Wanting to go portable....

[Xypher]

Hey Guys. Just wanted to get some feedback about changing "system". I'm wanting to sell my desktop and move do a notebook. I want it to be my desktop replacement. I still want to be able to do all that I can now. Site development/creation and light gaming.

Now, I have an idea of the component that I'm wanting specificly, but I want to know what manufacturer I should go with. I know there are hundreds of companies but I want to know who has the best support, warranties, and any experience that you have had with them. Now, I don't expect to have any problems, but I would still like to know how they "react" to major problems.

So please, help me to decided. I'll have about $1500 - $2000+/- to spend (after selling my current system).

Also, in terms of wireless connection, what would you suggest, bluetooth, WiFi, Centrino?

[Ash]

Have an old (400mhz) Dell for when its needed (as well as backup and legacy games (Win95 and DOS). When the battery was giving me < 20 mins charge I ordered a new one which now works fine. That's all I've needed in terms of service. All the people I know who have newer versions have said good things, so an Inspiron (or whatever they call them now) probably wouldn't be a bad choice.


Only other laptop I've used was a Toshiba that, when new, was well out of your price range (featuring a 20 meg Hard Drive and a 3.5" Floppy Diskette Drive). Came bundled with decent software (Word Perfect 5), and its still working. I'm guessing that Toshiba has probably changed some since then, so I'm not sure if I can reccomend them.

[The_Assimilator]

IBM laptops seem to get problems with battery life and overheating after a few months, I'd recommend Dell or HP/Compaq.

[Bonnet]

I went mobile and after about 3 months of looking around i found dell or alienware(believe it or not) are the best performers for the price.

[trebmal_ca]

Iv had 2 Toshiba laptop tops and their great. Very stable (unlike Dell) and the customer service is unbeatable.

[mecha]

bah, desktop replacements, real laptops are tiny

[trebmal_ca]

phttt, Sony, 2 grand and its only a 900 mhz

[Liberator]

Be prepared to shell out major $$$.

Also, I'd wait a few months, ATI annouced that their next gen laptop chip set will be upgradable. Meaning, it'll be just like your desktop, when something new come out you'll be able to upgrade without buying a whole new notebook.

Never forget that cooling is very important, esspecially in a laptop. My father got a laptop from his work and it gets hot, and therefore unstable, after only an hour or two. Make sure it has plenty of cooling.

Here's a Dell for $3,043 US. It's a true desktop replacement with

2.2 Ghz P4 Mobile
512 MB 266 mhz DDR
64MB DDR NVIDIA® GeForce™ 4 4200 Go AGP 4X
24X CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive
60GB Ultra ATA Hard Drive
Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem
Microsoft® Windows® XP Pro Edition w/ Microsoft® Plus!
Microsoft®Office XP Professional
Dell Picture Studio, Paint Shop Pro Edition

[trebmal_ca]

Toshiba Satellite 5205 $2199.00

Mobile Intel® Pentium® 4 Processor - M (2.20GHz)
512MB PC2100 DDR SDRAM (256MB x 2)
15" SXGA+ Display (1400 x 1050)
NVIDIA® GeForce4™ 460 Go™ GPU w/32MB DDR memory
60GB HDD (4200 rpm)
DVD/CD-RW
Microsoft® Works
Microsoft® Windows® XP Home
3-USB (2.0) ports
iLINK (IEEE 1394) port
Infrared port
SD media slot
TV-Out port
10/100 Ethernet
V.92/56K modemº
S/P DIF Optical port

[Bonnet]

Liberator you sure about that price i got a dell that was 2,200 and heres my sys specs
@.25 p4
512mb
64mb Ati 9000 mobility radeon
15" uxga 1600x1200
60gb hd
Dvd/Cd-rw
Micro works
windows xp pro
3 usb 2.0
1392 port
ielink
sd media slot
s video out port
10/100 ether
56k modem
s/p diff optical prt
p/s2 port/ printer port
monitor out port
floppy and 3 year wornty

[Liberator]

Originally posted by Liberator
Be prepared to shell out major $$$.

Also, I'd wait a few months, ATI annouced that their next gen laptop chip set will be upgradable. Meaning, it'll be just like your desktop, when something new come out you'll be able to upgrade without buying a whole new notebook.

Never forget that cooling is very important, esspecially in a laptop. My father got a laptop from his work and it gets hot, and therefore unstable, after only an hour or two. Make sure it has plenty of cooling.

Here's a Dell for $3,043 US. It's a true desktop replacement with

2.2 Ghz P4 Mobile
512 MB 266 mhz DDR
64MB DDR NVIDIA® GeForce™ 4 4200 Go AGP 4X
24X CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive
60GB Ultra ATA Hard Drive
Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem
Microsoft® Windows® XP Pro Edition w/ Microsoft® Plus!
Microsoft®Office XP Professional
Dell Picture Studio, Paint Shop Pro Edition

This one comes with Office, XP Pro, Paintshop Pro and a 64MB Geforce 4 Go 4200.

[bitz]

xypher. you might want to get the newest laptops seeing that they have the new wireless technology in them. i would say alienware but that's strictly for gaming. ibm's are usually overpriced so i'd say go look @ tigerdirect or ibuypower. gl

[Liberator]

Why is Alienware strictly for gaming? They offer all kinds of productivity options with their systems.

[bitz]

look at the far top left of alienware.com. you'll see why. plus, most of their hardware comes tweaked, also for gaming. cpu's are oc'd ( for increased fps ). latest vid card ( for increased fps ). do you see why now?