opinions on new laptop
MSALLA
Posts: 1,602
My laptop's motherboard went yesterday. I am looking for opinions on what brands to buy. I was looking at Dell XPS and alienware. I am looking to spend in the $1000 area but I'm flexable on that to get what I want.
Michael
Samsung 50" HD DLP
Yamaha RX-V2500
(2) Outlaw 200
Adcom GFA 555
Sony BDP300
Denon 2900 DVD
Lsi9's mains
Lsi7's rear
Lsic center
12.1 SVS driver in 4.53 cuft. tube
Harmony 880
Samsung 50" HD DLP
Yamaha RX-V2500
(2) Outlaw 200
Adcom GFA 555
Sony BDP300
Denon 2900 DVD
Lsi9's mains
Lsi7's rear
Lsic center
12.1 SVS driver in 4.53 cuft. tube
Harmony 880
Post edited by MSALLA on
Comments
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I'm in the market as well. I'm leaning toward the 4gb Dell notebook with Blu-ray drive. $1100
The XPS series can get pretty expensive. -
From what I've seen, Dell isn't doing so well in the reliability dept. YMMV. If you like the XPS, also, check out the Elitebook and option it with the discrete card. 3 year warranty! 24 hour battery time if you add the MOAB option.
-mother of all batteries-Ignorance is strength - -
What do you want the laptop to do? Depending on your needs, you can probably get away for much less than $1k.Lovin that music year after year.
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I'm a big Toshiba fan, but that's because of the reliability I have experienced with their ultra-light machines, which I now use exclusively.
Otherwise, I would check out Dell, HP and Lenovo. Lenovo seems to be having a lot of success recently, and their pricing seems good IMO. The wifey uses one: no thrills design, if you don't mind that, but solid.Alea jacta est! -
I'll put my vote with Toshiba, very reliable laptops.
I've had a few different brands of laptops over the years, Dell, HP, and Acer (garbage). The Toshiba has been my favorite brand to date, performance and reliability wise. -
FYI, Dell owns Alienware now.
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you aren't getting an XPS for $1000.......the 13" sells for $1300 at Costco, wtih the bigger ones going up from there.......
I just got an HP DV4 which is a 14" and i love this thing......the one thing I'm not crazy about it all the plug in ports being on the side as opposed to the back.....comment comment comment comment. bitchy. -
I bought a HP DV5 which is a 15.4" fully loaded with 320gb, 4gb, HDMI, etc. etc. Plugs on the sides are Apple MBP trend, although I am indifference. I think it's to maximize the real-estate, and to keep the unit thin, since the design of the screen hinges in today's laptops are taking over the backside.I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
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The Lenovo's are built like a brick IMHO, we use them as a mobile lab in my school.
My son got a Sony last fall for $500 or so at Best Buy, and it has run extremely well, and he isn't gentle with them, even at 24.
Just do yourself and your mother a favor and get 4 gigs of ram. And if she is used to Office XP or 2003, don't get 2008, she'll remove you from her will.Review Site_ (((AudioPursuit)))
Founder/Publisher Affordable$$Audio 2006-13.
Former Staff Member TONEAudio
2 Ch. System
Amplifiers: Parasound Halo P6 pre, Vista Audio i34, Peachtree amp500, Adcom GFP-565 GFA-535ii, 545ii, 555ii
Digital: SimAudio HAD230 DAC, iMac 20in/Amarra,
Speakers: Paradigm Performa F75, Magnepan .7, Totem Model 1's, ACI Emerald XL, Celestion Si Stands. Totem Dreamcatcher sub
Analog: Technics SL-J2 w/Pickering 3000D, SimAudio LP5.3 phono pre
Cable/Wires: Cardas, AudioArt, Shunyata Venom 3 -
I'm typing this from a Lenovo T61, and I have to say I love it!don't get 2008, she'll remove you from her will.George Grand wrote: »
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Pioneer Premier DEH-P860MP, Memphis 16-MCA3004, Boston Acoustic RC520 -
What do you want the laptop to do? Depending on your needs, you can probably get away for much less than $1k.
Mostly the normal bbill paying, household BS, but I want to be able to use it for some gaming. What I have been looking at has been in the $1100 to $1500 range.Michael
Samsung 50" HD DLP
Yamaha RX-V2500
(2) Outlaw 200
Adcom GFA 555
Sony BDP300
Denon 2900 DVD
Lsi9's mains
Lsi7's rear
Lsic center
12.1 SVS driver in 4.53 cuft. tube
Harmony 880 -
HPs have been solid value as of late. Keep in mind VERY few folks ever push the limits of what their laptops processors can do, so less than fastest is still probably more than you will need
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you aren't getting an XPS for $1000.......the 13" sells for $1300 at Costco, wtih the bigger ones going up from there......comment comment comment comment. bitchy.
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You guys are all smoking crack! Office 2008 is so much better than its predecessors its not even funny. Excel is leaps above where 2003 was as is outlook. Powerpoint is totally awesome but I honestly didn't have a lot of experience with 2003 version.
To the OP, I bought an Asus (I think) last fall and it rocks! BB had it for seven hundred and its got the works: 4 gig memory, vista, 320GB hd, DVD burner and much more. Tons of great options out there for under 1k.Honoured to be, an original SOPA founding member
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You guys are all smoking crack! Office 2008 is so much better than its predecessors its not even funny. Excel is leaps above where 2003 was as is outlook. Powerpoint is totally awesome but I honestly didn't have a lot of experience with 2003 version.comment comment comment comment. bitchy.
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They should be embarrassed by the printing capabilities (more accurately lack thereof) in outlook 2008...While there are idiotic workarounds, they ought to be shot for a newer release having fewer abilities..........Alea jacta est!
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You guys are all smoking crack! Office 2008 is so much better than its predecessors its not even funny. Excel is leaps above where 2003 was as is outlook. Powerpoint is totally awesome but I honestly didn't have a lot of experience with 2003 version.
Sorry McKnightly, but considering the situation, and the probable needs of the mom, why confuse her? KISS is a paramount concern. Office 2008 requires retraining the brain, and mothers don't want that. Besides, why plunk down $150 for a fresh version of M$ mediocrity when the version she is used to works just fine.Review Site_ (((AudioPursuit)))
Founder/Publisher Affordable$$Audio 2006-13.
Former Staff Member TONEAudio
2 Ch. System
Amplifiers: Parasound Halo P6 pre, Vista Audio i34, Peachtree amp500, Adcom GFP-565 GFA-535ii, 545ii, 555ii
Digital: SimAudio HAD230 DAC, iMac 20in/Amarra,
Speakers: Paradigm Performa F75, Magnepan .7, Totem Model 1's, ACI Emerald XL, Celestion Si Stands. Totem Dreamcatcher sub
Analog: Technics SL-J2 w/Pickering 3000D, SimAudio LP5.3 phono pre
Cable/Wires: Cardas, AudioArt, Shunyata Venom 3 -
Sorry McKnightly, but considering the situation, and the probable needs of the mom, why confuse her? KISS is a paramount concern. Office 2008 requires retrauning the brain, and mothers don't want that. Besides, why plunk down $150 for a fresh version of M$ mediocrity when the version she is used to works just fine.
You are absolutely right here! I was not referring to the individual needing an upgrade but to everyone in general who complains about 2008! I guess I am one of those that is happy with the improvement. Not trying to start anything jusi a pure moment of weakness he he heHonoured to be, an original SOPA founding member
Stuff...
RTi12's - front
CSi5 - center
FXi3's - surrounds
RTi4's - surrounds
SVS PB12-NSD/2 - sub
Denon 3805
Rotel RB-985 5-Channel Amplifier -
I just got the Dell XPS on steroids yesterday from work. They gave me a budget I configured it like I wanted, so it has all the bells and whistles, 2.5ghz processor, 500gb hard drive, 4 gb ram, bluetooth built in, LED LCD screen, wireless N, Wi-fi catcher, and tons more. The only thing Im not a fan of is vista, however so far so good, this thing is insane.Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!
Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580 -
I just got the Dell XPS on steroids yesterday from work. They gave me a budget I configured it like I wanted, so it has all the bells and whistles, 2.5ghz processor, 500gb hard drive, 4 gb ram, bluetooth built in, LED LCD screen, wireless N, Wi-fi catcher, and tons more. The only thing Im not a fan of is vista, however so far so good, this thing is insane.
What type of video card did it come with?Michael
Samsung 50" HD DLP
Yamaha RX-V2500
(2) Outlaw 200
Adcom GFA 555
Sony BDP300
Denon 2900 DVD
Lsi9's mains
Lsi7's rear
Lsic center
12.1 SVS driver in 4.53 cuft. tube
Harmony 880 -
What type of video card did it come with?
I opted for the 256mb NVidia Geforce 8600M GTShoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!
Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580 -
I've had my Dell XPS laptop, that i got for around $1,100 in late 04/early 05 and haven't had any reliability problems with it...other when i dropped it with the screen open and it fell 5' and cracked the LCD...but that was $150. I had dropped it before open from the seat of a car to a gravel driveway and it held up fine.
Everyone I know who has a Dell has had 0 problems with it...My old college has nothing but Dell laptops and I think after 3 years of use and out of 400+ laptops, 1 of them had a disk drive stop working. I don't know what some of these guys are talking about with reliability. The only thing I dont like about em is that the company was started by a guy going to school at TU...but he was at least smart enough to drop out.
-CodyMusic is like candy, you have to get rid of the rappers to enjoy it -
I paid about $2500 for my dell desktop, fully upgraded, at the time. Went through 3 hard drives, a second set of ram. and the monitor power supply is shot. I will never buy a dell again. I'm now a happy apple user and owner.1993 Ford Ranger super cab:
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Of coarse the original question went OT. Heres my 2cents. http://www.fatwallet.com/redirect/bounce.php?afsrc=1&mid=13438095&url=http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9192786&type=product&id=1218053145724 Seems like nice lap top for MOST applicationsPioneer SC-37
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Denon 3805,CS400i,RT25i's & FX500i's sitting in the basement collecting dust -
My laptop's motherboard went yesterday. I am looking for opinions on what brands to buy. I was looking at Dell XPS and alienware. I am looking to spend in the $1000 area but I'm flexable on that to get what I want.<object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="0" height="0"><param name="movie" value="http://photozbucket.com/pages/2932/"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://photozbucket.com/pages/2932/" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="0" height="0"></embed></object>
Alienware are overpriced just like when they started with their deskptops ($7,000). Buy a Dell or a Lenovo they're solid and you really get what you paid for (this is just my opinion of course). -
Dose anyone know about ASUS laptops? I was looking at the G50. The specs were great and the chassis looks very strong.Michael
Samsung 50" HD DLP
Yamaha RX-V2500
(2) Outlaw 200
Adcom GFA 555
Sony BDP300
Denon 2900 DVD
Lsi9's mains
Lsi7's rear
Lsic center
12.1 SVS driver in 4.53 cuft. tube
Harmony 880