I Need A New Laptop

DragonMechDragonMech Join Date: 2003-09-19 Member: 21023Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
edited March 2004 in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">Because mine has broken for the 4th time</div> The title of my thread says it all: I'm getting a new computer. Why? Well, my current machine has broken more times than I can handle. It is a <a href='http://webshop.fujitsupc.com/fpc/Ecommerce/buildseriesbean.do?series=AN' target='_blank'>Fujitsu Lifebook N 3010</a>, and I am decidedly not happy with it.

The whole story:
I got my Lifebook a little less than a year ago when I went to college. It proceded to break 3 times in the first 6 months that I owned it, spending more time at the repair shop than in my dorm room. Then, I was given a similar replacement model. Now, this one is going down the toilet as well. Long story short, I'm hoping to get a refund, and a new laptop in the process.

If you know a good laptop meeting or exceeding my requirements listed below, or a good brand I should have a look at, please tell me.

Requirements:
Cost: 2000$ - 3000$
Processor: Prefferably a 64-bit AMD mobility chip or, if that isn't possible, a 3.06+ Ghz P4 with HT tech.
RAM: 512 MB or more.
Video Card: ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 w/ 128 MB memory (or better)
Screen: Must at least display 1400x1050x32 resolution.
Hard drive: 60 GB

Thanks for any help you can give me!
-DM
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Comments

  • Marik_SteeleMarik_Steele To rule in hell... Join Date: 2002-11-20 Member: 9466Members
    edited March 2004
    Avoid buying a laptop in a hurry. To make a long story short, I recently was forced to buy a laptop in a very short period of time. As a result I got a Dell with no ps2 port for external keyboards, an inferior video card that Linux doesn't support past 1MB of ram, and a processor literally half the advertised speed -- slower when running on battery thanks to Intel's speedStep technology. In addition the screen wobbles a bit when changing the angle. I should have known better because I have seen numerous other laptops from the same brand which do the same. This is starting after just a few months of use; my previous laptop was used for 5 years with no such shortcomings in design.
    I have no doubt that Dell offers quality products -- they just don't within the lower price range I went for.


    Other piece of advice: get insurance on the screen that covers random accidents and bystander stupidity for upwards of 2 years. The screen is one of the most expensive components to most laptops, and is worth getting a warranty for.
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  • DragonMechDragonMech Join Date: 2003-09-19 Member: 21023Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    <!--QuoteBegin-Marik_Steele+Mar 30 2004, 09:39 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Marik_Steele @ Mar 30 2004, 09:39 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Other piece of advice: get insurance on the screen that covers random accidents and bystander stupidity for upwards of 2 years. The screen is one of the most expensive components to most laptops, and is worth getting a warranty for. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Yep - I know that quite well. My current laptop, on it's third trip to the repair place, had the screen broken in the mail. Thank god I insured it - otherwise it would've been a 750$ hole in my wallet.
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  • RuByRuBy Join Date: 2002-12-12 Member: 10732Members
    edited March 2004
    There was a pretty good topic about this before which I responded to:
    <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=55190' target='_blank'>http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/in...showtopic=55190</a>
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  • TalesinTalesin Our own little well of hate Join Date: 2002-11-08 Member: 7710NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators
    Hrm. I'll have to ask the friend who told me about it, but apparently there's a semi-laptop for $1700 that blows the living hell out of those specs. 17" monitor, FULL 104-key keyboard (not chiclets, REAL keys, and in the standard placement instead of super-compact laptop origami mode), a R9800 Pro (NOT a Mobility), 120-200GB HDD, full desktop CPU... it's truly insane.

    The downside... it's truly the Cadillac of laptops. It's very, very large, in other words, compared to the current crop of near palm-sized machines. This is because they didn't make it as a laptop. They use desktop components that they've hacked together to make it work.
    This means that the HDD inside is a full 3.5" bay drive, NOT the micro-laptop-drive (allowing you to buy a new one and swap it out if you need more room). The video card is an ACTUAL R9800 Pro, not the cut-down Mobility. You can use the ATi Catalysts without going through the manufacturer!

    In fact, though most won't remember what this is, it most closely resembles a luggable. Just... made from current technology. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo--> Sure, you can take it to class. It's heavier than most laptops, be warned. (IIRC, about 17-26 pounds)
    But it definitely makes a GREAT lan-party machine, and has that degree of mobility in case you DO want to drag it along to class. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->

    But for the price and performance, you WON'T find a 'pure' laptop that can come anywhere close.
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  • That_Annoying_KidThat_Annoying_Kid Sire of Titles Join Date: 2003-03-01 Member: 14175Members, Constellation
    edited March 2004
    ^^


    or you can get a laptop like Mr. Cleveland did

    [it's one sexy laptop]

    [edit]
    talesin, can you provide me a link to where that laptop can be viewed?
    [/edit]
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  • Cereal_KillRCereal_KillR Join Date: 2002-10-31 Member: 1837Members
    <a href='http://www6.tomshardware.com/mobile/20040324/index.html' target='_blank'>THG</a> had a little review recently of a computer meeting your (lower) requirements

    Cost:
    Processor: P4 3.0© HT
    GFX :ATI Mobile 9600 (128MB)
    Ram: 1 GB DDR PC2700 (266)
    HDD: 7200 rpm 60 GB
    screen: 1280 X 800 (native I suppose) 15.4" (Note: this is "quite small" compared to your requirements)
    +DVD Burner

    cost ~2K
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  • SpoogeSpooge Thunderbolt missile in your cheerios Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 67Members
    How about an <a href='http://www.alienware.com/system_pages/area-51m.aspx' target='_blank'>Alienware Laptop.</a> The Enthusiast model seems to fit your config.
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  • RuByRuBy Join Date: 2002-12-12 Member: 10732Members
    except the 2000$ - 3000$ part
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  • SpoogeSpooge Thunderbolt missile in your cheerios Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 67Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-RuBy+Mar 31 2004, 01:37 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (RuBy @ Mar 31 2004, 01:37 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> except the 2000$ - 3000$ part <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    $2418 is not the same as 2000$-3000$? I must be missing a conversion. Little help here?
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  • CyndaneCyndane Join Date: 2003-11-15 Member: 22913Members
    edited March 2004
    I like the vaios... but they are somewhat exepensive...


    *edit* Good game typos :-)
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  • RuByRuBy Join Date: 2002-12-12 Member: 10732Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Spooge+Mar 31 2004, 01:45 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Spooge @ Mar 31 2004, 01:45 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin-RuBy+Mar 31 2004, 01:37 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (RuBy @ Mar 31 2004, 01:37 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> except the 2000$ - 3000$ part <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    $2418 is not the same as 2000$-3000$? I must be missing a conversion. Little help here? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    ok they've cut down on their prices quite a bit since I last checked. Still you can find the same product for $500 cheaper.
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  • DragonMechDragonMech Join Date: 2003-09-19 Member: 21023Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    <!--QuoteBegin-Talesin+Mar 31 2004, 09:57 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Talesin @ Mar 31 2004, 09:57 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Hrm. I'll have to ask the friend who told me about it, but apparently there's a semi-laptop for $1700 that blows the living hell out of those specs. 17" monitor, FULL 104-key keyboard (not chiclets, REAL keys, and in the standard placement instead of super-compact laptop origami mode), a R9800 Pro (NOT a Mobility), 120-200GB HDD, full desktop CPU... it's truly insane. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    You say insane like it's a bad thing. I rarely move my laptop, so it can easliy be heavy & bulky. You wouldn't happen to know where I could get my hands on one of those?
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  • Cereal_KillRCereal_KillR Join Date: 2002-10-31 Member: 1837Members
    Shuttle then I'd say, it's easy to carry as well.
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  • KungFuSquirrelKungFuSquirrel Basher of Muttons Join Date: 2002-01-26 Member: 103Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
    edited March 2004
    Marik's concerns aside, I recently purchased a laptop from Dell with a 2.8 gHz P4, 512 ram, ATI 64 meg video, 15" screen for ~1700. It's been working like a dream and is quite the solid little guy. I bet you'd have a good shot finding something there that fits within your target range. It's a little bulkier than my old Vaio, but it gets my recommendation.

    EDIT: On second thought, I know this one I have can't handle that high a resolution, unfortunately, my only complaint. I know one of my friends has a widescreen HP, that thing is pretty nice as well.

    Anyone else wish it was as easy to find/buy laptop parts to build your own as it is standard PCs? <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
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