Question for veteran Laptop users

Adex_Xeda · Post by **Adex_Xeda** » January 22, 2004, 11:20 pm

Do you belive that the following is a good deal?

CTO Presario R3000T (Compaq)
- Mobile Pentium(R) 4 2.40 GHz
- Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP Home
- 512 MB (2x256)DDR SDRAM
- 30 GB 4200 RPM Hard Drive
- Microsoft(R) Works/Money
- 24X CD ROM Drive
- Built in 56K modem+10/100 LAN
- 15.4" WVA WXGA (1280x800)
- ATI Mobility Radeon(TM) 9000 IGP
- 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery

$1,027.06

I hate spending money and I want to be positive.

Pahreyia · Post by **Pahreyia** » January 22, 2004, 11:23 pm

Looks like an excellent deal to me.

Aabidano · Post by **Aabidano** » January 23, 2004, 12:04 am

I'd stay away from Compaqs myself, I've had nothing but trouble with mine. Same with everyone I work with, it's a real piece of crap. They do have great warranty service, it's just that I'd rather not have to take advantage of it quite so often. Just under 3 years and I've gone through screens, HDDs, batteries, memory and a keyboard. All this for a system that rarely leaves the docking bay.

Get an IBM or a Dell, I've had great luck with both.

cid · Post by **cid** » January 23, 2004, 12:27 am

This would be better

http://www1.us.dell.com/content/product ... l=en&s=dhs

Marbus · Post by **Marbus** » January 23, 2004, 12:41 am

Don't get a Compaq laptop, had 4 at my last job, only one of them was decent and that was because it was back before they outsourced most of the laptops.

Before purchasing that at least check the Dell web site. Had 2 Dells so far and both kicked arse!

Check this out... would give you the new Pentium M processor (1.4 GHz). I have the Latitude 600 with a 1.3 GHz PM and it's much faster than a 2.4GHz P4. You also get better battery life. Comes with built in modem, ethernet and wireless, CDRW/DVD combo and GeForceFX video. Also that HD is a 5400 RPM rather than 4200 and it will make a big difference

http://www1.us.dell.com/content/product ... l=en&s=dhs

Cheers!
Marb

Adex_Xeda · Post by **Adex_Xeda** » January 23, 2004, 12:56 am

My target is $1000 or so.

I looked at the Dells, but was unable to get the features that this one has (for 1k)

That and since Dell is in Texas whatever I buy has $80 extra bucks charged in sales tax.

Marbus · Post by **Marbus** » January 23, 2004, 1:10 am

I would spend $200 extra dollars to get something more state of the art with better reliability, it will save you a lot of time and money in the future... IMHO.

Marb

Tenuvil · Post by **Tenuvil** » January 23, 2004, 1:18 am

Seriously recommend Dells as well. I've had 8 or 9 Compaq, Dell and IBM laptops and while IBMs are by far the most durable Dell has the best combination of price, performance and features. Compaqs have been by far the worst of all laptops I have used.

One thing, if you do get a Dell go for the Latitude line rather than the less durable Inspirons. I believe you need to go through Dell's Small Business portal to even see the Latitudes.

Oh and Compaq has operations including sales and manufacturing in Texas so you may end up paying sales tax on that as well...

sarlen · Post by **sarlen** » January 23, 2004, 1:49 am

I work on a fleet of 165 Dell Latitudes and have for about 2 years now. Before that we had IBM's and Compaq's, and I have to say the Dells are hands down the best product of the 3.

valryte · Post by **valryte** » January 23, 2004, 4:50 am

Toshiba P15-S479

This is my bad boy. I've had it for a couple months and am totally happy with it.

Truant · Post by **Truant** » January 23, 2004, 5:09 am

the reason the compaq is so cheap is because it is unprocessed shit in a convenient carrying case.

I'm serious, compaq laptops are total shit.

cid · Post by **cid** » January 23, 2004, 6:18 am

cid wrote:This would be better

http://www1.us.dell.com/content/product ... l=en&s=dhs

Listen to me damn it!!

Kluden · Post by **Kluden** » January 23, 2004, 9:16 am

My only complain with my new Dell...it is fucken huge for a laptop. That is all. Mine is an Inspiron 5150. Besides the huge size of it, it runs perfectly, and a laptop at 3 ghz never slows down

Hesten · Post by **Hesten** » January 23, 2004, 9:20 am

Well, here at work we got 5 compaq laptops.
1 of my colleagues got a new one to replace the first one that died.
Of the 5 "new" compaq laptops, all have been in for repairs at least 1 time.
All of us got at least 2 serious problems with them, the most common being wierd colors at the screen when you boot up, a thing that happened to them before, just before the first round of motherboards died and had to be replaces.

Now were getting new IBM PCs instead.

Aabidano · Post by **Aabidano** » January 23, 2004, 9:34 am

My old Dell had a terrible life, I travelled nearly 100% when I had it. Three years of some fairly serious abuse and never a problem. Same with all my co-workers who had a mix of IBMs and Dells.

Laptops aren't going to be great performers compared to a similar desktop, no matter kind what you get. It's just not going to happen. Find a Dell or IBM that will hit your price point and run with it. Don't sweat the proccesor and video too much, because they all suck in actual usage.

For my day to day work, the Dell 233Mhz PII with 256Mb I had in 1998 would still do what I need to do for my job with no problems.

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » January 23, 2004, 9:41 am

At my last job I went through 4 Dell laptops in about a year and a half. Numerous other people had to replace theirs as well. Perhaps it was just related to that particular model.

Where I work now everyone on the team (11 people) has Laptops and they are the Compaq Evo. Nobody has reported a problem so far that I know about within the past six months.

So in my mind it's all random. You spends your money you takes your chances regardless (irregardless!) of which manufacturer you purchase from. However I'd say stay away from the low end of any brand and chances are good you'll get something decent that will last.

Kluden · Post by **Kluden** » January 23, 2004, 10:05 am

Just get something from Best Buy! Get the crappy extended warranty, and you'll be safe and never have to pay for the repairs...badabing!

Adex_Xeda · Post by **Adex_Xeda** » January 23, 2004, 10:47 am

Thanks for the info guys.

Kilmoll the Sexy · Post by **Kilmoll the Sexy** » January 23, 2004, 10:51 am

I have yet to see a laptop model that is not strife with problems. Dell has been the absolute worst, hands down, of any laptop manufacturer I have seen. Toshiba is starting to come on strong with their crap of late though. If you buy a Dell Latitude of any model, I will do nothing more than say "I told you so" when you have to send it in for repairs or call their worthless customer service department.

IBM's have been the most stable, but their customer service is even worse if you do end up with a problem. Compaq I would avoid just because they are made from much cheaper materials and are prone to having the outer casing or displays cracked than any of the other manufacturers.

Jassun · Post by **Jassun** » January 23, 2004, 11:58 am

I just left employment at a small community/career college that issued all technical students Compaq laptops. Every single week we had to return at least one laptop back to the manufactor for warranty servicing.

My two previous employers both used Dell laptops for all employees. We had far fewer problems with the Dell's than the Compaq's. When there was a problem, we had better support from Dell than with Compaq.

Arborealus · Post by **Arborealus** » January 23, 2004, 3:08 pm

Dell Inspiron 8200 driver for ~2 years now...It has been solid as a rock including playing EQ...

Dell Laptops...