Need help selectign a laptop - Dell/Gateway/Other?

LaTech · Posted: Wed, 17 May 2006 21:47:57 Post Subject:

I have both a tablet and a laptop...do not get a tablet for normal work. if you're taking notes at school and stuff...fine, it's ok for that for the short term. If you're going to spend the money anyway, get a Dell Laptop or something. Good support and laptop isn't that bad...all things considered.

jasno999 · Rated NC-17 Joined: 17 May 2006 Posts: 122 Location: PA

Remember that the tablet is not jsut a tablet it is actually a convertiable laptop computer. It is basically a laptop that the screen can flip around on and then you can write on it.

jasno999 · Rated NC-17 Joined: 17 May 2006 Posts: 122 Location: PA

As for the Gateway Tablet which in reality is a convertiable notebook computer not just a tablet:

I guess I am jsut a a little hooked on the idea of being able to us the stylus to write stuff out and navigate a little on the gateway. I do agree with the fact that you can get a good amount more from Dell in terms of harware and software for the same price or cheaper. I jsut have to really fgure out if that stylus and capability on the gateway would be worth it to me and if I would use it enouigh to make it worth it. But that is what I can't figure out. They have one at Best Buy but somebody stole the stylus. I think I am goign to go back to the store or try a diffeent best buy to check it out again and get a better feel for it.

Couple mroe questions:
1) Would I see a huge difference between the celeron processor and the pentium precessor in the Gateway? Give me your thoughts.

2) Are the Dell Duo processors all that great?

3) I noticed on the dell site they have refurbished/scratch and dent/return item laptops on sale through their outlet section of the web page. I have foudn some interestign deals on that page like a E1707 (17" monitor, 1GB RAM, 100GB Hard Drive, 8X CD/DVD Burner) all for $950-$1050. Which seem like a nice deal. But I am a bit scared to purchase a computer listed as scratch and dent or refurb cause I am jsut unsure. YOu think it is a big deal?

4) On the Dell's are the keyboards hard to use? They are 13 and 12.5 inches long and that seems big but when I see the pictures it looks super small.

Like I said I am still up in the air about the Gateway convertiable notebook verses the Dell E1505 or E1707.

BeerCheeze · Posted: Thu, 18 May 2006 08:49:43 Post Subject:

Check out the Acer line Good reviews, and great prices.

jasno999 · Rated NC-17 Joined: 17 May 2006 Posts: 122 Location: PA

Yes the prices are nice but I am not knowadagable abotu Acer at all. And well there are a million ootions out there for me so by havign more it becomes even more difficult for me. My problem is makeing a decision. I have a difficult tiem doign that cause I want to make sure I get somethign that is worth it and somethign that I can use into the future.

So yes the tablet deal is a cool neat thign to have but not needed. however if that notebook can do the same stuff as a regular notebook but also gives me som added functionality then maybe it is worth the extra cost.... Maybe not.

**Modulok** · Posted: Fri, 19 May 2006 18:26:46 Post Subject:

I would never buy a dell for anything. We have about 18 dell laptops from inspirion 600m to latitude d800. We are hating them at this point. Within the past 4-5 months we have replaced 2 motherboard, 4 intel wireless 2200BG, and 2x256mb (which didnt fix the problem).

Right now we are in process of making dell fix this laptop themselves or getting our money back to buy another brand. I personally spend over an hour using dell's diagnostic cd on the laptop as instructed by the dell tech. he hang up at 98% complete.

We always bought the 600m because we wanted to have a standard and ability to swap parts out if problems arose. We will try another brand like sony, ibm, or toshiba. They might be a little more $$ but not considering the time we are wasting on these dells.

I wont even get into the s#!7 that comes preinstalled, and the version of XP blows. We always wipe the OS on new arrivals.

BeerCheeze · Posted: Fri, 19 May 2006 20:05:29 Post Subject:

Here's some reviews of the Acers.

http://www.notebookreview.com/price/default.asp?cmd=&callingPage=0

jasno999 · Rated NC-17 Joined: 17 May 2006 Posts: 122 Location: PA

Well I made a final decision. I really did like the gateway but the price was too high and the whole stylus thing was something I was not sure if I was going to use or not. So I went for the Dell. I got upgrades all around.

-256MB ATI MOBILITYâ„¢ RADEONÂ® X1400 Hyper Memory â€“ Was the best I could get in the selection

-100GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive

-Genuine WindowsÂ® XP Media Center Edition 2005

-8X CD/DVD Burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer DVD+R write capability

-IntelÂ® PRO 3945 and Dell 350 Bluetooth Internal Wireless Cards

-15.4 inch UltraSharpâ„¢ Wide Screen SXGA+ Display with TrueLifeâ„¢

-IntelÂ® Coreâ„¢ Duo processor T2500 (2MB Cache/2GHz/667MHz FSB)

-1GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz, 2 Dimm

I also purchase a bag for the laptop along with a wireless router and the software/GPS combo from Streets and trips 2006.

My final pricing for the computer, software, bag and all of that good stuff was $1500. I know you guys are great at finding deals and you know all the nooks and crannies all over the web. But I think this pricing was pretty good. I got the Dell 22% discount along with a company provided 16% discount on the computer and 6% discount on software and bag. So all in all it worked out. IF I had selected the gateway I would have ended up spending around $1800 for all of that stuff. So I decided that a computer with a Pentium M processor, stylus, less hard drive, less video quality, and less options was not what I wanted for a higher price.

I do appreciate everybodyâ€™s help. It was a hard decision because I like to be different and I like to get stuff that is interesting and new. But the money became the factor.

One thing I just read was that the new Microsoft OS id going to have a tablet PC functionality built in. I am not sure what that means or how it will work. I just hope I donâ€™t end up being pissed off for not waiting for this system to come out when it does.

**Doctor Feelgood** · Posted: Wed, 24 May 2006 08:22:34 Post Subject:

Solid components! Should serve you well for a while. Nice!