though if you want.

alanuofm · 12-19-2005, 04:29 PM

you are going to have a hard time upgrading the video card on a laptop. even from the same manufacturer, the internal makeup of the laptop is very different from different models. what kind of games are you playing? usually your best bet is to not get a gaming laptop if you are really into games. instead get a laptop suitable for work/schoolwork/minor video games and then build yourself a nice desktop.

Topgunbar0 · 12-21-2005, 02:52 AM

I am not a big gamer on the computer, mainly xbox or now the 360. Thanks for the advice!

12-19-2005, 02:31 AM	#1 (permalink)
Topgunbar0 New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 3	Novice: Which is Best Buy? I'm looking for a new laptop under $1300 or so on eBay. I'm looking at a few, one, the Dell XPS M140 (2.0 ghz, 1 GB RAM, 60 GB Hard Drive), Dell Inspiron 6000 (9300 is too much), 2.0 ghz, 1 GB RAM, 100 GB Hard Drive, ATI Mobility Radeon X300 64MB HyperMemory Video Card, an IBM Thinkpad possibly? I want good resolution, although what is very important to me is VGA output or whatever video output I need for a new LCD Sharp Aquos 32" TV. Is a Radeon X300 a decent graphics card or will I need an upgrade? I obviously want a Pentium M, Centrino. Would a Sony VAIO be any good? I don't want a Toshiba, I have only had one laptop a Toshiba Satellite 2.4 ghz Intel Pentium 4, two years ago, model 2435-S255 and while it was decent, the structure was piss poor. The metal piece in the charging port broke off twice, and to get the thing to charge again, I would have to buy a new MOTHERBOARD for that little thing, SINCE I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT SOLDERING. The first time I had to beg them to pay to replace the motherboard, and now I just sold it on eBay telling that it's broken and if you can solder on a new piece, it can be fixed. (I know a guy who did it.) The main things I want is something durable (tough, won't break easily), fast, and good battery power. Graphics Card is important and so is resolution (probably 1028x16__) But the resolution on the computer won't have any effect on the view on the TV, will it, I mean, since the LCD has it's own resolution? Now with the Intel Pentium M, isn't a 2.0 ghz just as fast as like a 2.8 ghz Pentium 4 since it works on low power or something? I don't quite understand that, and also, I don't know much about graphics cards or anything. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm leaning towards an Inspiron 6000, even though I would really like an Acer Travelmate 8100 (Out of my range). THANKS AGAIN!!

12-19-2005, 04:37 AM	#3 (permalink)
MatrixEVO Diamond Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Concord, NH Age: 20 Posts: 1,366	Get a Dell Inspiron 9300, configure it so the price is at least $2k for the UNIT PRICE, then enter this coupon code: CC2$$MRTCWJ5FD The total will be $1250 w/ a unit price of $2k. Get: -Go 6800 -1gb RAM -Pentium M 740 -80gb 7200rpm HDD Configure to your needs though if you want. __________________ Git-R-Done!!! Last edited by MatrixEVO; 12-19-2005 at 04:40 AM.

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12-19-2005, 04:15 AM	#2 (permalink)
suprasteve Diamond Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Atlanta Posts: 1,355	ok well I can guide you a little I guess. Thinkpads are built all but bulletproof, so if you want something strong, you can't do much better. If you don't solder power plugs, you're certainly not going to solder on a different graphics card, which is probably the only way you'll be able to upgrade one. I have a Toshiba and can understand what you mean about the buld quality, I just take it easy on mine. A friend of mine has a Thinkpad (forget which one, thinking T43 but could be wrong) with the 14" screen and with the optional 12 cell battery, he gets like 5 hours of battery life when he's conservative about his power usage. I'm not so sure about that whole Pentium M being better than a 4, not really my area either, I know the M's are more efficient and stuff, but I think raw power will usually win most processing battles. Hope this helps a little...

12-19-2005, 04:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
alanuofm Diamond Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,630	you are going to have a hard time upgrading the video card on a laptop. even from the same manufacturer, the internal makeup of the laptop is very different from different models. what kind of games are you playing? usually your best bet is to not get a gaming laptop if you are really into games. instead get a laptop suitable for work/schoolwork/minor video games and then build yourself a nice desktop.

12-21-2005, 02:52 AM	#5 (permalink)
Topgunbar0 New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 3	I am not a big gamer on the computer, mainly xbox or now the 360. Thanks for the advice!