I've got $1,200-$1,500 to spend on a laptop - HELP!

Javery

Javery

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Right now I'm leaning towards the Dell listed below for $1,309. Any thoughts?

components_on.gif
My Components
PROCESSOR - AMD Turion™ 64 X2 Mobile Technology TL-56 (1MB/1.8GHz)
OPERATING SYSTEM - Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition
SYSTEM COLOR - Jet Black
DISPLAY - High Resolution, glossy widescreen 15.4 inch display (1680x1050)
VIDEO CARD - ATI RADEON® Xpress1270 HyperMemory™
MEMORY - 2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 667MHz
HARD DRIVE - Size: 160GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
OPTICAL DRIVE - CD/DVD writer (DVD+/-RW Drive)
WIRELESS NETWORK CARDS - Dell Wireless 1390 802.11g Mini-Card
INTEGRATED WEBCAM - No Webcam Option
BATTERY OPTIONS - 85Whr Lithium Ion Battery (9 cell)
SOUND OPTIONS - High Definition Audio 2.0

software_on.gif
My Software & Accessories
ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE - I chose the promotional security package with service
OFFICE SOFTWARE - Microsoft Works 8. DOES NOT INCLUDE MS WORD


services_on.gif
My Service
WARRANTY AND SERVICE - DellCare Plus
DATASAFE ONLINE BACKUP - DataSafe included with DellCare Service bundle
DIAL-UP INTERNET ACCESS - No ISP requested
 
Biggest problem I see with what you have there is its over priced.

Here is the Inspiron 1721 configured for $989 w/ free shipping + tax. You can do even better when they have the $500 off notebook coupons that stack with the freebies about every 6-8 weeks.

My Components
PROCESSOR AMD Turion™ 64 X2 Mobile Technology TL-56 (1MB/1.8GHz)
OPERATING SYSTEM Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium ion
SYSTEM COLOR Jet Black
DISPLAY Glossy, widescreen 17.0 inch display (1440 x 900)
VIDEO CARD ATI RADEON® Xpress1270 HyperMemory™
HARD DRIVE Size: 250GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
MEMORY 2GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 667MHz
OPTICAL DRIVE CD / DVD writer (DVD+/-RW Drive)
WIRELESS NETWORK CARDS Dell Wireless 1390 802.11g Mini-Card
INTEGRATED WEBCAM No Webcam Option
BATTERY OPTIONS 56Whr Lithium Ion Battery (6 cell)
SOUND OPTIONS High Definition Audio 2.0

My Software & Accessories
ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE No Security Subscription (30-day trial)
OFFICE SOFTWARE Microsoft Works 8. DOES NOT INCLUDE MS WORD


My Service
WARRANTY AND SERVICE 1Yr In-Home Service, Parts + Labor,24x7 Phone Support
DATASAFE ONLINE BACKUP Free 3 GB Online Backup for 1Yr
 
Hey there lawyer man,

If you have a Fry's store near you, they tend to have really really good sales on laptops. Wouldn't go with them online though, as their shipping is ridiculous and their online prices don't seem to be as good.

I've always liked the products from Dell and ordering them online, personally. Their specials are always tantalizing and if you can get a corporate/student/whatever discount those are solid too.

I'm sure others will sniff out some really insane deals though.
 
Thanks! That looks like a similar build but I did opt for the ~$200 package that gets me 3 years of in-home repairs, 3 year warranty against accidents (like dropping it on the floor which destroyed my current laptop), off-site data storage, and anti-virus protection. I have 2 small kids so getting it knocked to the ground or spilling something on it are definite possibilities... I also upgraded my screen and battery but I like how you selected a 250GB HD... I might have to go with something that size.

The problem is that I need a laptop for work ASAP and I can't wait around for a coupon even though I know they pop up all the time... grr...
 
i am not trying to start a flame war here but its a recommendation..
i bought myself a blackbook ( black macbook ) a few weeks ago off some retard off craigslist. when i met the guy, he was stoned out of his mind as well. they retail for 1500 and i got it form him for 700 with applecare so it was a steal. Honestly, i dont use my vista tower anymore. i really dont pc game anymore as my 360 gets all my time. ive begun to understand why ppl like mac's. it;s os is simple and very stable. ive found just about all the software i used on my pc for mac. and int he few instances i couldn't i used crossover to build a mac version. its a program that does it by itself. the new macbooks will be coming out shortly that will be very beefy and cheaper than the current run. this is my thought.
 
With computers being disposable nowadays I normally pass on anything over a 1 year warranty except on servers. Haven't had much experience with the completecare package they are offering as well nowadays. But I know 3 years of each can add $250-300 on a dell laptop. The screen resolution wsxga+ isn't going to make a difference unless you play alot of games on it or watch alot of movies. You could save $100 going to wxga+. Also 1.8 to 1.6 doesn't matter unless you are working with graphics programs, servers, or once again heavy game player, which could save you another $130.

Consider configuring the notebook under small business instead of home and you could probably do a little better. The Vostro 1500 are running specials through small business and they have the NVidia GeForce cards, integrated webcams, Roxio Creater, Media Direct, 1 yr online backup, and dell dollar bonus for buying the completecare and warranty upgrades...

Latitudes also have some nice discounts through small business as well right now.

Here is a link to the small business notebook deals on Dell right now. Just click the system name to see the corresponding discounts. http://www.dell.com/content/topics/promo.aspx/promocompare?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd&~ck=tickerpromo&~tab=2&~subnav=latit
 
My first question is: what do you plan on using your laptop for? My cousin recently bought a used Dell (can't remember which model) off of eBay, installed Ubuntu, and uses it strictly for word processing, web browsing, and limited media. If you actually feel like messing around with Linux (I know most people don't), you can save $500+ by going this route.

Just don't get an Apple. I have an iBook and it's the most overpriced thing I've ever purchased. I could've had the same functuality on a Windows laptop for half the price, sans the pretentiousness :D

And I'd definitely check out Fry's if one's within driving distance. They have great in-store deals on almost everything, laptops included.
 
Thanks for the suggestions guys. I will be using this computer mainly for web browsing and music/movies - no games whatsoever. I burn the occasional DVD to watch on my TV if I miss an episode of a show or something and I used iTunes all the time. That's really it. I would have used my old Dell forever and ever (Inspiron) if the liquid in the display wasn't leaking all over the place... it did everything I needed it to do...

Also, no Fry's in my area...
 
[quote name='javeryh']Thanks for the suggestions guys. I will be using this computer mainly for web browsing and music/movies - no games whatsoever. I burn the occasional DVD to watch on my TV if I miss an episode of a show or something and I used iTunes all the time. That's really it. I would have used my old Dell forever and ever (Inspiron) if the liquid in the display wasn't leaking all over the place... it did everything I needed it to do...

Also, no Fry's in my area...[/QUOTE]
I would strongly suggest a MacBook then sir...
 
[quote name='Chris in Cali']For that money you could get something much better. Dell is a rip-off.[/quote]

Suggestions? The laptop I pieced together has a sweet warranty which basically covers me for 3 years against defects, accidents (spills, drops, etc.) and viruses, etc. all with in-home service. The price of the laptop is probably around $1,000 without it. I must have the warranty with small kids running around and the computer always being out in the TV room.
 
[quote name='javeryh']Suggestions? The laptop I pieced together has a sweet warranty which basically covers me for 3 years against defects, accidents (spills, drops, etc.) and viruses, etc. all with in-home service. The price of the laptop is probably around $1,000 without it. I must have the warranty with small kids running around and the computer always being out in the TV room.[/QUOTE]
Now I see your concern...Dell is probably your best bet then.
 
I just bought a laptop from www.cyberpower.com for about 1600 after discounts that I'm very happy with. You could get the price down to 1500 no problem if you went without some of the upgrades (should still be able to play Crysis on it).

here are the specs:
Xplorer X7-7700 Notebook
www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/NTBKX77700.asp?v=d

*BASE_PRICE: [+1489]
ADAPTER: Universal AC-DC Adapter
BATTERY: Li-Ion 6 Cell Battery Pack, 4400mAH (MS1719)
BAGS: Free Deluxe Carrying Bag for 17 Inch Notebook
BLUETOOTH: Built-in MS-6837D Bluetooth 2.0
CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo Mobile T7500 Dual-Core Processor @ 2.20GHz 800FSB 4MB L2 Cache 64-bit
CD: 8X DVD REWRITABLE DRIVE
FREEBIE_CU1: FREE! CyberPower Multi-Purpose Carrying Briefcase ($19.99 Value)
FREEBIE_CU2: FREE! Cyberpower Unleash The Power T-Shirt ($19 Value)
FLASHMEDIA: Built-In 3in1 Media Reader
HDD: 160GB 5400RPM SATA150 HARD DRIVE
INVERTER: NONE
IEEE_CARD: BUILT-IN 1394 IEEE FIREWIRE PORT
KEYBOARD: BUILT-IN KEYBOARD
MOUSE: BUILT-IN TOUCHPAD
MOTHERBOARD: Mobile Intel PM965 + ICH-8M Chipset Mainboard
MEMORY: 4GB (2x2GB) PC5300 DDR2-667 SODIMM Memory [+120] (Corsair or Major Brand)
MODEM: BUILT-IN 56K V.92 FAX MODEM
NETWORK: Built-in 10/100/1000 Mbps Network Card
NB_TRAVELKIT: NONE
NOTEBOOK: MSI MS-1719 Notebook 17" Widescreen WSXGA+ 1680x1050 Pixels w/ NVIDIA GeForce GO 8600M-GT 512MB Video, 1.3 Mega Pixels CMOS Camera, Mobile Core 2 Duo, & 802.11g Wireless
NOTEBOOK_COVER: Xplorer X7-7700 Notebook Cover (Original Reflective Black Piano Finish)
NB_LCD: 17" WSXGA+ Widescreen TFT Display 1680x1050 Pixels
OS: Microsoft(R) Windows Vista(TM) Home Premium (64-bit Edition [+19])
PRINTER: None
PRINTER_CABLE: None
RUSH: RUSH!!! READY TO SHIP IN NEXT BUSINESS DAY [+109]
SERVICE: STANDARD 1-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY AND 24/7 LIFE-TIME TECHNICAL SUPPORT
SOUND: BUILT-IN AC 97 SOUND
SPEAKERS: BUILT-IN STEREO SPEAKERS SYSTEM
TVRC: None
UPS: None
USB: 3 x USB2.0 Port Connectors
USBHD: NONE
VIDEO: Built-in NVIDIA GeForce Go 8600M GT 512MB with Turbo Cache Technology Video
VIDEOCAMERA: Built-in 1.3 Mega Pixels Webcam
WAP: NONE
WNC: Intel 4965AGN Wireless 802.11a/b/g/Draft-N 54Mbps MiniPCI Card [+5]
 
[quote name='MGSnake727']I just bought a laptop from www.cyberpower.com for about 1600 after discounts that I'm very happy with. You could get the price down to 1500 no problem if you went without some of the upgrades (should still be able to play Crysis on it).

here are the specs:
Xplorer X7-7700 Notebook
www.cyberpowerpc.com/system/NTBKX77700.asp?v=d

*BASE_PRICE: [+1489]
ADAPTER: Universal AC-DC Adapter
BATTERY: Li-Ion 6 Cell Battery Pack, 4400mAH (MS1719)
BAGS: Free Deluxe Carrying Bag for 17 Inch Notebook
BLUETOOTH: Built-in MS-6837D Bluetooth 2.0
CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo Mobile T7500 Dual-Core Processor @ 2.20GHz 800FSB 4MB L2 Cache 64-bit
CD: 8X DVD REWRITABLE DRIVE
FREEBIE_CU1: FREE! CyberPower Multi-Purpose Carrying Briefcase ($19.99 Value)
FREEBIE_CU2: FREE! Cyberpower Unleash The Power T-Shirt ($19 Value)
FLASHMEDIA: Built-In 3in1 Media Reader
HDD: 160GB 5400RPM SATA150 HARD DRIVE
INVERTER: NONE
IEEE_CARD: BUILT-IN 1394 IEEE FIREWIRE PORT
KEYBOARD: BUILT-IN KEYBOARD
MOUSE: BUILT-IN TOUCHPAD
MOTHERBOARD: Mobile Intel PM965 + ICH-8M Chipset Mainboard
MEMORY: 4GB (2x2GB) PC5300 DDR2-667 SODIMM Memory [+120] (Corsair or Major Brand)
MODEM: BUILT-IN 56K V.92 FAX MODEM
NETWORK: Built-in 10/100/1000 Mbps Network Card
NB_TRAVELKIT: NONE
NOTEBOOK: MSI MS-1719 Notebook 17" Widescreen WSXGA+ 1680x1050 Pixels w/ NVIDIA GeForce GO 8600M-GT 512MB Video, 1.3 Mega Pixels CMOS Camera, Mobile Core 2 Duo, & 802.11g Wireless
NOTEBOOK_COVER: Xplorer X7-7700 Notebook Cover (Original Reflective Black Piano Finish)
NB_LCD: 17" WSXGA+ Widescreen TFT Display 1680x1050 Pixels
OS: Microsoft(R) Windows Vista(TM) Home Premium (64-bit Edition [+19])
PRINTER: None
PRINTER_CABLE: None
RUSH: RUSH!!! READY TO SHIP IN NEXT BUSINESS DAY [+109]
SERVICE: STANDARD 1-YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY AND 24/7 LIFE-TIME TECHNICAL SUPPORT
SOUND: BUILT-IN AC 97 SOUND
SPEAKERS: BUILT-IN STEREO SPEAKERS SYSTEM
TVRC: None
UPS: None
USB: 3 x USB2.0 Port Connectors
USBHD: NONE
VIDEO: Built-in NVIDIA GeForce Go 8600M GT 512MB with Turbo Cache Technology Video
VIDEOCAMERA: Built-in 1.3 Mega Pixels Webcam
WAP: NONE
WNC: Intel 4965AGN Wireless 802.11a/b/g/Draft-N 54Mbps MiniPCI Card [+5][/QUOTE]
that is a very nice laptop...the problem is that he really needs the 3 year protection...
 
I would suggest you look at Thinkpads. I got one earlier this year and its wonderful. Easily the most solid laptop i've ever used. When I was researching a laptop this year, i found that the T series was the best fit. I was able to make this without any coupons and with a 3 year warranty.

ThinkPad T61 15 Widescreen - 1 Yr Depot Warranty
Edit
Ships within 1-2 weeks** $1,369.00 $1,369.00

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7250 (2.0GHz 800MHz 2MBL2)[1]
Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium[12]
15.4 WSXGA+ TFT
Intel GMA X3100 GM965
2 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)[8]
UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)
160GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm[4]
DVD-ROM 8x Max, Ultrabay Slim[5]
Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG[10]
9 cell Li-Ion Battery[60]
6465: Express - 1 Yr Depot Warranty[7]
System Processor[1] Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T7250 (2.0GHz 800MHz 2MBL2)
Operating System[12] Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium
Operating System Language Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium US English
Display Panel 15.4 WSXGA+ TFT
System graphics Intel GMA X3100 GM965
Total memory[8] 2 GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz SODIMM Memory (2 DIMM)
Keyboards Keyboard US English
Pointing Device UltraNav (TrackPoint and TouchPad)
Hard Drive[4] 160GB Hard Disk Drive, 5400rpm
Optical device[5] DVD-ROM 8x Max, Ultrabay Slim
System expansion slots PC Card Slot & Express Card Slot
Card Reader 4 in 1 Media Card Reader
Wireless cards[10] Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG
Battery[60] 9 cell Li-Ion Battery
Power cord Country Pack North America
Language Pack Language Pack US English

41C9170 3 year depot 9x5 Next Business Day $83.30 $83.30


Subtotal: $ 1,452.30


Thinkpads can be a bit more, but they're built rather solidly. It also fits your budget (there is some that can be reduced as well, this is just a quick build).
 
Where do you get the thinkpads from?

Dell just started "10 Days of Deals" - it's like the deal of the day for 10 days straight. I think I'm going to wait until I get something on the Inspiron before pulling the trigger...
 
[quote name='javeryh']Where do you get the thinkpads from?

Dell just started "10 Days of Deals" - it's like the deal of the day for 10 days straight. I think I'm going to wait until I get something on the Inspiron before pulling the trigger...[/quote]
i got that directly from their website: Link
 
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