LAPTOP COMPARISON

[shanti]

i'm in the market for a laptop (finally, my first!) after 8 years desktop. i want a NEW not refurbished laptop, low end for now, because of finances. there were several choices on ebay and i want to pay in the range of 600 dollars for it. which brand is the best choice, most reliable, etc.? i'm really only using it for internet access, saving photos and music files, burning music, and chatting via webcam. i want it to be wireless, 20g+, 256mb hd, and preferably pentium 4+. is this too much to ask for?

please help!

[gulfcoastliberal]

1. HP Pavilions are ok

You should be able to get a P4 2.8ghz maybe even 3.0ghz if you're lucky for around that price. Look for a Pavilion ZV5000. I have one I bought off ebay and been happy with it, except that it had a bootlegged copy of XP Pro so I had to buy an OEM copy of XP Pro for $140 to get myself certain functions that weren't available from XP Pro v. 2002. (Mainly, the USB 2.0 host controller).

[shanti]

2. i can't seem to find an HP

in the price range i want on ebay. i think i've narrowed it down to compaq or toshiba.

[DavidMS]

3. Some thoughts

I have worked inside HP, Compaq, Tosheba, Sony, etc laptops. The best designed and supported are the IBM models.

I plan to get an IBM R51 when I get the money togeather.

My only advice is not to get a Sony because the manufacturer's support isnt very good.

[jayfish]

4. More Thoughts.

I know it's tempting to go for a low end unit because of cost, but you should really reconsider. Remember, with a laptop, what you get is what you get. About the only thing you will be able to upgrade is the memory. Buy something more expensive that will last for two years rather than something inexpensive that you will be kicking yourself over for two years. Just my .02.

Jay

[shanti]

5. i bought it!

my new compaq came today! yay! i decided that it would be preferable to get an amd sempron-m processor insteal of a celeron as the sempron was designed specifially for laptops. the battery is cooler too, from what i've heard.

it's hard getting used to the keyboard and touchpad. i may end up adding my own real mouse.

now - how to figure out the wireless security before i get online! (i'm using my desktop now).