Miscellaneous laptop discussions : Best avlaible desktop replacement notebook!
Re: Best avlaible desktop replacement notebook!
by sids - 7/13/04 12:08 PM In reply to: Re: Best avlaible desktop replacement notebook! by KenSanramonAre you happy with the Comap notebook that you have? How has their support service been?
So apart from the following things do I need to keep any other things in mind while configuring my notebook?
1. 5400 rpm in a HDD is much faster than a 4200rpm.
2. Video memory cannot be later upgraded AT ALL!
Do you have any views on what RAM I should get? I do plan to use it a bit for gaming, and digital music editing, is 512 RAM good enough, or does 1GB boost the system by a lot?
Thanks much.
Re: Best avlaible desktop replacement notebook!
by KenSanramon - 7/13/04 1:46 PM In reply to: Re: Best avlaible desktop replacement notebook! by sidsIt depends whether cost or features is your bottom line.
I ordered a retail (prebuilt- not custom) X1360US (X1000 series -- HPZT3000 series is the same except for case colors)with the original Banias Pentium M 1.4 mhz.
The few issues I have had with the machine were all resolved by downloading the current system bios and video card bios from the Compaq website (which is free). I found out about these issues and how to resolve it from the X1000forums.com message boards I have already referenced. I came very close to getting the Toshiba M30/M35 series but the Compaq cost me less. And, now I find this forum extremely valuable.
Anything you can fix without sending your machine back is preferable as you keep the machine and they can end up damaging the case, etc. But all larger companies have a 1 year warranty to cover issues that you cannot resolve with software updates.
I paid $1299 after rebates for my laptop (X1360US can still be viewed at www.circuitcity.com but it is out of stock and this exact model may be replaced) with a 1.4 Pentium M, 4200rpm 60gb hard drive, 32mb dedicated graphics, 512mb RAM, and CD-RW/DVD ROM (15.4" widescreen.
If ordering custom you can get a 60gb 5400 rpm hard drive for about $50 more and a 64mb dedicated video memory for about $50 more but this is going to increase you cost somewhat.
So, it is whether you want to keep the price around the level I paid with the standard setup or pay a bit more to upgrade the hard drive and or video.
I would start out with either 512mb memory or 256mb memory if you really want to save $. You can upgrade memory easily later at a lower cost by ordering Crucial memory (from website). Only 1 slot is easily accessible but if you order 256mb the 2nd slot will be empty. If you order 512mb custom specify 1 slot (1 dimm) and then the 2nd slot will be empty. I got 2 256mb dimms which means I cannot upgrade memory (as it was prebuilt) without taking another out but 512mb should be fine for all your uses with Windows XP unless you are doing video editing.
Video editing would be better with a desktop anyway as you would have 2 drives instead of 1 and it is cheaper to get a DVD burner in a desktop. If you order a DVD burner in this laptop it will add another 150-200 more to the cost (the standard configuration most people have and that I have above is a CD burner with a DVD read only drive for playing movies.
Again, you can see how various people have decided to configure their machines at the forums I have referenced.
I would recommend getting at least the 1.6 Pentium M Dothan if ordering now as it has 2x the L2 system cache (2mb instead of 1) unless you either find a model like mine at a very good price or want to minimize your cost.
Re: Best avlaible desktop replacement notebook!
by Macattack15 - 7/16/04 9:37 PM In reply to: Best avlaible desktop replacement notebook! by sids17-inch Powerbook 1.5ghz 128 megs graphics ram, 5400RPM hdd
Have you consider Acer Aspire 1710?
by Melati Hitam - 7/16/04 11:53 PM In reply to: Best avlaible desktop replacement notebook! by sidshttp://www.acer.com/us
Extended 3yrs warranty available
Re: Have you consider Acer Aspire 1710?
by sids - 7/17/04 10:19 AM In reply to: Have you consider Acer Aspire 1710? by Melati HitamI have friends who own an Acer and have been quite disappointed with their customer support! So I am not looking at a Acer! Thanks though.
I am presently looking at the HP models which come with a TruBrite screen. Anyone have any views on their customer support, in terms of the company answering calls, and solving hardware based problems? (Or anything in general about HP?)
How hardware problems are solved.
by R. Proffitt
- 7/17/04 12:09 PM
In reply to: Re: Have you consider Acer Aspire 1710? by sids
This area seems to be "pretty good." But beware the downtime as the unit gets shipped around and keep track of when it's out of your possession since in some states, the time that the machine is in the shop, extends the warranty that many days.
What will get some upset is that many calls ask the owner to restore the laptop with the factory CDs. While this is a proper request, why it creates so much ire is that most owners were never told that hard disks are just TEMPORARY STORAGE. We only lose what we didn't backup.
Some won't like that you have to reload the restore CDs to get some items fixed.
So far, the PC machines have been doing a very poor job of diagnostics.
Bob
Re: How hardware problems are solved.
by sids - 7/17/04 2:26 PM In reply to: How hardware problems are solved. by R. Proffitt
Do you have any personal views on HP/Compaq customer service compared to others?
Have any of your friends/ relatives had any good or bad experiences with HP/Compaq?
My Acer service.
by R. Proffitt - 7/17/04 12:12 PM
In reply to: Re: Have you consider Acer Aspire 1710? by sids
My CDRW drive failed in about month 3. A call to the repair desk was possible after I registered my machine on the web and it went very well. The technician only had me do a few "tests" and offered to send me a new CDRW. It showed up in 2 days and the Acer is now 4 years old.
I can see that some will not want to register and if they don't, will fall onto a very painful merry-go-round ride of no one knows you or your machine.
Bob
Re: Have you consider Acer Aspire 1710?
by jdnest - 11/20/04 8:15 AM In reply to: Re: Have you consider Acer Aspire 1710? by sidsI own an Aspire 1710 and have had no problems with it for the past 5 months. Their support staff has answered my calls very quickly and has resolved the few problems I have had.
I use Director, FCS , and Premiere Pro, all which are processor-intensive applications; this notebook has handled it all without a glitch! GREAT MONITOR TOO!
If I had to do it all over again, I would buy this notebook; it's a great machine.
TOSHIBA P20
by ksoiehawo - 7/17/04 12:00 PM In reply to: Best avlaible desktop replacement notebook! by sids17"
3.4Ghz
1GB RAM
GeForce 5600 128MB
DVD +/- Burner
TV-TUNER
Windows XP Media Center Edition
-I don't know if this is available in the states, it might just be canadian
Re: TOSHIBA P20
by sids - 7/17/04 2:12 PM In reply to: TOSHIBA P20 by ksoiehawoI think Toshiba has a similar model in the states called the P25! The only reason I am opting for a similarly configured HP/Compaq to a Toshiba is 'cos of the new TruBrite screens they have.
You should go to see the diference in real life, the new screens avalaible in Sony, Fujitsu, HP/Compaq and the Toshiba M30 are simply spectacular. You don't want to buy one without that!
Re: TOSHIBA P20
by runner - 7/17/04 8:17 PM In reply to: Re: TOSHIBA P20 by sidsI have seen both the HP TruBrite screen, and the Sony version of it, and they are both unbelievable! I too am looking for a laptop with this type of screen and was wondering if it comes in any other resolution than the 15.4" WXGA (SXGA+ and WUXGA). The SXGA+ and WUXGA are more expensive due to their higher resolution but are they also TruBrite, even though this isn't specified in their names or descriptions?
Re: TOSHIBA P20
by sids - 7/17/04 8:54 PM In reply to: Re: TOSHIBA P20 by runnerSo are you HP screens exactly as the Sony extra bright screens? I have seen the Sony ones, but haven't got a chance to personally go and check out the HP screens.
I am pretty sure that all of Sony's models come with the XBrite screens. If you are looking into Sony then I will reccomend the TR series which has a Pentium M processor, and also comes with an Integrated Camera [CMOS 370,000 pixels (VGA 640x480)]and internal microphone.
I am not so sure about the HPaq models as they read Brightview only for the WXGA resolution! You might want to check out the higher resolution screens at circuitcity or bestbuy!
I also found this Sharp laptop(Actius RD3D) which comes with a 3-D screen.
The Sharp Actius RD3D is the world's first autostereo 3D notebook. Sharp Corporation's TFT 3D LCD technology makes it possible to view eye-popping 3D images without special glasses.
The touch of a button switches the display back to 2D viewing for standard applications such as spreadsheets, photo editing or email.
Oooooooh Yeahhhh... thats the future of screens!-- right thurr
Compaq X6000 series PC
by Chaser - 4/18/05 7:08 PM In reply to: Best avlaible desktop replacement notebook! by sidsAny one have views on theCompaq X6000 series PC.
Looks good to me
I have X6000
by ehellgren - 4/28/05 6:00 PM In reply to: Compaq X6000 series PC by ChaserIf you search for this model here you can see 3 of us have posted are likings of this laptop. Im really happy with mine as I did a custom order over the web back on Feb 1st and have been using it since feb 10th or so. No issues to report which includes taking to Las Vegas for work in which I carried on board the plane via samsonite sport back pack. With that back pack and did not have any complaints carring it around. The laptop itself has been awsome as I have used it everyday since it was delivered. I totally recommend it to anyone in the market for a desktop replacement in a 17" form factor. Now Compaq offers the new generation P4 with 2 meg cache. You would think that even the HP ZD8000 would have gotten more rave reviews from users, but Im blown away on how many users complained on support and issues with the PC.
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