Author Topic: Notebook / Laptop what to buy ? (Read 287 times)

Duckwing6 · « **on:** January 17, 2002, 03:13:55 AM »

Hyas Folks,

with my new Job i'll be on the road for more than 7months a year so i'll HAVE to get a notebook/laptop to be at least a bit connected to the outside world.

but what to buy ?

i have never been interested in them so far as i didn't have the need and now i'm somewhat clueless.

Ok here's what it should be able of:

Play MP3s
Play DVDs
Play some games (i guess stuff that requires HUGE graphic cards won't work anyways)
work the usual Office stuff
Does not need to have super duper mega batteries, i'll run it of a cord i recon at 99% of times)

If it's able to run AH decently it's a great plus

What ya suggest ? right now i'd be looking for something in the 12-1500 € (close enough to USD) price range.

Cheers
DW6

-lynx- · « **Reply #1 on:** January 17, 2002, 06:37:54 AM »

The only 2 "gamecapable" laptops I know of are Dell Inspiron and some Toshiba thing. They both feature GF2Go graphics with 16/32MB options.

I have a Dell Inspiron 8000 with PIII 1GHz, 512MB SDRAM, 32MB GF2Go working on 15" 1400x1050, 10GB HD and DVD drive

GF2Go is simply castrated GF2MX (to reduce power consumption) But with this setup I get ~2100 3DMarks 2001 running XP+23.11 detonators. Haven't tried AH yet but WB2.77, WB3 and IL-2 are all smooth and very flyable.

There were rumours about mobile GF3 but I don't know if anything is being manufactured yet.

I had a look on Dell's website - brand new 8100 with PIII 1GHz, 256MB SDRAM (128MB free add-on), DVD, 30GB HD, modem/network combo, 32MB GF2Go and 15" screen will set you back ~€2,000. I'm sure there must be loads fo them out there secong hand/factory refurbished etc cheaper.

DOs:

do get a backpack style carrier - it's a heavy bag to carry around;

do think about the future/upgradability - there are just 2 memory slots therefore standard 128MB stick they ship most of them with is next to useless - although I did manage to sell mine for £20 on Ebay;)

DON'Ts:

don't get more memory from Dell than you can get away with for free - they use standard Micron/Crucial 144 pin SODIMMs and charge a fortune for them. +256MB= £100 (€160)

. I bought 2x256 sticks for £60 form the people I buy most of my stuff from, sold 128MB that came with my laptop - 512MB cost me £40...

don't think that you can run 1400x1050 at lower resolutions - it looks like a pile of crap. Everything is very crisp and clear at 1400x1050 albeit small;).

If you were coming to the EuroCon I'd let you play with it since it's what I'm bringing as a gaming machine...

Duckwing6 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 19, 2002, 01:47:33 AM »

Hyas Lynx!

Well i got one !

a Fujitso Amilo

for about 1800€

P3 1Ghz, 256MB Ram. S3 Graphics Twister (only 8Mb Ram), DVD/CD-Rom, 20GB HD, Firewire, LAN, modem and a 15" monitor

i guess it wasn't that bad a deal

mipoikel · « **Reply #3 on:** January 19, 2002, 03:52:08 AM »

Try also Compaq Presario 1702EA. Quite low prize (at least here in finland)

I have Presario 1700XL469 700mhz, 128mb, 15GB, DVD, 8mb graphics card.

I play also AH with this, its ok 800x600 res but I have to say laptop is not very good in playing cause there is no external numpad.

Kratzer · « **Reply #4 on:** January 19, 2002, 10:37:43 AM »

The reviews I've read (from a gaming perspective) have spoken highly of the Dell laptops, plus you get a nice warranty.

bikekil · « **Reply #5 on:** January 20, 2002, 07:07:45 AM »

hias DW

HP Omnibook 6100 - its what you need