buying laptop, need your advice!

[garetjax]

Originally Posted by Finrir

Dell XPS M1710
OS: Vista home premium
Processor:intel core 2 duo T7200 2Ghz 4mb L2cache 667 Mhz FSB
Memory:2 Ghz DDR2 SDRAM at 667 Mhz
Optical Drive:24x cd burner/dvd combo
GPU:512 mb NVIDIA geforece 7950 GTX
Wireless card:intel PRO/wireless 3945a/g
Battery Options:80 Whr 9 cell
Sound Options:integrated

Software:
norton internet sercurity 2007 15 month (it's included in price)
no productivity software

warrenties:
2 year service parts, and labor, with the added 2 year accidental damage and LoJack Theft proctection.

Misc:
17" Ultrasharp wide screen UGXA display with trulife
adobe acrobat reader 7
integraded 10/100/1000 network card and modem

Ending price: $3,167

so what do you all think of that?

Why a Dell? You will receive crappy and subpar customer service and an over-rated, over priced laptop. When I was researching a laptop not too long ago, I configured a Dell XPS model against a Gateway and a HP. Come to find out, for the same EXACT spec's as the DELL XPS laptop system I configured, I could buy the same laptop from Gateway for $400 dollars less. I could buy the same laptop from HP for about $500 less.

So I called a Dell customer service rep and asked what the deal was. His response? The fancy lights and the "exclusive" outer shell of the Dell XPS laptop is the reason it is so much more expensive. This, after I verified the motherboard, chipset, optical drives, HDD's, etc. etc. part/model numbers to be sure that the components were the same amongst the three companies. Lo and behold, they were.

To me, lights and a fancy shell is not worth an extra $500 bucks when the innards of the laptop are exactly the same as any other laptop that is spec'd out exactly the same.

[simple_inhibition]

HERE's the laptop i have. just thought you may be interested. not a bad price on it either. only problem is it came with a bunch of software you'll never need or use, but thats every OEM. oh and it has a little bit of bling too (blue LED's under the speakers)

[Finrir]

i know, and i agree. but i don't like gateways. and HPs.... i dunno, i've never owned one before. i have owned a dell though. and i've never heard any bad reviews about them like i've heard from alienware. and there's always gonna be a lemon once in a while. but you can't trust any of em really. they're all a bunch of criminals anyway so what are ya gonna do ya know?

HERE's the laptop i have. just thought you may be interested. not a bad price on it either. only problem is it came with a bunch of software you'll never need or use, but thats every OEM. oh and it has a little bit of bling too (blue LED's under the speakers)

yea i see alot of toshibas. they have one over here right now in the PX. a gaming PC 17" screen 2Gig ram i think.... or maybe 1. only thing that sucks is that it has a 1.8Ghz core duo and a 256MB GPU. and the hard drives are always slow (5400 RPM). it just doesn't cut it. otherwise i would probly buy it.
BTW how are toshiba's warrenties and customer support?
you know what, maybe i'll just get a newegg computer i don't need a dell. and i'd be saving like $1200. do i really NEED a 512mb GPU? like i said i'm not planning on running crysis or anything like that. and i'm planning on buying vista and they don't even have DX10 capability yet.

[garetjax]

Originally Posted by Finrir

...so what are ya gonna do ya know?

Not waste half of a thousand dollars on a laptop that's the same in every respect to similar models for the sake of bling? Hell, if you are going to spend over 3k on a laptop, you might as well go all the way and just get a Voodoo instead.

[Finrir]

can you replace the HDDs in the toshiba's? is the difference between 5400rpm and 7200rpm noticable with games? is the 2Ghz a noticable difference over the 1.8Ghz?

oh wow asus has some nice pcs there on newegg.

[halutzparilla]

i'll personally recommend HP dv9500t and customize to following then for $1,318.99 you got a nice kickass laptop for my opinion... [i recommend this because i'm actually buying it by the end of this month] you dont need to overspend... and besides yes DELL Cotumer Service is a lil crappy, and parts i can atest to that most of it is surplus/refurbished...

Operating system Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit)
Processor Intel(R) Core 2 Duo processor T7300 (2.00 GHz, 4 MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
Display 17.0" WXGA+ High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1440 x 900)
Memory $50 Off upgrade from 1GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm) to 2GB DDR2
Graphics Card 383MB NVIDIA GeForce 8400M GS
Personalization FREE Upgrade to HP Imprint Finish (Radiance) + Webcam + Microphone
Networking Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Network Connection
Hard Drive 120GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive
Primary CD/DVD Drive FREE Upgrade to LightScribe SuperMulti
Primary Battery 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
OS and Recovery Media System Recovery DVD with Windows Vista Home Premium
Productivity Software Microsoft(R) Works 8.0

here is the link Buy HP Pavilion dv9500t series, HP Pavilion and Compaq Presario Notebook PCs and Laptop Computers direct from the HP Home & Home Office Store

[garetjax]

Originally Posted by halutzparilla

i'll personally recommend HP dv9500t and customize [it]...

Exactly. That's what I will be getting as well. Even if one were inclined to totally pimp that dv9500t out, it's still around 2,000 dollars. That's at least 1,000 dollars less than that over-rated XPS laptop system.

[Finrir]

oh hell yea. i just pimped out this dv9500t to be my dream laptop and it's only 2000 and some change. wow HP ownz

[Lead Head]

Most older games will work with Vista, I have tested starcraft personally and it works great. As long as the game says its compatible with Windows 98/NT, it *should* work okay on vista. IIRC, its 16bit games that have the most problems.

[Reloadron]

Originally Posted by Finrir

oh hell yea. i just pimped out this dv9500t to be my dream laptop and it's only 2000 and some change. wow HP ownz

Whatever you do make sure you resolve the OS issue first. Personally I like Vista but only because it works for me for what I do and what I wanted in a laptop. Only once the OS is decided then move along and pimp out your system.

Something else to think about, lets say you go the tried and true XP route. Make damn sure the hardware in there will run equally well on Vista. The logic being if you pop 2K to 3K for a new laptop you would like to thnk it is Vista compatible so if you decide to upgrade the OS in a year you don't find yourself ass deep in alligators trying to recall your mission was to drain the swamp. That is unless you plan to buy a new one in a year or so. Plan ahead.

When I build or buy any machine I generally figure a 3 year life expectancy. Meaning 36 months. Meaning if you pop 2K for a machine the cost of owning the thing is about $55 a month or roughly $2.00 a day over 3 years. That assumes just plopping the bucks down and no financing.

Read reviews, then read more reviews. Think of it as one of those decisions you want to get right the first time around.

Ron