Laptop Shopping

[slumber]

If anyone's interested, you want to maybe help me pick out a laptop? :P I'm working up the nerve to ask my parents for my birthday, and I prolly need to, you know, know a bit about them before I go around asking.

Basically, I need something smallish, preferrably, if not light, for carrying around, with at least 40gigs, Intel Centrino for wireless internet (somebody told me not to get anything with Intel Celeron), that can play DVDs and stuff. Other decent specs, basically. :|

So. Laptops are here. Exchange rate: USD1 = PHP56. I've highlighted my concerns for each laptop in red. Parts I don't quite get that I still somewhat do are italicised. :|

Fujitsu Amilo L7300 (OEM) – Php 62,500

Intel® Centrino™ Mobile Technology
Intel® Pentium® M Processor 725
1.6GHz / 2Mb / Dothan
Intel® Pro/Wireless 2200BG
512Mb Memory DDR333/PC2700 SO-DIMM
15in. XGA TFT Active Matrix Display
40Gb Hard Disk Drive
Intel® Extreme Graphics 2
DVD+CDRW Combo Drive
USB 2.0 Ports
10/100Mbps LAN Controller
Built-in speakers/16-bit Sound Card
56Kbps V.90 Fax Modem
Li-Ion battery pack
Notebook Case
Optical Mini Mouse

NEO Q-Note M360CL – Php 64,800

Intel® Centrino™ Mobile Tecnology
Intel® Pentium® M Processor 725 (Dothan)
(1.6GHz, 2Mb L2 cache, 400 MHz FSB)
Intel® 855GM Chipset
Intel® PRO Wireless 2200BG Mini PCI Adapter
Intel® Extreme Graphics 2 (64Mb Shared)
Built-In Webcam
14" TFT XGA+ Display (1024x768) Resolution
512Mb DDR RAM
40Gb Harddrive
Combo DVD + CDRW Drive
56Kb modem, 10/100 LAN
2 x USB 2.0, S-Video, PCMCIA Card Slot
6 Cell Litium Ion Battery (up to 3.5 hrs)
approx. weight is 2.75kg

Blue Note Novice – Php 69,800

Intel® Centrino™ Mobile Technology
Intel® Pentium® M Processor 725
1.6GHz / 2Mb / Dothan
Intel® Pro/Wireless 2200BG
1Gb Memory DDR333/PC2700 SO-DIMM
15.4in. WSXGA+ TFT Active Matrix Display
40Gb Hard Disk Drive
Intel® Extreme Graphics 2
DVD+CDRW Combo Drive
USB 2.0 Ports
10/100Mbps LAN Controller
Built-in speakers/16-bit Sound Card
56Kbps V.90 Fax Modem
Li-Ion battery pack
Notebook Case
Optical Mini Mouse

Acer TravelMate 2312WLCi Notebook PC – Php 54,800

Intel Celeron Processor 360
- 1Mb L2 Cache, 1.40GHz, 400MHz FSB
256Mb DDR Memory
15.4" WXGA TFT Widescreen LCD Monitor
40Gb Hard Disk Drive
CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo Drive
Built-In 54Mbps Wireless LAN (802.11b/g)
10/100 Mbps LAN
56Kbps Fax Modem
Ergonomic Keypad
Li-Ion battery pack
Linux Operating System
Weight: 2.91 Kgs.

Asus M5N Notebook – Php 65,800

Intel® Centrino™ Mobile Technology
Intel® Pentium® M Processor 725
(1.6GHz, 2Mb L2 cache, 400MHz FSB)
Intel® 855GM Chipset
Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200 LAN 3B Mini PCI Adapter
Intel 855GM video - 64Mb RAM Memory
512Mb DDR RAM
40Gb Harddrive
Combo DVD + CDRW Drive
56Kb modem, 10/100 LAN
3xUSB 2.0, 1x1394 Firewire
4-in-1 Memory Card Reader
free: Webcam
14in. TFT XGA+ Display
Approx. 2.85Kg.
Carry case

Fujitsu Amilo L7300 (Entry level) – Php 51,800
Intel® Celeron® M Processor 350
(1.3GHz, 1Mb L2 cache, 400MHz FSB)
Unichrome Pro 3D / 2D (up to 64Mb shared)
256Mb DDR RAM
40Gb Harddrive
DVD+CDRW Combo Drive
56Kb modem
10/100 Ethernet LAN
4xUSB 2.0 / 1xS-Video / 1xSPDIF / 1xCRT
15in. XGA+ TFT Screen (1024x768)
Carry case

free: HP 3745 printer

COMPAQ EVO N600C: Php 54,000
P3-1.06 20GB 128MB Modem/NIC Combo NT/W2K 14.1

Processor Class: Intel Pentium III Processor with
SpeedStep
Processor Speed: 1.06 GHz
Memory
Installed Memory: 256 MB
Maximum Memory: 1024 MB
Memory Technology: SDRAM
System
Bus Speed: 133 MHz
Cache Size: 512 kB
Drive Controllers: IDE (ATA/EIDE/ATAPI)
Interface Type: Audio - Line In (1/8" Mini), Audio -
Line Out (1/8" Mini), Ethernet - RJ45 Twisted-Pair
(XBaseT), Keyboard/Mouse - 6 pin mini-DIN, Parallel -
25 pin D-shell (IEEE 1284A), Serial - 9 pin D-shell
(EIA 574/232), Serial - RJ11 Modular (Phone/Telco),
USB - Universal
Slots: Type II PC Card, Type III PC Card
Display
Display Size: 14.1 in
Display Type: Active Matrix LCD (TFT)
Multimedia
Video Integration: Card
Installed Video Memory: 16 MB
Shared Video Memory: 16 MB
Video Bus: AGP 4X
Sound Support: Digital Audio (16-bit)
Storage
Included Drives: DVD-ROM, Floppy Drive, Hard Drive
Hard Drive Capacity: 60 GB
DVD-ROM Read Speed: 8 X (CD,CD-R)
Features
Input Devices: Keyboard, Touchpad
Included Network Card: Ethernet (10/100 Mbps)
Included Devices: AC Adapter, Modem, Speakers
Battery Life: 3.5 hour(s)
Software
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft
Windows NT
Dimensions
Height: 1.2 in
Width: 12.1 in
Depth: 9.8 in
Weight: 4.8 lbs

ECS G553 : 56,000

Technology: Intel Centrino Mobile Technology
Processor: Intel Pentium M 1.3 Ghz
Chipset: Intel 855GM
Memory: 256 DSODIMM)
Display: 14.1 in.XGA TFT LCD
Cideo: Built-in 3D graphics (intel)
Harddisk: 40 Gb 2.5 in. 5400 rpm
dvd + cdrw

IBM ThinkPad R40 Notebook : 58,000 (secondhand)
(1.4GHz Pentium 4, 256MB, 20GB, DVD/CD-RW, Windows XP
Pro, 14.1" TFT - SKU: 289793U)

Processor Class: Intel Pentium M Processor (Centrino)
Processor Speed: 1.4 GHz
Memory
Installed Memory: 256 MB
Maximum Memory: 2 GB
Memory Technology: DDR-SDRAM (DDRRAM)
System
Bus Speed: 400 MHz
Cache Size: 1 MB
System Chipset: Intel 855PM
Drive Controllers: IDE (ATA/EIDE/ATAPI)
Interface Type: Audio - Line In (1/8" Mini), Audio -
Line Out (1/8" Mini), Ethernet - RJ45 Twisted-Pair
(XBaseT), IEEE 1394 - 4 pin Unpowered, Infrared - IrDA
Wireless Fast Infrared (IrDA-FIR), Parallel - 25 pin
D-shell (IEEE 1284A), Serial - RJ11 Modular
(Phone/Telco), USB - Universal Serial Bus 2.0, Video -
15 pin High-Density D-shell (VGA), Video - 4 pin
mini-DIN (S-Video)
Slots: Type I CardBus, Type II CardBus, Type III
CardBus
Display
Display Size: 14.1 in
Display Type: Active Matrix LCD (TFT)
Resolution: 1024 x 768 (XGA)
Multimedia
Video Integration: Card
Installed Video Memory: 16 MB
Video Chipset: ATI MOBILE RADEON
Video Bus: AGP 4X
Storage
Included Drives: DVD/CD-RW Combo, Hard Drive
Hard Drive Capacity: 20 GB
CD Write Speed: 24 X (CD,CD-R)
CD Rewrite Speed: 10 X (CD,CD-R)
CD-ROM Read Speed: 24 X (CD,CD-R)
DVD-ROM Read Speed: 8 X (DVD, DVD-R)
Features
Input Devices: Keyboard, Track Stick
Included Network Card: Ethernet (10/100 Mbps),
Wireless Ethernet - 11 Mbps IEEE802.11b
Included Devices: Modem, Speakers
Battery Life: 6.1 hour(s)
Software
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Pro
Dimensions
Height: 1.5 in
Width: 12.3 in
Depth: 10 in
Weight: 6.2 lbs

HP-COMPAQ BUSINESS NOTEBOOK NX9010 : 65,500

Intel Pentium 4 Processor 2.6GHz
- 512kb L2 Cache / 400Mhz FSB

256Mb DDR Memory / 1Gb Maximum
30Gb Hard Disk Drive upgradeable to 80Gb
15in. XGA TFT LCD Monitor
64mb ATI Radeon RS200 DDR Shared Video Memory
CD-WRITER + DVD-ROM Combo Drive
2 Pro Speakers with 16-bit stereo
10/100Mbps LAN Controller
56Kbps V.92 Fax Modem
IRDA infra-red

S-Video TV-Out
2x USB 2.0 Ports
Li-ION battery pack / 2 Hour Tested life
Microsoft Windows XP PROFESSIONAL
Weight: 3.1 Kgs.

Notebook Carrying Case

Sony Vaio GRX 570 Laptop 16"Uxga LCD : 69,500

Intel® Pentium® 4 Mobile - 1.8GHz
512mb L2 cache / 400Mhz Fsb
MOBILE PROCESSOR = NO OVERHEATING
Intel Speedstep support for long battery life
512MB DDR PC2100 (1 x 512mb)
60GB Hard Disk Drive upgradeable to 80Gb
16.1"UXGA TFT colour display
Ultra High Resolution at 1600 x 1200
32mb ATI Radeon 7500
Built-In CDRW-DvD Combo Drive
10/100 LAN Ethernet integrated
56Kbps V.90 Fax Modem
PCMCIA 802.11b Wireless LAN (I know 802.11g is faster and more recommended)
USB 2.0 x 3
i.LINK (IEEE1394) S400 (4pin)
Printer port (D-SUB 25 pin)
AV out connector (NTSC/PAL compatible)
Monitor connector (VGA, D-SUB 15 pin)
Memory Stick Slot (Memory Stick PRO compatible*5,
High-speed data
transfer compatible)
Type II PC Card Slot

SOFTWARE MS Windows XP Home Edition

Compaq Presario 2218 - Pentium-M 1.4Ghz 15Xga : 62,500

Intel Centrino Mobile Technology
Intel Pentium M 1.4Ghz (Banias)
1Mb L2 cache / 400Mhz Front Side Bus
Intel 855 chipset

RAM: 384Mb DDR Memory
2Gb Maximum; easily upgrdeable at the store

Hard drive: 40Gb Mobile Harddrive

MULTI-MEDIA: 24x CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive
DISPLAY: 15.1-inch XGA display
resolution 1280 x 768
64mb Intel Extreme Graphics 2 (Shared)
Communication:
Integrated 56K V.90 modem
10/100 NIC

Ports:
3 USB 2.0 ports
1 VGA
1 S-Video Out
Firewire Port
Linux Mandrake OS

Dimensions
Width 12.96 in.
Depth 10.72 in.
Height 1.62 in.
Weight: 5.21 lb

ECS G553 Notebook PC P 59,950

Specifications:
• Intel Pentium M processor 715
- 1.50 GHz, 2MB L2 Cache (Dothan)
• Intel 855GM (Centrino Technology)
• 256MB DDR Memory (SODIMM)
• 14.1" XGA TFT LCD Monitor
• Built-In Intel 3D Graphics
• 40GB Hard Disk Drive
• CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo Drive
• 10/100Mbps LAN Controller
• 56Kbps V.90/V.92 Fax Modem
• 802.11b/g Wireless LAN (54 mbps)
• Type II PC Card Slot, supports CardBus
• 2x USB 2.0 Ports
• Firewire, Parallel, Infrared ports
• 1 VGA-Out Port + 1 S-Video Out
• Optional USB 1.44MB Floppy Disk Drive
• Lithium-Ion battery pack
• Weight: 2.3 Kgs.
• Carrying Bag


NEO Q-Note M223SB - Php 69,999

Intel CentrinoTM Mobile Technology
Intel Pentium M Processor 725
(2MB L2 cache, 1.60 Ghz, 400 MHz FSB)
Intel 855GMA Chipset
Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG LAN 3B Mini PCI Adapter
256 MB DDR memory
40 GB Hard drive
Combo DVD+CDRW drive
3-in-1 memory card reader
two USB 2.0 slots
1394 firewire port
S-video out slot
12.1" screen
1.95kg

[Poll #539065]

Comments

[thethirdbar.livejournal.com]

You know, I don't understand any of that. Like, at all. :|

[jewelofsaturn.livejournal.com]

I second that. :|

[daniellafromage.livejournal.com]

I...um. My advice is to get the one that looks the prettiest.

[slumber.livejournal.com]

*giggles* I wish I knew what half these laptops looked like. :|

[miss-charmed.livejournal.com]

FUJITSU. Any Fujitsu. I've been wanting one since time immemorial. It's soooooooo shiny!!

[jaig.livejournal.com]

*lost*

I suggest get the fastest one with the most memory.

[ensemble.livejournal.com]

All that mumbo jumbo means nothing to me; I'm not very technical :(

My advice would be to pick one that you really like, but which is at a reasonable price. Then, when you ask your parents, ask for a really really expensive one which you don't really want, but know they'll never spend so much money on. When they refuse, act annoyed, and go on and on about it for a while. Then, finally, sigh and say "OK...how about this one then? It's a lot cheaper, and not as good as the expensive one, but I suppose..." and point out the one you actually want. They'll be so glad to see that it's inexpensive (at least compared to the first one) that they're more likely to buy it for you!

Oh and ditto to what ticca said: pretty is important :D

[slumber.livejournal.com]

That is priceless. :D

[ensemble.livejournal.com]

It works, too! :D

[wenelda.livejournal.com]

my laptop is a toshiba pentium 4 with windows XP, and i have absolutely no complaints with it. (actually, anything that's happened that has pissed me off has had nothing to do with the computer itself, but a faulty programme i've installed or IE fucking up.) when i went to get mine, the guy was very honest and said that, though HP is a good brand, you can find the same power (if not better) in another brand, like sony or toshiba. the japanese brands get a lot of bad talk, but they really aren't, and are half the time cheaper than things like HP and compaq. i would suggest looking at the fujitsu or the sony (probably more the sony than anything else).

when it comes to a laptop, you really have to look at what sort of processor it has and whether or not it will overheat easily. mine has no problems, and i used to leave it on all day. i do NOT recommend doing that at all, though. my friend did that with hers (she has the exact model i do), and she had a load of problems with it. if you're going to be away for a few hours, or even just two, turn it off. it sounds stupid, but take care of your laptop and it'll take care of you. i mean it. i know a lot of people have had problems with their laptops after a year, and my baby's getting close to his one year birthday and he's perfectly fine and dandy! *cuddles her laptop* he's precious.

i'm rambling. i'll shut up now.

[slumber.livejournal.com]

Yeah, they said the Toshiba was the toughest. The Sony's too big for me, though, I'll prolly look into the non-Celeron Fujitsu.

Thanks! :D

[wyoming-knott.livejournal.com]

Whoa. Information overload.

But.

Thinkpad.

I lovelovelove my thinkpad. Definitely had to go for used, because new is too friggin expensive. I'm on my third thinkpad now, not because they wear out, but because every computer eventually becomes too dated.

And even if you don't go thinkpad... DON'T get anything with a celeron processor. Just don't. Avoid it like the plague. Doesn't matter that it has everything else you want/need/desire... the processor is the heart, and if you get something with a bad heart. Well.

Good luck.

(and watch out for the weights, too. seriously. may not sound like that big a difference, but if you're planning on toting it around much, an extra pound will make a huge difference. Try to stay 5.5 pounds or less)(sorry, don't know the metric equivalent).

/ramble

[slumber.livejournal.com]

People are really warning me about the Celeron. :P I shall dutifully back off it. :P

And yeah, the reason I do want a new laptop is, besides the fact that Win98 is no longer compatible with plenty of programs and I cannot upgrade it to anything higher, my Compaq is far too heavy and bulky to carry around with me in school, where I need to do a bulk of my work.

Thanks for the help! <3

[morganashkevron.livejournal.com]

I second the "no celeron processor" vote. If price gets to be an issue, you should check out Dell and possibly Gateway laptops. I'm more familiar with Dell - it's where I got my desktop. And I love my little cheap computer. They have good customer service and you can customize your computer to the specs you need. Plus they tend to be less expensive than most other manufacturers and if you need to upgrade in the future you can buy the new parts from them and you'll know it's compatible with what you have.

[slumber.livejournal.com]

I was going to but I'm not sure where the Dell place here is. My friend has a small Dell laptop--close to the laptop I have in mind, really--but it's slightly more expensive than the ones I'm looking into getting right now.

[irian.livejournal.com]

Dell doesn't have an distribution arm in the Philippines. The best you can do is look for computer shops that might have ordered a Dell or two for their inventory. But yeah, Dells are good. My cousin got a secondhand Dell (the model was less than a year old) for 40,000. I'd say that's a good deal if you're willing to buy something secondhand.

[draconianangel.livejournal.com]

Haa. I should've done this when I was thinking of buying a laptop. I suggest Dell. It's the only laptop that I considered buying.

Btw, where is did you get the info on every laptop? *boggles*

[slumber.livejournal.com]

Hmm, where did you get your Dell laptop, and what are its specs and how much did it cost?

Hehe, some of these are from my friend, who's sort of the middleman of a middleman for laptops, the ECS info was sent to my Belgian kid from someone he knew in AdMU, I think, and the last bit I found in a Gadgets mag. :P I might buy something else completely different, though, I have no idea. :|

[draconianangel.livejournal.com]

I saw a Dell laptop in Megamall, fifth floor (where all the computer shops are). Php 60,000, 256 MB, 40 GB, 15 inch screen, dvd rom/cd-rw combo, pentium M, and 4-5 hours battery life. Though the one I saw was the last stock. :|

[draconianangel.livejournal.com]

Another thing, it has a three-year guarantee. Let's just hope it's still there. I also saw that model in an electronics emporium last month in Glorietta. *sigh*