Tell me I'm not an idiot for dropping a grand on this computer

[Bossy Monkey]

https://www.ubid.com/Actn/Cls/getArchPage.asp?AuctionID=10599336
Is Sony Vaio laptop, supposedly factory-reconditioned by Sony. I bought my previous desktop from the same people and in the same circumstances; it worked out pretty well for 5 years. I'm not what you called thrilled to see that the thing has MS Works and no antivirus package, but I know how to find AVG and Avast, so I can't say that I'm worried about it. Specs are as follows, in case the link doesn't work:
PROCESSOR
Intel Pentium M Processor 730 (1.60GHz, 2MB L2 Cache) - 533MHz

MEMORY
512MB PC-2700 333MHz DDR (256MB x 2)
Expandable up to 1GB

HARD DRIVE
80GB

DISPLAY
15.4” WXGA (1280x800) with XBRITE-ECO™ technology

MULTIMEDIA DRIVE
DVD+R Double Layer / DVD±RW Drive
Double Layer +R
DVD+R Write (2.4x MAX)
DVD±RW
-RW
DVD-R Write (8x MAX); DVD-RW Write (4x MAX)
+RW
DVD+R Write (8x MAX); DVD+RW Write (4x MAX)
CD-RW
CD-R Write (24x MAX); CD-RW Write (10x MAX)
DVD-Rom
Read (8x MAX); CD Read (24x MAX)

VIDEO GRAPHICS
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 900 - 128MB Dynamically Shared Video Memory

DIGITAL MEDIA
Memory Stick Media Slot
Supports optional Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO™ and Memory Stick DUO™ media

COMMUNICATION
Integrated V.90 Modem with RJ-11 interface

NETWORK CARD
10BASE-T/100BASE-TX Ethernet with RJ-45 interface

WIRELESS
Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG Network Connection (802.11b/g)

SOUND
Built-in stereo speakers PC CARD SLOTS
One PCMCIA - Type II/Type I card slot with CardBus support

EXTERNAL PORTS
Monaural mini microphone jack
Headphone jack
4pin i.LINK connector (IEEE 13943)
3 USB 2.0 ports
Port replicator connector
VGA out

KEYBOARD
QWERTY, 86 keys with 2.5mm stroke and 19.05mm pitch

POINTING DEVICE
Electro-Static touch pad

DIMENSIONS
14.33” (W) x 1”-1.41” (H) x 10.41” (D)

WEIGHT
6.28 lbs. with standard battery

POWER
110W+10%
Standard Lithium-ion Battery

OPERATING SYSTEM
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition with Service Pack 2

SONY ORIGINAL SOFTWARE
VAIO Zone with WinDVD
Click to DVD - DVD Creation
DVGate Plus - Digital Video
SonicStage - Digital Music
PictureGear Studio - Digital Photo
VAIO Media - Network File Sharing
Image Converter - PSP Connectivity

OTHER SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS
Intuit Quicken 2005 New User Edition
InterVideo WinDVD
Microsoft Works 8.0
Sonic RecordNow! 7

ANTI-VIRUS AND RECOVERY SOFTWARE
VAIO Update software
VAIO Recovery Wizard software
VAIO Control Center

[liberalpress]

1. Actually a grand for that is not a bad deal...

..the processor a bit slow, but unless you're trying to smash an atom at the house, it'll so justn fine.. ought to last you a few years

[Bossy Monkey]

12. Dammit, now what'll I get to run my atom smasher?!

:P
Actually, I was reading that the Pentium M is more powerful than the Pentium 4. Hope so anyway, since I was wanting to get Civilization 4. For productivity's sake, though, it might be better if it isn't (ie, so I can't fall into another Civ game for six months or so).

[cleofus1]

2. i think you could have done a lot better by building your own

but with a monitor the price is ok...you certainly weren't ripped off...sony has good product but it's overpriced...

[BigMcLargehuge]

3. It's a laptop not a desktop

hard to build a laptop

[B3Nut]

9. Actually....

ASUS makes some nice barebone laptops, you add your toppings to taste...hard disk, RAM, pepperoni, etc. :D

We're thinking about getting a couple here at work.

Todd in Beerbratistan :beer: - IT mook

[cleofus1]

4. doh!

for a refurbished laptop that's not bad...brand new something like that might cost 1300.00

[Brewman_Jax]

5. That's not bad for a laptop

[cleofus1]

6. you can "build" one online

http://www.xtechnology.com/scr/xtcat.dll/ListLinesC?CategID=54

but it can get pricey with a laptop...of course you don't get your hands dirty...but it does give you freedom to choose you components...

[lpbk2713]

7. The link says "Auction Closed"

Did you get it in time?

Sounds like a good deal to me.

[Bossy Monkey]

13. You bet. I wouldn't know I'd bought it if the auction weren't closed.

They did extend it by 10 minutes due to a late bid (which seems crappy to me, but I can see their point of view as businesspeople) but I won out. I'm still pretty thrilled about it, though a little worried that I may have been jobbed.

[ET Awful]

8. Doesn't sound too bad to me.

Nice machine, reasonable price. I'd be inclined to want the 512MB of memory as one stick instead of 2 x 256 sticks. Easier to upgrade that way (laptops typically have only two memory slots, so if you want to upgrade, you'll have to remove one of the 256MB sticks to put in a larger stick of RAM. You lose that 256 that way).

[Gormy Cuss]

10. You dropped a piano on your laptop?

Bummer.
:+

[Bossy Monkey]

14. Yeah! Now I'm working it up as a stage act. I'll make a fortune!

:D

[nickgutierrez]

16. "That's a hell of an act. What do you call yourselves?"

"The Aristocrats!"

:)

[ScreamingMeemie]

11. I paid 1300 with 300 cash back on my Vaio.

In October at MicroCenter. 15.4 widescreen. 802.11 b/g wireless LAN

[Bossy Monkey]

15. That sounds reasonably promising

Of course, yours was new and not reconditioned, but still, I don't feel robbed exactly. uBid claims mine's worth $1800 but I look on this with some mistrust. Anyway, it looks to be a neat machine. Do you like your Vaio?

[LSK]

17. looks like a pretty good deal

:thumbsup:

[Floogeldy]

18. I think the $1000 would be better spent on prostitutes and booze.

But that's just me. :)