Laptop Suggestions?

[dizzy49]

Right now I have a ThinkPad X41. I really like this computer, but it's got some quarks, and it's time to upgrate.

Here are the few things I didn't like about the X41

*The network card. I *HATE* how they lock you into the ONE network card in the machine. I had issues with mine, and I replaced it with the exact same model, and I STILL had issues!! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr (this is really the only "real" complaint I have about this machine)

*The video. It's not bad, I just wish it was a little better. I will BARELY run World of Warcraft with low settings.

*Screen resolution. It's 12" with 1024x768 resolution. The 12" doesn't bother me, but the resolution does. I miss having a widescreen laptop. On this I have to scroll to the side on normal web pages!


Here are the things I DO like about it:

* The weight. At 12" and with no optical drive, it weighs in at 3.31 lb. I have text books that are bigger and weigh more. (I downgraded from a 12lb 17" gateway)

* Battery Life. If I'm just surfing the web/doing work (my job is web based), and IMing, I get 4-5 hours at max brightness. If I turn down the NIC and Brightness, I can stretch that out to just under 7 hours. (I have the extended battery)

* Pointer device. I don't know what you call it. It looks like an eraser in the middle of the keyboard. I personally prefer it over the touchpads. I'm always hitting the touchpad with my finger and moving/clicking. Plus, w/o the pad, you have more more to spread a keyboard out.


Here is what I'm looking for:

Small size (less than 14")
*Light weight (under 4lb not including accessories)
*Widescreen and something like 1300x800 or better resolution
*Good battery. Battery life will vary depending on components, but I would like atleast 4hrs of actual "normal" usage (ie NOT watching a movie/playing games)


I shopped around the major companies (HP, Gateway, Toshiba, Dell, Sony, etc) and found two that I think are fairly decent.

Dell XPS m1330
$2200
CoreDuo T7300 2.0
2gb Ram ($850 to upgade to 4gb?!?!?!)
160gb SATA drive (They claim you can upgrade to 32gb SSD, but I didn't see it when I spec'ed it out)
13.3" LED screen (can't find actual resolution, I'm assuming is about 1300x800)
128mb Go 8400
3.97lb (not bad, under 4lb and with an optical drive)

Sony TZ170N
$2500
CoreDuo U7500 1.06
2gb ram
100gb drive
11.1" LED screen (1366x768)
Intel 950 graphics
2.27lb

On one hand, the Dell looks like it gives me a bit more, and I think I might like the slightly larger screen, and I'm scared that the keyboard on the Sony will be TINY. But then the Sony weighs in at 1.5lb less and I'm sure the battery life on it will be nearly double the Dell.

Any thoughts? Suggestions of other laptops that might fit my needs?

I appreciate any input. Thanks!!!

[ua549]

No matter which notebook you choose, you can save lots of money by buying RAM directly from the producer. The notebook makers charge double or more for ram upgrades. A 4GB upgrade (2x2GB) for the Dell m1330 will cost ~$275.

[dizzy49]

That's actually a really good idea! Does anyone know the manufacturer? I'm guessing Samsung, but I know Samsung itself has like 3 tiers of memory (Value, Good, Best).

I found These (http://www.18004memory.com/focuscfg.asp?mfgID=31&modelID=65202&upgID=217129&session=xprwatch&guid=D3C7C88F2AF546A89E6734036F57298E)for $110-125/each
This search on Pricewatch (http://castle.pricewatch.com/s/search.asp?s=dell+xps+2gb&Page=1&c=Notebook+Memory&srt=t&view=&his=0&paging=1&mpi=&mpc=&sci=79)gives me a small list with not too many manufacturers.

I reconfigured the Dell with 1gb (lowest offered) and it saved me $300 somehow. I'm assuming the 1gb is 2x512mb since it says Dual Channel. So I spend that $300 on 4gb of ram and I get 4gb for the same price as before, and I can sell off the 2x512mb.

I also noticed that if you start with the cheapest m1330 that it will give you the 32gb SDD upgrade option for $600 (ouch!). I'd pay $400 tops for it personally.
I also have two Vista32 licenses I'm not currently using, so I could save another $100 or so by asking for NO operating system.

[dizzy49]

I just did the Dell XPS chat to see if it was possible to purchase a m1330 without an OS or Ram to save myself some money. He pretty much skirted the questions and kept asking if I was ready to buy today. So, I think it MAY be possible (more than likely I can get it with no OS, probably not w/o ram), but it has to be done at the time of purchase through a rep. I still would like to know how much I'd save.
They probably don't want to do it b/c MS gives them the licenses for free, and if I want it removed they have to give me money off so no one knows MS gives them for free, and Dell ends up taking a loss.

[ua549]

PC manufacturers pay for OEM licenses.
Microsoft does not give them away for free.

[wh666-666]

Right now I have a ThinkPad X41. I really like this computer, but it's got some quarks, and it's time to upgrate.

Here are the few things I didn't like about the X41

*The network card. I *HATE* how they lock you into the ONE network card in the machine. I had issues with mine, and I replaced it with the exact same model, and I STILL had issues!! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr (this is really the only "real" complaint I have about this machine)



I feel your pain on that score. My HP (laptop 1) is bios locked so you cant change the network card without invalidating the warranty. Sucks since broadcom cards are the worst cards imaginable (as they know from my hate mail) ...

You can get software like bios unlockers sso you can change hardware and then change the device ID in the bios ... Have a google search for a few ... Dont do it until it runs out of warranty though, OEM's dont take kindly to you doing such things ...

[dizzy49]

You can hack the bios on most of the Thinkpads to get a new nic to work, but on the X41 it doesn't work. Works on EVERY OTHER FREAKING MODEL!


Well, I think I've ruled out the Sony. It's nice and all, super light, but super expensive too. Instead I'm looking at the Asus V2S or something like that. Similarly equipped to the m1330 (and with better video card) it's like $400 less. BUT, it's like 1.5lb more, and a 14" screen.

Ahhh, decisions, decisions...